The Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

Who discovered Jupiter's Eucalyptus Foundation Physicists Advocate for Back Page: Scientists Must 02│ Great Red Spot? 03│ Supports PhysicsQuest 04│ Nuclear Threat Reduction 08│ Commit to Research Integrity

May 2020 • Vol. 29, No. 5 aps.org/apsnews

A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY

COVID MEETINGS Physicists Rise to the Challenge The April Meeting Must Go On..line BY SOPHIA CHEN BY LEAH POFFENBERGER

n the evening of March 10, at the University of Illinois, O Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus, two physicists stayed late to chat about the upcoming spring break. The conversation, however, did ad 2020 been like any normal that we did the meeting as a not center on sunny beaches or year, APS would have whole, the number of people forest hikes. Nigel Goldenfeld and Hhosted a March Meeting [who attended] and the number Sergei Maslov were worried. In in Denver, CO, and an April Meeting of sessions that went on—and four days, a significant fraction of in Washington, DC. Everything they went off mainly without a the school’s 48,000 students and was set for these meetings, until hitch, aside from a little glitch here 13,000 faculty and staff would be the COVID-19 pandemic hit the or there,” says Hunter Clemens, Nigel Goldenfeld Sergei Maslov trudging through crowded airports, United States, causing the March Director of Meetings at APS. “What sharing hugs and kisses with loved event to be cancelled and April to I loved was seeing comments like ones, celebrating in restaurants the twin cities of Urbana and Over more than three decades initially be in limbo. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to this and bars—and then, after eight Champaign, Illinois, to forecast at UIUC, he had branched into But thanks to tireless work from meeting and I haven’t been able days, returning to campus. the impact of spring break. computational biology to study several APS departments, decisive to attend. It was great to be able At the time, the impact of Little did they know that just flocking and evolutionary patterns leadership from the meeting’s to participate.’” COVID-19 had not fully descended eleven days later, the governor of in various ecosystems, among program committee, and support Meeting Virtually on Illinois, with only 19 confirmed Illinois would issue a statewide other research interests. from the physics community, the For anyone who has attended an cases. But Goldenfeld and Maslov stay-at-home order citing their Maslov, a 51-year-old Russian- April Meeting wasn’t cancelled—it April Meeting, this year’s line-up had followed the news in China work as part of the reasoning. American who kept his hair long just went virtual. The meeting took was familiar, despite the venue and in Italy. “We were both very Neither Goldenfeld nor Maslov even prior to the pandemic, place on April 18 to 21 as scheduled changing from hotel meeting alarmed by how quickly the virus had advised policymakers before. A followed a similarly interdisci- and drew in over 7,000 participants, rooms to home offices, kitchen replicates and spreads through 63-year-old bespectacled theorist plinary academic career. Skipping almost five times the expected tables, and living rooms. As usual, the population,” says Maslov. That originally from the UK, Goldenfeld around from magnetic materials number for a typical, in-person evening, they built a simple math- began his research career studying April Meeting. ematical model of their hometown, superconductors and polymers. CHALLENGE CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 “I think it was purely amazing: MEETING CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

OBITUARY LETTERS Philip Anderson 1923–2020 Physicists and COVID BY ALAINA G. LEVINE The response to the COVID-19 – Juan Carrasquilla is a physicist and working on three research hilip Warren Anderson, pandemic has meant radical changes at the Vector Institute for Artificial projects with my collaborators. condensed matter physi- for scientists as they adjust to labo- Intelligence in Canada. Being a theorist, all I really need ratory shutdowns, online teaching, is my laptop, pen, and paper, so my cist, Nobel Laureate, and I’ve been asked to participate in P and travel restrictions. APS News work has not really been affected demystifier of diverse fields of a group of epidemiologists, virolo- and Physics want to hear about your that much. I continue to talk to my scholarship, died on March 29 gists, and modelers who are trying experiences at [email protected]. More advisor regularly, and I have Skype at the age of 96. “He is easily to estimate, in different scenarios, letters are available at the Physics meetings with my collaborators the leading figure in condensed how this pandemic will strike website (physics.aps.org). almost every day. Unfortunately, matter physics in the second half Buenos Aires and its surround- two conferences I was planning on of the 20th century,” says Daniel ings. I closed the lab, maintaining Keeping Research Going, and attending have been canceled. A few L. Stein, Professor of Physics minimal guards for the animals, Contributing in Other Ways more scheduled for June and July and Mathematics at New York and I do simulations at home. Fortunately, my research is are currently in limbo. Apart from University. “He was the guiding – Gabriel Midlin is a physicist at the theoretical and computational, that, I am grateful to be one of the light.” University of Buenos Aires. so it has not been difficult for my But Anderson was known for lucky few whose life has not been Philip Anderson group to continue working and A Silver Lining much more than condensed matter completely scrambled. – Alexander to stay in touch as we all hunker I enjoyed writing short stories in physics. He was a visionary in very prescient,” notes Stein, who Yosifov is a PhD student at the Space down at home. But graduate my high school and college years. showing how fields as diverse served as Anderson’s protégé while Research and Technology Institute, students in campus housing have But after getting my doctorate in as economics and physics, or pursuing his doctorate. “He saw Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. been particularly affected. Many physics and then teaching large sociology and computer science, and thought about things before Donating Supplies of them have had to vacate their undergraduate classes, I had no could intertwine. His paper “More others came along to understand On the morning of March 20th, housing and find new lodging time to indulge in this pastime. is Different” inScience Magazine in them. He was a natural at this. we were closing our labs at the on extremely short notice. [My The coronavirus outbreak forced me 1979, which served as a rallying cry That was typical of Phil.” School of Physics and Astronomy group] also volunteered for the to join the ranks of college faculty for interdisciplinary investigations, Early on, Anderson had been when a call came, asking whether Rapid Assistance in Modelling around the world who communicate set the stage for much of his later contemplating order and hierarchy we had personal protection equip- the Pandemic (RAMP) initiative with their students online. How research into the interconnectivity in nature and how complexity can ment (PPE) that could be donated in the UK, which brings together could I continue to make physics of subjects. The article “could be serve as a lens through which we to the UK’s National Health Service researchers with many kinds of exciting to my students when I thought of as a Magna Carta for can investigate many other fields. (NHS). We have a lot of this equip- computational skills. We hope could no longer interact with them modern complexity research insti- “Back then physicists tended to ment because we are active in that our expertise will be valuable personally? Then the inspiration tutions,” says Stein. And indeed, think hierarchically: that there is biophysics, nanotechnology, and there. – Andrea Liu is a physicist at came to me: I would write short in 1984, Anderson co-founded the a hierarchy of fundamental science device fabrication. Within an hour, the University of Pennsylvania and stories centered round the topic to Santa Fe Institute, the first research with particle physics at the fun- three colleagues and I had packed Speaker of the Council of the American be covered in class. One of them is institute dedicated to the study of up all of the PPE we could find, and Physical Society. a detective story about the charging complex adaptive systems. “He was ANDERSON CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 it was on a truck to the NHS, along and discharging of capacitors. I guess my story is pretty with supplies from the Electrical – Basil S. Davis is a physicist at standard: healthy so far, quar- Engineering Department’s clean Xavier University of Louisiana in antined for two and a half weeks, room. I heard later that some New Orleans. bathtub office. I help my students institutions across the world were on Slack and Skype frequently and Completing a Thesis hitting administrative barriers attend seminars and meetings on Following the government’s when trying to do the same thing. Zoom, which turns out to work call for social distancing, I have But our dean was very happy to really well. Running calculations not left my apartment in over a hear what we’d done. is not a problem for now. But week. As a PhD student in my final running things from home with year, I am very busy. I split my my 4-year-old son is challenging. time between writing my thesis LETTERS CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Revised 05/11/2020 2 • May 2020

