Latest press releases
One experiment maps multiple isotopes exhibiting pygmy excitations
16 July 2026
In a single experiment, physicists have measured the ‘excess’ emission of highenergy gamma rays from more than a dozen heavy, unstable atomic nuclei. Mapping the gamma-ray emissions of so many isotopes produced in nuclear fission marks an important step towards a better understanding of one of the key phenomena in modern nuclear physics: the fission process itself.
Laser pulses capture unexplored polaronic states
24 June 2026
In an international experiment, researchers observed Jahn–Teller polarons – quasiparticles that could play an important role in future ultrafast spintronic devices. These polarons emerged within the crystal lattice of cobalt oxide that had been activated by carefully tailored laser pulses.
Diffusion in a heterogeneous medium – or how voting preferences can be described in terms of physics
10 June 2026
A drop of dye added to a glass of water undergoes ordinary diffusion. However, when placed on the surface of a foam, the dye spreads differently – diffusion becomes anomalous. An example of this is the pattern on the froth of a cup of cappuccino. Interestingly, the latest research suggests that diffusion equations in a heterogeneous environment can also describe social phenomena, such as election results or the behaviour of stock market traders.
How long and sharp are the proton ‘needles’ used in radiotherapy treatments?
30 April 2026
Proton beams are not only used in sophisticated nuclear physics experiments. Today, they are becoming increasingly popular in radiotherapy, where they are an irreplaceable tool for destroying cancer cells. Doctors and physicists can enhance their precision thanks to two solutions developed at the Cyclotron Centre Bronowice of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences.
Better understanding of the unknown leads to more accurate collision simulations
5 March 2026
Estimating things that exist is generally easy, but when it comes to estimating things that do not exist, it’s more difficult. This is something physicists from Poland and the UK are well aware of. To improve current simulations of high-energy particle collisions, they have developed a more accurate method for estimating the impact of calculations that are... not performed.