Predicting the future is hard, but here’s a flavour of what’s hot in physics right now

Where next? Quantum metrology, fusion and medical physics are three hot topics to be featured on Physics World Live this year. (Courtesy: iStock/shutter_m)"> Where next? Quantum metrology, fusion and medical physics are three hot topics to be featured on Physics World Live this year. (Courtesy: iStock/shutter_m)

I used to set myself the challenge every December of predicting what might happen in physics over the following year. Gazing into my imaginary crystal ball, I tried to speculate on the potential discoveries, the likely trends, and the people who might make the news over the coming year. It soon dawned on me that making predictions in physics is a difficult, if not futile, task

Apart from space missions pencilled in for launch on set dates, or particle colliders or light sources due to open, so much in science is simply unknown.…