Michael Banks
Verified
📚 THE SECRET SCIENCE OF BABY (2022), PHYSICS AROUND THE CLOCK (2025, US: April 2026) linktr.ee/michaelbanks. News Editor of @physicsworld.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Michael Banks
Astronomers capture highest-resolution image ever of the Sun’s surface – Physics World
Astronomers capture highest-resolution image ever of the Sun’s surface – Physics World Skip to main content Discover more from Physics World Copyright © 2026 by IOP Publishing Ltd and individual contributors
Astronomers capture highest-resolution image ever of the Sun’s surface
Solar swirls: the spectacular image was taken by the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope based in Hawaii (courtesy: NSF/NSO/AURA/MPS) An international team of astronomers has released the highest-resolution image ever captured of the Sun’s visible surface. Taken by the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, the picture reveals tiny plasma whirlpool-like patterns that have never been seen before (Nature doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10871-3).
Future of UK physics threatened by ‘ruinous’ funding cuts, says Institute of Physics
Balancing the budget of the Science and Technology Facilities Council has resulted in the cancellation of several significant international projects, as Michael Banks reports Under threat: If the cuts go ahead, funding for the e-MERLIN project at Jodrell Bank will now run out in 2028, putting the future of the facility at risk (courtesy: Mike Peel, CC BY-SA 4.0) Physicists in the UK have reacted with dismay following the decision by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to...
Future of UK physics threatened by ‘ruinous’ funding cuts, says Institute of Physics
Balancing the budget of the Science and Technology Facilities Council has resulted in the cancellation of several significant international projects, as Michael Banks reports Under threat If the cuts go ahead, funding for the e-MERLIN project at Jodrell Bank will now run out in 2028, putting the future of the facility at risk.
Private investment in fusion firms jumps by $4.5bn
Ambitious timeline: some 70% of fusion firms still expect the first fusion plant to deliver commercial electricity by the 2030s (courtesy: General Fusion) Private fusion companies have raised almost $4.5bn in funding over the past year – a 70% increase year-on-year. That is according to a report on the state of the fusion industry, which was published yesterday by the Fusion Industry Association (FIA).
Study reveals the energy cost of Hannibal’s Alpine crossing
Animal crossing: it is estimated that 30 out of the 37 elephants belonging to Hannibal’s army managed to cross the Alps (courtesy: Frank af Petersens/Save the Elephants) It is one of the most extraordinary feats of military history – how the Carthaginian general Hannibal managed to cross the Alps with an army of 46 000 men, 7000 horses and 37 war elephants in 218 BC.
Vera C. Rubin Observatory kicks off 10-year quest to map the cosmos
Stars in its eyes: the lupus constellation as seen by the Legacy Survey of Space and Time camera, which has now begun a 10-year survey of the universe. (Courtesy: NSF–DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA) A major astronomy facility in the Andes has begun a 10-year survey of the Southern sky with the aim of creating the most comprehensive, cinematic record of the universe ever made. Based in Cerro Pachón in the Andes, the Vera C.
CERN says Large Hadron Collider has ‘exceeded every expectation’ as it shuts down ahead of major upgrade
Smashing success: members of the CMS collaborations celebrate the end of run 3 at the Large Hadron Collider (courtesy: CERN) Officials at the CERN particle-physics lab near Geneva have turned off the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for the last time. Over the coming four years, the accelerator complex will be upgraded to prepare for the High-Luminosity LHC (HiLumi LHC) that is set to start operations in 2030.
Belgian Nobel-prize-winning theoretical physicist François Englert dies aged 93
Particle pioneer: François Englert shared the 2013 Nobel Prize for Physics with Peter Higgs for the theoretical work behind the Higgs boson (courtesy: CERN) The Nobel-prize-winning Belgian theoretical physicist François Englert, whose work led to the discovery of the Higgs boson, died on 18 June at the age of 93.
Scottish quantum start-up Quantcore wins IOP qBIG prize
From left to right: Stuart Nicol, Quantum Exponential; Wridhdhisom Karar, Quantcore; Louis Barson, Institute of Physics; and Wenmiao Yu, IOP qBIG group (courtesy: IOP) The Glasgow-based quantum hardware manufacturer Quantcore has been awarded the 2026 qBIG prize from the Institute of Physics (IOP).
