A transformed Physics Today
Physics Today’s 75th anniversary two years ago not only provided an opportunity for us to look back at PT’s history but also prompted us to look ahead to its future. In particular, we took stock of the multifaceted changes in the ways that people engage with science, with news, and with each other—changes accelerated by the growing international and interdisciplinary nature of science, the increasing speed of communication, and the explosion of competition for audiences’ attention.
An essential part of PT’s future was immediately clear: The monthly rhythm of a print magazine was insufficient for keeping up with both the pace of science and the pace of events affecting the scientific community. We thus embarked on a digital transformation, the results of which you can see at https://physicstoday.org . No longer will you need to wait until the next monthly issue to read our latest content; it is now produced on a continual basis, with most content subsequently appearing in the next print issue. The website, too, has a new look and is on a new platform, which offers a modern, more magazine-like experience that makes it easier to find content you care about.
This issue marks another milestone in our transformation. Our move to a new online home has enabled us, for the first time, to unify our online and print designs. For all the advantages presented by the new PT website, we know that many of you continue to look forward to receiving a physical magazine that you can hold, browse, and happen across new things in, so we leapt at the opportunity to refresh and update its look, which makes its debut in this issue. Beyond our new PT logo, you’ll see cleaner layouts, fewer distractions, larger and more readable fonts, and other changes designed to present a more inviting, enjoyable, and consistent reader experience.
Although our look has changed, the content remains true to our mission: to be a unifying influence on the physical sciences by cultivating a shared understanding, appreciation, and sense of belonging among scientists. Through feature articles, reports on research advances, news of trends affecting the scientific community, profiles of trailblazers, and unique voices, we cover the physical sciences without regard to disciplinary boundaries and capture the experience of being a scientist today.
In this issue we present advice on how to get started with science outreach, a deep dive into the science behind the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, and an analysis of the oversight needs for climate-intervention strategies. It reports on recent research on quasicrystals and a 160-year-old study of snowflake crystals. The issue includes trends in US physics and astronomy faculty numbers and a short interview with a physics PhD who pursued a career in the international public sector, outside of academia. And it introduces a new regular feature: a physics-themed crossword.
PT’s evolution, of course, is not over. Nor do we want it to be. Even as we remain familiar, we will also remain fresh—and that requires continued change and innovation. And since PT is a magazine for and about you, it will also evolve with feedback from you—whether at conferences, in reader surveys, or via https://contact.physicstoday.org or pteditors@aip.org .
Welcome to the new Physics Today.