MEMBERSHIP UNITS The Topical Group on Precision THIS MONTH IN Measurements and Fundamental Constants Physics History BY ABIGAIL DOVE

he Topical Group on Precision Measurement May 1664: Hooke vs. Cassini: Who Discovered T and Fundamental Constants (GPMFC) is a home for physicists Jupiter’s Red Spot? interested in investigating the fundamental laws of physics, deter- ne of the most easily identifiable features mining fundamental constants, of the planet Jupiter is its famous Great and developing and improving O Red Spot, a gigantic storm in the plan- basic measurement standards with etary atmosphere, about 22 degrees south of high precision experiments. As the equator, that rotates counter-clockwise, GPMFC chair-elect Derek Kimball akin to an anti-cyclone. Astronomers think the (California State University, East current red spot may have been present for at Bay) put it, “We use all possible tools least several hundred years. The 17th century at the disposal of the experimental polymath and Micrographia author, Robert Hooke, Atomic clocks are among the tools physicist—and all calculations at is often credited with making the first recorded used for precision measurement. the disposal of the theoretical phys- observation in May 1664. But many argue that One such clock at NIST uses two icist—to do precise measurements magnetic coils (red rings) and an it was his Italian counterpart, Giovanni Cassini, and calculations of various quan- optical lattice (red laser beam), as who should get due credit for his observations tities in physics.” well as intersecting violet lasers to the following year. Much of this work focuses on cool ytterbium atoms, slowing their Although he relied on London instrument what Kimball calls “the precision motion. IMAGE: NIST maker Christopher Cock to build his microscopes, frontier”—that is, the ability of Hooke enjoyed a reputation as one of London’s increasingly precise measurements quantities very precisely,” noted finest makers of precision scientific instruments. to reveal gaps in our current models Gardner. Indeed, beyond including He had a long-standing passion for astronomical of physics. “Experimental results scientists from different branches instruments, like the telescope, and for clocks. may agree with predicted calcu- of physics, GPMFC welcomes a In fact, as a child he once examined the various lations when measured out to the unique mix of theorists and exper- parts of a brass clock, and used what he learned 12th decimal place for example, but imentalists owing to the necessary to build his own working model out of wood. His at the 13th or 14th decimal place back-and-forth between practi- microscopic observations formed the basis for maybe you find disagreement,” he tioners of precision measurement his magnum opus, the Micrographia, which first explained. “That opens the window experiments and theoreticians appeared in bookshops in January 1665. Detailed image of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, taken by into something that we don’t yet involved in the interpretation. Astronomy was another of Hooke’s many inter- the Juno spacecraft flyover (PERIJOVE 7) on July 11, understand and could represent the Vice Chair David Hanneke ests. The Micrographia includes his illustrations 2017 IMAGE: NASA discovery of new physics.” (Amherst College) pointed out that of the Pleiades star cluster and lunar craters. He As GPMFC chair Susan Gardner the diversity within GPMFC also observed the rings of Saturn early on, and once prominent standing with the Society, bolstered (University of Kentucky) put it, extends to the scale of analysis, attempted to measure the distance to the star further by his quarrelsome tendencies. “there are a number of reasons with group members pursuing pre- Gamma Draconis, although his instruments Cassini—who went on to become director why experimental results may not cision measurement of everything weren’t quite up to the task. Around 9 pm on of the Paris Observatory, changing his name agree with Standard Model pre- from the fine structure constant May 9, 1664, Hooke observed a small spot “in the to Jean-Dominique when he settled in France dictions—not the least of which (to describe the strength of elec- biggest of the three obscurer belts of Jupiter, and permanently—likely first observed the red spot is that there is a deficiency in the tromagnetic interactions between that, observing it from time to time, within two between the summer and fall of 1665; he described Standard Model.” As became clear elementary particles) to the Hubble hours after, the said spot had moved from East his observations at length in letters to the Abbot at the turn of the century with the constant (to describe the speed of to West, about half the length of the diameter Ottavio Falconieri. Cassini was able to weed out development of quantum mechanics the expansion of the universe). of Jupiter.” spots likely to be caused by a satellite transit and relativity, physics models that Current topics of particular But the spot Hooke observed might not have shadow, and showed that the remaining obser- work on one scale may break down excitement within the purview of been what we now call the Great Red Spot. In a vations of a spot in his data were indeed located at another. Precision measurement GPMFC include searches for dark 1987 paper for the Journal of the British Astronomical on Jupiter’s surface. One in particular stood out: is an important tool for detecting matter and dark energy, improving Association, Marco Forlani suggested—based “a permanent one which was often seen to return such anomalies. the determination of lepton on Hooke’s original announcement and a 1666 in the same place with the same size and shape,” Since its founding in 1987, magnetic moments (a new muon recorded observation—that the observed “small Cassini wrote. GPMFC has attracted a highly inter- g-2 measurement is expected this spot” was embedded in what is now known as He observed this spot 13 times between August disciplinary membership base of spring), the “proton radius puzzle” the North Equatorial Belt (or “great black belt”), 19 and October 30, eventually compiling a table approximately 500. The largest (a hotly debated question related while the Great Red Spot is currently found in the of its transits that enabled him to calculate its proportion of GPMFC members to the charge radius of the proton), South Equatorial Belt. Rather, Forlani argued that rotation period: 9 hours and 56 minutes. The hail from the Division of Atomic, and, perhaps most notably, the what Hooke observed was more consistent with a only attribute Cassini did not describe was the Molecular, and Optical Physics search for permanent electric dipole transit satellite shadow—the moon Callisto was spot’s trademark red color, however, likely due to (DAMOP; see APS News April 2020), moments of the electron, neutron, noticeably transiting at the time. instrumentation limitations. According to Forlani, with a substantial number from the and proton. The Standard Model of The Royal Society backed Hooke’s claim at the Divisions of Nuclear Physics (DNP) particle physics predicts that these time. Forlani attributed their support in part to a and Particles and Fields (DPF) as should have extremely small values, kind of “scientific nationalism,” given Hooke’s RED SPOT CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 well. but theoretical extensions of the “There is a natural intercon- Standard Model invoking super- nectedness between disciplines that appears when measuring particular GPMFC CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Series II, Vol. 29, No. 5 APS COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES 2020 General Councilors Particles and Fields), Stuart Henderson (Division of May 2020 Vivian F. Incera*, Andrea J. Liu*, Physics of Beams), Amitava Bhattacharjee* (Division President Robert McKeown, Robin L. B. Selinger* of Plasma Physics), Murugappan Muthukumar © 2020 American Physical Society Philip H. Bucksbaum*, Stanford University and (Division of Polymer Physics), Charles H. Bennett SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory International Councilors (Division of Quantum Information), Noah Finkelstein Ursula Keller, Marta Losada*, Ahmadou (Forum on Education), LaNell Williams (Forum on Editor...... David Voss President-Elect Wagué*, Enge Wang Graduate Student Affairs), Virginia Trimble (Forum Sylvester J. Gates*, Brown Theoretical Physics on the History of Physics), TBD (Forum on Industrial Staff Science Writer...... Leah Poffenberger Center, Brown University Chair, Nominating Committee and Applied Physics), Emanuela Barzi (Forum on Contributing Correspondents ...... Sophia Chen and Alaina G. Levine Nora Berrah*, University of Connecticut International Physics), TBD (Forum on Physics and Design and Production...... Nancy Bennett-Karasik Vice President Society), Philip R. Johnson (Mid-Atlantic Section), Frances Hellman*, University of California, Chair, Panel on Public Affairs Nora Berrah* (New England Section) Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Dan Dahlberg, University of Minnesota APS News (ISSN: 1058-8132) is published APS News, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD Laboratory Senior Management Team monthly, except for a combined July-August 20740-3844, Email: [email protected]. Editor in Chief Mark Doyle, Chief Information Officer; issue, 11 times per year, by the American Phys- Past President Michael Thoennessen, Michigan State University Jane Hopkins Gould, Chief Financial Officer ical Society, One Physics Ellipse, College Park, Subscriptions: APS News is an on-membership David J. Gross*, Kavli Institute for Theoretical (on leave) Beth Gunzel, Chief Human Resources Officer MD 20740-3844, (301) 209-3200. It contains publication delivered by Periodical Mail Postage Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara Kate P. Kirby, Chief Executive Officer; news of the Society and of its Divisions, Topical Paid at College Park, MD and at additional mail- Division, Forum, and Section Councilors Matthew M. Salter, Publisher; Groups, Sections, and Forums; advance infor- ing offices. Chief Executive Officer Michael Coleman Miller (Division of Astrophysics), Francis Slakey, Chief Government Affairs Officer; mation on meetings of the Society; and reports Kate P. Kirby, Harvard Smithsonian (retired) David Schultz (Division of Atomic, Molecular, and James W. Taylor, Deputy Executive Officer and to the Society by its committees and task forces, For address changes, please send both the old Optical Physics), William Bialek (Division of Biological Chief Operating Officer; as well as opinions. and new addresses, and, if possible, include a Speaker of the Council Physics), Robert Continetti (Division of Chemical Michael Thoennessen, Editor in Chief mailing label from a recent issue. Changes can be Andrea J. Liu*, University of Pennsylvania Physics), TBD (Division of Condensed Matter Physics), Letters to the editor are welcomed from the emailed to [email protected]. Postmaster: TBD (Division of Computational Physics), Howard * Voting Members of the APS Board of Directors membership. Letters must be signed and should Send address changes to APS News, Membership Treasurer Stone (Division of Fluid Dynamics), Beverly Berger* include an address and daytime telephone num- Department, American Physical Society, One James Hollenhorst*, Agilent Technologies (Division of Gravitational Physics), John Fourkas ber. APS reserves the right to select and to edit Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844. (Division of Laser Science), Samuel Bader (Division for length and clarity. All correspondence re- Coden: ANWSEN ISSN: 1058-8132 Corporate Secretary of Materials Physics), Baha Balantekin* (Division of garding APS News should be directed to: Editor, Jeanette Russo, American Physical Society Nuclear Physics), Elizabeth Simmons (Division of May 2020 • 3

