Karmela Padavic-Callaghan (they/them)
@kpc
Physics Reporter at New Scientist. Author of ENTANGLED STATES, out now from Beacon Press. Former teacher. Vegan baker. Aspiring gym rat. Croatian in Queens. Queer.
The medalists gave a press conference where they discussed their cautious enthusiasm for AI, being inspired by their mentors, playing with math in childhood, finding joy in a research field where most days involve failing, and how mathematics will never run out of problems
Finally, Hong Wang, the third woman to win the Fields Medal was cited for work in harmonic analysis, including a devilish problem of rotating a thin line through as little volume as possible while covering all of its orientations
Then, Jacob Tsimerman was recognized for interdisciplinary work bringing tools from model theory into other fields of physics, including chipping away at one of the million dollar Millennium Prize Problems
Next, John Pardon was awarded the Fields Medal for work on distortions of knots embedded in toruses, resolving a question from the 80s, and work on classifying curves and shapes that feature in string theory
First announced winner was Yu Deng, for remarkable work on stitching laws on physics across different scales into one, solving a problem that David Hilbert identified as fundamental over a century ago
The Fields Medal is awarded every four years, typically at the International Congress of Mathematicians, to up to 4 mathematicians under 40. This year ICM is in Philadelphia and opened with a live band!
What happens after you revolutionize a field? Peter Shor is one of the researchers who had a profound impact on the history of quantum computing, giving it a huge part of its reason to exist. He is a living legend, his algorithm is a foundational text, and he spoke to me for @newscientist.com
A crucial part of being a writer is spending time with other writers. This is doubly true if you write in some odd niche which is all to say that when another queer science writer extraordinaire from your neighborhood reaches out about a writing group, you go! Ty @toomanyspectra.bsky.social!
I got to briefly chat with the legendary quantum computing researcher Peter Shor, then my editors somehow let me write one of the most fun intros to a story that I've ever written www.newscientist.com/article/2533...
Can’t wait to launch Entangled States in Brooklyn today. Tell all of your queer nerd friends!
The Manhattan launch of Entangled States was so wonderful! Big thanks to @toomanyspectra.bsky.social for being in conversation with me, all the amazing folks that came, and the staff of BGSQD. Brooklyn launch is up next on the 26th!
My debut memoir is close to being out in the world and I’m feeling very lucky to have great launch events ready for you in both Manhattan and Brooklyn, in conversation with some amazing folks. I hope you can come by if you’re around!
Entangled States will be published in exactly a month and I’m both so excited and so nervous. I really hope it’ll find its people, and if that’s you you can already preorder it!
I am offering 2 workshops on science writing, including how to make the most out of interviewing scientists. If you've pre-ordered my book, email me the receipt for a 50% discount code at ultracold.newsletter@gmai.com. The link to reserve a spot: www.karmelapadaviccallaghan.com/workshops/p/...
My first book, Entangled States, will be published in exactly three months. Please ask me about it! I will come on your podcast or write for your mag about quantum physics and how it intersects with my life anytime!
Got to interview two 2025 Nobel laureates, in physics and chemistry, for @newscientist.com and though awards are not a perfect metric, I’m grateful to have had a chance to learn more about how these folks think
Super excited to be reading alongside so many cool writers tomorrow!
The thing about me is that I’ll wear March Meeting merch to the office
It cannot be understated how many scientist now answer the question of "what's on your research wishlist for next year" with "my wish is that there is funding for any research at all"
I’ve never been much of a nature reader but I’m remedying that
My first book is forthcoming from Beacon Press and I am currently a few weeks out from finishing the manuscript. It's the story of my life told through a series of concepts in modern physics, and also the story of modern physics told through a series of anecdotes from my life 4/6