Creating a carbon-neutral world, a linac simulator for training medical physicists, avoiding blackouts in a solar super-storm - Physics World

Cities and countries worldwide are working towards being net carbon neutral. In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast the science journalist Kate Ravilious talks to about some of the ways that people and governments are trying to achieve this goal.

Linear accelerators (linacs) for treating cancer are among the most complicated technologies used in hospitals. As well as being difficult to operate, mistakes cause damage to a linac or leave it in a state in which it could do harm to patients. Training new medical physicists in how to use linacs is difficult, however, because the machines are normally in use treating patients. In this episode, Physics World’s Tami Freeman talks to Marco Carlone in Canada, who has founded a company called Linax to develop a linac simulator that could be used for training purposes.

Finally Margaret Harris and Hamish Johnston talk about space-weather super-storms and how they can damage electrical grids. They also explain how a new map from the US Geological Survey identifies power lines in the US that are most vulnerable to super-storms.