Stunning Moon sculpture unveiled at Royal Observatory Greenwich
Out of this world: the art installation features accurate topographic data of the Moon (courtesy: National Maritime Museum) A spectacular new lunar art installation has been installed at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Dubbed Mirror Moon it has been created by British artist Luke Jerram and is open for public display today at the observatory. The artwork is 2 m in diameter and is made of stainless steel.
Fractal maths helps distinguish genuine artworks from forgeries
Double vision: the new technique converts high-resolution images of an artwork into 3D like topological maps (Courtesy: F Berkmans et al Surf. Topogr.: Metrol. Prop. 14 025016, 2026, IOP Publishing) Researchers at the Polytechnic University of Hauts-de-France have used fractal mathematics to create a new non-invasive method that can distinguish genuine artworks from forgeries (Surf. Topogr.: Metrol. Prop. 14 025016).
Research on magnetic plasma confinement wins Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Outstanding Paper Prize
Hot stuff: scientists working on the TCV tokamak found that a certain plasma shape – dubbed negative triangularity – can help to keep the hot plasma stable and better contained. (Courtesy: A Herzog/EPFL) Experimental physicist Stefano Coda from the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne (EPFL) and colleagues have been awarded the 2026 Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (PPCF) Outstanding Paper Prize for their research on magnetic confinement fusion.
Jessica Dempsey takes up post as head of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory
Next step: astronomer Jessica Dempsey will lead the Square Kilometre Array Observatory for the next five years. (Courtesy: Square Kilometre Array Observatory) Astronomer Jessica Dempsey has become director-general of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), which will be the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope when it opens next year. Dempsey will now serve a five-year term as director-general and succeeds Philip Diamond, who held the role since 2012.
Institute of Physics president Paul Howarth outlines his vision for physics
New IOP president Paul Howarth tells Michael Banks that communicating the relevance of physics to society has never been more important Forward planning Nuclear physicist Paul Howarth became president of the Institute of Physics in February 2026 and will stay in the role until 2029.
Physicist John Hill takes the helm at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Taking the helm: John Hill will oversee Brookhaven’s $900m annual budget (courtesy: Kevin Coughlin/Brookhaven National Laboratory) John Hill has become director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Long Island, New York, after serving as interim lab director since September. Hill will now oversee Brookhaven’s 3000-strong team of scientists, engineers and technicians as well as manage the lab’s annual $900m budget.
Nottingham physics redundancies ‘an act of academic sabotage’, warn scientists
Under threat: leaders of Nottingham University are proposing to cut almost 30% of staff in the physics department (courtesy: Shamraze/Nuhaize/ CC BY 2.0) Almost 2000 scientists criticising planned redundancies at the University of Nottingham in the UK. The signatories, which include six Nobel laureates, call on the university to reverse its plan to reduce the number of staff members in the physics department from 71 to 51.
Striking mathematical pattern uncovered in Chinese money plant leaves
Branching out: the team say it is the first demonstration of Voronoi diagrams in plant venation patterns. Left: a leaf of the Chinese money plant. Right: A computer model of a Voronoi diagram that traces the leaf’s central “pores” and looping reticulate veins (courtesy: Navlakha lab/CSHL) Researchers in the US and Canda have discovered a naturally occurring “Voronoi pattern” in the Chinese money plant.
Paul Howarth: IOP president highlights the need to raise the profile of physics in society
This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast features an interview with Paul Howarth, who became president of the Institute of Physics (IOP) in February. The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. Representing 21,000 members, it supports physicists at all stages of their careers and seeks to make physics accessible to people from all backgrounds.
Officials hail ‘major milestone’ for US Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment
Heading underground: Some 4.5 million kilograms of steel beams are set to be moved underground that will be used to hold neutrino detectors in place (Courtesy: Matthew Kapust, SURF). A vast complex of steel beams for a next-generation neutrino detector has begun its descent underground in what officials have called a “pivotal phase” towards construction of the $3.3bn Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment-Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (DUNE-LBNF).
