The biggest challenges in physics and how this might affect society in the coming decades are captured in a new open access ebook from the European Physical Society.

The book, Physics for Society in the Horizon 2050, explores some of the most pressing and promising aspects of modern science in support of better living standards: from the smallest objects we observe such as particles, atoms, and cells, to the large scientific enquiries on stars, galaxies, and the mysteries of the universe.

The encyclopaedia-like work is part of the European Physical Society’s project ‘Grand Challenges: Physics for Society at the Horizon 2050’. The project explores our ability to imagine and shape the future by assessing how physics can help us understand nature and how physics can help tackle major issues affecting the lives of citizens by 2050 making recommendations of actions to policy makers.

Carlos Hidalgo, editor of Physics for Society in the Horizon 2050, says: “This book explores some of the most pressing questions in physics and supports EPS’s Horizon strategy. The interesting thing about the perspective of this work is the human ability to imagine and shape the future by making use of the scientific method and how interdisciplinarity enables connections to be established across various fields of knowledge to address some of the grand scientific and societal challenges that lie ahead us.”

The book is available in full for anyone to read on the IOPscience platform and is aimed at professionals involved in advancing the scientific method, and those with an interest in how science can shape society.