News & Announcements

US-China Physics Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges
APS recently hosted high-level scientists from China for a two-day roundtable discussion on “US-China Physics Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges.”

Celebrating the UNESCO International Year of the Periodic Table
In December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of the Periodic Table.

APS Opposes Administration’s Proposed Rule on Methane Emissions
APS recently submitted a public comment responding to the EPA’s proposed policy amendments to curtail regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

APS to Join Phase III of SCOAP3 from 2020
Continued participation extends APS's commitment to major international HEP open access publishing initiative until 2022.

Spring 2020 American Physical Society Prizes and Awards Announced
APS announces the Society’s spring 2020 prize and award recipients.

Women in Physics Group Grants and CUWiP Hosting Deadlines
CUWiP Hosting and WiP Group Grants Deadline Approaching

2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Two APS members share this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry

2019 Nobel Prize in Physics
This year, three researchers are recognized for their contributions to understanding the cosmos.

Physical Review Research Co-Lead Editor Nicola Spaldin Wins Swiss Science Prize
APS Fellow Receives Award for Multiferroics Research

APS History of Physics Essay Contest
Deadline for submissions is October 1, 2019

Ann Nelson 1958-2019
Theoretical physicist and APS Fellow dies at 61.

Physical Review Research Publishes its First Papers
The newest journal in the APS Physical Review family publishes its first articles.

2020 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research Awarded to Myriam P. Sarachik
Winner of APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research Selected

Openness, Security, and APS Activities to Help Maintain the Balance
In this special APS News Back Page commentary, the APS Presidential Line highlights the steps being taken by the Society to maintain the balance between international collaboration and national security.

2019 Fall Prize & Award Recipients
APS announces the Fall 2019 prize and award recipients for outstanding work in the fields of fluid dynamics, nuclear, and plasma physics.

APS Celebrates LGBTSTEM Day
July 5 marks the second annual LGBTSTEM Day, celebrating LGBT scientists

Raissa D’Souza Appointed Lead Editor of Physical Review Research
APS has appointed Raissa D’Souza as Lead Editor of Physical Review Research

Physical Review Research Opens for Submissions: Article Processing Charges Waived for 2019
Physical Review Research (PRResearch), the new multidisciplinary open-access journal published by APS, is now open for submissions.

Jian-Wei Pan Appointed Lead Editor of Physical Review Research
APS has appointed Jian-Wei Pan as a Lead Editor of Physical Review Research.

Murray Gell-Mann 1929-2019
Architect of theoretical particle physics dies at 89

OGA Appears in Two Articles Covering the Helium Shortage
Two recent announcements concerning the helium shortage appear in the news this month.

APS Supports the International Day of Light
May 16 marks the second annual celebration of light in society

LabEscape at the APS March Meeting
The popular physics escape room challenge was a hit at the March Meeting and will be held again at the DAMOP meeting in Milwaukee.

APS Announces a New Benefit for Members
APS members will now receive 25 percent off of Mathematica products

Lead Editor Selected for Physical Review Research
APS has appointed Nicola Spaldin of ETH Zürich, Switzerland as Lead Editor of Physical Review Research, the new fully open access, multidisciplinary APS journal launching later this year.

Sexual Harassment Drives Women out of Physics
A survey of undergraduate women in physics indicates that nearly three-quarters experienced harassment that left them feeling alienated and alone.

APS Responds to Proposed Drastic Cuts to Federal Science Agencies in FY20 Budget
The President’s budget for fiscal year 2020 proposes harmful cuts to federal science agencies – including the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation.

New Journal Launch: Physical Review Research
Set to open for submissions soon, the new open access journal published by APS will cover the full spectrum of research topics of interest to the physics community

Five Institutions Join the PhysTEC 5+ Club
PhysTEC announces the colleges and universities that graduated 5 or more physics teachers in the 2017-2018 academic year.

Open Letter to the Congress and President of the United States
Nobel Laureates and science community leaders comment on harm to American science from the shutdown

APS Member Michael Mann Shares 2019 Tyler Prize
Michael Mann is recognized for exceptional achievement in environmental research, sharing the award with Warren Washington.

2019 APS Medal Ceremony and Leadership Convocation
APS hosts annual meeting for leaders of its membership units.

Announcing the APS Innovation Fund
New APS initiative will support collaboration among members, units, committees, and staff

Roy J. Glauber 1925–2018
Nobel laureate and quantum optics pioneer dies at 93

Shoucheng Zhang 1963-2018
Celebrated condensed matter theorist dies at 55

Argonne National Laboratory Named APS Historic Site
Newest APS Historic Site showcases the work of Nobel laureate Maria Goeppert Mayer.

New APS Prizes and Awards Recipients Announced
Three new honors join roster of Society’s awards

APS Members Win 2019 Breakthrough Prizes
Several APS members, Fellows, and past APS award recipients receive top prizes.

APS Members Named as 2018 MacArthur Fellows
Two APS members are among the winners of coveted grants from the MacArthur Foundation

Leon Lederman 1922-2018
Nobel laureate, master experimenter and witty explainer, dies at 96

Winners of 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics Announced
Three researchers receive honors for laser science

APS Addresses Decline in International Student Applications to U.S. Physics Ph.D. Programs
Survey reveals that some physics departments had a 40 percent drop in non-U.S. applicants

APS Takes Steps to Address its Carbon Footprint
APS is taking steps to address the impact of the emissions from its largest GHG sources, including emissions from member travel to and from select APS national and annual meetings.

