Physics seeks to answer the question "Why?" - to describe all the things we see, as well as their motion, behaviour and interactions. The science covers the entire history and future of the universe, and all objects from the fundamental matter we’re made from to the structure of galaxies.
Physicists look for patterns by making observations of the natural world, and models are developed to describe and predict them. Instruments, observations and experiments are then used to test and refine these models. Physicists sometimes aim to describe new things, and other times to improve the accuracy of an existing model. Based on the approach taken, each branch of physics can be divided into two aspects: theoretical and experimental. A key goal is often to combine several models into one - the ultimate goal of physicists in this respect is to complete "the theory of everything", though some believe this to be impossible.
While Theoretical physicists use mathematics to first describe the observed behaviour and then to explain it, experimental physicists perform experiments to test their hypotheses. Scientists believe that no hypothesis can ever be proven, so experiments are instead designed to disprove one - and "failing" to disprove it strengthens our confidence in it. Once a hypothesis is supported by several different tests and becomes accepted, it gets called a "theory" - but experimental physicists will continue to try to find problems with it, so that the theorists can further improve their models.
We've published 23 articles and 37 specialist blog posts about physics so far, featuring 235 unanswered physics questions! But we're not done yet as we still have another 239 physics research areas in our database to write about, so come back soon!
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Is it time to try geoengineering? – podcast
15th May, 2025
Geo-engineering, the controversial set of techniques that aim to deliberately alter the Earth’s climate system, may be inching a step closer to reality with the announcement that UK scientists will be conducting real-world experiments in the coming years. To understand what’s happening, Ian Sample is joined by the Guardian environment editor Damian Carrington. Damian explains…
We don’t know what causes lightning, how much of it there is, nor how to predict it. As global temperatures increase, so does lightning; as lightning increases, so do global temperatures. Its impact on atmospheric chemistry is still being explored.
For subatomic particles, electrons are pretty well understood. But we still don’t know what they are, where they are, nor how they spin nor what spin is.
Geoengineering the climate would mean venturing into new technology with huge consequences. But what might those consequences be and is there an alternative solution to anthropogenic climate change?
Chemists are exploring ways to mimic nature’s selective, low-temperature biochemical reactions that make delicate and reactive structures. Previously, chemists had copied high temperature geological reactions.
What is time? We can measure it in terms of regular events like the Earth moving round the sun, but it can change with perspective, known in relativity as time dilation, and depends upon our perspective.
Entropy or disorder, is a scientific measure of things spreading out, of uncertainty, or of the information required to describe something. Entropy always increases, so what impact does it have on our universe, our materials, and our concept of exist
On scales too small to see are weird and wonderful particles. Their bizarre properties make up the world around us, yet we hardly know a thing about them!
The search for alien life catches many people's imagination and has always been a very public branch of science. So with all this investigation, why has our search revealed nothing? Are we truly alone in the Universe?
Some sharks have daily routines, whilst many are crepuscular. Climate-driven migrations may explain apparent increases in shark sightings. Female bull sharks even ascent rivers to give birth – the only shark to tolerate fresh water.
The ultimate fuel of science fiction, antimatter annihilates normal matter on contact and releases immense amounts of energy in the process, making it a somewhat tricky substance to study in a lab.
The cosmic microwave background is a vast energy relic which fills every part of the Universe. We can detect it everywhere, but many questions lie unanswered.
Dark matter is material that does not emit or absorb light (so we can't see it) but can affect the universe on large scales due to gravitational interactions.
The effects of space travel on the human body are still being investigated. Until the risks are fully understood, humanity faces limits in the scope of their space exploration.
Thermodynamics is very successful at describing the way energy interacts with itself and matter – but every now and then a paradox will pop up, or someone will spot an event which no one has an explanation for yet.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It’s been observed since Babylonian times, yet we know little about what goes on inside this giant red planet.
Can't find what you're looking for? Browse the branches of physics that interest you most.
Astronomy is one of the oldest subjects of study. It seeks to understand everything outside of our world and explain how it got there.
Atomic Physics is all about the interactions between matter (the stuff everything is made from) and more matter, or between matter and light.
Biophysics uses the principles of physics to study life at every level, from atoms and molecules, to cells, organisms and environments.
Chemical Physics is the study of chemical processes in terms of the atoms and particles that make up a system.
Classical Physics deals with the physics of everyday things - from ice cubes to bicycles, or cups of tea. Things we take for granted, but often don't really understand.
Electromagnetism is the study of one of the four fundamental forces in nature - the electromagnetic force, which mediates interactions between charged particles.
Geophysics refers to the study of the physics of the Earth and its environment in space, including its gravitational and magnetic fields, and its atmosphere.
Materials Science deals with the structure and properties of materials.
Medical Physics ranges from enhancing diagnostic imagery to developing new techniques and equipment with which to treat patients.
Particle Physics is the study of the smallest things in the universe and the forces that govern their behaviour.
![Image credit: ©Photo by Crisco 1492 [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia](https://www.thingswedontknow.com/img/sci/640px-mount_merapi_in_2014.jpg "Volcanoes")
Astronomy is one of the oldest subjects of study. It seeks to understand everything outside of our world and explain how it got there. 