Tiny knotted fibre leaps into the air like a springtail bug
Tied up in knots: the tiny knotted robot could find applications in agriculture and reforestation (courtesy: Bella Ciervo/Penn Engineering) Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Los Angeles, have created a tiny, soft knot-like fibre that can jump meters into the air. The fibre is less than a millimetre thick, and a few millimetres long and contains a Kevlar core surrounded by a shell of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE).
The Physics World 2026 Particle and Nuclear Briefing is out now
The Physics World 2026 Particle and Nuclear Briefing covers plans for the next major particle collider as well as examines careers in the nuclear industry (courtesy: istock/bymuratdeniz) Since taking up the role of CERN director-general earlier this year, Mark Thomson has already had to contemplate the consequences of funding changes within the UK’s research councils.
Study reveals the physics behind nature’s pointed tips
Leading edge: collisions between pencils found that no matter how sharp they were to begin with, their tips always developed a parabolic shape (courtesy: John Sebastian, Technical University of Denmark) You might think that a bee’s stinger, a rose’s thorn or a razor-like animal tooth has a sharp pointed tip, rather like “cone-shaped” needles used for injections. Yet a closer look finds otherwise, and these objects are usually rounded at the tip, curving gently like a parabola.
Researchers express ‘grave concern’ over attacks on Iranian institutions and science
Organizations that have been attacked during the war in Iran include the Information and Communication Technology Research Institute at Isfahan University of Technology (courtesy: Hosein Tahmasebi) Almost 1400 people, including two Nobel laureates, have signed an open letter condemning the US/Israeli attacks on Iranian academicinstitutions.
Dark energy survey unveils the largest 3D map of the universe
Star map: The work involved mapping more than 47 million galaxies and quasars as well as 20 million stars over a five-year period. (Courtesy: DESI Collaboration and DESI Member Institutions/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R Proctor. Image processing: M Zamani, SF NOIRLab) The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has created the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe. The work involved observing more than 47 million galaxies and quasars as well as 20 million stars over a five-year period.
NASA launches crewed Artemis II mission to the Moon
Lift-off: the four-person craft will conduct a fly-by of the Moon before returning to Earth around 10 April (courtesy: NASA/Michael DeMocker) NASA has successfully launched four astronauts on a 10-day mission to the Moon. The crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – were aboard the Orion spacecraft that was launched yesterday by a Space Launch System rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Researchers from China dominate IOPP outstanding reviewer awards
Peerless: more than 1600 individuals from 74 countries have been honoured with a 2025 outstanding reviewer award from IOP Publishing (courtesy: istock/nupendekdee) More than 1600 researchers from 74 different countries have won “outstanding reviewer awards” from IOP Publishing, with researchers from China making up almost a third of awardees. The annual award recognises scientists who have delivered exceptional peer-review reports for IOP Publishing journals over the past year.
Researchers at CERN transport antiprotons by truck in world‑first experiment
On the move: yesterday a team at CERN successfully managed to transport a cloud of 92 antiprotons around the lab. (courtesy: CERN) Researchers at the CERN particle-physics lab have successfully transported antiprotons in a lorry across the lab’s main site. The feat, the first of its kind, follows a similar test with protons in 2024. CERN says the achievement is “a huge leap” towards being able to transport antimatter between labs across Europe.
Quantum physicists Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard win $1m Turing Award
Cryptography pioneers: Charles Bennett (left) and Gilles Brassard introduced the BB84 protocol the uses the principles of quantum mechanics to send data securely (courtesy: ACM). The quantum physicists Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard have been awarded the 2025 ACM Turing Award “for their essential role in establishing the foundations of quantum information science and transforming secure communication and computing”.
Inside the world’s particle‑physics labs: Global Physics Photowalk 2025 winners revealed
Marco Donghia’s photograph of the Cryogenic Laboratory for Detectors at INFN National Laboratories of Frascati won first place in the judges’ competition (courtesy: Marco Donghia) From an image of a detector hunting for signs of dark matter to a picture of a deep-sea neutrino telescope studying astrophysical phenomena, the winning entries for the 2025 Global Physics Photowalk have been announced by the Interactions Collaboration – an international network of particle physics institution.
