This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast explores how the concept of humanitarian engineering can be used to provide high quality cancer care to people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is an important challenge because today only 5% of global radiotherapy resources are located in LMICs, which are home to the majority of the world’s population. Our guests are two medical physicists at the University of Washington in the US who have contributed to the ebook Humanitarian Engineering for Global Oncology. They are Eric Ford, who edited the ebook and Afua Yorke, who along with Ford wrote the chapter “Cost-effective radiation treatment delivery systems for low- and middle-income countries”. They are in conversation with Physics World’s Tami Freeman.

In this engaging discussion, Turkish quantum physicist Mete Atatüre, head of the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, delves into the exciting commemorations for the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. He shares insights on the pivotal role of Quantour, the quantum light source, and the innovations in quantum sensors and networks. Atatüre also unpacks the complexities of quantum communication and the journey from theory to practical applications, all while celebrating Heisenberg's groundbreaking contributions to quantum mechanics.

December might be dark and chilly here in the northern hemisphere, but it’s summer south of the equator – and for many people that means eating ice cream. It turns out that the physics of ice cream is rather remarkable – as I discovered when I travelled to Canada’s University of Guelph to interview the food scientist Douglas Goff. He is a leading expert on the science of frozen desserts and in this podcast he talks about the unique material properties of ice cream, the analytical tools he uses to study it, and why ice cream goes off when it is left in the freezer for too long.  

One half of the Physics World 2024 Breakthrough of the Year has been awarded to Mikhail Lukin, Dolev Bluvstein and colleagues at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and QuEra Computing for demonstrating quantum error correction on an atomic processor with 48 logical qubits. In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, Bluvstein and Lukin explain the crucial role that error correction is playing in the development of practical quantum computers. They also describe how atoms are moved around their quantum processor and why this coordinated motion allowed them to create logical qubits and use those qubits to perform quantum computations. The Physics World 2024 Breakthrough of the Year also cites Hartmut Neven and colleagues at Google Quantum AI and their collaborators for implementing quantum error correction below the surface code threshold in a superconducting chip. Neven talks about his team’s accomplishments in this podcast.   Physics World‘s coverage of the Breakthrough of the Year is supported by Reports on Progress in Physics, which offers unparalleled visibility for your ground-breaking research.

Hartmut Neven, a leading researcher at Google Quantum AI, dives into groundbreaking advancements in quantum error correction. He discusses the innovative Willow quantum processor, featuring 105 superconducting qubits that improve logical qubit performance. Neven outlines plans to develop a processor with 1000 logical qubits by 2030. The conversation also highlights key milestones in quantum computing, showcasing error rate improvements and the potential impact of new algorithms on various fields, from drug development to optimization.

Delve into the cutting-edge achievements in physics for 2024, featuring groundbreaking research in nuclear physics, quantum computing, and medical physics. Discover innovative imaging techniques using quantum entanglement to enhance biological visualization and personalize lung cancer treatment. Learn about China's Chang'e 6 mission and its revealing samples from the moon’s far side, as well as major advancements in particle physics, including antimatter research and graphene’s potential. Explore breakthroughs in quantum computing that tackle error correction for a more powerful technological future!

In this engaging discussion, Alastair Hibbins, a metamaterials expert from the University of Exeter, and Claire Dancer, a commercialization guru from the University of Warwick, dive into the transformative world of metamaterials. They reveal innovative applications like soundproof materials and advanced mobile lenses. The duo shares insights on the UK Metamaterials Network, highlighting its growth and impact on research and industry. They also express excitement about future collaborations and the welcoming of their thousandth member by 2025.

Climate science and astronomy have much in common, and this has inspired the astrophysicist Travis Rector to call on astronomers to educate themselves, their students and the wider public about climate change. In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, Rector explains why astronomers should listen to the concerns of the public when engaging about the science of global warming. And, he says the positive outlook of some of his students at the University of Alaska Anchorage makes him believe that a climate solution is possible. Rector says that some astronomers are reluctant to talk to the public about climate change because they have not mastered the intricacies of the science. Indeed, one aspect of atmospheric physics that has challenged scientists is the role that clouds play in global warming. My second guest this week is the science journalist Michael Allen, who has written a feature article for Physics World called “Cloudy with a chance of warming: how physicists are studying the dynamical impact of clouds on climate change”. He talks about climate feedback mechanisms that involve clouds and how aerosols affect clouds and the climate. Rector is editor of the book Climate Change for Astronomers: Causes, consequences, and communication. It was published earlier this year by IOP Publishing – which also brings you Physics World

Joanne O’Meara, a medical physicist at the University of Guelph and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for science outreach, shares her passion for science communication and plans to open a new science center. Burcu Saner Okan, principal investigator at Sabanci University’s Sustainable Advanced Materials Research Group, discusses sustainable graphene production techniques, highlighting the use of recycled materials and the importance of a circular economy. Together, they reveal the beauty of physics in everyday life and innovative outreach strategies.

James Welsh, a radiation oncologist and author, discusses the biological impacts of space radiation on astronauts, revealing surprising resilience in human bodies compared to sensitive spacecraft electronics. He stresses that electronic failure may limit space missions more than health issues. Physicists Biju Patla and Neil Ashby present their innovative approach to establishing a lunar time system using atomic clocks, aiming to facilitate navigation and coordination on the Moon, with aspirations for a similar system on Mars.