Reviews & Analysis

The southern skies and tall mountains of Latin America have cultivated a long history of astronomy on the continent. Today, the continent hosts over 80 observatories that are collaborative research centres for the region and the world. But what about other areas of physics? These have benefited from a culture of collaboration, but there are still challenges in fully developing the potential of research on the continent, such as insufficient researchers or resources. In this Viewpoint, seven physicists discuss the varying research landscapes of different areas of physics across the continent.

Five researchers discuss how diverse physics ideas can help better understand the part of Earth’s climate system consisting of snow and ice.

As we are at the beginning of the second century of quantum physics, we asked four researchers to share their views on new research directions trying to answer old, yet still open, questions in the foundations of quantum theory.

Rapid advances in the capabilities of large language models and the broad accessibility of tools powered by this technology have led to both excitement and concern regarding their use in science. Four experts in artificial intelligence ethics and policy discuss potential risks and call for careful consideration and responsible usage to ensure that good scientific practices and trust in science are not compromised. 

Six researchers discuss the early history of the density matrix renormalization group algorithm and the developments it spurred over the past three decades.

The practicalities of data sharing vary widely between disciplines, which have diverse needs and face different challenges. In this Viewpoint, scientists from seven multi-user facilities discuss the status of data sharing in their communities.