Celebrating 100 years of physics at Tsinghua University
Wenhui Duan, head of physics at Tsinghua University in Beijing, talks to Michael Banks about Tsinghua’s plans for the future as it celebrate its centenary this year Looking ahead: Wenhui Duan says that artificial intelligence will be an important factor for physics in the coming decades (courtesy: Tsinghua University) Can you tell us about your career in physics?
Condensed-matter physics pioneer and Nobel laureate Anthony Leggett dies aged 87
Anthony Leggett made pioneering contributions to the theory of superfluidity in the 1970s (courtesy: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) The British-American theoretical physicist Anthony Leggett died on 8 March at the age of 87. Leggett shared the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics with Alexei Abrikosov and Vitaly Ginzburg for their “pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluidity”.
UK physics leaders express 'deep concern' over funding cuts in letter to science minister Patrick Vallance – Physics World
Cause for concern: the signatories of the letter say that cuts to UK physics, which include deprioritizing a UK-led upgrade at CERN, are causing “reputational risk” (courtesy: CERN) The heads of university physics departments in the UK have published an open letter expressing their “deep concern” about funding changes announced late last year by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the umbrella organisation for the UK’s research councils.
The physics of why basketball shoes are so squeaky – Physics World
Pip and squeak: the noise of squeaky basketball shoes is down to the base of the shoe forming wrinkles that travel at near supersonic speeds (courtesy: istock/good life studio) If you have ever watched a basketball match, you will know that along with the sound of the ball being bounced, there is also the constant squeaking of shoes as the players move across the court.
Quantum scientists release 'manifesto' opposing the militarization of quantum research – Physics World
Joining forces: some 250 quantum scientists have signed the manifesto that “categorically rejects” the use of quantum research for military applications (courtesy: istock/koto feja) More than 250 quantum scientists have signed a “manifesto” opposing the use of quantum research for military purposes.
International Year of Quantum Science and Technology draws to a close – Physics World
A time to celebrate: Tom Grinyer, chief executive of the Institute of Physics, speaking at the closing ceremony of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (courtesy: Institute of Physics) The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) has officially closed following a two-day event in Accra, Ghana. The year has seen hundreds of events worldwide celebrating the science and applications of quantum physics.
International Year of Quantum Science and Technology draws to a close – Physics World
A time to celebrate: Tom Grinyer, chief executive of the Institute of Physics, speaking at the closing ceremony of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (courtesy: Institute of Physics) The International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) has officially closed following a two-day event in Accra, Ghana. The year has seen hundreds of events worldwide celebrating the science and applications of quantum physics.
CERN upgrade to LHCb experiment threatened by UK funding cuts – Physics World
A major upgrade to the LHCb experiment at CERN is unlikely to go ahead if cuts are not reversed (courtesy: Brice, Maximilien/CERN) A major upgrade to the LHCb experiment at CERN is under threat after the UK cancelled its contribution towards it. The decision by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to defund the project means that unless the decision if overturned, the experiment will now likely finish operation in 2033.
Top-cited authors from India and North America share their tips for early-career researchers – Physics World
Positive feedback: many researchers highlight how it is important to write clearly and communicate your ideas with simplicity and purpose (courtesy: shutterstock/melitas) Some 20 papers from researchers based in North America have been recognized with a Top Cited Paper award for 2025 from IOP Publishing, which publishes Physics World.
The physics of an unethical daycare model that uses illness to maximize profits – Physics World
Child’s play: nurseries or daycare centres can be a breeding ground for bugs and germs (Courtesy: shutterstock/monkey business images) When I had two kids going through daycare, or nursery as we call it in the UK, every day seemed like a constant fight with germs and illness. After all, at such a young age kids still have a developing immune system and are not exactly hot on personal hygiene. That same dilemma faced mathematician Lauren Smith from the University of Auckland.
Michele Dougherty steps aside as president of the Institute of Physics – Physics World
Stepping aside: the space scientist Michele Dougherty from Imperial College London spent two years as IOP president-elect from October 2023 before becoming president in October 2025. (Courtesy: IOP) The space physicist Michele Dougherty has stepped aside as president of the Institute of Physics, which publishes Physics World.
