What is the value to the economy of research in pure physics? The study of the nucleus is one example of pure research that has paid dividends in the production of electrical power, new materials and techniques.
RECENTLY THE VALUE of pure research to the US nation has come into question. Although the federal government has steadily increased its support of pure research since the Second World War, attempts to determine the value of pure‐research activities to the national economy have been inconclusive. Project Hindsight concluded that very little basic research carried on in university laboratories had contributed to the development of weapons systems since the war and implied that consequently there was little point in the Defense Department’s continued support of pure research in universities. On the other hand, those individuals who support increased funding of pure research by the federal government point out that the nation’s most rapidly growing industries are those that have invested most heavily in research, with the implied conclusion that an investment in pure research will result in an expanded national economy.
Technical knowledge and skills are only some of the considerations that managers have when hiring physical scientists. Soft skills, in particular communication, are also high on the list.
Research exchanges between US and Soviet scientists during the second half of the 20th century may be instructive for navigating today’s debates on scientific collaboration.
The Eisenhower administration dismissed the director of the National Bureau of Standards in 1953. Suspecting political interference with the agency’s research, scientists fought back—and won.
Alternative undergraduate physics courses expand access to students and address socioeconomic barriers that prevent many of them from entering physics and engineering fields. The courses also help all students develop quantitative skills.
Defying the often-perceived incompatibility between the two subjects, some physicists are using poetry to communicate science and to explore the human side of their work.
September 01, 2025 12:00 AM
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Physics Today - The Week in Physics
The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.
