Hundreds of physicists on a remote island: we visit the ultimate quantum party

Download the Nature Podcast 13 June 2025

According to legend, physicist Werner Heisenberg formulated the mathematics behind quantum mechanics in 1925 while on a restorative trip to the remote North Sea island of Heligoland.

To celebrate the centenary of this event, several hundred researchers have descended on the island to take part in a conference on all things quantum physics. Nature reporter Lizzie Gibney was also in attendance, and joined us to give an inside track on the meeting.

News: Happy birthday quantum mechanics! I got a ticket to the ultimate physics party

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