European Space Agency unveils first images from Earth-observation 'sounder' satellite – Physics World
Eye in the sky: Data from the Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder satellite will help improve the accuracy of weather forecasting (courtesy: EUMETSAT) The European Space Agency has released from the Meteosat Third Generation-Sounder (MTG-S) satellite. They show variations in temperature and humidity over Europe and northern Africa in unprecedented detail with further data from the mission set to improve weather-forecasting models and improve measurements of air quality over Europe.
Physicist Norbert Holtkamp takes over as head of Fermilab – Physics World
Particle pioneer: One of Holtkamp’s main aims will be to oversee the completion of the $1.5bn Long- Baseline Neutrino Facility-Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (courtesy: JJ Starr, Fermilab) Particle physicist Norbert Holtkamp has been appointed the new director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He took up the position on 12 January, replacing Young-Kee Kim from the University of Chicago, who held the job on an interim basis following the resignation of Lia Merminga last year.
CERN accepts $1bn in private cash towards Future Circular Collider – Physics World
Mark Thomson takes the reins at the CERN particle-physics lab, which recently received $1bn in private donations for its next collider project, as Michael Banks reports Bigger and better: The Large Hadron Collider at CERN will shut down later this year to make way for a major upgrade – the High-Luminosity LHC (courtesy: CERN) The CERN particle-physics lab near Geneva has received $1bn from private donors towards the construction of the Future Circular Collider (FCC).
Astronomer Daniel Jaffe named president of the Giant Magellan Telescope project – Physics World
Jaffe joins the Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation as it aims to secure the funding necessary to complete the $2.5bn telescope. (Courtesy: Giant Magellan Telescope – GMTO Corporation) Astronomer Daniel Jaffe has been appointed the next president of the Giant Magellan Telescope Corporation – the international consortium building the $2.5bn Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). He succeeds Robert Shelton, who announced his retirement last year after eight years in the role.
Watching how grasshoppers glide inspires new flying robot design – Physics World
Flight of the grasshopper: work on how grasshoppers glide could result in new options to extend the flight time for insect-sized robots (courtesy: Princeton University/Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy) While much insight has been gleaned from how grasshoppers hop, their gliding prowess has mostly been overlooked. Now researchers at Princeton University have studied how these gangly insects deploy and retract their wings to inspire a new approach to flying robots.
Chess960 still results in white having an advantage, finds study – Physics World
Queen’s gambit: New research find that the standard game of chess can give an advantage to white – regardless of where the back pieces are placed (courtesy: istock/gedzun) Chess is a seemingly simple game, but one that hides incredible complexity. In the standard game, the starting positions of the pieces are fixed so top players rely on memorizing a plethora of opening moves, which can sometimes result in boring, predictable games.
The quirkiest stories from the world of physics in 2025 – Physics World
The LEGO Lovell Telescope. (Courtesy: The University of Manchester) From cutting onions to a LEGO Jodrell Bank, physics has had its fair share of quirky stories this year. Here is our pick of the best, not in any particular order. Researchers in the US this year discovered that a tiny jumping worm uses static electricity to increase its chances of attaching to unsuspecting prey.
Institute of Physics celebrates 2025 Business Award winners at parliamentary event – Physics World
A moment to celebrate: Tom Grinyer, chief executive officer of the Institute of Physics, welcomes attendees to a reception in the Palace of Westminster to mark the 2025 IOP Business Awards (courtesy: Carmen Valino) A total of 14 physics-based firms in sectors from quantum and energy to healthcare and aerospace have been won 2025 Business Awards from the Institute of Physics (IOP), which publishes Physics World.
Fermilab opens new building dedicated to Tevatron pioneer Helen Edwards – Physics World
The Helen Edwards Engineering Research Center is designed to act as a collaborative space for scientists and engineers (courtesy: Ryan Postel, Fermilab) Fermilab has officially opened a new building named after the particle physicist Helen Edwards. Officials from the lab and the US Department of Energy (DOE) opened the Helen Edwards Engineering Research Center at a ceremony held on 5 December.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Michael
Contact Michael, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack