University of Iowa Physics & Astronomy

5 days to #1DayForIowa! Donor support helps Physics & Astronomy students present research posters at conferences—building skills, sharing discoveries, and connecting with the scientific community. Give early: 1dayforiowa.org/dpa26

6 days to #1DayForIowa! We'll have 24 hours to raise money to support our students. Your gift helps students pursue unique, fun research opportunities! Want to help, but can't give financially? Share this post! Let's get the word out! Give early: 1dayforiowa.org/dpa26

Mark your calendars for #1DayforIowa! 3/25/26 is the UIowa annual 24-hour online giving campaign. The Department of Physics & Astronomy is raising money to help our students! Your gift pays for student travel, research, or tuition. Give today! 1dayforiowa.org/dpa26

CLAS physics assistant professor Dustin Swarm collaborated with NASA to capture the first X-ray view of a white dwarf star, expanding how scientists study compact objects in space. bit.ly/3M68GpN

Assistant Prof. Denis Candido, Prof. Michael Flatté, and University of Chicago researchers have developed a framework that could yield more accurate readings of the inner workings of cells via quantum sensors. physics.uiowa.edu/news/2025/12/u…

Assistant Prof. Ravi Uppu and graduate student Matthew Nelson have discovered a method to “purify” photons, an advance that could make optical #quantum technologies more efficient and more secure. now.uiowa.edu/news/2025/12/u…

Payhe receives Iowa Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship physics.uiowa.edu/news/2025/12/p…

Fourteen undergrads presented posters at the @uiowaOUR Fall Undergraduate Research Festival (FURF) on Nov. 19. physics.uiowa.edu/news/2025/11/s…

Exoplanet map initiative earns NASA support for Nataf spacedaily.com/reports/Exopla…

Using NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the maps will improve the study of exoplanets whose locations are obscured by “interstellar extinction” — the dimming and reddening of stars’ and galaxies’ light due to dust.

Nataf wins NASA funding to create maps to study #exoplanets now.uiowa.edu/news/2025/11/u…

Christian Hansen's image of the TRACERS mission launch won first place in the faculty/staff/researcher category of the Capture Your Research! Photo Competition. physics.uiowa.edu/news/2025/11/t…

Thomas Folland from @physicsastron studied how tiny structures made from silicon carbide, a heat-resistant compound, can boost safety in industrial settings and improve thermal imaging technology. Learn how research could shape future innovations here: bit.ly/3JSHj1e

Hawkeyes are heading to space! 🚀 Valerie Payré from the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability is part of NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover team, and is working on the rover's SuperCam to study Martian rocks. Read more here: bit.ly/47mNvGj

Kimberly Gray joined the CLAS Grant Support Office this summer as the post-award grant manager for @physicsastron, CLAS’s top grant-earning department. Gray is excited to support research and connect with faculty and staff. Learn about Kimberly Gray here: bit.ly/47hJC5t

From Iowa to Norway, @physicsastron postdoctoral researcher Connor Feltman has uncovered the science behind the northern lights. 🌌 His research shows how space energy makes them shine. Read the full article here: bit.ly/3WSmVjz

See this #Scilight "Understanding the plasma processes connecting the solar system" from Allison Jaynes: doi.org/10.1063/10.003… #PlasmaPhysics #SpaceWeather #Scilights

Imagine losing power, internet, or GPS… all because of the Sun. That’s space weather. @NASA researchers are building compact magnetic field instruments to better understand the impacts of solar storms to protect tech on Earth & future Moon + Mars explorers: go.nasa.gov/3Wm6AmV

Led by Dr. David Miles, a @uiowa team developed a new fluxgate magnetometer core that can make high-fidelity magnetic field measurements needed to investigate space weather. The core will be used in the Space Weather Iowa Magnetometer (SWIM).

Assistant Prof. David Nataf has received several research grants from STScI @SpaceTelescope for research that could improve our understanding of planets outside the solar system. #exoplanets physics.uiowa.edu/news/2025/09/n…