On 10 December 2015, the nuclear fusion facility at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald generated its first plasma. Since then, the world’s most powerful stellarator-type experiment has broken several records – and now forms the basis for power plant plans by several start-up companies. Numerous international media representatives gathered in the control room at noon on 10 December 2015 to witness the launch of Wendelstein 7-X. In addition, several international fusion laboratories were connected live via video stream when the Wendelstein 7-X operating team fed one milligram of helium gas into the pumped-out plasma vessel for the first time and switched on the microwave heating. The first plasma appeared on built-in cameras. The measuring instruments recorded an input power of 1.3 megawatts, a temperature of one million degrees Celsius and a pulse duration of just one tenth of a second. The frenetic applause that erupted shortly afterwards lasted considerably longer. Hundreds of employees at the IPP had worked towards this moment for years. The assembly of Wendelstein 7-X began in April 2005. A ring of 50 superconducting magnetic coils, each about 3.5 metres high, forms the core of the facility. They are cooled to temperatures of around minus 270 degrees Celsius. Calculating their complex shapes was only made possible by the use of supercomputers. Wendelstein 7-X aims to prove that stellarators are suitable for power plants The magnetic field encloses the hot plasma so that it floats largely contact-free in the doughnut-shaped plasma vessel. This is the principle behind magnetic fusion facilities, which until 2015 were mainly built according to the simpler tokamak principle. Wendelstein 7-X, on the other hand, belongs to the stellarators, which are more difficult to implement but have superior properties in theory. But is the stellarator principle also suitable in reality for building a fusion power plant that, like the sun, generates energy from the fusion of hydrogen nuclei? Wendelstein 7-X aims to prove precisely this. To date, it is the most powerful stellarator experiment, used by researchers from all over the world. ‘We are starting with a plasma made from the noble gas helium,’ said IPP Director Thomas Klinger ten years ago. ‘This is because the plasma state is easier to achieve with helium. In addition, we can use helium plasmas to clean the surface of the plasma vessel.’ The first hydrogen plasma was ignited three months later by a prominent guest: Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel came to Greifswald on 3 February 2016 specifically to launch the scientific operation. Temperatures of 40 million degrees Celsius are now being reached Since then, Wendelstein 7-X has been upgraded in several phases of reconstruction. The vessel wall is now completely water-cooled and the plasma heating system is considerably more powerful. Wendelstein 7-X now achieves ion temperatures of 40 million degrees Celsius in the plasma. In February 2023, plasma can be maintained for more than eight minutes for the first time – with an energy conversion of 1.3 gigajoules (coupled and decoupled energy). To date, this is the world record for stellarators. In the upcoming measurement campaigns, the Wendelstein 7-X team plans to increase these values significantly. The goal is a 30-minute pulse with high energy coupling. This would prove that stellarators are suitable for continuous operation. In May 2025, Wendelstein 7-X achieved a new world record for the so-called triple product in long plasma discharges: on the last day of the measurement campaign, a new peak value for this key parameter in fusion physics was achieved over a plasma duration of 43 seconds. This puts the triple product on a par with the values achieved in the best tokamak experiments. Start-ups orient themselves towards W7-X The successes of Wendelstein 7-X have also inspired several newly founded companies around the world in recent years to develop stellarator power plants based on Wendelstein 7-X. In Germany, these are the companies Proxima Fusion and Gauss Fusion. The IPP is working with both of them within the framework of cooperation agreements. Wendelstein 7-X is currently undergoing a one-year maintenance phase. In September 2026, the world’s most powerful stellarator will resume experimental operation and set out to break records. ________________________________________________________________________________
ISE and EPSO: Shared vision, unified voice: universities and research institutes in Europe propose joint Framework Programme 10 (FP10) amendments
1 December 2025 – ISE-EPSO press release Today, organisations representing Europe’s research and innovation community present a coordinated set of amendments to the European Commission’s proposals for the 10th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10). We are united by a simple, urgent call: enable Europe to move at the speed and scale that the moment demands. The decisions taken in the coming period must show that Europe is markedly stepping up its capacity to lead in cutting-edge research and innovation, in order to accelerate advanced technological and societal development underpinned by the latest scientific breakthroughs. To this end, CESAER, the Coimbra Group, the European University Association (EUA), EU-LIFE, the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) are pleased to share the following: Together, representing more than 900 universities and research institutes, we call for an FP10 that strengthens Europe’s capacity to generate excellent