Your December 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 December 2024 Issue

Chien-Shiung Wu's Trailblazing Experiments in Particle Physics
The Chinese American physicist led groundbreaking experiments that demonstrated parity violation and photon entanglement. Many in the physics community say Wu deserved more accolades in her lifetime. — Chon-Fai Kam, Cheng-Ning Zhang, and Da Hsuan Feng

The Mysterious, Massive Structures in Earth’s Deep Mantle
Seismic waves traversing the interior of the planet reveal continent-sized regions with distinct physical properties. Researchers are investigating what they are, how they got there, and what their role is in Earth’s dynamic convecting interior. — Edward Garnero and Claire Richardson

Nobel Prize Highlights Neural Networks’ Physics Roots
The road to the modern machine-learning marvels was paved with ideas from statistical mechanics and collective phenomena. — Johanna L. Miller

Going With the Flow in Unstable Surroundings
A colorful technique allows us to better understand the development of branching patterns in fluid flow. — Savannah D. Gowen, Thomas E. Videbæk, and Sidney R. Nagel

Q&A: Hyejin Youn Applies Statistical Physics to Human Behavior
The physicist examines crime, transportation, innovation, and more in the burgeoning field of computational social science. — Toni Feder

See the Complete Table of Contents