r/Physics

I am a big space geek and I’ve been reading cosmos by Carl Sagan as of late. I was never much of a reader but I began reading more the last year.

I was wondering if there were books that were staples or the “classics” in physics? Of course no academic books that physicists or engineers would read in school, I mean on your own time reads like cosmos and such. Also, random question, is there any good books on renowned physicist like Einstein, Oppenheimer, and such.

Please let me know!

im currently going to start my theoretical physics undergrad this september, but i am unsure as to if i made the wrong choice.

i dont like how piecewise and discontinuous newtonian mechanics is (anything to do w free body diagrams, levers, hinges, rods), and doing lab triggers me because we can never create a truly closed system and nothing can be 100% precise, its that imperfection that contrasts so strongly to the mathematical modelling i wanna be doing.

i do like interpreting math physically tho and applying abstract math to model physical phenomena, and i especially like linear algebra, and dont enjoy doing number theory at all because i dont see a point for logic for the sake of logic.

Video here

I am planning to build a career in Physics after a long failed career in tech. I am thinking of a Phd. Can AI affect Physics as well? If yes, what can I do to keep it safe.

Hello fellow physicists. I'm a Master's student in the US and just wanna get a feel for this (ideally from faculty members or current/former graduate students at European institutions). My undergraduate GPA was fine but nothing to write home about: 3.12. My Master's GPA is a lot more impressive: 3.94 (I seem to have found my footing a lot more in grad school). And I've been involved in novel astrophysics research at a world renowned lab over this past year and will continue with them for the next year and perhaps a little past graduation.

Do European institutions put much stock into how you performed in undergraduate study? I know almost all of the programs expect applicants to have a Master's by the time they arrive. So, do they generally just take a glance at undergraduate performance and look more closely at graduate work? I know the biggest part of my application will be my research and recommendations (I assume, anyway, that's how it works in the US). So, I know my lower undergraduate gpa shouldn't matter that much, but I assume other candidates will probably have done better in undergrad and will probably do similarly in graduate school.

This is perhaps a little unorganized. Please ask any clarifying questions. But I'm broadly asking how appealing I am to a given European PhD program, given what I've included. I know I didn't include specifics, but with my GPAs and two years of novel research at a good research institution - the details of that research shouldn't matter so long as it isn't on like a Nobel-winning project (it isn't) or something. My research mentor does have a pre-existing collaboration with Oxford though.

PS: I'm applying in Europe to avoid US institutions forcing me to get a second Master's.

I am 15 years old, and I have always been very interested in science, especially in the field of Physics. How can I learn Physics outside of school to an advanced level, and create a future opportunity for myself that includes fields of physics?

Can I get introduced to different types of physics? Where can I learn them?

I know some basics of math (no advanced linear algebra and calculus YET.).

I am 15 years old and I go to an IB system school. I am really interested in physics in multiple categories, and yet I am barely passing maths extended in MYP4 (grade average is 4/8). Is there a chance that I could get deep into some branches pf physics? I am usually good at math but I stress a lot during stress which leads me to forget some knowledge which should explain my low grade. I want to do physics related stuff as an interest and as an opportunity in future, can I do it, and i I can where can I start and learn, i am very interested in quantum physics even thought it isn’t very possible for me to learn.

Can you introduce me some interesting branches of Physics that I could learn?

The universe is believed to be approximately 13.7 billion years old. We know this partly because the light horizon is about 13.7 billion light years away from us, meaning that it takes the light from the light horizon about 13.7 billion years to reach us here on Earth.

So in essence, when we see the light horizon we are not seeing it as it is NOW, but as it was 13.7 BILLION YEARS AGO. But, if the universe is 13.7 billion years old, then at the place where we are seeing the light horizon, wouldn't we be seeing the universe as it was in its infancy, basically the singularity before the Big Bang, or perhaps at a fairly short time afterwards?

Also, if we are measuring the distance to the light horizon, and thus (partly) determining the age of the universe, from Earth, does this mean that Earth is at the center of the universe, basically where the pre Big Bang singularity once was (or somewhere close)?

Am I the only one who has stumbled on these little dilemmas (if you can call them that), or is this something that physicists have resolved long ago, and I can go back to my layman's concerns?

Would appreciate some insights on this but I hope you can explain it in layman's terms, have some sympathy for us rubes! Thanks in advance.

Might be a weird question but I'm interested in physics but most modern research I have is 60 years old, I want to read something new.

I know research gate, is it the only website with modern research?

I have a question, sorry if this is meant for the weekly education thread but it’s meant more for a general biophysics discussion.

I wanted to know what being a biophysicist entails, since it’s more of a smaller field and I’ve never met anyone who works in it. I tried to research how the work environment is like but all I seem to get is people who work in bioinformatics which while still interesting is not what I enjoy about biology

What do they do on a daily basis?
Is it possible for a physicist to work in a wet lab?
Does one have to have a background in biology to pursue it?
I’m currently still an undergrad student but I realized the reason I never liked biology wasn’t because I didn’t like biological systems, it was because I’m not good at memorization rather than with numbers so I never even thought of pursuing it, but I still really like the environment they work in and was wondering if someone with a physics background can break into an industry like biotech or molecular biology with the possibility to bring their physics problem solving perspective into a lab.
Thanks a lot !!

Hello everyone,
I recently started my PhD in physics, specializing in photonics. Since the project is brand new, I was one of the first people on board. Naturally, it’s been a steep learning curve, I’ve had to quickly pick up everything from CAD design and simulations to ordering equipment. Honestly, I love what I’m doing and find it incredibly cool.
However, as the project progresses, more people are joining the team. My task list is exploding because I’m now splitting my time between scientific discussions with new members and working with senior scientists to set up my own experiments.
For the first time, that infamous, overwhelming "PhD feeling" is hitting me. I’m looking for advice from current or finished PhDs on two specific things:

1. Task & Time Management
   I’ve started keeping a running task list to keep myself in the loop and remember next steps, but the sheer volume is getting tough. What are your favorite systems or mindsets for managing the workload before it manages you?

2. Coping with "Senior Scientist Brain"
   When I work with senior scientists, their chain of thought is so fast and technical that I start to zone out or get overwhelmed. I feel incredibly guilty about it, even though I logically know they have years of experience and I'm just starting.
   How do you handle situations where the technical discussion moves at hyper-speed? How do you ask them to slow down without feeling embarrassed?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Doing a PhD in Physics.

It's day 3 and sometimes when I think about the journey ahead, and how long and hard and how I don't even know where to start, I started panicking.

I spent 8 hours yesterday on a single paper on my topic because all the terminology is new and I'm just so overwhelmed.

I also have ADHD, but live in a country where it's impossible to get diagnosed basically, so that another part which is overwhelming me

Am I gonna be okay? Am I going to be unhappy for the next 3-4 years, I don't know

I have years before I start PhD and I like physics, especially particle physics, atoms etc. I help a PhD student with her research in free time, but I'm curious if I should try something by myself because I have interest and I like studying something new. If it is possible, what should I do and where do I publish my work?

Or I should just continue learning before starting PhD?

ya so basically i’m a junior in hs and i fucking suck at math, i’m a lil stupid and i failed algebra 2, didn’t do good at algebra 1, and am not doing great at geometry but im pushing through. the thing is, literally EVERYTHING i’m interested in doing as an adult requires physics in some way. i’m really set on doing something astronomy related but idk if i’m too far gone to do it.. should i still take physics or should i js give up
i asked my rly smart friend if i could somehow get through it if i rly tried and she said probably but idk for sure so im taking it here