research, attract world-leading talent, and translate knowledge into real-world impact. Indeed, these proposed amendments are intended to help ensure that the final legal texts enable the programme to meet the needs of the R&I community and to maximise its contribution to Europe’s resilience, competitiveness, and prosperity. We stand ready to support the co-legislators by explaining our proposals in detail and by providing further input as negotiations progress. Horizon Europe’s next chapter is a unique opportunity to reinforce Europe’s scientific leadership and innovation potential, underpinned by the talent that makes it possible. “In addition to the specific amendments, ISE calls for the entire FP10 including the four policy windows to remain outside the ECF, while maintaining links to it: The entire FP10 should be linked to, but neither determined nor managed by the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). This requires a fundamental change to the EC proposal: The four policy windows found in Pillar 2 “competitiveness” should be moved back into the FP and determined solely by the FP.” – Karin Metzlaff, Vice-President ISE “To this end, include ‘Fundamental research’ and ‘Bottom-up approaches’ in the ‘competitiveness part’ of pillar 2.” – Moniek Tromp, President ISE Read the Contacts: Karin Metzlaff – EPSO Executive Director & ISE Vice-President & chair Working Group FP10Moniek Tromp – ISE President
The November issue of e-EPS is out!
Read the November 2025 issue of e-EPS here. e-EPS is the Society’s monthly newsletter.
Energy: A Foundation for Prosperity and Stability
Energy plays a crucial role in economic development and stability. The establishment of the European Coal & Steel Community in 1951 and Euratom in 1957 reflected the recognition of energy’s importance in shaping Europe’s future. European Union (EU) energy policy decisions are driven by a combination of technical, economic, environmental, political, legal and societal factors. Currently, fossil fuels supply approximately 80% of the world’s primary energy, a figure that has remained stable over the past 30 years [1]. Given the finite nature of these resources and the impact of fossil fuels on the global environment, transitioning to alternative solutions is an important consideration, particularly for the EU, which imports around 80% of its gas and over 90% of its oil [2]. Following the Paris Agreement (2015), the EU is committed to decarbonisation and is leading the path in this respect. From 1990 to 2022 the EU-27 reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [3, 4] by 33%. Over the same period, its share of global emissions dropped from 16% to 7%, due to the implementation of EU energy policies, industrial carbon leakage [5], and development of other nations. Meanwhile, global emissions increased by 65% between 1990 and 2022 [6]. The partial decarbonisation of the electricity sector contributed to this significant GHG emission reduction in the EU, notably through wind, solar and nuclear technologies, with fossil fuel backup systems, necessary to bridge the gap, in order to address the variability of the renewable components. To continue reducing its emissions and reach net zero by 2050, the EU plans to increase its share of Variable Renewable Energy Sources (VRES), requiring, according to the most recent estimate by the European Commission, of the order of €10 trillion of investment by 2040 [7]. While VRES technologies contribute to decarbonisation, increasing their share of the electric energy market poses significant challenges. Ensuring a continuous, affordable, and reliable energy supply requires the following points to be addressed: The Draghi report [12] has recently highlighted the negative economic and industrial impacts of the current energy transition policies, including considerations related to increase of energy costs, technological innovation, and supply chain dependencies. Effective energy policies must indeed balance three key factors, namely (a) security and reliability of energy supply, (b) low energy cost for households and industry, (c) minimal impact of energy systems on both local and global ecosystems. Given the decarbonisation level that the EU has already reached, and points (i)-(iv) above, we recommend shifting priorities to enhance security of supply, affordability and sustainability of the energy system, considering the following points: By considering a balanced approach that integrates diverse energy solutions, technological advancements, and economic sustainability, the EU can develop an energy strategy, a critical element of a global strategy, currently missing, that supports long-term prosperity while affirming its commitment to environmental responsibility. The EPS acknowledges the contribution of the EPS Energy Group to the preparation of this paper. References
News from EDP Sciences