APS Helps Form the Inclusive Graduate Education Network
Five scientific societies seek to increase participation of underrepresented students in science with the help of a $10M grant.

2018 APS General Election Results
Sylvester James Gates, Jr. to become 2019 APS Vice President

Review of Particle Physics Celebrates its 60th Anniversary Edition
The ultimate reference on all things particle physics is available online, with a slimmed down booklet version soon to follow.

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Doctoral Dissertation Award in Astrophysics
Foundation supports re-named astrophysics dissertation honor.

2019 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research Awarded to Bertrand I. Halperin
APS Flagship Honor goes to Harvard Physicist for Advances in Condensed Matter Theory

New APS Study on Nuclear Reactor Neutron Sources
Benefits of Civilian Reactors Must be Balanced with Nuclear Risks

PhysTEC Announces the 2018 National Teacher of the Year
The Physics Teacher Education Coalition recognizes an exemplary physics teacher.

Congressional Office Staffers React Favorably to PROSPER Petition
Student signatures gain attention on Capitol Hill

Burton Richter 1931-2018
Nobel laureate led team that co-discovered the J/psi particle in 1974

APS Outreach at Comic-Con International 2018
The world’s only physics-focused STEM comic book series goes to the largest annual comic book convention.

2018 Fall Prize & Award Recipients
APS announces the Fall 2018 prize and award recipients in the fields of fluid dynamics and plasma physics.

APS 5-Sigma Physicist Awardees Honored for Outstanding Advocacy
Recipients of the 5-Sigma award honor demonstrated at least one impactful advocacy action and continued their communication with the APS OGA throughout the year.

APS Celebrates the First International LGBTSTEM Day
The first international LGBTSTEM Day recognizes LGBTQ+ people in science, technology, engineering, and math.

APS Designates LIGO Labs as Historic Sites
In recognition of their immense importance in unlocking the mystery of gravitational waves, the two LIGO lab locations were honored on June 20.

2018 U.S. Physics Team Prepares for Portugal
Twenty of the top high school physics students from around the nation came together to train to be a part of the U.S. team traveling to the 2018 International Physics Olympiad.

Two APS Student Members Lead National Petition Drive to Oppose Congressional Legislation
Two APS student members wrote op-eds highlighting harmful loan provisions in legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2018 Kavli Prize Winners Announced
This year’s winners of the prestigious Kavli Prize in astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience have been announced.

Homer Neal 1942-2018
Particle Physicist was the First African American President of APS

APS Celebrates Science of Light with Art
APS joins with OSA and AIP to support a one-of-a-kind display of art and technology.

2018 APS April Meeting Prize and Award Recipients
Special sessions to honor prize and award winners are held each year at the APS March and April Meetings. At this year’s APS April Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, 22 distinguished winners of APS prizes and awards were recognized.

APS at the March for Science
APS and the Optical Society Team Up for D.C. Event

2018 Andrei Sakharov Prize Awarded at APS April Meeting
Two physicists were recognized for their human rights work.

April Meeting Diversity Events and Undergraduate Opportunities
The 2018 APS April Meeting will feature research on a wide range of topics, from “Quarks to the Cosmos.”

APS at the USA Science and Engineering Festival
An all-about-science weekend isn’t complete without everyday physics.

2018 Goldwater Scholars Announced
Thirty-three exceptional physics and astronomy students were rewarded for their academic achievements and promise as future researchers.

FY 18 Funding Bill a Win for Science
The diligent work of APS members, coupled with support from the APS Office of Government Affairs (APS OGA), contributed to a tremendous win for science agencies in the fiscal year (FY) 2018 omnibus bill.

2018 APS March Meeting Prize and Award Recipients
Thirty-two distinguished winners of APS prizes and awards were recognized

APS Responds to Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Budget
APS is grateful for the work of the many members and staff in Congress, and staff at the executive branch agencies, for developing a 2018 federal budget that provides significant support for science.

APS Statement on Stephen Hawking
APS mourns the passing of Stephen Hawking, known for his groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of gravity and cosmology.

Stephen Hawking 1942-2018
Internationally renowned physicist dies at 76

PhysTEC Announces New Members of The 5+ Club
The Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) has announced the newest members of “The 5+ Club”

American Physical Society Responds to President’s Budget Proposal
The President’s 2019 budget request proposes significant cuts from current funding levels for the federal science agencies, including reductions for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Department of Energy (DOE).

Joseph Polchinski 1954-2018
Joseph Polchinski, a prominent theoretical physicist and champion of string theory, died on February 2 at age 63.

Being a Scientist in the American Economy: It’s Not What You Think
As federal lawmakers iron out details of the fiscal year 2018 budget, they should keep in mind that science deserves strong support

APS Member Named Australian of the Year
Quantum physicist honored with Australia Day award

Physics Next Workshops Topic Suggestions for August 2018
APS Editors Request Workshop Proposals

Four APS Members Share in 2018 Breakthrough Prize
WMAP science team honored with $3 million Fundamental Physics Prize for cosmic microwave maps

APS Members Make Forbes “30 Under 30” List
Four members of APS were named to the annual “30 Under 30 in Science” list published by Forbes magazine.

Undergraduate Physics Students Meet With Senate Staffer, Promote Potential Research Impacts at DNP Meeting
Undergraduate physics students who attended the Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) meeting in Pittsburgh were elated to discuss the potential impacts of their research with a staffer representing U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.

