Development of the Wigner–Seitz method for interpreting metallic structure, study of Brillouin zones and calculations of energy bands in solids led to new understanding of molecular theory and of electronic structure in crystals.
MANY YOUNGER PHYSICISTS feel that all physics has grown up since World War II; or if they admit some earlier science, they feel that in this country everything started with the influx of European scientists as a result of political difficulties, beginning with the rise of Hitler in 1933, in Germany and Italy.
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
Get PT in your inbox
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.