Atoms

Bill Gates, in an interview with columnist Ezra Klein, said artificial intelligence 'makes nuclear weapons look like nothing', comparing the scale of the technology's transformative power to the atomic age. His remarks are drawing wide attention as experts and the public debate how rapidly advancing AI could reshape economies, security and society.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported Iran to the United Nations Security Council, a formal step in the nuclear watchdog's process over Iran's non-compliance with safeguards obligations. Such a referral can open the way to potential Security Council action and signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions over Iran's nuclear programme.

Researchers supported by the American Physical Society report a simulation of particle creation using ultracold atoms, reproducing in the lab effects that normally occur in extreme environments such as the early universe or near black holes. The work uses cold atomic gases to model quantum field behavior that is otherwise impossible to observe directly, drawing attention from the physics community.

A Nature retrospective revisits the 1966 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Alfred Kastler for the discovery and development of optical methods for studying atomic spectra, work known as optical pumping. The piece highlights how the achievement rested on collaboration across laboratories and laid foundations for later developments in atomic physics and laser science.

The Financial Times argues that artificial intelligence development should not be likened to the Manhattan Project, the secret US programme that built the first atomic bomb. The comparison has circulated as governments and companies frame AI as a national-security priority. The piece pushes back against the framing, suggesting the analogy distorts public understanding of what AI research is and how it is being pursued.

The 1986 Nobel Prize in Physics is being recalled for recognising electron microscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy, technologies that use electrons instead of light to image matter down to individual atoms. Ernst Ruska received half the prize for developing the electron microscope, while Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer shared the rest for the scanning tunnelling microscope at IBM Zurich, work that transformed nanoscience and materials research.

Fifth Wall co-founder Brendan Wallace spoke with Forbes about Atoms, the new proptech venture launched by former Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick. Wallace discussed Kalanick's return to technology, how Atoms fits into the property technology landscape, and his views on the future of real estate innovation and investment.

Quotes attributed to the German theoretical physicist Arnold Sommerfeld are being shared and discussed on social media under science and philosophy hashtags. Sommerfeld, a pioneer of atomic theory and quantum physics mentor to several Nobel laureates, remains a popular figure for reflections on science. The engagement is modest, indicating a niche audience of physics enthusiasts.

NDTV has published a report titled 'Weapons Of Peace' examining the size of India's nuclear arsenal, setting out estimates of how many atomic bombs the country possesses. The piece comes amid ongoing global attention to nuclear stockpiles and regional security in South Asia.