Author: Amy Walter From OA to AI, the academic world continues to evolve at a pace. At EDP Sciences, we’ve been working, as always, to keep equity and academic rigour at the heart of every advancement. Discover the latest news from EDP Sciences, an Associate Member of the European Physical Society. Research Highlights EPJ Web of Conferences Highlight – XLVI Symposium on Nuclear Physics 2025 The XLVI Symposium on Nuclear Physics (SNP) took place in Cocoyoc, Mexico from January 6-9, 2025 with an attendance of about 90 participants from 15 different countries. The SNP meeting has been organized every year since its beginning in 1978, with the exception of the COVID years, 2021 and 2022. The program consisted of 37 invited talks and a lively poster session with 38 posters over a large variety of hot topics in modern nuclear physics research: nuclear structure and reactions, radioactive beams, nuclear astrophysics, instrumentation, facilities and applications, QCD and hadronic physics, and neutrons and fundamental symmetries. Read the highlight and access the proceedings (open access) EPL article featured as a podcast on Physics World Episode: A conversation about theoretical ecology with physicists Ada Altieri and Silvia De Monte. Listen to the episode now. This episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast is a conversation with two physicists, Ada Altieri and Silvia De Monte, who are using their expertise in statistical physics to understand the behaviour of ecological communities. This discussion is based on a Perspective article that Altieri (an associate professor at the Laboratory for Matter and Complex Systems at the Université Paris Cité, France) and De Monte (a senior research scientist at the Institute of Biology in the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Ploen, Germany) wrote for the journal EPL, which sponsors this episode of the podcast. EPJ Photovoltaics highlight: Advanced TOPCon solar cells with patterned p-type poly-Si fingers on the front side and vanishing metal induced recombination losses The Editors-in-Chief of EPJ Photovoltaics have chosen to highlight the paper ‘Advanced TOPCon solar cells with patterned p-type poly-Si fingers on the front side and vanishing metal induced recombination losses’, by Jan Hoß, Saman Sharbaf Kalaghichi, Mertcan Comak, Pirmin Preis, Jan Lossen, Jonathan Linke, Lejo Joseph Koduvelikulathu and Florian Buchholz This paper presents an interesting study and new findings on the integration of selective poly-Si fingers on the front side of TOPCon solar cells. This study could contribute to further improvement of the industrial TOPCon solar cells. The highlighted article is part of the Topical Issue on ‘EU PVSEC 2024: State of the Art and Developments in Photovoltaics’, edited by Robert Kenny and Gabriele Eder EPJB highlight: Unlocking next-gen optoelectronic with InSb/WSSe heterostructures The Editors-in-Chief of EPJB propose to highlight the paper: Study on the electronic structure and optical properties of InSb/WSSe van der Waals heterostructure, by Su, S., Zhao, X., Wang, X. et al. In this new research published in EPJ B, Weibin Zhang and colleagues at Yunnan Normal University demonstrate that heterostructures made from alternating layers of InSb and WSSe are highly suited for light absorption. If confirmed experimentally, these properties could make the material a valuable platform for harvesting light across a broad range of wavelengths—potentially paving the way for next-generation optoelectronic devices. The researchers hope their findings will provide a solid theoretical foundation for future experiments—bringing the practical use of these heterostructures one step closer. EPJ D Highlight – Improving simulations of the PIII process The paper highlighted by the Editors-in-Chief of EPJD is Numerical simulation of the PIII process considering temperature-dependent thermophysical properties in a viscous sheath, by Sattari, M., Ghasemi, J. (Eur. Phys. J. D 79, 49 (2025). Through new research published in EPJ D, Mohammadreza Sattari and Jalal Ghasemi at the University of Zanjan, Iran, present an improved approach to simulating ion dynamics within the sheath. Their results show that when variations in ion velocities driven by temperature and viscosity are included, higher currents flow perpendicular to the normal target surface. At the same time, ion kinetic energy falls by more than 20% compared with simpler models – a finding with important implications for improving PIII performance. News from EDP Sciences EDP Sciences updates its policy on AI and ethics Celebrating International Open Access Week 2025 — “Who Owns Our Knowledge?” Digital archives still valued by researchers today Journal de Physique digital archives To think that once a journal is archived, no researcher is interested in it anymore would be a misunderstanding of its continued contextual value. We were delighted to conduct research again recently and discover that many articles in the Journal de Physique archives are still being cited today. Find out more about our archives, including the most cited articles in the collection. EPJ AP digital archives The ‘European Physical Journal – Applied Physics (EPJ AP) was born in 1991, through the merging of two well-known French journals, the ‘Journal de Physique III’ and ‘Microscopy, Microanalysis, Microstructures’. It was part of a broader movement of merging publications to increase opportunities for collaboration among the European physics community and around the world. The EPJ series is globally renowned for the high-quality research it publishes, this EPJ AP archive collection forms part of the foundation on which it is built. Discover the EPJ AP digital archives Join the conversation on social media We are continually reviewing how best to support our journal communities, including how best to surface important research as it is published. We left X at the beginning of 2025 as it no longer aligned with the values we consider important in pursuit of scientific advancement, and we are now investing time in building our communities on LinkedIn, Bluesky and Instagram. If there is a platform or community where you feel our research would be beneficial but is not currently reaching, please do connect with us and let us know!