Gravitational Wave Observatories Open New Era in Astronomy
Teams report detection of neutron-star merger along with optical and gamma ray signals

2017 Nobel Prize in Physics
Prize goes to three physicists for gravitational wave detection

Virgo Joins LIGO in Detection of Gravitational Waves
With data from a third detector, researchers can better localize source of waves

Hundreds of Students Contact Senators, Urge Support of Science Research Programs
Nearly 200 undergraduate students from across the country recently contacted 80 U.S. senators, requesting they support science research opportunities for undergraduates, including those funded by the National Science Foundation. The students connected with their senators as part of an advocacy campaign supported by APS and the Society of Physics Students.

Nicholaas Bloembergen (1920–2017)
Nobel laureate advanced the fields of laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics

Vernon J. Ehlers (1934-2017)
First Ph.D. physicist elected to the U.S. Congress dies at age 83

2018 APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research Awarded to Eugene Parker
Astrophysicist made fundamental contributions to solar and space plasma physics.

2017 APS Division of Particles and Fields Meeting
Researchers report on neutrino CP violation, neutrino scattering, and the Dark Energy Survey

2017 APS General Election Results
Stanford physicist Philip H. Bucksbaum becomes Vice President in 2018

Joseph Johnson III (1940-2017)
Bouchet Award recipient was a leading light in the African American Physics Community

APS Cultivates ORCID Links
Corresponding authors of Physical Review journal papers will supply a unique identifier as part of the submission process

2017 Fall Award Recipients
Plasma Physics, Fluid Dynamics, and Early Career physicists honored in annual awards

APS Joins the Initiative for Open Citations (I4OC)
Authors and researchers will get unrestricted access to Physical Review journal citation information

Michael Thoennessen Appointed New APS Editor in Chief
MSU Professor of Physics to take editorial helm in early September

APS Response to U.S. Withdrawal from Climate Agreement
The agreement was endorsed by nearly 200 countries as a means to address global climate change.

LIGO Continues To Make Waves in Gravitational Wave Detection Physics
Third Confirmed Black Hole Merger Located 3 Billion Light Years From Earth

APS Response to Trump’s Cut to Science
The APS’s Office of Public Affairs (OPA) has taken effective steps to oppose President Trump’s budget proposals by advocating to congressional offices and by working with Society members to write op-eds, engage on social media and meet with congressional staff.

APS Joins Pilot Program for Recruiting Young Women in Physics
NSF grant provides $3 million to inspire high school women pursuing physics

Deborah Jin's Legacy Honored by DAMOP
Campaign Fundraiser Renames Thesis Award in Jin’s Name

Kavli Ideas Challenge Announces 2017 Winners
Microbes bring together innovative minds from all science disciplines

APS Joins SCOAP3 Initiative For High-Energy Physics Open Access Publishing
Starting in 2018 high-energy physics articles in three APS journals will published open access at no charge to authors

Ernest M. Henley 1924-2017
Nuclear Physicist contributed to the Standard Model of Physics

APS Fellows Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
APS President-Elect and Fellows Selected for Notable Physics Achievements

Alexei Abrikosov 1928-2017
Physicist developed the theory behind a major class of superconductors

APS March Meeting Highlights to Be Shown on APS TV
APS TV will be returning for its 5th year to capture the latest news and meeting highlights

Mildred Dresselhaus: 1930-2017
MIT Professor of Physics and Former APS President dies at 86

2017 PhysTEC Teacher of the Year: Alexandra Boyd
Elon University Alum awarded national prize for advancing high school physics teaching

Scientists Plan for a Second Palestine Advanced Physics School
Organizers look to donors to help fund the next "meeting of minds" in Jerusalem

Conferences for Undergraduate Underrepresented Minorities in Physics
Organizers seek to establish network of conferences for underrepresented minorities like those for women in physics

APS to Launch Physical Review Materials
Latest addition to APS journal family begins publication in mid-2017

L’Oreal USA Announces 2017 Women in Science Fellowship
Applications for annual grant open until February 2017

Vera Rubin, Trailblazer of Astrophysics, Dies at 88
Accomplished astronomer made early discoveries of "dark matter"

APS Fellows Awarded Breakthrough Prizes in Silicon Valley
LIGO Team, early-career physicists, and string theorists among 2017 recipients

Richard Garwin Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Physicist receives highest U.S. civilian honor

Societies Urge President-Elect to Appoint a Science Advisor
CEOs, presidents, and executive directors of U.S. scientific societies ask for meeting to recommend candidates to assist White House.

Prize and Award Speakers at the April Meeting 2017
The "Higgs Hunters" Carl M. Bender, and Martin Rees among invited award recipients in Washington D.C.

NASA Achieves Milestones With James Webb Space Telescope
With its primary mirrors complete, the Webb telescope is starting preliminary testing at NASA-GSFC

Institute for Advanced Study Named Joint Historic U.S. Physics Site
APS and European Physical Society to honor Princeton-based Institute

Kavli Microbiome Ideas Challenge
Researching Small Organisms with a Big Impact

Joseph L. Birman (1927-2016)
Theoretical Physicist and Human Rights Activist Dies at the Age of 89

APS Questions for the Presidential Candidates
APS works on behalf of its members, and the physics community at large, to inform policy leaders about the importance of physics and research funding.

