Your July 2024 Issue of Physics Today Is Now Available

Physics Today, the flagship publication of the American Institute of Physics (AIP), is the most influential and closely followed physics magazine in the world. With authoritative features, full news coverage and analysis, and fresh perspectives on technological advances and groundbreaking research, Physics Today informs readers about science and its role in society. Members of the AAS, an AIP Member Society, automatically receive free print and online subscriptions to the magazine. Physics Today Online, the magazine’s internet home, presents an enhanced digital edition and provides a valuable online archive.

Highlights from the July 2024 Issue

Metamaterial Device Makes 16 Polarization Measurements at Once
Capturing all the ways that an object can affect a light wave’s polarization has always been cumbersome. Now it can be done in an instant. — Johanna L. Miller

When Cellular Systems Meet Power Grids
Although biological energy systems and electrical grids differ in scale and are studied by different disciplines, the strategies from one system could lead to benefits for the other. — Annette Kim, Tyler Alexander, Harvey Rubin, and Divyansh Agarwal

Fixing the PhD Qualifying Exam
For the past five years, the faculty in the department of atmospheric, oceanic, and Earth sciences at George Mason University has used a qualifying process that overcomes many of the shortcomings of traditional exams. — Timothy DelSole and Paul A. Dirmeyer

Exploring Mars's Harsh Atmosphere
Getting humans to Mars is difficult enough. But things won’t be any easier after they arrive: The red planet’s climate and weather are anything but friendly. — Erdal YiÄŸit

What Is Nuclear Energy’s Role in Mitigating Climate Change?
Cost, construction time, and safety, security, and proliferation risks all figure in. — Toni Feder

Arecibo STEM Educational Center to Open Soon
Biology and computer science activities replace the iconic radio telescope at the Puerto Rican observatory site. — Hannah H. Means

The Threat from Cosmic Flotsam
A power-law distribution of asteroid impacts on Earth spans 13 orders of magnitude in energy. The risk is dominated by low-probability but high-consequence events. — Mark Boslough

See the Complete Table of Contents