RED SPOT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 OUTREACH

“It is out of the question that he of bits of the red spot, fueling fears PhysicsQuest Expands Online with Help from the would have been able to distinguish that Jupiter’s most famous feature it because of the low light-grasp of might be disappearing at long last. Eucalyptus Foundation telescopes of that time.” University of California, BY LEAH POFFENBERGER There is little doubt among Berkeley, physicist Philip Marcus, science historians that Cassini however, has found no reason for ince 2005, the APS Public Engagement Manager James witnessed, repeatedly, a spot on alarm. At the 2019 APS Division of PhysicsQuest program has Roche. “We want to use online PhysicsQuest 2019 Jupiter that bears a remarkable Fluid Dynamics meeting, he offered S been delivering physics resources to bolster—not replace— Science Kits for Middle School Classrooms Dr. Wu’s Secret Project similarity to the Great Red Spot we an intriguing counter-explanation experiments to middle school class- the other parts of PhysicsQuest.” know and love today. There is still for the flaking, based on his own rooms all across the country. These A new online suite for some uncertainty as to whether it computer models (see APS News, hands-on experiment kits, designed PhysicsQuest will be designed to is exactly the same spot, centuries January 2020). He concluded that to help get kids interested in science, complement the teacher and student later, because of imperfect historical the flaking is a perfectly natural have been a hit with teachers and guides that classrooms already records. There were no reported weather phenomenon on Jupiter, students alike. PhysicsQuest kits receive, with resources for teachers observations of the red spot after the result of the complicated fluid have traditionally consisted of and students. Eventually, according 1713 for more than a century, until dynamics of the planet’s atmo- teacher and student guides and to Roche, the online component of it was spotted again in 1831 in sphere. If Marcus is correct, the all the materials to conduct four PhysicsQuest will include content a drawing of Jupiter by Samuel Great Red Spot should endure for experiments, but thanks to a new such as lesson plans, experiment Schwabe. American astronomer several more centuries, barring grant and input from teachers, videos, and other educational tools. C. W. Pritchett “rediscovered” the some cataclysmic event. PhysicsQuest is hoping to offer even “We’re early in the process of Distributed by the American Physical Society more with new online resources. coming up with the best ways to Great Red Spot in 1878, and astron- Further Reading: provide resources, but we will start omers have been monitoring it Chapman, Allan. England's Leonardo: The Eucalyptus Foundation, Foundation grant, we are able to closely ever since. Robert Hooke and the Seven- a non-profit organization that releasing content online with the continue offering the PhysicsQuest That said, “Even if the identity teenth-century Scientific Revolution. supports science education efforts, 2020 kit,” says Roche. “It might not program while making it even more of the old Permanent Spot with the Institute of Physics Publishing, has awarded PhysicsQuest a be the full suite of resources we’re accessible to a broader audience,” modern Red Spot is still in doubt,” 2004. $400,000 grant to help expand and working on, but it’s an exciting says Roche. Connor, Elizabeth. (1947) “The Cassini Forlani concluded, “there can be no improve the program, specifically first step.” Signups to receive a 2020 Family and the Paris Observatory,” its online component. Starting in The 2020 PhysicsQuest will PhysicsQuest kit will open online dispute over the identical nature of Astronomical Society of the Pacific the phenomenon, and the discovery Leaflets 5(218): 164-153. 2020, the grant will help bring feature NASA scientist Katherine this summer. In the meantime, all must be attributed to Cassini.” Falorni, Marco. (1987) “The discovery PhysicsQuest alive with new video Johnson in the activity guide, giving past activity guides—including Since 2004, astronomers have of the Great Red Spot of Jupiter,” content from working scientists to students an opportunity to learn PhysicsQuest 2019 featuring “First worried that the red spot might be Journal of the British Astronomical educate and inspire students. more about her life while conducting Lady of Physics” Chien-Shiung Association 97(4): 215-219. shrinking, and that the process was “We have been taking a lot of experiments on force and motion. Wu—are available online and Marcus, Philip. “Contrary to recent occurring more rapidly since 2012. input from teachers, the [APS] The online component will feature include experiments that can be reports, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is Committee on Informing the videos of other scientists who are done with household items. . In 2019, several amateur astrono- not in danger of disappearing,” The mers reported a strange flaking off Conversation, November 25, 2019. Public, and others to find out currently doing related research what online resources they use who can share their personal stories For more about the PhysicsQuest and what gaps there are in the to inspire the next generation. program visit physicscentral.com/ PhysicsQuest program,” says APS “Thanks to the Eucalyptus experiment/physicsquest/

MEETINGS Understanding the Dynamic Climate System Inclusion, IDEADiversity, and BY ABIGAIL EISENSTADT Equity Alliance he climate system is dynamic, and its behavior is irregular, T making it hard to anticipate the full severity of anthropogenic CALL FOR APPLICATIONS effects on climate. Creating climate Apply to join our network composed models that accurately predict these changes demands a comprehen- of teams of physics organizations sive understanding of the physical, who are committed to improving biological, and chemical processes their culture. on Earth. However, collecting informa- Deadline: June 1, 2020 tion about these processes can be difficult: Some phenomena, like turbulence inside clouds, are impossible to observe with existing technologies. Other information, like the rate at which plants take up carbon dioxide and emit water vapor, are difficult to constrain with model equations. High-resolution models that can test each possible parameter and simulate these pro- cesses are too computationally expensive to run on a global scale. Overcoming the challenges of modeling climate has been an ongoing subject of rigorous dis- One of the challenges in understanding climate is combining long-term behav- cussion among physicists and ior with sudden changes like ENSO (the El Nino Southern Oscillation), shown go.aps.org/aps-idea here (red indicates higher sea level and thus higher temperature). IMAGE: NASA the topic was scheduled to have a dedicated session sponsored by the Topical Group on Physics of long-term climate trends with and changes in the climate’s natural Climate during the canceled 2020 abrupt weather patterns, like the variability. APS March Meeting. Michael Ghil, El-Niño Southern Oscillation. Ghil’s modeling framework Tapio Schneider, and Katherine Natural weather patterns combines intrinsic climate oscil- Dagon, who would have all been respond in surprising ways to lations like the El Niño–Southern part of this session, are tackling dif- manmade climate change. Current Oscillation with long-term anthro- CAREERS ferent aspects of climate modeling climate models try to account for pogenic warming trends. Major through their research. these surprises by estimating weather and climate patterns are “A big concern that the climate the overall impact of factors like either nearly periodic (like day community has become aware climate forcing. Positive climate and night) or irregular. Periodic 2020 of is that, aside from the rela- forcing refers to the surplus of climate patterns repeat in exact, CAREER PATHWAYS & ADVICE tively smooth change of mean sunlight, or heat, that remains on equal intervals, while irregular temperatures, there may also Earth once Earth radiates its own patterns can be either determin- EMPLOYER DIRECTORY be other sudden [climatological] heat into space. Positive anthro- istically aperiodic—for example, changes,” said Ghil, a physicist pogenic climate forcing occurs non-random with irregular inter- and professor at the University of when manmade atmospheric pollu- vals—or random. Anthropogenic Download it at California, Los Angeles. He has tion increases the amount of solar go.aps.org/careers2020 physicsworld developed a new framework for energy trapped on Earth, causing a climate modeling, synthesizing gradual increase in global warming CLIMATE CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 4 • May 2020

