American Physical Society

In the early universe, particles may have formed halos that collapsed to create primordial black holes. A new paper in Physical Review D proposes that, right after the end of inflation and before atomic elements came together, matter domination could have enabled self-interacting particle systems to develop gravothermalized halos. Read the study: https://go.aps.org/48Ehmwr

Researchers, we’ve got you. We know the government shutdown is affecting labs and research schedules. If you’re impacted and can’t meet the abstract deadline for the 2026 Global Physics Summit, you can complete an Intent to Submit form by Oct. 31 to let us know you plan to present once the shutdown ends: https://go.aps.org/47Ca5Mt #APSSummit26

“By high school, people have decided that they don't like science, somehow.” But with a grant from the APS Innovation Fund, Mario Borunda is changing that. He and his team hosted a 10-day quantum camp at Oklahoma State University, where middle schoolers ran experiments, explored the campus, and experienced life as college students might. Read about the residential quantum science learning camp: https://go.aps.org/4ov1ktv

Connect. Inspire. Explore. Do it all as a presenter at the 2026 APS Global Physics Summit. Don't miss this chance to share your research. Abstracts for the largest physics conference in the world are due tomorrow, by 5 p.m. ET. #APSSummit26

Studies have shown that certain types of dark matter particles could be captured and accumulate inside stars or planets and, if they were to collide with their equivalent antiparticles, would annihilate one another. Now, a study published in Physical Review D shows that this hypothetical process could generate enough heat to melt the interior of any cosmic object they are trapped inside — including Earth’s core. Read the study: https://go.aps.org/4ojgFNx

It’s Estate Planning Awareness Week and it’s never too early to think about your legacy. Your charitable giving choices can shape the future. By including APS in your plans, you will support the next generation of physicists. Learn about making a lasting impact: https://go.aps.org/479YtyW #EstatePlanningAwarenessWeek

“We don’t limit ourselves to one community. We try to address problems that we think are interesting, where we can say something new.” Meet our new chief editor of Reviews of Modern Physics, Sujit Datta, whose research spans physics and biology. He tells APS News how expert-curated reviews shaped his career and how he hopes the journal continues to define physics for decades to come: https://go.aps.org/3WRquGE

Meet Rafael Fernandes, the new lead editor of Physical Review Letters. A condensed matter theorist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Fernandes brings a deeply inquisitive mindset to the role – one that reflects his diverse research journey, from black holes to quantum materials. “As lead editor, I’m not just making decisions about papers. I’m working to connect the journal more closely with the global physics community,” he says. Read about his thoughts on curiosity, community, and evolving future of physics publishing: https://go.aps.org/48uua8w

From climate and energy to national security, congress makes decisions that hinge on science — but few lawmakers have a science degree. The APS Congressional Science Fellowship places one member on Capitol Hill each year to make sure science has a voice in policy. Learn more and apply by Nov. 4: https://go.aps.org/4nb8L86

Physicists have produced the most accurate estimates to date of baryon gas profiles using new data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument and the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. The team found that galaxy clusters and cores expelled baryons more violently than earlier simulations predicted, sharpening our understanding of how baryons connect to dark matter and shape galaxy evolution. Read the paper in Physical Review D: https://go.aps.org/4hd9G6l