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Physics

Essays and videos exploring physics, evolution, cosmology and other frontiers in science

Astronomy Biology Biotechnology Chemistry Complexity Computing and artificial intelligence Cosmology Deep time Earth science and climate Ecology and environmental sciences Engineering Evolution Genetics History of science Human evolution Human reproduction Illness and disease Mathematics Medicine Oceans and water Palaeontology Physics Quantum theory Space exploration

3D heat map graph with peaks in red and valleys in blue showing data variation.

video

Music

A riveting audiovisual dive into what makes sounds harmonious, or not

28 minutes

Illustration of two turquoise beams pointing from the Milky Way galaxy toward another galaxy on a black background.

video

History of science

How we came to know the size of the Universe – and what mysteries remain

26 minutes

Renaissance drawing of two figures in robes in a circle on aged paper. One figure points to a celestial object composed of concentric circles on the left.

essay

Philosophy of science

Why philosophy of physics?

Some physicists reject philosophy as a distraction from ‘real’ science but it is in fact both useful and beautiful

James Read

Infrared image of the Milky Way shows a glowing red band of stars across a blue background, indicating cosmic dust and gas.

essay

History of science

The light beyond sight

Only a tiny sliver of the Universe’s light can be seen by human eyes. But today we’re catching glimpses of the invisible

Corey S Powell

Satellite image showing swirling ocean currents in vivid colours off the east coast of the US.

video

Oceans and water

A stunning visualisation explores the intricate circulatory system of our oceans

5 minutes

3D digital graphic of geometric shapes—cube, spheres and orbits—in space with a starry background.

video

History of science

Ideas ‘of pure genius’ – how astronomers have measured the Universe across history

29 minutes

Abstract colourful illustration showing various sections of a face and a black cat with lines and geometric shapes, from the perspective of someone peeing into a box.

essay

Physics

The cat that wouldn’t die

The weird paradox of Schrödinger’s cat has found a lasting popularity. What does it mean for the future of quantum physics?

Jim Baggott

Abstract digital art with glowing spirals and spheres on a dark background.

video

Computing and artificial intelligence

A future in which ‘artificial scientists’ make discoveries may not be far away

9 minutes

Microscopic image showing a close-up view of a butterfly’s proboscis covered with vibrant pink and orange structures.

video

Biology

Butterflies become unrecognisable landscapes when viewed under electron microscopes

4 minutes

A desert highway at dusk with cliffs and the moon visible and a rear-view mirror showing a road and sunset reflection behind.

essay

Physics

The stagnation of physics

Physicists today need to jettison the all-too-attractive myth that they are uncovering the hidden reality of our Universe

Adrien De Sutter

A man speaking on stage with a headset microphone wearing glasses and a black sweater gesturing expressively with his hands.

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Metaphysics

What do past, present and future mean to a philosopher of time?

55 minutes

A man in a suit demonstrates with a series of blocks in a lab setting; photo.

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Engineering

From simple motors to levitating trains – how design shapes innovation

24 minutes

Digital artwork of a forest inside a circular frame with geometric lines, displayed against a black background.

essay

Stories and literature

Laboratories of the impossible

By testing the boundaries of reality, Spanish-language authors have created a sublime counterpart to experimental physics

Joshua Roebke

Close-up photo of a textured surface with vibrant purple, orange and blue abstract patterns.

video

Film and visual culture

Our world has very different contours when a millimetre is blown up to a full screen

8 minutes

Abstract digital art of glowing, multicoloured clusters against a dark background, resembling molecules in space.

video

Physics

Groundbreaking visualisations show how the world of the nucleus gives rise to our own

10 minutes

A solitary figure walking up misty stairs toward an unclear building, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

essay

Philosophy of science

The nature of natural laws

Physicists and philosophers today have formulated three opposing models that explain how laws work. Which is the best?

Mario Hubert

Drawing of Earth and the Moon in orbit with straight lines trailing off each on a white background with grey specks.

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Physics

To change the way you see the Moon, view it from the Sun’s perspective

5 minutes

A sea turtle swimming underwater in clear turquoise water with sunlight shimmering on the surface.

essay

Philosophy of science

Elusive but everywhere

A new theory argues that unseen ‘fields’ guide all goal-directed things in the Universe, from falling rocks to voyaging turtles

Daniel W McShea & Gunnar O Babcock

Illustration of a person reading a book with glowing hot air balloons and mountains emerging from the pages.

essay

Physics

The city of wisdom

Don’t be intimidated by physics: it is made of stories and metaphors. Learn these and the field will open up to you

Jamie Zvirzdin

Black and white photo of a vintage race car numbered 6 speeding past blurred spectators emphasising motion and early motor racing.

essay

History of science

Clock time contra lived time

Henri Bergson and Albert Einstein fundamentally disagreed about the nature of time and how it can be measured. Who was right?

Evan Thompson

A digital painting of abstract shapes and lines featuring colourful spheres with light trails against a wavy background.

essay

Physics

Chasing ghost particles

Without the neutrino, the Universe might be an empty void. But this inscrutable particle isn’t giving up its secrets easily

Corey S Powell

A man playing a piano in a dark room with animated planets and stars floating around him, illuminated by soft light.

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Physics

The rhythms of a star system inspire a pianist’s transfixing performance

5 minutes

Two beetles with translucent wings flying against a pink background.

video

Biology

Beetles take flight at 6,000 frames per second in this perspective-shifting short

9 minutes

Close-up of two black optical devices with visible yellow light inside the lenses, set against a blurry background.

video

Physics

What does it look like to hunt for dark matter? Scenes from one frontier in the search

7 minutes