Physics World

The World Science Festival is posing the question of whether artificial intelligence has solved a problem in physics that has stood unsolved for roughly half a century. The discussion is drawing large audiences, with hundreds of thousands engaging with the topic as scientists and viewers debate whether AI has genuinely produced a breakthrough or merely a promising lead in the long-standing puzzle.

A science explainer showing what quantum mechanics actually looks like in practice has drawn huge attention, with viewers responding that the reality of quantum phenomena is 'spookier' than they expected. The item highlights quantum behaviour that defies everyday intuition, prompting renewed public discussion about how strange the physical world is at small scales and why quantum effects are so hard to visualise.

Italian tennis great Adriano Panatta has publicly backed Jannik Sinner amid criticism over his withdrawal, saying the world number one does not have to publish his medical records and that his physical problem is reportedly a complicated one. Panatta also suggested a change in Sinner's coaching staff, recommending a different role for Simone Bertolucci, and warned that modern tournaments are so demanding that today's players suffer injuries that were far rarer thirty years ago.

BBC News is reporting on efforts to study the very small — the subatomic realm — in order to understand how the universe works at its most fundamental level. The piece highlights physics research into particles and the basic laws of nature, drawing strong public interest as audiences follow new discoveries about matter, quantum behaviour and the origins of the cosmos.

BodySharing Physical AI, described as the world's first physical AI that learns the movements and force control of everyday tasks done with bare hands, including proprioceptive sensing, has been unveiled for the first time at CEATEC in Japan. The announcement is drawing attention as a step toward robots and AI systems that can replicate delicate human manipulation in real-world settings.

Ars Technica reports on new findings about the uranium cubes used in Nazi Germany's wartime nuclear research programme, examining how their design and handling shed light on why the German atomic bomb effort never came close to success during the Second World War. The story connects surviving physical artefacts to the scientific and organisational failings of the programme.