OUTREACH GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Wikipedia Editing Course Gives a New Physicists’ Coalition to Advocate for Nuclear Voice to Women and Minorities in Threat Reduction Physics BY TAWANDA W. JOHNSON BY LEAH POFFENBERGER he Physicists Coalition for leading the coalition. Princeton’s strategic stability, and the potential Nuclear Threat Reduction—a Program on Science and Global physical effects of the weapons in espite millions of pageviews new project supported by the Security is coordinating the the arsenal if used. and millions of articles, T APS Innovation Fund—has been coalition. The policy portion will cover the Wikipedia, the world’s D launched to inform, engage, and The first step is to hold colloquia substantial history of successful largest encyclopedia, has a problem: mobilize the US physics community at universities, labs, industry, and key treaties and agreements that women and underrepresented around the danger posed by the conferences that will provide an have provided some degree of safety minorities are often missing from its world’s nuclear weapons. overview of the technological and for the world, recent troubling pages. When she became the third “The goal is to establish a coa- policy landscape of the nuclear changes in the framework of arms woman to ever win the Nobel Prize lition of informed physicists to arms issue. Topics to be covered control agreements, the emerging in Physics, Donna Strickland didn’t advocate for steps to reduce the include a review of the current world new nuclear arms race, and policy have a Wikipedia page, and many nuclear threat,” said Stewart Prager, arsenal, recent developments in new other deserving women don’t either, professor of astrophysical sciences offensive and defensive capabilities, with only 18 percent of biographies at Princeton University, who is new technologies that alter nuclear ADVOCATE CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 on Wikipedia belonging to women (see “Fixing Wikipedia’s Diversity actively engaged in investigating Problem,” APS News, April 2019). and representing knowledge.” To To help bridge this gap and rec- meet the goal of a more diverse ognize women and minorities in Wikipedia, Wiki Education has physics for their achievements, been partnering with institutions APS partnered with Wiki Education to involve students, academics, and to train APS members on how to scholars in the process of contrib- contribute articles and edits to uting to and improving Wikipedia’s Wikipedia. Over a 12-week course catalogue of articles. that started on February 10, a group Through the APS and Wiki of 14 APS members edited 43 pages, Education Wiki Scientist course, APS adding 127 references to articles that members were given an opportunity wracked-up 148,000 pageviews. to receive training from Wikipedia “The Wiki Education course experts through weekly hour-long taught the ins and outs of being Zoom sessions. Participants also wiki-editors, and how to create and spent two hours a week outside of maintain biographies that satisfy class sessions applying their new- Wikipedia’s notability require- found Wikipedia skills to improving ments,” says James Roche, Public entries about women and minority Engagement Programs Manager. physicists. “Wikipedia has come a long way “The course specifically focused and instituted a lot of policies to on adding more biographies on discourage poor editing practices— women and minorities in physics there’s a lot that goes into these because, for a variety of reasons, articles.” Wikipedia has some catching up Wiki Education, a non-profit to do in these areas,” says Roche. spun off from the Wikipedia “This course was a pilot program, Foundation that runs Wikipedia, but we’re hoping to do more in the Over 14,000 nuclear weapons in the world today are distributed over nine nations. IMAGE: ALEX GLASER/PRINCETON was created in 2013 with the vision UNIVERSITY future with Wiki Education to get of creating “a broader and more more APS members involved.” diverse Wikipedia that welcomes public and academic participation, in which students, scholars, and For more information about Wiki Signal Boost is a monthly email video newsletter institutions of higher learning are Education visit wikiedu.org. alerting APS members to policy issues and identifying opportunities to get involved. Past issues are available at go.aps.org/2nr298D. Join Our Mailing List: visit the sign-up page at go.aps.org/2nqGtJP.

OUTREACH Sparking the Joy of Physics at FYI: SCIENCE POLICY NEWS FROM AIP Home BY LEAH POFFENBERGER National Labs Pivot to Pandemic Research

s millions of people are of educational resources, from blog BY MITCH AMBROSE being asked to stay at posts tackling physics news to home to stop the spread of classroom experiment kits. Each t the outset of April, all but study the structure of SARS-CoV-2, A two of the 17 Department the virus that causes the respiratory COVID-19, parents are faced with year, the PhysicsQuest program the task of keeping energy-filled sends boxes of materials and exper- A of Energy (DOE) national disease COVID-19. kids occupied while stuck in the iment guides to middle-school laboratories were in states whose For instance, the National house. Fortunately, using household classrooms all over the country, governors had issued stay-at-home Synchrotron Light Source II at items or an internet connection, but at-home scientists can easily orders to blunt the spread of the Brookhaven National Lab in New it’s possible to turn the house into jump in to experimenting, too: all coronavirus pandemic. Though York has run experiments with a DIY-lab and spark excitement PhysicsQuest guides are available most lab employees are now tele- protein crystallography beamlines its Molecular Foundry Facility are about physics. online, and most of the experi- working en masse, some on-site to characterize viral components working with Stanford University For more than a decade, APS’s ments are designed to use normal work that has been deemed essential that could be targeted by drugs. The to synthesize peptoids that could PhysicsCentral has been on a mission household items. PhysicsQuest 2019 continues, particularly research Advanced Light Source at Lawrence to communicate the importance and related to the pandemic. Berkley National Lab in California be used to develop antiviral agents. DOE’s two neutron sources excitement of physics with a variety JOY OF PHYSICS CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 DOE has mobilized its suite of has likewise made its beams avail- user facilities and other infrastruc- able for structural biology studies, as at Oak Ridge National Lab in ture to complement research efforts have light sources at other DOE labs. Tennessee were on scheduled underway at public health agencies, The Advanced Light Source was shutdowns when the pandemic casting a wide net for ideas on how initially put on “warm standby” first escalated in the US, but they to support the national response. after several counties in the San began accepting rapid access pro- “Not every lab has the capa- Francisco Bay Area issued stay-at- posals for coronavirus research in bility, but they are all participating home orders in mid-March, the first April. Meanwhile, the pandemic has together in a working group that such directives in the country, but shuttered the country’s one other we've put together to ask questions, the facility resumed limited opera- major neutron source user facility. ‘Hey, have you thought of this? Did tions in April to support coronavirus The National Institute of Standards you try that?’” remarked DOE Office research. Berkeley Lab’s Joint and Technology (NIST) Center for of Science Director Chis Fall in a Genome Institute has also offered Neutron Research was shut down March interview. expertise in high-throughput auto- in mid-March due to a potential One easy at-home experiment involves putting ice cubes on different materials As one major thrust of its effort, mation to aid a robotic coronavirus case of COVID-19 among its staff, (wood, plastic, metal, etc) and measuring how long the ice takes to melt. The DOE has enlisted light and neutron testing initiative at the University of APS PhysicsQuest guide has more. IMAGE: APS PHYSICSQUEST sources across the lab complex to California, Berkeley, and staff from PANDEMIC CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 May 2020 • 5

CHALLENGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MEETING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to financial statistics to microbial to avoid a scenario like Italy’s, the confirmed cases as Illinois. the meeting kicked off Saturday “I made it clear: I would be the ecology, the theorist arrived at UIUC state would need to implement “We closed down at a time when morning with the Kavli Foundation last one to accept this cancellation. in 2015 after nearly two decades at some sort of lockdown soon. Any you might say, ‘What’s the big fuss Keynote Plenary—this year fea- I would be hugely disappointed…I Brookhaven National Laboratory. As delays would drastically increase about?’” says Goldenfeld. While turing three Nobel Laureates: James was obviously emotional,” says members of the same research team, hospital occupancy and the number it’s impossible to know exactly Peebles, Michel Mayor, and Eric Han. “We worked so hard for a they frequently chatted. “Our offices of deaths. how many lives the pre-emptive Cornell—and continued through great program and physics does are right next to each other,” says The two presented some of lockdown saved, Rush University Tuesday with exciting live talks, not stop. Science does not stop. Maslov. Goldenfeld is the winner of these results via videoconference Medical Center is “cool as a poster sessions, and networking We had to move on in some way." this year’s APS Leo Kadanoff Prize. in their scheduled meeting with cucumber,” Ansell told APS News opportunities. Fortunately, Doyle and Clemens For them, transitioning to epide- the governor. But their message on April 15. According to Ansell, A brand-new virtual meeting had already identified Freeman’s miology was easy. “The equations was nearly lost. At the time, pol- Chicago hospitals aren’t over- platform, hosted by the Freeman meeting platform as a potential that describe epidemics are simpli- icymakers were more focused on whelmed, and doctors are taking company, the long-time audio-vi- place to hold a virtual meeting. fied versions of ones that describe the availability of COVID-19 testing, care of COVID-19 patients as they sual support provider for APS On April 3, exactly two weeks out meetings, allowed speakers the ecology,” says Goldenfeld. For the rather than a lockdown. come. from the meeting, Freeman offi- option of presenting a live talk COVID-19 model, they chose equa- “You have to imagine a room, “I get the feeling that all of cially started working on the April or uploading their presentations tions that echoed models of predator and the governor walks in, and Chicago is managing pretty well,” Meeting and the APS IT, Meetings, into an “on demand” session. In and prey. Nigel’s on a TV behind him,” says says Ansell. and Communications departments live sessions, attendees could use Working in Goldenfeld’s office on David Ansell, a doctor and former Goldenfeld and Maslov credit undertook a herculean effort to a chat window to have discussions, March 10, the two collaborated on a chief medical officer at Chicago’s science-trusting policymakers for bring the meeting to fruition. ask questions, and shower speakers simple model that took a few hours Rush University Medical Center. the state’s relative success. “We’re “At first, I said why don’t we with (emoji) applause. to run. In the model, they divided Ansell attended the meeting in very lucky that we’re in a state only do the plenary sessions and “The [meeting] platform wasn’t the population into four catego- person. “There are a lot of people where leadership not only listens the public lecture—those are high in its final form, but I think the ries: those who were susceptible to on Zoom calls, and we’re all trying to scientists, but actively seeks overall experience for the attendees profile talks—and leave the rest to COVID-19, exposed, infected, and to wrap the governor’s head around our input, unlike the situation was a very positive one in terms of our divisions,” says Han. “[Doyle] recovered, the commonly used SEIR the scale of the emergency….So in the federal government,” says delivering the scientific content, said, ‘Okay, let's see how far we can model. Its results delivered a stark Nigel’s idea, I think, got lost in Goldenfeld. considering that all of the speakers, go’...It's just amazing for them to message. According to the model, that moment. But I knew there was The two continue to work with all of the staff, all of the session have put everything online and I'm if students were allowed to return something there, so I looked him the state government on more chairs were working from home,” really extremely grateful.” to campus, “there would be a huge up and e-mailed him [a few days epidemiological models. Without says Mark Doyle, Chief Information wave of epidemics,” says Maslov. later] to ask him to talk.” their usual safeguards such as peer Learning—and Looking Ahead Officer at APS. “Nobody was really in That night, they immediately Ansell was exactly the collab- review, they check their calcula- Launching an all-virtual their place of work, and the content contacted their university provost, orator that Goldenfeld and Maslov tions against the results of two meeting was a monumental task, was able to be delivered. It was all whom they knew personally. Upon needed. With Ansell’s professional other modeling teams. “We’re doing but the developed tools and lessons recorded and it's available online receiving their message, school connections, they were able to quick and dirty engineering-type learned can likely be used for future for a long time to come.” administrators moved swiftly. On roughly tally the number of patients calculations on models that have meetings, especially in a post- More than 700 speakers who March 11, they alerted students that in Chicago ICUs. Using that data, lots of limitations and deficiencies,” COVID-19 world. had committed to the original courses would be moved online they then estimated how a miti- says Goldenfeld. “I think there’s going to be a new April Meeting were still able to Their contribution to the state normal next year. I don’t know what after spring break, and by March gation strategy would change ICU give live talks during the 4-day it is yet in terms of live meetings. 16, they asked students to move occupancy depending on the day reads like a success story, of physi- conference, while others uploaded I’m hoping it doesn’t affect them home. Those administrators also the lockdown began. They found cists demonstrating the real-world theirs for later viewing. Typically, too much, but I have a feeling it relayed Goldenfeld and Maslov’s that without mitigation, Chicago’s applicability of their skills. But decisions about speakers and the will,” says Clemens. “I do think we work to the Illinois governor’s ICU capacity would be exceeded, the two of them see it as a failure scientific program are made far in should, going forward, have much office, which then invited them “probably by a factor of ten,” they of government. “I wish that the advance—but to completely change to meet with a group of officials, wrote in a document uploaded to country was better prepared, and the format of the meeting required more of a hybrid meeting. And hospital administrators, and other arXiv.org. In addition, the lockdown that it wasn’t up to a ragtag group of some last-minute coordination. when I say hybrid, I mean a virtual scientists on March 13. would need to occur by April 1 physicists who decided they needed “The hardest part, I think, was component of the live meeting so Meanwhile, Goldenfeld and in order to “avert a worst-case to do something,” says Goldenfeld. getting all of the program coordi- that we can reach that audience Maslov began modeling the effects scenario.” Maslov and Goldenfeld have nated. But in this case, we had to that doesn't go [to meetings] and of a lockdown on the entire state of On March 18, they sent the set aside their own research for go back to speakers and reconfirm: hopefully grow the audience.” Illinois. With little time to perfect results to the governor’s office, the foreseeable future, to continue do they still want to give [a talk?] While other societies are their models, and flawed data along with a “strongly worded” helping the state government. This Do they want to do 'on demand'? launching online meetings, the available to them, they decided memo that Ansell authored. “We work “is much more important,” Do they want to 'live-stream'?” APS April Meeting currently stands against modeling specific lockdown both agreed the most important says Maslov. says Clemens. “I think that was as one of the largest ever online strategies, such as shutting down measure was for the governor to But their pivot does come with the biggest challenge." meetings, thanks to support from schools. Instead, they left the order the shelter-in-place,” says a nostalgia for their former lives, One Month Notice the physics community. strategy vague—whatever it was, Ansell. just months ago. “We learned to “I want to show appreciation APS leadership formally can- the model assumed it would reduce The state had already begun like [epidemiology], but I cannot celled the in-person event on March for the support all over the physics transmission of the virus by some to act. On March 16, Governor J. imagine spending another five years 12 and continued to meet to set a world. Our APS leadership, our factor. Assuming that the state B. Pritzker ordered all schools, doing it,” says Maslov. For him structure for a virtual meeting. On program committee, and our APS bars, and restaurants to close. On and Goldenfeld, epidemiological would implement the strategy, March 18, program chair Tao Han staff members, they’re the real modeling just doesn’t provide the they then asked, what would be March 21, Pritzker issued a state- proposed that the meeting take heroes,” says Han. “I also want the consequences of delaying wide stay-at-home order. In a press same intellectual thrill that the sta- place on its original dates in order to thank our community: our implementation? conference, the governor acknowl- tistically complex ecological models to keep on board invited speakers Society. For 7,000 people to sign This simple framing allowed edged the “mathematicians and do. It’s a small loss compared to lives who had already committed to a up at such a short notice—That’s them to largely avoid using the bad modelers” whose advice led to his and livelihoods—but intellectual certain timeslot. strong support.” public data. “We were comparing decision. curiosity, too, has been a sacrifice apples to apples, however imper- Since then, Illinois has largely of this pandemic. fectly calculated,” says Goldenfeld. avoided the crisis that hit New “The only thing we were changing York, which implemented its stay- was the date the mitigation strategy at-home order the day after, when The author is a freelance writer based was put in place.” They found that, it already had ten times as many in Tucson, Arizona.

APS Fellowship ei iis

esi is disi siii eii es essi ees ese side ii ees ve de eei iis e News and commentary about research sis eeise from the APS journals Deadlines through Spring Sign up for Alerts: physics.aps.org evi divese d isive i siiss dide is i iis e d ees deeeseed ii s e esei eed Learn More: go.aps.org/fellowship 6 • May 2020

GPMFC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 LETTERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

symmetry, for instance, predict Meeting and DAMOP). This year’s We’ve since been able to offer Rethinking the Markers of we had an additional disaster: a much larger ones. With increasingly workshop will be held at DAMOP, other equipment from our biophysics Progress strong earthquake in Zagreb, where precise measurement tools, it may possibly in a virtual format, and will lab, and colleagues are contributing I’m an experimental physicist I live. About 26,000 buildings in be possible to measure a nonzero highlight “precision measurement by modeling and developing sensitive close to the end of a research project the city were damaged, some 2000 result, finally bringing positive searches for new physics.” and specific sensors for diagnostics and about to make my first few beyond repair. The good thing is experimental evidence to bear on Looking forward, the GPMFC and screening. This of course goes independent steps on an upcoming that, because the pandemic had the question of supersymmetry. executive committee hopes for alongside the huge effort of working fellowship. When it’s due to start forced most people to be at home, Another major emphasis at continued membership growth, with our students remotely and in a few months, I hope this crisis there were almost no casualties, GPMFC is the development of particularly outside of its tra- shifting to online teaching. It’s a will have passed or moved into a which for a city of close to one increasingly accurate sensors of ditional AMO physics base. “We terribly difficult time for everyone. much more manageable phase for million inhabitants is close to a various properties. This techno- are a blended group of theorists But I’m proud to be part of the team everyone. miracle. The experience was very logical development spans atomic and experimentalists, and my at Leeds. – Helen Gleeson heads the The leader of our group of around frightening and stressful to all of us, clocks to measure time and fre- hope is that showcasing this will School of Physics and Astronomy at the 12 physicists has been proactive, and while the rebuilding has already quency to an ever-greater accuracy, help people in different subfields University of Leeds, UK. moving our meetings online and started, a complete recovery will magnetometers to measure ensuring that all members can appreciate each other more,” noted An Unexpected Collaboration take several years. – Maja Planinić magnetic fields to ever-greater Gardner. contribute. Each of us received I am a second-year graduate is a professor in the Department of sensitivity, and atom interferom- Increasing the diversity of help to switch our thinking to student, mainly working on com- Physics at the University of Zagreb eters to measure the energies and GPMFC’s membership (currently planning, analysis, and writing. putational and theoretical aspects and an editorial board member for forces between atoms. more than 80 percent male) is Personally, with only a few months of complex nonlinear and quantum the journal Physical Review Physics Perhaps the most high-profile another key priority. “There is so left before a very productive lab dynamics. My university closed and Education Research. event in the world of precision much amazing intellectual talent project comes to a close, the tem- the state where I live, Maryland, New Tools for Teaching measurement occurred last year, out there in the world, and any porary inability to collect data is is in lockdown. However, I am The COVID-19 pandemic has with the redefinition of four of barriers we have to creating a not a major concern. However, I am exceptionally lucky to have col- been slowing my productivity as the seven SI base units—the broader community is hurting us among the exceptions. For those leagues and an alumnus from my a professor, as I shift from partial ampere, kelvin, mole, and most because we’re losing those ideas and undertaking PhDs or newer projects, department as my housemates, lectures and lab interactions with famously, the kilogram—in terms perspectives,” explained Kimball. where the requirement for new and I thought it would be a good students to totally online teaching of fundamental constants (see APS On a hopeful note, Hanneke pointed experimental data is often a pre- idea to start some collaborations and evaluation. Fortunately, I had News May 2019). Importantly, this out that most of GPMFC’s recent requisite for progress, the pressure with them. As of now, apart from already experimented with online marked the transformation of the growth has come from a new and is greater. I do my bit to reassure continuing my previous work, I artificial intelligence tools for pro- SI system from being partially arti- more diverse generation of students them that “normal” markers of have started two new projects with viding one-on-one interactions, fact-based (that is, defining units and post-docs. progress can’t possibly apply at the my housemates. These projects are assignments, teaching, and testing in terms of physical objects like Overall, GPMFC stands out as moment. I expect a silver lining now running at full speed, and we of my students in general chem- standard weights) to being based an innovative and collaborative though. In our last meeting, several have been able to uncover connec- istry. (I use the ALEKS system from entirely on experimentally realiz- community of scientists, promoting people showed that with extra time, tions between concepts in vastly McGraw Hill.) During this time, I am able and interlinked fundamental research and exchange of ideas at they had improved their analysis different areas of physics. When also using my chemistry knowledge constants. According to Hanneke, the frontier of fundamental physics. of a problem. Realizing the value we are not busy collaborating, we to theorize methods of treating several GPMFC members were on “It’s a great time to be in pre- of “time to think” is something share in the housekeeping and eat COVID-19. – Reginald B. Little is an the international committee that cision measurement,” Kimball we can hopefully retain when we free-delivery or buy-one-get-one- Associate Professor of Chemistry at voted on this reshaping of the SI emphasized. “No matter what are back to normal. – Mike Weir free pizzas. It also helps to have a Stillman College in Alabama. system, and many more directly is a researcher in the Department of field you’re in—solid state physics, Netflix subscription, a good stock worked on measurements that led Physics and Astronomy at Sheffield particle physics, astrophysics— of red wine, and someone who to the updated definitions of various University, UK. there are all sorts of new tools can bake cheesecakes. – Amitava SI units. for new measurements, and many Banerjee is a graduate student in the Earthquake Follows Pandemic Readers are encouraged to submit Historically GPMFC has had a diverse theories about physics Department of Physics and the Institute The coronavirus epidemic is brief letters to [email protected]. Letters strong presence at both the APS beyond the Standard Model. It’s for Research in Electronics & Applied still under good control in Croatia, are edited for length and clarity. The April Meeting and the annual an enormous opportunity for new Physics at the University of Maryland, but our quarantine continues. views expressed are solely those of the DAMOP Meeting in May/June, discoveries and new ideas.” College Park. Unfortunately, on March 22nd, authors. hosting invited talks, a poster More information on this unit competition, and, most notably, can be found at aps.org/units/gpmfc a popular one-day workshop on precision measurement topics The author is a freelance writer in CLIMATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 (alternating between the April Stockholm, Sweden forcing is aperiodic and deter- But calibrating these models modeling process. They used artifi- ministic: it does not exhibit exact of cloud dynamics and quanti- cial neural networks, or emulators, repetitions but it is not random fying their uncertainties involves to train a simple model to provide either. Ghil’s framework defines running simulations hundreds of estimates for certain climate vari- the climate system’s behavior as thousands of times. Calibration ables, like global photosynthesis