The Helium Crisis
Skyrocketing prices for liquid helium — an essential resource for our nation’s healthcare technologies and research enterprise — are placing the U.S. innovation ecosystem at significant risk.

Phys21: Revamp Undergraduate Physics
Joint Task Force Report Recommends Changes to Prepare Students for Diverse Careers

2016 Nobel Prize in Physics
David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane, and J. Michael Kosterlitz won this year's Nobel Prize in Physics for their theoretical discoveries using topological concepts.

Deborah Jin (1968-2016)
Atomic physicist loses battle with cancer at age 47

Science and Technology Bear the Brunt of Budget Dysfunction
The House and Senate are on the verge of recessing at the end of September without passing any appropriations bills for the next fiscal year.

APS Members Awarded Funding to Break the Boundaries of Classical Physics
NSF program awards 9 teams across the U.S. to research wave properties

Wowing the Judges: 2016 LeRoy Apker Finalists Showcase Notable Undergraduate Research
Young alumnae convene in D.C. to present to the Apker Award selection committee

Omid Kokabee Released After 5 Years in Jail
Iran allows jailed physicist to leave prison on parole

Katharine Blodgett Gebbie (1932-2016)
Leader of NIST laboratories saw her researchers collect four Nobel prizes in less than two decades

APS Fellows Receive 2016 Dirac Medal and Prize
Physics institute recognizes three for their work in quantum field theory

DAMOP Votes to Move 2018 Meeting
APS division responds to North Carolina law on public restrooms

Industry Sabbaticals for Physics Faculty
Taking a sabbatical in industry could be a gateway for academic researchers into the private sector

Global Light Pollution Masks the True Night Sky
A monthly recap of papers selected by the editors of Physics.

The Future of Liquid Helium Purchasing
The success of the APS-ACS Liquid Helium Purchasing Program sparks initiative to aid long-term liquid helium demand

The Cato Institute’s Opposing Views on Science Funding Show the Need for Physics Advocacy
At a briefing on Capitol Hill, the Cato Institute made a case against government support for science, but it actually showed why we need to speak out in favor of that funding.

Bringing Home the Gold From Zurich
All U.S. Physics Olympiad students bring home medals from world competition

The Open Access Wrecking Ball
In an age of electronic communication, everyone expects to have access to information on the Web instantly and without using a credit card to get it.

Juno’s Road Trip to Jupiter
NASA mission successfully enters orbit around solar system’s largest planet

The Implications of a Clumpy Universe
How ditching the assumptions of uniform mass distribution led to better predictions of cosmological expansion

Institute of Physics Awards go to Two APS Fellows
Medalists from the UK are recognized for their outstanding achievements in the physics community

Citizen Science Project Gravity Spy Undergoes Testing
LIGO team recruits public to help with gravitational wave data analysis

APS Selects Editor in Chief
Pierre Meystre slated to take the editorial helm at the APS journals

Innovation Pipeline Reception Highlights Ways to Keep America Competitive in 21st Century
During the reception, several speakers addressed strategies for strengthening the innovator pipeline.

Second Black Hole Merger Observed by LIGO
Gravitational waves from second event point to coalescence of smaller black holes

Names Proposed for New Elements
Approval to follow five-month public comment period

2016 Kavli Prizes Awarded for Gravitational Wave Detection and Nanoscale Microscopy
LIGO, atomic-scale microscopy, and brain remodeling garner awards

LISA Pathfinder Paves the Way for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatory
New result shows that sensitive systems for detecting gravitational waves can work in orbit

Kokabee Released on Medical Furlough
Imprisoned Iranian physics graduate student temporarily released after kidney operation

Clearer Grant Titles Can Help Ward Off Funding Critics
Grant titles have come under fire from some members of Congress who say the scientists’ research is a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.

APS Office of Public Affairs Interns: A Little Recycling Goes a Long Way
Letter to the Editor authored by two Northern Illinois University undergraduate students

Omid Kokabee’s Health Continues to Decline
Imprisoned physics student diagnosed with cancer

APS Division of Particles and Fields Award for Instrumentation
Unit award recognizes development of new detector technology

APS President’s Letter to Leader of Turkey
2016 APS President Homer Neal Writes to Turkish president regarding mistreatment of scholars

Physics in Cuba
After the beginning of a thaw in U.S. relations with Cuba, scientists discuss prospects for collaboration with our southern neighbor

Experience the 1987 "Woodstock of Physics" Online
YouTube videos highlight marathon superconductivity session at 1987 APS March Meeting

APS President Writes Congress; You Should, Too
The APS President has done his part, and it’s time to do yours.

PhysTEC Recognizes Universities for Physics Teacher Preparation
The 5+ Club honors institutions that graduate 5 or more qualified physics teachers in a year

DOE Responds to National Labs Report
Department of Energy plans to act on panel's recommendations

Gravitational Waves Ripple Through House Science Committee
Observations during the LIGO House Science Committee hearing reveal attitudes toward federal funding for science and the associated impacts of LIGO's discovery.

