Those who say there’s "nothing new under the sun" must not know about NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission. Since its launch in 2018, this spacecraft has been shedding new light on Earth’s sun—and University of Maryland physicists are behind many of its discoveries.At its...Read More
In physics, there is a deep disparity between the quantum and classical perspective on physical laws. Classical mechanics is used to describe the familiar world around us. This is the physics that you may have been exposed to in high school or early college...Read More
Figuring out the nature of dark matter, the invisible substance that makes up most of the mass in our universe, is one of the greatest puzzles in physics. New results from the world’s most sensitive dark matter detector, LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), have narrowed down possibilities...Read More
Quantum particles have unique properties that make them powerful tools, but those very same properties can be the bane of researchers. Each quantum particle can inhabit a combination of multiple possibilities, called a quantum superposition, and together they can form intricate webs of connection through quantum...Read More
Scientists on the hunt for compact and robust sources of multicolored laser light have generated the first topological frequency comb. Their result, which relies on a small silicon nitride chip patterned with hundreds of microscopic rings, will appear in the June 21, 2024 issue...Read More
Currently, computing technologies are rapidly evolving and reshaping how we imagine the future. Quantum computing is taking its first toddling steps toward delivering practical results that promise unprecedented abilities. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence remains in public conversation as it’s used for everything from writing business...Read More
Neutrinos are tiny, weakly interacting subatomic particles that can travel astronomical distances undisturbed. As such, they can be traced back to their sources, revealing the mysteries surrounding the cosmos. High-energy neutrinos that originate from the farthest reaches beyond our galaxy are called astrophysical neutrinos...Read More
The world is a cluttered, noisy place, and the ability to effectively focus is a valuable skill. For example, at a bustling party, the clatter of cutlery, the conversations, the music, the scratching of your shirt tag and almost everything else must fade into...Read More
In day-to-day life, light seems intangible. We walk through it and create and extinguish it with the flip of a switch. But, like matter, light actually carries a little punch—it has momentum. Light constantly nudges things and can even be used to push spacecraft....Read More
1 UMD Physicists Advance NASA’s Mission to ‘Touch the Sun’
2 How Does Quantum Mechanics Meet Up With Classical Physics?
3 LZ Experiment Sets New Record in Search for Dark Matter
4 Particle Physics and Quantum Simulation Collide in New Proposal
5 New Photonic Chip Spawns Nested Topological Frequency Comb
6 Attacking Quantum Models with AI: When Can Truncated Neural Networks Deliver Results?
7 IceCube Observes Seven Astrophysical Tau Neutrino Candidates
8 A Focused Approach Can Help Untangle Messy Quantum Scrambling Problems
9 New Laser Experiment Spins Light Like a Merry-go-round
Sep 16, 2024 Dorland Selected for APS Maxwell Prize Professor William Dorland will receive the American Physical Society’s (APS) 2024 James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics for "pioneering work in kinetic plasma turbulence that revolutionizes turbulent transport calculations for magnetic confinement devices and inspires research in astrophysical plasma turbulence". This honor—shared with Greg...Read More
Sep 11, 2024 Exploring the Mechanics of Life’s Tiniest Machines Maria Mukhina hopes to shine a new light on how the intricate machinery of life works at its most fundamental level. With a background in physics, optics and nanotechnology, the assistant professor of physics who joined the University of Maryland in January 2024 studies how...Read More
Sep 11, 2024 Curious About the Cosmos For the last four years, Aneesh Anandanatarajan has kept a running list of "big questions" about the universe and how it works. He started the list in high school but shows no signs of slowing down in his senior year as an astronomy and physics...Read More
Aug 26, 2024 Edward "Joe" Redish, 1942 - 2024 Edward F. "Joe" Redish, a nuclear theorist who became a globally recognized expert in physics education research, died on August 24, 2024 at age 82. Upon earning his Ph.D. at MIT in 1968, Redish came to UMD on a fellowship in nuclear theory. He was...Read More