Financial rollercoaster: the ups and downs of ultra-long-term bonds
Money is always a bit grubby for high-minded physicists. But some interesting simple physics is at stake, for example when it comes to financial bonds. They’re usually seen as safe and dependable investments, but a recent crash in the value of “ultra-long” bonds was bigger than conventional mathematical models could have predicted. Jon Cartwright explains why the physics of rollercoasters could hold the key. Meanwhile, find out how we can revamp physics degrees, explore the rights and wrongs of renaming terms in physics, and explore the Anthropocene.
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