NUS Physics Channel

PLANCKS 2026, an international physics competition held at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, brought together students around the world to compete, connect, and share their passion for physics. In addition to a rigorous physics contest, the four-day programme featured talks, company visit, tours, and social activities. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about the research environment and culture of the host country. Congratulations to the team from NUS Physics who achieved an impressive 9th place among 54 participating teams! Read here for more.

‘Don’t kiap your fingers! 😅’—that’s the advice given to secondary school students participating in the physics festival held recently at NUS Physics. Students were experimenting with controlling claw grip strength via the application of pressure, a lesson on the power of hydraulics. Such fun activity and more were part of the programme at Physics Engagement Camp 2026 aimed at igniting the interest among young students in physics through a series of thoughtfully curated experiences. Read here for more.

Professor Hao Yan, currently the Regents Professor and Milton D Glick Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Arizona State University, and Director of the Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics in the Biodesign Institute, visited NUS Physics from 2 to 4 June as part of the Distinguished Visitor Lecture Series. A pioneer of structural DNA nanotechnology, Prof Yan has helped establish it as a chemical and engineering discipline and has been instrumental in shaping the global biomolecular nanoscience community. Read here for more.

In a recent interview with Fortune, visiting professor at NUS Physics and climate scientist Prof Ming Yi, together with other regional scientists, expressed concerns about the impact that recent extreme weather conditions will bring to Asia. A potential “Super El Nino”, an exceptionally strong version of El Nino, threatens to disrupt hydropower generation and reduce agricultural output. To make matters worse, Asia is still reeling from the effects of a fuel crisis caused by tensions in the Middle East. Read here for more on the climatic and geopolitical pressures facing Asia: https://fortune.com/2026/05/28/asia-super-el-nino-iran-energy-crisis/. Watch this video to understand the strong El Nino signal scientists are looking out for.

👍

A recent street soccer game at the NUS handball court was organised by Prof Sow and Prof Scarani from NUS Physics. The next game will be around Week 6 of Semester 1, AY26/27. Stay tuned!

The 8th International Workshop on the TianQin Science Mission is happening currently at the National University of Singapore. Co-organised by NUS Physics this year, it is part of a series that was initiated by Sun Yat-sen University in 2014. The workshops provide a platform to share about the TianQin project and all related fields such as gravitational wave science, data analysis, multi-messenger astronomy, other current and future gravitational wave experiments, and recent observational results. For more on the TianQin project, read here: https://tianqin.sysu.edu.cn/en/about-TianQin

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and collaborators has developed a technique to precisely rearrange tens of thousands of individual atoms within a three-dimensional atomic lattice. The approach uses a set of algorithms to guide an electron beam under room temperature conditions unlike earlier techniques which could only move atoms slowly across the surface of materials in two dimensions in high-vacuum, ultracold lab conditions. This establishes a generalisable platform for atomic defect engineering at mesoscopic, and potentially macroscopic, scales, opening opportunities in sensing, optical, and magnetic technologies. Read here for more: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-3d-atomic-rearrangement-quantum-defects.html

The mathematical ratio pi (π) is a fundamental constant in physics that is used in formulae from circular and rotational motion, waves, electromagnetism to quantum mechanics. In fact, 2pi is commonly used in many of these formulae such as Maxwell equations. Now, some mathematicians are boldly declaring a replacement for pi. Find out why and what opponents say in this AI-assisted translation of the original German version: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-some-mathematicians-think-we-should-abandon-pi/

A warm welcome to Prof Lam Ping Koy who now holds a joint appointment between A*STAR and NUS Physics. Prof Lam is also the Chief Quantum Scientist at A*STAR and a Principal Investigator at the Centre for Quantum Technologies. A renowned experimental physicist, Prof Lam’s research work includes quantum optical states generation, quantum teleportation, quantum encryption, quantum opto-mechanics, quantum levitation, optical metrology, and quantum communications. Besides holding a number of research and visiting positions around the world, Prof Lam is also a co-founder of QuintessenceLabs, a company that focuses on practical quantum communication technologies. He will use his joint appointment to start a new research group at NUS focused on quantum levitation, quantum memory, and squeezed light.

At the recent Physics Engagement Day 2026, participants were introduced to the curriculum, research opportunities, and career pathways for physics graduates. The programme also featured lectures by faculty, research lab tours, and a stargazing session. It is hoped that prospective students are now better positioned to make decisions about their choice of major following their orientation in the department.

