A new perspective bridges two approaches to understanding quantum gravity. The modern-day theoretical physicist faces a taxing uphill climb. "As we learn more, reality becomes ever more subtle; the ...

We review aspects of twistor theory, its aims and achievements spanning the last five decades. In the twistor approach, space–time is secondary with events being derived objects that correspond to ...

MOST people have at least heard of string theory, even if their ideas about what it actually is may be a bit vague. One of the most widely publicised aspects of string theory is its need for extra ...

The eminent theoretical physicist Roger Penrose is worried about the current path of physical research. In Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe, he argues that the eponymous ...

The Nature Index 2025 Research Leaders — previously known as Annual Tables — reveal the leading institutions and countries/territories in the natural and health sciences, according to their output in ...

Sometimes inspiration can strike suddenly. On October 16th, 1843, while walking along the Royal Canal from Dunsink Observatory to the Royal Irish Academy, William Rowan Hamilton had a flash of ...

String theory is the idea that the fundamental particles we observe are not point-like dots, but rather tiny strings. String theory is one of the most famous ideas in modern physics, but it is also ...

The modern-day theoretical physicist faces a taxing uphill climb. "As we learn more, reality becomes ever more subtle; the absolute becomes relative, the fixed becomes dynamical, the definite is laden ...