Declaration for the Future
On 14th November, the German Physical Society (DPG) and the Physical Society of Japan (JPS) signed a common “Declaration for the Future” warning on any use of nuclear weapons. In their “Declaration for the Future”, the JPS and the DPG warn that any use of nuclear weapons would have extremely serious consequences. Furthermore, they argue that nuclear armament already entails considerable risks. The societies advocate using scientific knowledge for peaceful purposes and for shaping a future worth living. In this context, they acknowledge the special responsibility of physicists.On the one hand, their research has enabled the development of nuclear weapons, but on the other hand, they have special expertise, such as that required for the control of nuclear weapons or the monitoring of disarmament efforts. Both societies invite physical societies and academic organizations worldwide to join them in this commitment. The declaration can be downloaded here, as well as from the DPG webpage where you will also find some photos of the ceremony at the Town Hall of the City of Münster: https://www.dpg-physik.de/veroeffentlichungen/aktuell/2025/gemeinsame-erklaerung-gegen-atomare-bedrohungen-unterzeichnet
The EPS SNPD Prizes 2025 are announced!
The Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division (SNPD) of the European Physical Society (EPS) is happy to announce the winners of the EPS SNPD Prizes 2025. EPS – SNPD Prizes Professor Alessandro Vespignani – Northeastern University – USA for his seminal contributions to the statistical physics of complex networks, bridging theoretical models with real-world systems, and for unveiling the universal principles governing epidemic spreading and information diffusion. Professor Thomas Witten – University of Chicago – USA for his seminal contributions to the statistical physics of aggregation, soft matter, and complex fluids, and for unveiling principles in the dynamics of polymers, interfaces, and disordered materials. EPS – SNPD Early Career Prizes Dr. Francesco Mori – Oxford University – UK for his outstanding contributions on the statistical properties of run and tumble particles, thermodynamic cost of stochastic resetting and optimal control protocols. Dr. Vittoria Sposini – Università di Padova – Italy for her outstanding contribution to the statistical physics of anomalous diffusion, stochastic processes and random diffusivity.
Heinrich Hertz Lecture Hall at KIT named as an EPS Historic Site
Authors: Guido Drexlin and Thomas Muller On October 30 2025, the European Physical Society (EPS) conferred the award `EPS Historic Site´ on the Heinrich Hertz Lecture Hall at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in recognition of the series of ingenious experiments carried out at this site in 1886 by Heinrich Hertz. This newest EPS Historic Site, still being in regular use today for lectures at KIT, formed the ideal surroundings for a highly instructive view on the foundational research by Hertz. It also allowed putting the excellence of the physical sciences in Karlsruhe on a map in Europe and beyond. The first observation of electromagnetic waves by Heinrich Hertz, sent and received by antennae, successfully tested the laws of electromagnetism as described by Maxwell´s equations. Beyond that, it marks a seminal event in the history of physics and engineering that has paved the ground for the development of technologies that have been transformative for modern societies. Heinrich Hertz held a position as Professor of physics from 1885 to 1889 at the Technical University of Karlsruhe, a predecessor institution of KIT. His experiments were carried out at today’s Heinrich Hertz Lecture Hall, in close proximity to a Memorial dedicated to his legacy. On the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of that memorial on October 30, 1925 a special EPS Colloquium honoured the achievement of Hertz with a series of talks. The convenors of the fully packed symposium, Guido Drexlin and Thomas Müller from KIT, put together a series of talks and key notes, reviewing the fundamental relevance of Heinrich Hertz then and now, including a lively experimental demonstration of his breakthrough experiment. The highlight of the Colloquium was marked by the unveiling of the commemorative plaque by several attendees, including the Presidents of the EPS, Professor Mairi Sakellariadou, and of the DPG, Professor Klaus Richter, as well as KIT´s Vice President Academic Affairs, Professor Oliver Kraft. The latter emphasised that `The discovery of electromagnetic waves by Heinrich Hertz has been fundamental for wireless communication. Many of today´s technologies such as television, mobile phone communication, or WLAN would not be conceivable without this discovery. KIT takes pride in receiving the EPS Historic Site Award today´. Following the festive ceremony, the commemorative plaque will be placed in due time at the Ehrenhof of KIT next to the memorial of Heinrich Hertz as an inspiration for future generations of scientists. Image credit: KIT
