News
An idea rooted in ‘twistronics’ yields an electrifying, ‘dizzying’ outcome
Researchers led by Ritesh Agarwal of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Gene Mele of the School of Arts & Sciences uncovered how twisting multiple layers of a material can generate a mysterious sideways deflection of moving electrons—analogous to the Coriolis effect seen in ocean currents—unlocking new possibilities for controlling light and electrons in quantum materials.
The new mini moon
On Sunday, Sept. 29, Earth welcomed 2024 PT5, a “mini-moon” temporarily captured by the planet’s orbit that’s set to depart on Monday, Nov. 25. Astronomers Bhuvnesh Jain and Gary Bernstein of the School of Arts & Sciences discuss Earth’s new visitor, 2024 PT5. Read more here
Emeritus Professor Tom Lubensky awarded Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Prize of The International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS)
Emeritus Professor Tom Lubensky, was recently awarded the Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Prize of The International Liquid Crystal Society (ILCS). This award is the highest-ranking prize of ILCS and is awarded biannually.
Congratulations - Professor Dylan Rankin
Great news! Professor Dylan Rankin has won the US Department of Energy Early Career Award. The award is for his research proposal to Search for New Physics with Real-time Anomaly Detection! The DOE announcement can be found using the link below:
Novel coupled nanopore platform offers greater precision for detecting molecules
Marija Drndić of the School of Arts & Sciences and Dimitri Monos of the Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia led a team of researchers who have developed a novel kind of nanotechnology that allows for more precise detection and control of molecules like DNA. The platform signals a new era in the field of synthetic biology and could pave the way for enhanced DNA sequencing and protein identification.
Congratulations - Professor Joe Kroll
Great news - Please join us in congratulating Professor Joe Kroll, who has been named Robert I. Williams Endowed Term Professor of Physics and Astronomy. The term chair was awarded by the university in recognition of Professor Kroll's exceptional scholarship and leadership in experimental particle physics, as well as his outstanding teaching
Congratulations to the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s Student Award Winners!
Award certificates will be presented before the Department Colloquium on September 11th at 3:30pm in DRL A8.
Chairman’s Teaching Award - Margot Young
Boosting the frequency of sound waves to make the next generation of wireless devices
Vincent Kerler, a second-year physics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, says he spent his summer running “a whole bunch of simulations to explore how mechanical waves move through a class of materials that convert mechanical stress into electricity and vice versa, or piezoelectric nanomaterials.”
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope will investigate the history of galaxies
Robyn Sanderson and collaborators are unearthing the history of the universe's formation by looking for clues that reveal its 'galatic fossil record.'
The universe is a dynamic, ever-changing place where galaxies are dancing, merging, and changing appearance. Looking ever deeper into the universe, astronomers see galaxies at earlier stages in their lives. Unfortunately, because these changes take millions or billions of years, telescopes only provide snapshots, squeezed into a human lifetime.
How a Flipped Classroom Stokes the Collaborative Spirit of Physics
Bill Ashmanskas is using the Structured Active In-Class Learning format to help his students grasp high-level physics concepts.
Read full article here