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White House FY2017 Budget Request
President Obama’s last budget is unlikely to garner congressional support

Elusive Gravitational Waves Seen Directly for the First Time
A paper in the APS journal Physical Review Letters reports a detection by LIGO and Virgo collaborations

Gravitational Waves Caught in the Act
LIGO observation of black hole merger heralds a new era in astronomy

CHORUS Elects APS Publisher to Board of Directors
Matthew Salter joins board of open access consortium

Edward Witten Receives Inaugural APS Medal
Thanks to a donation from entrepreneur Jay Jones, the new prize recognizes achievement in physics across all disciplines

New Head of Berkeley Lab Announced
Physicist Michael Witherell will head the national laboratory

2014 APS Outreach Grant Funds Physics Documentary
Group from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid has released a YouTube video on the value of condensed matter physics

Four Elements Added to the Periodic Table
Discoveries made by groups from Russia, Japan, and the US are confirmed

Physicists Honored with National Medals
Nation's highest science and technology honors announced

Physicists Pen Letter to Supreme Court on Diversity in Physics
Note addresses comments from Supreme Court Justices in affirmative action case

Cherry Murray Will Take Helm at DOE Office of Science
Senate confirms nomination of experimental condensed matter physicist and former APS president

Thirty Meter Telescope Permit Revoked
Construction on Hawaii's Mauna Kea is blocked by State Supreme Court

Omid Kokabee Hospitalized
Imprisoned Iranian physicist's health worsens

APS Appoints New Publisher
Asia-Pacific region publishing manager for UK Institute of Physics to join top management staff of the American Physical Society

Underrepresentation of African Americans Persists in Physical Sciences
Study shows no improvement in the relative number of black students in the physical sciences over the past decade

Budget Deal Could Put Science Back on World Stage
First published in The Hill on November 18, 2015

Lawmakers Condemn Targeting of Chinese-American Scientists
Members of Congress call for investigation of Department of Justice allegations of economic espionage

Manhattan Project National Historical Park Established
Park commemorates sites located in Tennessee, New Mexico, and Washington

Russian-American Scientists Honor George Gamow (1904-1968)
Conference session celebrates physicist born 111 years ago

Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics Awarded to Neutrino Experiments
Five collaborations in Canada, Japan, and China will split the $3 million prize

Budget Deal Eases Sequestration for Two Years
Deal could allow higher funding levels for science agencies, and makes a government shutdown unlikely

Leo Kadanoff, 1937-2015
Former APS president was a pioneer in modern statistical physics

Nuclear Physicists Look to the Future
The 2015 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science is unanimously approved.

Neutrino Oscillations Nab Nobel Prize
Takaaki Kajita and Arthur McDonald win for discovery of the particles' shape-shifting nature.

House Science Committee Queries Astrobiology Researchers
Searches for life on other planets get the Congressional spotlight.

American Institute of Physics Announces Reorganization
New CEO Robert Brown spearheads changes to the federation of member societies.

Imprisoned Iranian Physicist's Mother Calls for His Release
Letter to Iran's supreme leader requests pardon of Omid Kokabee, nearly five years after his arrest.

Nobel Prize Predictions
Thomson Reuters foresees winners in fields of attophysics, ultra-cold atomic gases, or nanogenerators.

Charges Dropped for Physicist Accused of Sharing U.S. Technology with China
U.S. government dismisses accusations of wire fraud against Xiaoxing Xi of Temple University.

Lone Physicist in Congress Will Support Iran Nuclear Deal
Representative Bill Foster praises the agreement after reviewing technical details.

Light Festival to Shine in Washington, D.C.
A celebration of light is coming to our nation's capital, this Saturday, September 12.

Report Endorses Advanced Cosmic Microwave Background Research at South Pole
A recent National Academies study proposes research priorities in the Antarctic.

APS Welcomes New STEM-Ed Fellow
APS is excited to welcome Ramon Barthelemy, the 2015 APS/AIP STEM-Ed Fellow, who will be working on STEM programs in the U.S. Department of Education.

Laura Greene is New Chief Scientist at MagLab
APS Vice President Laura Greene is the new chief scientist of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

Dirac Medals Awarded to Condensed Matter Theorists
The International Center for Theoretical Physics honored three physicists for their contributions to theoretical condensed matter physics.

Physicists Endorse Nuclear Deal with Iran
Many prominent U.S. physicists are among the supporters of the proposed nuclear weapons deal with Iran.

Comprehensive Senate Energy Bill Approved by Committee
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 with bipartisan support (18-4 vote).

Cherry Murray Nominated to Lead DOE Office of Science
The White House announced the nomination of physicist Cherry Murray for the position of director of the DOE's Office of Science.

APS Begins Release of Public Access CHORUS Papers
APS is releasing the first wave of articles, making papers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) freely available through CHORUS.

Jack Gibbons 1929-2015
John H. “Jack” Gibbons, a physicist who served as science advisor to President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, passed away on July 17th.

New U.S. National Security Faculty Fellows Announced
The U.S. Department of Defense has selected seven scientists as 2015 National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellows.

Nobel Prize winner Yoichiro Nambu, 1921-2015
Yoichiro Nambu has passed away at the age of 94.

ASEE Board Recognizes Physics as Vital to Engineering Education
Engineering, which relies on the fundamental principles of physics, provides a rewarding career pathway and is a vital cog in America’s innovation economy.

DCMP Chair-Elect Promotes APS Helium Initiatives at Congressional Hearing
Halperin was joined by four other witnesses who testified during the subcommittee’s July 8 oversight hearing on The Helium Stewardship Act and the Path Forward.

U.S. Physics Olympiad Team Returns With Gold and Silver
Top high-school physics students from around the world face a challenging battery of tests.

Wonder and Awe for Cheap: New Horizons
Three billion miles and nine-and-a-half years ago, NASA launched the New Horizons spacecraft to explore our solar system.