including both deterministically ensures the model fits the data in or CO2 uptake by plants. They chaotic processes and random ones. the best way possible. Quantifying then assessed the simpler model’s JOY OF PHYSICS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Predicting climate volatility also uncertainty helps scientists predict accuracy by comparing its results requires observational data, but potential climate risks. However, to a more complex model’s predic- features Chien-Shiung Wu, the with a make-your own cotton ball information about small-scale pro- the calibration and quantification tions. The simple model mirrored “First Lady of Physics.” For comic launcher, and more! cesses that impact global climate, process requires some of the world’s the complex model’s predictions book lovers, or anyone looking Speaking of science fun, students like turbulent motion inside clouds, largest supercomputers, rendering without as much data because it was for their next read, a brand-new can explore physics concepts like can be virtually impossible to it computationally expensive. able to generate its own simulated special issue of Spectra: The Laser circuits and waves through games: obtain. To overcome this obstacle, data. It also took less time to run, Superhero, featuring LIGO, is also The Universe and More, created “If we want to predict how Schneider and his team developed making it more computationally available. by 2019 PhysTEC Teacher of the climate will change, first we must an algorithm, combining ideas from efficient. Funsize Physics also offers Year Matthew Blackburn, offers predict how the physical system will data assimilation and machine “Once we have an emulator, we at-home physics activities that five different educational online change. The equations governing all learning, that accelerates the model can optimize parameter values, like allow scientists of all ages to games. Another online resource, of that are essentially equations of calibration time to around 1000 factors in the equation to calculate explore condensed matter physics. Girls Who Code, has made their classical physics,” said Schneider, runs—roughly 1000 times faster photosynthesis, that are a very large Physicists from across the country Girls Who Code At Home Activities climate scientist and professor of than existing modeling methods. source of uncertainty in climate contribute short articles, featuring free to download. Popular YouTube environmental science and engi- The formula lessens how much predictions,” said Dagon. “We can stunning visuals and easy to follow channels like MinutePhysics, PBS neering at the California Institute of computation is needed, or reduces use these machine learning tools explanations of cutting edge Digital Studios’ Physics Girl, and Technology. “The challenge is that climate models’ cost. to see how much uncertainty is research, as well as “funsize activ- SciShow’s Physics playlist can also we have to solve [these equations] Using neural networks to derive coming from those parameters.” ities” to explore physics concepts. help physics-interested kids dive for the entire planet, and we have data for climatological processes Although climate is irregular, However, Funsize Physics comes into simple explanations of a variety to solve them for scales of motion that are difficult to observe—like models are costly, and observa- with a warning: “Funsize Physics of physics topics. that range from millimeters to the the rates of carbon dioxide and tional small-scale data is limited, is not responsible for any minds APS PhysicsCentral: planetary scale.” water vapor exchange through physicists throughout the world that are blown.” physicscentral.com He and his colleagues study leaves’ pores, called stomatal are working together to improve Popular science magazine Funsize Physics: how global cloud behavior will conductance—could also boost existing climate models. Scientific American and STEM funsizephysics.com evolve as climate change pro- models’ computational efficiency “This is rapidly evolving and education non-profit Science Bring Science Home: gresses. Understanding global cloud and reduce uncertainty. intensely energetic work... I think Buddies have teamed up to help scientificamerican.com/ dynamics requires information “We’re using machine learning we all feel a great sense of urgency parents Bring Science Home. With education/bring-science-home/ about small details in the turbu- to build a simpler model, essen- because climate is changing very more than 400 science activities The Universe and More: lence of clouds and the micro-scale tially to replicate the behavior of rapidly, and we’d like to provide using household items for kids universeandmore.com physics of droplet and ice crystal the complex climate model,” said a prediction of how that change 6 to 12, Scientific American and formation. Schneider’s team has Dagon, a climate physicist at the will happen before it does,” said Science Buddies offer hours of developed coarse-grained models— National Center for Atmospheric Schneider. science fun without leaving the which build a picture of overall Research. house. Try some “balloon magic” Did we miss your favorite at-home cloud behavior by starting from She and her colleagues employed to explore Bernoulli’s principle, physics resource? Let us know at molecule interactions—to represent machine learning to quantify The author is the Science learn about conservation of energy [email protected]. these processes. uncertainty and to streamline the Communications Intern at APS. May 2020 • 7

ANDERSON CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ADVOCATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

