News

Mon, 11/18/2024

New idea may crack enigma of the Crab Nebula’s ‘zebra’ pattern

A theoretical astrophysicist from the University of Kansas may have solved a nearly two-decade-old mystery over the origins of an unusual "zebra" pattern seen in high-frequency radio pulses from the Crab Nebula.
Wed, 10/23/2024

Quantum fluctuations at subnucleon level discovered by KU physicist at Large Hadron Collider

University of Kansas experimental nuclear physicist Daniel Tapia Takaki and his team for the first time report suggestions of gluonic quantum fluctuations at the subnucleon level in heavy nuclei. The findings boost understanding of quantum fields that control interaction of particles at the tiniest scales.
Wed, 10/16/2024

KU astronomer on space probe team that advances to next round of $1B NASA mission selection

Elisabeth Mills is a co-investigator on a proposal for a far-infrared mission that over the next year will receive $5 million to flesh out the plans and prototypes for a new class of astrophysics observatories.
Wed, 10/09/2024

KU Physics and Astronomy Professor receives more than $600,000 from NASA for his research

Associate Professor Ian Crossfield (Physics & Astronomy) was awarded more than $600,000 from NASA to support his group's work characterizing planetary systems around other stars.
Mon, 10/07/2024

KU Planetarium Celebrates its 1000th Visitor

The KU Planetarium celebrated its 1000th visitor on September 18th, 2024. Since its start in 2022 the planetarium has educated and entertained visitors from the public, local schools, rural Kansas, and members of the KU community.
Mon, 10/07/2024

KU Physics and Astronomy Professor receives $1 million award from Department of Energy

Assistant Professor Dmitry Ovchinnikov was awarded a large grant from the Department of Energy to support his research in state-of-the-art nanofabrication techniques.
Wed, 07/10/2024

Researchers show promising material for solar energy gets its curious boost from entropy

In a study appearing in Advanced Materials, researchers in the lab of Wai-Lun Chan, associate professor of physics & astronomy at KU, have discovered a microscopic mechanism partly explaining the outstanding performance of new carbon-based organic solar cells.
Mon, 04/29/2024

Physics and Astronomy Professor Organizes Symposium at Materials Research Society Spring Meeting

Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, organized symposium QT02 “Low dimensional quantum materials” at the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting April 22 – 26, 2024. ...

Mon, 03/11/2024

KU Department of Physics & Astronomy professor receives prestigious NSF award for black hole research

A prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation will help Department of Physics & Astronomy researcher Elisabeth Mills continue her groundbreaking research on supermassive black holes.
Fri, 03/08/2024

Department of Physics & Astronomy professor receives NSF CAREER Award for work on zinc-ion batteries

University of Kansas researcher from the Department of Physics & Astronomy has been chosen for a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation for his innovative work with zinc-ion batteries, a sustainable alternative to the more widely used lithium-ion batteries that currently are in everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles.
Fri, 02/02/2024

Neptune-like exoplanets can be cloudy or clear — new findings suggest the reason why

A KU researcher has published findings in The Astrophysical Journal Letters showing new atmospheric detail in a set of 15 exoplanets similar to Neptune. While none could support humanity, a better understanding of their behavior might help us to understand why we don’t have a small Neptune, while most solar systems seem to feature a planet of this class.
Wed, 01/31/2024

Experts in special education, social welfare and particle physics receive KU Research Achievement Awards

University of Kansas researchers expanding our understanding of special education, social welfare and particle physics have received this year’s Steven F. Warren Research Achievement Award and the KU Research Staff & Postdoctoral Achievement Awards.
Wed, 01/31/2024

KU faculty recognized for research excellence at KU Athletics events

University of Kansas sports events have long showcased the talent and tenacity of athletes at the top of their game. A new program launched in fall 2023 extends that tradition beyond the university’s gifted student-athletes to shine a light on exceptional faculty researchers who exhibit talent and tenacity in their academic disciplines.
Tue, 01/30/2024

Researchers seek to understand how regions of 'cosmic web' influence behavior of galaxies

Gregory Rudnick, professor of physics & astronomy at KU, is leading a team that recently earned a $375,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study “gas content and star-formation properties of galaxies” that are altered depending on where they are moving through the cosmos.
Wed, 05/17/2023

‘Potentially volcano-covered’ Earth-size planet found orbiting star first described by KU astronomer

Wed, 04/26/2023

KU announces new 2023-2027 Self Graduate Fellows

LAWRENCE — Fifteen doctoral students have been selected to receive the University of Kansas’ prestigious Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year. This incoming group of fellows is the largest cohort in over 20 years. Over 200 students have benefited from the Self Graduate Fellowship since...

