-
1 week ago | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
The US administration is carrying out “a wholesale assault on US science” that could hold back research in the country for several decades. That is the warning from more than 1900 members of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, who have signed an open letter condemning the policies introduced by Donald Trump since he took up office on 20 January.
-
1 month ago | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
The administration of US president Donald Trump continues to introduce polices that strip the government’s support of US science, as Peter Gwynne reports Two months into Donald Trump’s second presidency and many parts of US science – across government, academia, and industry – continue to be hit hard by the new administration’s policies. Science-related government agencies are seeing budgets and staff cut, especially in programmes linked to climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion...
-
2 months ago | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
Donald Trump’s second term as US President has begun with staff layoffs, slashed budgets, axed diversity programmes and cancelled conferences.
-
Jan 15, 2025 | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
Incoming US President Donald Trump has selected Silicon Valley executive Michael Kratsios as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Kratsios will also serve as Trump’s science advisor, a position that, unlike the OSTP directorship, does not require approval by the US Senate.
-
Jan 14, 2025 | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
Lia Merminga has resigned as director of Fermilab – the US’s premier particle-physics lab. She stepped down yesterday after a turbulent year that saw staff layoffs, a change in the lab’s management contractor and accusations of a toxic atmosphere. Merminga is being replaced by Young-Kee Kim from the University of Chicago, who will serve as interim director until a permanent successor is found. Kim was previously Fermilab’s deputy director between 2006 and 2013.
-
Jan 14, 2025 | 
iop.org | Peter Gwynne
We value your privacy Clicking the Accept all and/or close buttons means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies (check the full list). We use cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click Settings. Read our privacy policy Settings Accept all and close You can learn more detailed information in our Privacy Policy.
-
Dec 11, 2024 | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
Before Donald Trump takes oath for a second term as US president on 20 January, the US scientific community is preparing for what the next four years may look like. Many already have a sense of trepidation given his track record from his first term in office. There are concerns, for example, about his nominations for cabinet and other key positions. Others are worried about the role that SpaceX boss Elon Musk will play as the head of a new “department of government efficiency”.
-
Nov 19, 2024 | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has announced another round of staff layoffs. The move, which began in mid-November, involves about 325 people, representing 5% of the lab’s employees. It follows layoffs in February of about 530 JPL staff and 140 of the lab’s outside contractors. According to JPL director Laurie Leshin, the second reduction in employees is occurring “across technical, business and support areas of the laboratory”.
-
Nov 8, 2024 | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
The Arecibo Observatory’s “uniquely powerful electromagnetic radiation environment” is the most likely initial cause of its destruction and collapse in December 2020. That’s according to a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which states that failure of zinc in the cables that held the telescope’s main platform led to it falling onto the huge 305 m reflector dish – causing catastrophic damage.
-
Oct 16, 2024 | 
physicsworld.com | Peter Gwynne
A consortium of universities and companies has been awarded the contract to manage and operate Fermilab, the US’s premier particle-physics facility. The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced on 1 October that the new contractor, Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FFDV), will take over operation of the lab from 1 January 2025.