Physicists Find Fulfillment Outside of Academia
A new report from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) finds that most private sector Ph.D. physicists find their careers rewarding.

2015 APS Election Results
The votes have been counted from the 2015 APS Election.

APS Member Chanda Prescod-Weinstein Gets the HuffPo Treatment
The Huffington Post profiled APS member Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical astrophysicist at MIT.

APS Fellow Eli Yablonovitch Wins Institute of Physics’ Highest Honor
The award recognizes “his visionary and foundational contributions to photonic nanostructures.”

Restart of Hawaiian Telescope Construction Blocked by Protesters
Construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT) in Hawaii was once again stopped by protestors.

Physicists Converge on the Perimeter Institute
Physicists across several disciplines came together for frank discussions of the current state of physics and possibilities for the future.

IEEE Awards Medal of Honor to APS Past President Mildred Dresselhaus
Mildred Dresselhaus first woman to receive IEEE Medal of Honor.

U.S. Physics Olympiad Traveling Team Selected
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced the group of five U.S. high school students who will participate in the 46th International Physics Olympiad.

Senate Bill Provides 5-year Roadmap for Energy Research Funding
APS has given its support to the newly introduced “Energy Title of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015” (S. 1398).

American Institute of Physics Names New CEO
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) has selected Robert G. W. Brown as their next CEO.

APS President Testifies on DHS S&T; Recommends Changes
APS President Sam Aronson testified today before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on the lack of transparency with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.

United States and CERN Boost Cooperation
Representatives from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and CERN signed a new accord to ensure continued collaboration.

Editor in Chief of APS Journals Steps Down
Gene Sprouse, Editor in Chief of the APS research journals, has stepped down from the position.

Congressional COMPETES Bill Starves Some Programs to Feed Others
The House Science Committee put forward controversial legislation that would reprioritize federal spending on science and research.

2015 NSF Waterman Award to Metamaterials Scientist
One of the U.S. government’s highest scientific honors has been awarded to Andrea Alù at the University of Texas at Austin.

Alabama Students Speak Out About Science Funding
A group of students at University of Alabama-Birmingham recently made a video about the importance of federal science funding and how it is affecting their state.

NIST Joins Other Agencies in Spelling Out an Open Access Policy
NIST announced a new plan that will make NIST funded research articles publicly available.

Particle Physicists Gather to Plan Next Accelerator
Many of CERN’s top scientists met to share their research and preliminary designs for a Future Circular Collider.

National Science Foundation Issues Open Access Policy
Journal articles supported by grants from the NSF will be free to read one year after their publication.

NSF Makes Peace with Congress
A new NSF policy will require non-technical explanations and justifications for new grants.

“Star Trek” Consultant, Science Producer Communicate Value of Science during APS March Meeting
The APS Office of Public Affairs invited two television producers to discuss how popular science-based film can help underscore the value of science.

Sole Physicist in Congress Prepares to Defend Science
Representative Bill Foster (D-Ill.) appointed to serve on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mixed News for Science in President's 2016 Budget Request
President Obama's 2016 budget calls for an end to sequestration, but spending emphasizes technical programs, not science.

Omid Kokabee Honored with AAAS Award
Omid Kokabee was awarded the 2014 AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award.

Val Fitch 1923-2015
Nobel laureate who co-discovered violation of symmetry rules in particle decays dies at age 91.

The American Physical Society Names its First Chief Executive Officer
The APS Board of Directors has voted to appoint Dr. Kate Kirby as the first CEO of APS.

Charles Townes 1915-2015
Nobel laureate and co-inventor of the laser Charles Townes passed away on Tuesday, January 27, at the age of 99.

Iranian Appeals Court Rejects Release of Imprisoned Physicist
An appeals court in Iran rejected the recommendations of its supreme court and upheld Kokabee's prison sentence.

Congressional Budget Bill Avoids Drastic Cuts to Science
Funding for physical science research fared relatively well in the big federal omnibus-spending bill passed by Congress.

Innovation in Action: The JWST
APS and a coalition of science policy advocates recently took a trip to NASA Goddard to examine the progress of the construction of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Physicist Expected to Take Charge at Pentagon
President Obama has nominated physicist Ashton Carter to be secretary of defense.

Retiring Representative Rush Holt to Take Helm at AAAS
Colleagues and supporters spoke fondly of physicist-turned-congressman Rush Holt (D-N.J.) at a congressional farewell party cohosted by APS.

APS Council Unanimously Approves New Constitution & Bylaws
This vote ratified the new Constitution & Bylaws as part of the Society’s corporate reform efforts.

Former APS President Honored with Medal of Freedom
Former APS president, Mildred Dresselhaus of MIT, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award.

APS Members Vote Yes on Corporate Reform
The APS corporate reform initiative passed overwhelmingly, 94% to 6%.

APS and Smithsonian Roll Out Red Carpet for The Theory of Everything
APS cohosted the Washington D.C. premiere of the new Stephen Hawking biopic.

Review of APS Climate Change Statement "Going Smoothly"
APS Council and Executive Board will review the APS climate change statement this month.

Head of Higgs Discovery Team to Lead CERN
Fabiola Gianotti selected as CERN's new director general.

NSF Sets Gold Standard for Scientific Research Funding
The National Science Foundation — known as the gold standard for scientific research funding throughout the world – has unfairly come under fire by the House Science Committee.

