Many physical-science roles lead to a master's or PhD — and why.
More than most fields, physical science research roles expect graduate degrees (a master's or PhD). The reason is depth: original discovery requires years of focused training in a narrow area, plus learning how research itself works — reading the literature, designing studies, and publishing.
That's not the only path (many work in industry with a bachelor's), but if your dream is to discover new physics or invent new materials, plan for graduate school. Undergraduate research experience is the single best preparation — and the best way to find out if you love it.