A journey 10 days long. A journey that broke crewed space records. A journey that revived humanity's pursuit of lunar exploration. Artemis II. On 2 April 2026, 6.35AM SGT, NASA's Space Launch System launched the Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts towards the Moon. This followed a free-return trajectory of 406771km—the furthest space flight distance travelled by mankind. The Orion spacecraft splashed down on 11 April 2026, 8.07AM SGT, making a record for the fastest crewed re-entry speed at roughly 11 km/s. Artemis II, the first crewed Artemis flight, marks a key step towards a long-term return to the Moon and future missions to Mars. The crew tested the spacecraft’s life support systems and completed a series of tests to evaluate and validate other critical operations. What's next? Learn more from NASA.

Figure (a) shows the formation of a DNA tether. Figure (b) illustrates the design of the engineered Piezo1 construct and the DNA-based force transduction system. (Credit: Nature Sensors) A research team led by Professor Liu Xiaogang and Professor Yan Jie from NUS Physics has developed a new method to directly measure how tiny mechanical forces activate a key protein in our cells, known as Piezo1, a sensor that allows cells to “feel” physical forces. This approach attaches Piezo1 to tiny beads using strands of DNA, and can be adapted to investigate other force-sensitive proteins, offering a versatile tool to better understand how mechanical forces influence biological processes. Read here for more: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2026/04/force-sensing-in-cells-at-the-single-molecule-level/

Ms Najat Mokhtar (middle) and delegates from IAEA visited CIBA and NUS Physics NUS Physics was pleased to host Deputy Director General Ms Najat Mokhtar and delegates from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 26 March. They visited the Centre for Ion Beam Applications (CIBA) and NUS Physics to explore potential collaboration in research and technical development. The discussions highlighted opportunities under IAEA programmes such as the Coordinated Research Projects and the Technical Cooperation Programme, and how Singapore-based research can contribute to regional and global impact. Read here for more: https://www.physics.nus.edu.sg/visit-by-iaea-delegates-to-ciba-and-nus-physics/

As global energy crisis deepens, low-carbon alternative like nuclear energy seems a viable option to bolster energy security. The Singapore Government is increasing its emphasis on capability building in nuclear energy with the recent commissioning of three nuclear safety studies (read more here). So what exactly is the power hidden in nuclear energy? Read here for more on the physics of nuclear power: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-energy-the-science-of-nuclear-power

For almost a century, the good old Scotch tape has found many common applications, from fixing torn book pages to wrapping gifts. Ever wondered how rapid peeling of the tape gives rise to the high-pitched screeching sound? Research shows it is the result of shock waves produced by micro-cracks propagating along the tape at supersonic speeds. Read more about the physics of the “screeching” Scotch tape here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/02/heres-why-scotch-tape-screeches-when-its-peeled/

Singapore’s quantum ecosystem has been further strengthened with the opening of a new R&D and operations centre by US-based firm Quantinuum.The centre aims to co-develop commercially relevant quantum solutions through collaborations with local researchers and industry partners. Besides growing Singapore’s capabilities in hardware and components across the quantum computing value chain, the firm’s presence is expected to boost the local pipeline of quantum specialists through its internships and other programmes. Read here for more: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-rd-centre-set-up-in-spore-to-spur-growth-of-quantum-computing-applications

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Open House will be held on campus on 7 March from 9 am to 6 pm at University Town. Prospective students and visitors can get first-hand knowledge about admissions, academic programmes, scholarships, and campus life, as well as chat with professors to explore NUS’ flexible curriculum and endless academic pathways. They can also interact with student leaders, catch some performances and get a feel for the activities that bring campus to life. Click here to find out more: https://www.nus.edu.sg/openhouse/

Professor Lo Hoi-Kwong from NUS Physics has been awarded the Leonard Mandel Quantum Optics Award in recognition of his contributions including the invention of decoy-state and measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution as well as the all-photonic quantum repeater. A principal investigator at the Centre for Quantum Technologies, Professor Lo began his research in quantum information more than three decades ago, well before it emerged as a major field in physics. Read here for more: https://www.cqt.sg/highlight/2026-02-hoi-kwong-lo-wins-award/

Scientists at CERN have fully reconstructed particle collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) using the new machine-learning-based particle-flow algorithm. Employing modern electronic chips called graphics processing units, this approach demonstrates how new uses of machine learning enable more accurate reconstruction of data and could directly benefit measurements, from precision tests of the Standard Model to searches for new particles. Read here for more:  https://phys.org/news/2026-02-machine-algorithm-fully-reconstructs-lhc.html