Kokabee Petitions Delivered to Iranian Representatives to the United Nations
Activists delivered petitions requesting release of imprisoned physicist Omid Kokabee.

Retrial Granted to Jailed Iranian Physicist
Imprisoned Iranian physicist Omid Kokabee will be granted a retrial after spending more than three years incarcerated in Iran.

U.S. National Medal Winners include Past APS Presidents
Two former presidents of APS were among the recipients of top science and engineering prizes.

2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Focuses on Optical Microscopy
This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to three scientists whose work surpassed the long-established resolution limit for optical microscopes.

2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for Blue LEDs
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced that three researchers will share this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics for their invention of blue light emitting diodes

DOE Shows Off its Labs; Sens. Risch and Durbin Announce National Lab Caucus
The Department of Energy’s 17 national laboratories are the source of numerous scientific breakthroughs, world-renowned experimental facilities and employers of Nobel Laureates.

New Brookhaven Light Source Debuts in 2015
Brookhaven National Laboratory’s new synchrotron is nearing completion.

CERN and APS announce partnership for Open Access
APS and CERN jointly announce a partnership to make all CERN-authored articles published in APS journals Open Access.

APS Member Awarded MacArthur Fellowship
Materials scientist Mark Hersam, who was named an APS Fellow in 2012, is one of this year’s 21 MacArthur Fellows.

Scholarship Winners Chosen by APS Committee on Women in Physics
Five women were awarded Blewett scholarships this year.

America COMPETES 2014: A Much Needed Reauthorization
The Senate recently released a draft bill to increase funding for a variety of national scientific organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and NASA, among others.

Senate COMPETES Reauthorization Bill Introduced Before August Recess
Just before leaving town for the August recess, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced S. 2757, a bill to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act.

DOE Joins the CHORUS
DOE will make journal articles by researchers supported by federal funding free to read after year-long embargo.

Energy Critical Elements and, Well, Gravel
H.R. 1022 introduced by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA-15th) uses the term “energy critical element,” or ECE, coined by the American Physical Society (APS) and the Materials Research Society (MRS) in their 2011 joint report: “Energy Critical Elements: Securing Materials for Emerging Technologies.”

US Physics Olympians Bring Home Gold and Silver
The United States placed 5th overall, bringing home three gold and two silver medals.

New APS Mid-Atlantic Section to Meet at Penn State
The newest regional section of APS will have its inaugural meeting in October.

House Passes Four Science Bills
The House of Representatives passed four bills on July 14 that originated in the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

APS Funded Outreach Groups to Unveil New Projects
APS awarded several grants to APS Members to develop outreach projects.

APS Bridge Program Annual Meeting
This year’s meeting focused on the role of the Master’s degree in advancing underrepresented minority students toward PhDs.

2014 APS General Election Results
APS members have elected Laura Greene, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to the office of Vice President of the Society.

APS Member Wins 2014 Kyoto Prize
Theoretical physicist Edward Witten was named one of the recipients of this year’s prestigious Kyoto Prize.

Fiscal Year 2015 Funding Update
Congress received President Obama’s fiscal year 2015 (FY15) budget request on March 4 and has been making steady progress on appropriations bills.

Physical Review Letters Publishes BICEP2 Paper
PRL has now published a paper reporting what the authors say might be evidence for the theory of cosmic inflation.

Trial Balloon on Helium Purchasing Plan Launched
APS has helped initiate a test program that will enable researchers to buy helium at reasonable cost.

Physics Leaders Discuss Life After Higgs With Congress
While best-known for breakthrough discoveries, such as the Higgs boson, within its own research realm, particle physics contributes broadly across other disciplines and in developing advanced technologies.

Preparing Physicists for Entrepreneurship
APS conference brings together physics educators to develop ways to add innovation and business training to their curricula.

Next Year’s Federal Science Budget Nears Approval
Congress is moving briskly towards authorizing funding for many of the United States’ science agencies.

2014 Kavli Prizes go to APS Members
Four APS members and an APS Prize winner were among the recipients of this year’s Kavli Prize.

Controversial Congressional Science Funding Legislation Moves Forward
The House Science Space and Technology committee have voted to advance the FIRST Act.

New APS Group to Serve Soft Matter Researchers
APS's new Soft Matter Topical Group has been officially endorsed by the APS Council.

Particle Physics Roadmap: U.S. Should Increase Global Collaboration
P5 draft report urges US to become more of an international player in high-energy physics.

U.S. Congress Wrestles over FIRST Act
Representatives mounted a concerted effort to stop the controversial bill that would alter the research funding process.

APS Committee on Corporate Reform Sets Out Proposed Changes
APS Council to review proposal for reforming the society's governing structure.

APS Elections Now Open
Voting for the APS General Election 2014 began on May 15 and is open until the end of June.

Science Agency Directors Make Strong Case for Research and Education During Senate Innovation Hearing
An all-star lineup of science agency directors provided testimony and answered committee members’ questions, communicating the enormous benefits federal investments in scientific research have had on society.

Andrew Sessler 1928-2014
Physicist, humanitarian and former APS President Andrew Sessler passed away on April 18 at the age of 85.

APS Collecting Signatures to Free Kokabee
Attendees at the APS April Meeting 2014 are asked to sign petition to free Omid Kokabee.

Change at the top for Argonne National Laboratory
Peter Littlewood becomes next director of Argonne National Laboratory.