LHC Collaborations at CERN Win the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Author: Anna Di Ciaccio The four major international collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider — ATLAS, CMS, ALICE and LHCb — have been jointly awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to advancing our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. The prize honours the achievements of thousands of scientists, engineers and technicians from more than 70 countries, whose collective work during the LHC’s second data-taking run has delivered groundbreaking results in particle physics. Their research has deepened knowledge of the Higgs boson, explored the quark–gluon plasma, and revealed new insights into matter–antimatter asymmetries and the structure of hadrons. The ATLAS and CMS collaborations were recognized for precision studies of the Higgs boson and its role in the mechanism that gives mass to fundamental particles. ALICE was honoured for its investigations of the primordial state of matter that existed shortly after the Big Bang, while LHCb was celebrated for its discoveries in flavour physics and for testing fundamental symmetries. The $3 million prize will be donated in full to the CERN & Society Foundation, which will allocate the funds to support doctoral fellowships and training opportunities for young researchers at CERN, helping to inspire and equip the next generation of scientists. The Breakthrough Prize, established in 2012, is among the most prestigious distinctions in science, celebrating major achievements in fundamental research. This year’s award acknowledges both the scientific excellence and the global spirit of cooperation that define CERN’s mission. The Breakthrough Prize winners are selected by selection committees made up of previous laureates. The cash for the prize is provided by personal foundations founded by Sergey Brin & Anne Wojcicki, Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan, and Yuri & Julia Milner, among others. This recognition also resonates within the European Physical Society (EPS) community. Three members of the EPS Executive Committee — Anna Di Ciaccio (ATLAS), Alessandra Fantoni (ALICE) and Ulrich Husemann (CMS) — are active participants in the LHC collaborations. Their involvement underlines the strong connection between CERN’s pioneering research and the broader European physics community represented by the EPS, united by a shared commitment to collaboration, excellence, and the advancement of science. LHC is in the middle of Run 3 and prepares for the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) phase, the collaborations continue to push the boundaries of precision and discovery, paving the way for new insights into the nature of the universe. More about the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics: https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1
EPS Young Minds: Speed Date With Research 7.0
Author: Francesco Di Pasquale – Milan PYMP On September 27th, the Politecnico di Milano hosted the seventh edition of Speed Date with Research, a workshop that aims to connect students with the research environment. In its seventh edition, the workshop gave students a chance to learn about numerous research opportunities and hear about potential thesis projects. Speed Date with Research is a yearly event of the Student Chapter of Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with the Physics Department. The event is designed to give students a better idea of the research being conducted in the department and the kind of thesis projects offered. The approach is simple but effective: the students have short, timed meetings with researchers, in which they can hear about different research areas and ask questions about potential thesis projects. This year’s session, Speed Date with Research 7.0 was a great success, allowing students to interact directly with researchers and feel the work going on in the Department of Physics. It included 80 master students of the Engineering Physics course of study, who were all eager to get more information about research in their field. They were able to interact with 41 researchers, one from each of the Department of Physics laboratories. The session was held in eight 10-12 minute sessions, with students rotated through the different researchers. Each session had one of the researchers give a quick pitch of their research and thesis topics available, and then students could ask questions in order to learn more. One of the major aims of the event was to spark the curiosity of the students. Through the experience of researchers and information about their work, students were encouraged to find out something that indeed interested them. The intention was to convey to them the driving force behind research itself, the passion of discovery and the motivation to pursue new ideas. The hope was that each student would have a clearer sense of direction for their course of academic pursuit when they left the event and perhaps a new spark of interest to carry them on. In short, Speed Date with Research 7.0 provided the Politecnico di Milano physics students with an enriching experience. It provided them with a chance to learn more about the research undertaken in the Department of Physics and possible thesis subjects in a personal and interactive way.