damental level, and then nuclear, enthusiasm with others, especially steps that can substantially reduce and involved. I hope our project special position to make a differ- atomic, and so on, and beyond is those early in their careers. “I think the nuclear threat. will raise awareness among both ence in the reduction of nuclear biology and psychology, and so Phil was extremely thoughtful about A second aspect of the project faculty and students, and that the weapons, given their historic role forth,” says Stein. “Phil’s argument young people in physics,” says David involves building a coalition for physics community will once again in nuclear arms control. was that each new level could not Krakauer, President and William H. advocacy and education. become a leading voice in calling “Physicists, acting as informed be understood or predicted solely Miller Professor of Complex Systems “Before we can use the coalition attention to the risks posed by citizens, can be a powerful voice using concepts borrowed from the at the Santa Fe Institute. Chandra for advocacy and education, we first nuclear weapons and in supporting to educate and to promote steps previous level. It was an antireduc- notes a story about how Anderson need to build the coalition. [The measures to reduce those risks.” to reduce the nuclear threat. Their tionist argument. Conceptually, was one of the only senior faculty at colloquia will] lay the foundation for While coalition leadership will voice was exercised during the each level is just as fundamental.” Princeton who would eagerly climb why the coalition is needed. We’ll identify opportunities for advocacy, 1940s when physicists at the very Although other scholars were up the stairs to the students’ offices then have a follow-on meeting at the APS Office of Government beginning of the nuclear era argued addressing this idea, “Phil was to share his latest ideas. “They each visit, with a smaller group,” Affairs (APS OGA) will serve in an for nuclear arms control, during the first one to put this all together were literally just flowing out of Prager explained. advisory capacity for the project, the 1960s when their message and to represent it in a forceful and him,” she says. He had friendships He continued, “The purpose of providing input to coalition leaders of the ineffectiveness of ballistic coherent manner,” he adds. and mentorships well beyond his the smaller meeting is two-fold: (1) on advocacy topics, including devel- missile defense laid the basis for As a condensed matter physicist, students graduating. For example, to discuss the coalition, its goals, oping target lists of states and the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Anderson became fascinated by Anderson threw Stein’s engagement and activities, and to sign up those congressional districts, as well as (ABM) Treaty, and during the spin glasses—disordered networks party in Anderson’s own home. interested in joining the coalition; messaging materials. A dedicated 1980s, when the citizen movement, of magnetic moments—viewing But “Phil was quite measured,” (2) to present an opportunity for staffer will support the coalition’s calling for a freeze to the arms them as a bridge to other arenas, adds Krakauer. “He didn’t speak further discussion about nuclear day-to-day activities. APS OGA race, helped achieve the basis for including economics, biology, and when he didn’t have to.” And yet weapons and arms control. So, we will also facilitate meetings and the Intermediate Nuclear Force and computer science. His appreciation over and over he is described as hope to conclude each visit with provide updates by coalition leaders START Treaties.” for spin glasses demonstrated his very generous with his ideas, says some new members. Joining the to appropriate APS committees, and This hard-won treaty-based ability to “extract the quintes- Chandra. When Chandra approached coalition will provide the oppor- the APS Board and Council. structure of nuclear restraint and sence of experiment,” says Premala him to be a co-author on a paper, tunity for someone to contribute “This project is dealing with an progress toward disarmament is Chandra, Professor of Physics at he insisted an acknowledgement to advocacy.” important area of advocacy that being undone, however, said Prager. Rutgers University. “He could look was sufficient. Prager is working with five other physicists have a notable history “With the US withdrawal from at the result of a measurement, Anderson had other talents as physicists to launch the project: of engaging on. Seeing a dedicated the ABM Treaty (in 2002) and the sense what was important, and then well. One night at a small gath- Steve Fetter, professor in the School team of experts from the community Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty ask intuitive questions that would ering at the Coyote Cafe in Santa of Public Policy at the University working to rally a new generation (2019), the only remaining treaty launch a number of sub-fields.” Fe, Brian Arthur, an economist of Maryland, College Park; and to action is inspiring,” said Callie providing a constraint on Russian With spin glasses, he developed at Stanford and at the Santa Fe Frank von Hippel, Zia Mian, Alex Pruett, APS Senior Strategist for and US nuclear arsenals is the a whole new set of methods to Institute says that Anderson was Glaser, and Sébastien Philippe, Grassroots Advocacy. “Our office is New START Treaty which, if not approach these problems, which are asked if he played chess or checkers. all from Princeton’s Program on excited to support this bold initiative renewed, will expire in February presently applied in combinatorial “He shook his head and I asked Science and Global Security. More and to help build a strong coalition 2021. The world is slipping toward optimization, neural networks, and him if he played any games. He than a dozen team members from of advocates.” a new and complex nuclear arms machine learning. said ‘no, not really.’ But it didn’t a collection of universities across Pruett noted that APS OGA has race, involving China, as well as Anderson’s 1977 Nobel Prize in ring true to me, and I pushed him the US stand ready to present collo- had tremendous success working on the US and Russia,” he said. Physics was for his collaborative a bit. He said ‘I play a bit of Go,’ quia. Colloquia can be arranged by advocacy campaigns with graduate Given the complex issues sur- work on fundamental theoretical and to me that sounded like more contacting Prager or team members students, and she believes the rounding the reduction of nuclear investigations of the electronic than just a bit of Go—I had gotten directly, by visiting the website nuclear threat reduction project will threats, a multi-pronged approach structure of magnetic and disor- to know Phil and suspected there physicistscoalition.org. inspire them to engage on another is needed to effectively address dered systems. was more there. I asked if he was Fetter said he hopes the project important issue. the matter. As Anderson’s interests grew, any good, and he said ‘yeah.’ It will inspire physicists to become The idea to develop the nuclear “There are many such steps— he became increasingly vocal about was like peeling layers. I said ‘how more involved in addressing nuclear threat reduction coalition grew extension of the New START Treaty, issues of public concern, espe- good?’ and he said ‘Oh there are threats, just as they did when he out of concern regarding the abandonment of a launch-on- cially those touching the scientific four people in Japan who can beat was in college. enormous arsenal of weapons warning policy, and implementation community. He was vocal in his me,’ and then there’s dead silence “When I was an undergraduate among nine nations: United States, of a no-first-use policy, to name a disapproval of the Superconducting and all the mouths were open and student in physics in the late 1970s, Russia, China, United Kingdom, few,” said Prager. Super Collider (SSC), skeptical of the we’re staring at Phil and then he students were aware of the risks France, India, Pakistan, Israel and Francis Slakey, APS Chief supposed boost it would provide to says ‘but they meditate.’” posed by nuclear weapons and the North Korea. Government Affairs Officer, said science in the US and the claim that As late as this winter, Anderson nuclear arms race, and faculty were “The more than 9,000 nuclear the coalition is doing important the spin-offs would provide great was still engaged with friends. personally involved in efforts to warheads in the active inter- work that could make a lasting return on investment. Regarding Chandra and her husband, Rutgers reduce those risks, perhaps because national nuclear stockpile can impact on the legacy of nuclear spin-offs, he felt that “those argu- physics professor Piers Coleman, of the central role physicists played destroy civilization many times arms control. ments were overblown and largely met Anderson for dinner. “He was in developing nuclear weapons,” over,” warned Prager. “The massive “This is another opportunity for inaccurate,” says Stein. “He argued in good spirits,” says Chandra. “He recalled Fetter. nuclear weapon system modern- APS OGA to support our members that the evidence that the SSC would brought along the obligatory bottle He added, “The risks haven’t ization being undertaken by the in advocating for an issue that not have a strong payoff in terms of of red wine, hidden in his walker gone away—indeed, in some United States and Russia and, to a only affects the lives of Americans, technology spin-offs was weak compartment. Once he sat down, respects they have increased as lesser extent by China, France, and but of those throughout the world,” and didn’t hold up under closer he asked Piers to uncork it and then nuclear weapons spread to more the United Kingdom, constitutes a he said. scrutiny. The bang for the buck insisted on serving us all. We had to countries and concerns about renewed century-scale commitment would not be what was what people drink more than we intended just nuclear terrorism have grown. to nuclear weapons.” The author is the APS Senior Press were claiming.” And the investment to make sure he did not consume But physicists are less concerned Prager said physicists are in a Secretary. in the most fundamental of STEM? too much Phil was full of gusto Anderson wanted to spread what and the conversation topics were limited financial resources the US wide-ranging. I am grateful for had to other areas of science which these poignant recent images of PANDEMIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 he felt were just as important, adds him, spirited and animated as ever.” Stein. Adds Chandra: “Phil is a hero to and the agency had not announced Center is running detailed simula- $100 million for DOE to support Legacy as a “wonderful human so many of us for his intellectual any plans to resume the center’s tions of the virus’ surface to identify access to its user facilities, $75 being” breadth and depth, his wonderful operations as of mid-April. potential vulnerabilities, and Oak million for NSF grants, and $66 Those who had the opportunity curiosity, his magical intuition Beyond imaging facilities, several Ridge’s Summit supercomputer has million for measurement science and to be around Anderson describe and his active support of young DOE labs have lent their supercom- modeled molecular interactions manufacturing programs at NIST. him as someone who was innately researchers. He will be sorely puters to the effort, participating between the virus and thousands in the COVID-19 High Performance of drug compounds. curious and desired to share that missed but never forgotten.” The author is Acting Director of FYI. Computing Consortium launched In support of such efforts, by the White House on March 23. Congress included supplemental Published by the American The consortium triages requests for appropriations for research in the Institute of Physics since 1989, computing resources at DOE, NASA, phase three coronavirus response FYI is a trusted source of science the National Science Foundation, legislation signed into law on March policy news that is read by con- and several private companies. 27. Beyond providing billions to gressional staff, federal agency Among the first projects, the NSF- public health agencies, the measure heads, and leading figures in the funded Frontera supercomputer provides smaller amounts to a broad scientific community. Sign up for APS Honors at the Texas Advanced Computer set of science agencies, including free FYI emails at aip.org/fyi ese sieide ies d ds eie ievees ss ieds sis ese side ii desevi ees e 1, 2020 Read online LEARN MORE: aps.org/programs/honors aps.org/apsnews 8 • May 2020 THE BACK PAGE Scientists Must Intensify Their Commitment to Research Integrity BY THE APS PRESIDENTIAL LINE: PHILIP H. BUCKSBAUM (PRESIDENT), S. JAMES GATES JR. (PRESIDENT-ELECT), FRANCES HELLMAN (VICE PRESIDENT), AND DAVID J. GROSS (PAST PRESIDENT)