New Webpage on APS Corporate Reform
A new webpage provides background information and opportunity for member comment on APS Corporate Reform.

Physical Review Applied Makes Its Debut
The first issue of the newest APS journal is now online.

New Website for APS Journals Goes Live
APS has refreshed the web pages for the Physical Review family of journals with a more mobile-friendly interactive design.

APS to Review Statement on Climate Change
A subcommittee of the APS Panel on Public Affairs is reviewing the society's statement on climate change in accordance with policy.

One of Only Two Physicists in Congress to Retire
Rush Holt, a physicist who has represented New Jersey for eight terms, will retire from Congress in December.

New AAPT-ALPhA Undergraduate Award
AAPT recently established a new award to honor the work of students building an experiment for their advanced labs.

Former APS President Wins Top DOE Science Award
Andrew Sessler received the Enrico Fermi Award from Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

Air Force Proposes to Move Main Research Management Office
APS calls on members to share concerns on proposed AFOSR relocation.

Congress Recognizes 40 Years of Science Fellows
Congress has officially honored the 40th anniversary of the Congressional Science Fellowship program.

Recipients of the 2014 Beller Lectureship Announced
Three distinguished physicists from overseas will give invited presentations at the March and April meeting.

New Budget Deal Reverses a Portion of Sequester Cuts
The budget resolution is a two year agreement that authorizes discretionary spending for fiscal years 2014 (FY14) and 2015 (FY15).

Physical Review Applied Call for Papers
APS's newest journal is now open for business.

APS Affirms Importance of Undergraduate Research
Panel on Public Affairs seeks feedback on draft statement.

New Alternative Energy Fellowship
New award aims to boost innovative ideas for new sustainable energy.

Physicist and Philanthropist Fred Kavli Dies at Age 86
Fred Kavli, physicist, entrepreneur, and scientific benefactor, died at home on November 21 at the age of 86.

Division of Fluid Dynamics 66th Annual Meeting
The APS Division of Fluid Dynamics hosted its 66th Annual Meeting this month in Pittsburgh, PA.

Event on Academic Freedom in Iran
APS co-sponsored an event earlier this month that highlighted the plight of imprisoned Iranian physics student Omid Kokabee.

Editor Announced for Physical Review Applied
APS and Rutgers jointly announce appointment of Troy Shinbrot as Editor of Physical Review Applied.

Division of Plasma Physics 55th Annual Meeting
The APS Division of Plasma Physics hosted its 55th annual meeting this month in Denver, CO.

APS Fellow Nominated to Lead ARPA-E
The White House nominated APS Fellow Ellen D. Williams to head the Advanced Research Projects Administration - Energy.

2014 Franklin Institute Awards
APS Fellow and Prize Winner Daniel Kleppner was awarded the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics.

U.S. Sen. Alexander to Congress: ‘Finish the Job’ of Doubling Research Budgets Outlined in America COMPETES
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has rightly called upon his colleagues in Congress to “finish the job” of doubling research budgets set forth in the 2007 America COMPETES Act.

Experts Convene to Weigh Nuclear Weapons Issues
Summary of FPS Short Course on Nuclear Weapon Issues in the 21st Century.

Bouchet Endowment Complete
The endowment for APS’s Edward A. Bouchet Award has been set up after surpassing its fundraising goal.

APS President Michael Turner on The Government Shutdown and Impacts on Science
In response to the federal government shutdown, APS President Michael Turner has written a statement for the Record as part of a hearing held Oct. 11 by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

2013 Nobel Prize in Physics
The 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics winners are...

Senate Passes Helium Bill: Action by September 30 Deadline Still Not Assured
On September 19, the Senate took an important step forward in voting to pass a substitute amendment to H.R. 527, its version of a helium bill.

Averting the Helium Cliff
Congress has just six legislative days to approve legislation preventing the shutdown of the federal helium reserve operated in Amarillo, Texas by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

STEM Education has a place in immigration reform
Today, APS was one of 62 organizations that signed on to a letter urging the House to make support for STEM education a part of immigration reform.

Commerce/Justice/Science Appropriations Update
The House and Senate Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies recently passed their respective appropriations bills, but they have yet to receive floor votes.

Helium Bills Inch Forward, Passage Not Assured
Efforts by Congress to improve the supply of helium to users, including the scientific community, is inching toward a conclusion after more than a year of intensive efforts by APS and other end users.

Department of Energy FY14 Appropriations
The Senate and House appropriations subcommittees on Energy & Water recently held markups for Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) appropriations.

The President’s STEM Realignment Request
President Obama’s budget request for fiscal year 2014 (FY14) included a massive restructuring of the nation’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs.

Defending NSF and Scientific Peer Review
In a rebuff to House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith’s investigation of the way the National Science Foundation does business, Acting Director Cora Marrett refused to provide the Committee with reviewer comments on five social science research projects it is funding.

New APS Veep Pushes for Helium Fixes
On a day when many were gifting their loved ones with pink and red Mylar balloons, APS Vice President Dr. Sam Aronson testified on behalf of APS regarding the importance of helium-4 in physics research.

Science and Innovation: Has America Lost its Competitive Edge?
“America’s ability to compete depends on whether we have the present vision to conduct the science that will define the future,” said Congressman Lamar Smith (R-22nd-TX) during his first hearing as chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Sequestration Averted — For Now
Following a last-minute deal to avert the “fiscal cliff,” sequestration is off the Washington agenda, at least for a while.