NUS Physics Channel

Can physics be used even to predict the outcome of an election? Some physicists are convinced that the dynamics of public opinions and voting intentions can be modelled in the same way that scientists model the physical world. Read more about this emerging field of “sociophysics” here: https://physicsworld.com/a/the-physics-of-public-opinion/

Solar physicists discovered tiny bursts of superheated gas which they dubbed picoflare jets issuing from the sun’s atmosphere. Pictures snapped from the European Space Agency’s spacecraft Solar Orbiter showed the presence of such jets could push large number of particles into space thus fueling the solar wind. Read on to find out more: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02668-5

Extreme heatwaves seem likely to become the norm if climate change persists. Can science offer a solution to beat the hot conditions? Read on, and in the meantime stay cool 😎: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230802-what-is-the-best-clothing-to-keep-you-cool

The film Oppenheimer opened in cinemas last month to widespread acclaim. Known mainly as the lead scientist directing the Los Alamos lab during the Second World War, what were Oppenheimer's other important contributions? Learn more about the scientist beyond the Manhattan Project here: https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/online/42547/Oppenheimer-s-science-beyond-the-Manhattan-Project

Chan Si Min (centre) is pictured with advisors Berge Englert (left) and George Batrouni (right) raising a toast to her Best Graduate Researcher Award 2023 PhD student Chan Si Min @ NUS Physics has received the Best Graduate Researcher Award 2023. Si Min’s theoretical and computational modelling of superconductivity could serve as guides for future experimental realisations. Congratulations to Si Min! Read more here: https://www.quantumlah.org/about/highlight/2023-07-chan-si-min-graduate-award

Team Patchy Patches from Raffles Institution showcasing their project Illustratum 2023 ended on a high note with participants hoping to come back for more! The second annual physics hallway competition for secondary school students was well-received with a strong turnout of 63 teams from 17 schools. Read here for more: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/illustratum-2023/

Using data from 190 quasars observed over two decades, scientists are able to establish the time dilation of the early universe, further confirming Einstein's picture of the expanding universe: https://phys.org/news/2023-06-quasar-clocks-universe-slower-big.html

Award recipients Adam (left) and Xinghai Two award recipients of the inaugural KK Phua Prize share what contributed to their achievements: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/award-winners-from-class-of-2023/.

NUS Physics celebrates with all its recent graduates for having crossed another significant milestone in their academic journey! Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work, perseverance and more. The department wishes all graduates success as they embrace every challenge ahead and pursue their dreams further!

Prof Sow Chorng-Haur (left) and Dr Sharon Lim observing a glowing laser-engraved hair under UV light through a microscope. Professor Sow Chorng-Haur and his team @ NUS Physics have developed an innovative method of converting human hair waste into a functional material that can be used to encrypt sensitive information or detect environmental pollutants. For more on their research, read here: https://news.nus.edu.sg/utilising-fluorescence-to-repurpose-hair-waste/ or watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjwvx7u4TgA

(Left) Atomic structure of molybdenum disulphide vs (right) that of tungsten diselenide, both on gold metal. Research led by Professor Quek Su Ying from NUS Physics used state-of-the-art calculations to study two common 2D semiconductor materials in contact with gold metal. These interfaces influence parameters such as contact resistance and play a critical role in device performance. Read more here: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2023/04/18/towards-controlling-contact-polarity-and-contact-resistance-in-2d-material-devices/

Time is our most severe constraint—we begin and we end. But what exactly is time? This is the most fundamental question that physicists and philosophers ask. For Isaac Newton, time was an imaginary clock setting the pace for everything that exists. Ludwig Boltzmann viewed time as dictated by entropy growth. Albert Einstein incorporated it as a part of space-time, a fourth coordinate to describe physical events. However, what if all these extraordinary thinkers failed to capture the true essence of time? Some modern physicists, like Julian Barbour and Carlo Rovelli, believe so. Moreover, they claim that time is an illusion created by our minds, something that doesn't objectively exist. It may sound shocking, but before dismissing this seemingly crazy idea, why not take a look at their arguments? After all, as physics has proven countless times, the universe is not bound by common sense. In the meantime, enjoy your time—it's already Friday 😊

(From left) CQT PhD student Jonathan Schwinger, Principal Investigator Yvonne Gao and Research Fellow Pan Xiaozhou Researchers at the NUS Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) have demonstrated a way to extend the life of a qubit contender. Principal Investigator Yvonne Gao and her team experimented with using compressed cat states to keep their quantum features longer. Read more here: https://www.quantumlah.org/about/highlight/2023-05-compressed-cat-states

Prof Feng surrounded by well-wishers—colleagues, collaborators and research students An event to celebrate NUS Physics Professor Feng Yuan Ping’s career at the university was held recently. From establishing research in the field of computational condensed matter and materials physics to being a highly respected academic, the department deeply honours all of Prof Feng's contributions. Read more here: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/celebrating-prof-fengs-career-at-nus/

Zeyu (right) demonstrating experiments for a physics engagement camp Physics student Fan Zeyu was diagnosed with a neurological condition which makes it difficult for him to stay focused, among others. With self-discoveries of what works for him and support from his professors and friends, Zeyu overcame the odds and is now on his way to graduation. Read how he manages his studies despite all the challenges in this Science blog: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2023/04/17/generation-grit/

A reappearing supernova offers a new measure of the universe’s expansion https://www.sciencenews.org/article/supernova-universe-expansion-hubble-constant

(From left) CQT Principal Investigator Valerio Scarani, PhD students Pooja Jayachandran and Zaw Lin Htoo and their group members have published a series of works on certifying quantumness. (Credit: CQT) NUS Physics Professor Valerio Scarani and his team from the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) have proposed a family of entanglement witnesses for continuous variable systems, certifying entanglement of oscillators by measuring their position at suitable times. Find out more here: https://www.quantumlah.org/about/highlight/2023-04-entanglement-witness

Artistic illustration of a graphene-based magnetic field sensor (Credit: Nikita Kazeev) NUS Physics and Materials Science & Engineering Assistant Professor Alexey Berdyugin and his team together with their collaborators have made novel discoveries concerning room-temperature magnetoresistance effect. Find out more here: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2023/04/14/giant-room-temperature-magnetoresistance/