Tue, 04/25/2023

KU physicist appointed to help prepare next Long Range Plan on Nuclear Science

LAWRENCE — Daniel Tapia Takaki, University of Kansas associate professor of physics & astronomy, was appointed to serve on the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) earlier this year. The appointment carries the responsibility to provide official advice to the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation on the nuclear...

Tue, 04/25/2023

U.S. News & World Report ranks 37 KU graduate programs in top 50 among public schools

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has 37 graduate programs in the top 50 among public universities – including nine programs in the top 10 – in the 2024 rankings from U.S. News & World Report, released today. ...

Mon, 04/17/2023

A Fresh Map of Mars, From a Spacecraft Called Hope (Opens in new window)

Dimitra Atri, KU Physics & Astronomy PhD, featured in story on a new Mars map. Can also be found here: https://www.space.com/uae-mars-hope-orbiter-new-map. ...

Thu, 04/06/2023

Professor Dmitry Ovchinnikov Receives KU Research GO Award (Opens in new window)

Dmitry Ovchinnikov, Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy receives KU Research Go Award for: Electric Field Control of Magnetism in Two-Dimensional Quantum Materials. ...

Wed, 04/05/2023

Kate Wienke, St. Louis junior studying physics, receives 2023 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas junior in physics is KU’s newest Barry M. Goldwater scholar. ...

Mon, 01/30/2023

KU nominates 5 undergraduates for 2023 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships

LAWRENCE — Five University of Kansas students who have been actively involved in undergraduate research during their university careers are competing for Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, regarded as the premier undergraduate award to encourage excellence in science, engineering and mathematics.  ...

Mon, 01/30/2023

Cristian Xavier Baldenegro Barrera - 2023 Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experimental Particle Physics Recipient (Opens in new window)

Cristian Xavier Baldenegro Barrera Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, École Polytechnique receives 2023 Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experimental Particle Physics. ...

Fri, 12/16/2022

54 KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for spring 2023

LAWRENCE — This spring, 54 University of Kansas students will receive an Undergraduate Research Award (UGRA) from the Center for Undergraduate Research. UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative projects. ...

Tue, 11/22/2022

With next-generation space telescope, researchers glimpse first evidence of photochemistry on exoplanet

Fri, 11/04/2022

How dangerous are nearby supernovae to life on Earth? (Opens in new window)

From a distance, supernovae explosions are fascinating. A star more massive than our sun runs out of hydrogen and becomes unstable. Eventually, it explodes and releases so much energy it can outshine its host galaxy for months. ...

Thu, 10/13/2022

KU physicist named to Class of 2022 MacArthur Fellows

LAWRENCE — The MacArthur Foundation announced Steven Prohira, assistant professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, as a Class of 2022 MacArthur Fellow. ...

Wed, 09/14/2022

Christophe Royon - 2022 Gold Medal Award from the Mexican Physical Society, Division of Particle and Fields (Opens in new window)

Christophe Royon, Foundation Distinguished Professor at the Department of Physics & Astronomy, was awarded the 2022 gold medal of the Mexican Physical Society, Division of Particle and Fields "for his leadership in the discovery of odd-gluon state odderon from elastic proton-proton and proton-antiproton collisions at TOTEM and D0 detectors, his...

Wed, 09/14/2022

Christophe Royon - 2022 Gold Medal Award from the Mexican Physical Society, Division of Particle and Fields

Christophe Royon, Foundation Distinguished Professor at the Department of Physics & Astronomy, was awarded the 2022 gold medal of the Mexican Physical Society, Division of Particle and Fields "for his leadership in the discovery of odd-gluon state odderon from elastic proton-proton and proton-antiproton collisions at TOTEM and D0 detectors, his...

Mon, 04/04/2022

Graduate Student Appreciation Week

In honor of our graduate students and in recognition of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, the department will be hosting the following events:...