few months ago, a prominent APS Fellow was led out now discussing the path forward in meetings with lead- of his office in handcuffs and charged with fraud for ership in the State Department, Department of Defense, A lucrative research contracts with China that he allegedly Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, and the failed to report to the National Institutes of Health. At a time White House as well as relevant committees in Congress. when the US government is increasingly concerned about In the APS Board’s view, first and foremost, scientists foreign influence, particularly from China, the lesson of those must commit to research integrity: objectivity, honesty, handcuffs on a leading US scientist at one of our flagship openness, accountability, fairness, disclosure and steward- universities couldn’t be clearer: scientists must recommit ship. Research integrity imposes expectations on behavior to the core principles of research conduct. of individual scientists, and it imposes expectations on how Recent Reports and Reaction by Congress and the scientists interact with each other and with their employers. Philip H. Bucksbaum S. James Gates Jr. Executive Branch There must be reciprocity in the global exchange of research This incident is just one recent example of the US gov- information between scientists. There must be full disclo- ernment’s response to growing concerns about foreign sure to employers and federal funders of potential conflicts influence, espionage, and IP theft. A recent US Senate report of commitment. And there must be responsible handling [1] largely critical of the scientific community states that of research information, particularly prior to publication. some countries “seek to exploit America’s openness to All of these expectations must apply globally, whether a advance their own national interests.” scientist is in the United States or Europe, Canada or China. Furthermore, that Senate report, titled “Threats to the Is it realistic, for example, to expect scientists in China US Research Enterprise: China’s Talent Recruitment Plan,” to adhere to research principles? From our experience, and notes: “This report exposes how American taxpayer-funded those of our colleagues, the answer is yes. In our discussions research has contributed to China’s global rise over the with leading scientists in China, they emphatically endorsed last 20 years.” It states that members of China’s Talent Frances Hellman David J. Gross these principles, knowing as we do that disregarding them Recruitment Program—scientists engaged in research in will jeopardize the open scientific exchanges that propel the US who transfer their work to China in exchange for US interests in fundamental research while maintaining fundamental research. high salaries, lab space and other incentives—have down- openness and successfully competing in the global Adherence by scientists to these principles should, in turn, loaded sensitive electronic research files, submitted false marketplace for STEM talent support the commitment of Congress and the Administration information when applying for grant money, and willfully The Director of the White House Office of Science and to the principles that have successfully guided our nation’s failed to disclose the receipt of money from China on their Technology Policy and current Acting Director of the National research enterprise since 1985. During the height of the US grant applications. Science Foundation, Kelvin Droegemeier, is quoted in Cold War, President Reagan considered whether to impose That report was just one of many recent examinations an NSF statement on the report, “The integrity of our restrictions on fundamental research in order to limit Soviet of the extent and impact of foreign influence, from China research enterprise rests upon core principles and values intrusion and influence. He concluded that the benefits in particular, on the US scientific enterprise. Other reports of transparency, openness, and merit-based competition. of an open scientific enterprise far outweighed the risks. that have also circulated widely among policymakers in DC Principled international collaboration and foreign scientific In national security decision directive NSDD-189, Reagan offer other views on this issue. talent in the United States are critical to the success of the stated that “to the maximum extent possible, the products China’s tactics also came under fire in a report [2] last US research enterprise.” Dr. Droegemeier is accurate in his of fundamental research should remain unrestricted.” In fall by Strider, a Maryland-based intelligence company, that assessment, which is a sensible conclusion to draw from addition, most importantly, the directive clarified that the alleges that China has gone from a “laggard in quantum the various reports that have been issued regarding foreign means of control of fundamental research for national science and technology to a global leader” by taking advantage influence on U.S. science. security is the mechanism of classification. of the scientific openness of the United States and European If scientists don’t engage in the open, transparent and Scientists and the government must now recommit to nations, as well as their funding mechanisms. The report ethical behavior expected of us, our largely self-policed these research principles in order to, as Reagan recognized, goes into considerable detail describing a network spanning scientific enterprise will understandably invite new reg- sustain a research enterprise that generates the greatest four continents, operated by a scientist in China. “For over ulations from the federal government. And some of the benefit to the US. Those who choose to ignore these ethical a decade” according to the report this leading scientist at regulations already proposed—including bans on foreign guidelines, rare outliers in our opinion, should be shunned by one of China’s premier research universities, “in collabo- scientists or restrictions on their participation in subfields our research community. Setting the example, the American ration with PRC (People’s Republic of China) government of research—could risk the very qualities that have made Physical Society is now establishing policies that require stakeholders, has executed an intentional strategy to exploit fundamental research an engine for U.S. scientific innovation adherence to these principles in order to receive or retain Western government funding to train Chinese quantum and economic growth. an honor, award, or fellowship. scientists at Western research institutes and relied on both The Value of Collaboration to the US Scientific Enterprise The health of the fundamental research enterprise and ‘unwritten agreements’ and monetary incentives through PRC and Global Science the needs of national security can both be satisfied by government talent programs to then bring those Western- Fundamental research transcends national boundaries, strict adherence to these principles of openness coupled trained quantum scientists back to China.” and open, international contact is essential for progress in with responsible stewardship. With that understanding, Together, these two reports tell a chilling story that basic science research. Vital research projects would not we can ensure that science will continue to advance, and calls into question our principles of open science, and also have reached fruition without open, international scientific the scientific enterprise can be held in the highest regard. the integrity of the scientists themselves, who are charac- collaboration including LIGO, CERN, or the US network of References terized as at best naïve, and at worst, greedy and complicit accelerator-based user facilities, just to name a few. 1. "Threats to the U.S. Research Enterprise: China’s Talent Recruit- in unethical contracts and deep conflicts of commitment. Some view the scientific relationship of the United States ment Plans," US Senate Report: go.aps.org/3asYwXp. These report conclusions, however, discount the very with China as zero-sum—if China gains, the United States 2. "Quantum Dragon," Strider Tech, go.aps.org/34VBkQn. values that are intrinsic to progress in fundamental science, loses. In reality, both countries can gain from research 3. "Fundamental Research Security," NSF JASON report: go.aps. and even encourage new policies that could override those collaboration. A study [4] of scientific co-publications org/3eESXbB. values, hamper the US role in worldwide scientific research, published last year in Higher Education indicates just how 4. J. J. Lee and J. P. Haupt, "Winners and losers in US-China and thus diminish our nation’s scientific enterprise. This real beneficial collaboration is to the United States, particularly scientific research collaborations," Higher Education: go.aps. danger was displayed by a recent APS study, where 32 percent with China. Collaboration has enabled the United States to org/3cyG5Sz. of international physics students who chose not to study in increase its scientific influence, leverage its resources, and 5. APS Board Statement on Open Science and a Recommitment the US, say the country is “unwelcoming to foreigners.”The recruit world-class talent. By examining co-publications, to Research Principles: go.aps.org/2VPzaxl. National Science Foundation (NSF) is rightly concerned the authors determined that US research article publications about this issue, so the agency commissioned a report [3] would be in decline without co-authorship with China. The APS Presidential Line: on fundamental research security that was carried out last authors conclude, “regardless of whether US agencies and Phillip H. Bucksbaum is the President of the American Physical fall by JASON, the highly acclaimed group of distinguished organizations espouse a positive or zero-sum view of sci- Society and holds the Marguerite Blake Wilbur Chair in Natural Science at Stanford University, with appointments in physics, US scientists with a long history of consultation for the entific research, both interests would be served in research applied physics, and in photon science at SLAC. government on security and science questions. According to collaboration with China.” NSF, four main themes emerge from the JASON document: APS Board Statement and a Commitment to Research S. James Gates, Jr. is APS President-Elect and the Ford Foundation Physics Professor and Affiliate Mathematics Professor at Brown • The value of, and need for, foreign scientific talent in Principles the United States University. There is clearly a need to balance national security • The significant negative impacts of placing new restric- concerns such as economic espionage against the research Frances Hellman is APS Vice President, Dean of the Mathematical tions on access to fundamental research requirements and considerable national benefits of open and Physical Sciences, Professor of Physics, and Professor of • The need to extend our notion of research integrity science. APS believes this balance is best achieved through Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Berkeley. to include disclosures of commitments and potential adherence by scientists, their employers and the US federal conflicts of interest government to core principles, which our APS Board of David Gross is APS Past President and Chancellor’s Chair Professor • The need for a common understanding between academia Directors laid out in a Statement on Open Science and a of Theoretical Physics and former Director of the Kavli Institute and US government agencies about how to best protect Recommitment to Research Principles [5]. APS leaders are for Theoretical Physics at UCSB.

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