2020 began with the last-minute cancellation of the world’s largest physics conference, setting the tone for a year of virtual meetings, online teaching and socially-distanced lab work. The Covid pandemic set unprecedented challenges for researchers worldwide, with physicists playing a part in the international effort and publishers taking steps to make the new normal more manageable. And of course models developed in data science and networks found increasing application (see Human Mobility and the COVID-19 Pandemic).
Despite these challenges, non-pandemic related research goes on. Investment in quantum technology continues through e.g. the EU Quantum Flagship, with increased focus on realisation and commercialisation. The European Strategy for Particle Physics update was published in June and work on planned and proposed colliders such as the FCC progresses. And machine learning makes further rapid inroads in fields as diverse as nuclear physics, fusion, and quantum chemistry and materials science.
We have to conclude with a huge thank you to all of our authors, editors and reviewers for their continuing efforts and contributions in what has been an exceptionally difficult year. We hope to see you in person in 2021!