Department of Physics and Astronomy News
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers comprehensive programs on two of the most basic and fundamental sciences–physics and astronomy. Physics is the study of matter, energy, motion, and force. Its concepts help us understand how the universe behaves. Astronomy studies the universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere, including celestial objects and the formation and development of the universe.
Current Physics and Astronomy News
This month’s frosty headlines and highlights from the students and faculty of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ.
A monthly roundup of the top news stories at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, featuring the presidential election, gaming partnerships, and much more.
A monthly roundup of the top news stories featuring 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ staff and students.
A collection of news highlights featuring students and faculty.
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ astrophysicists analyze data from Event Horizon Telescope’s groundbreaking imaging of Sagittarius A* and suggest it formed by merger of two black holes roughly 9 billion years ago.
The College of Sciences installs a dilution refrigerator, a machine used to study quantum particles and devices near absolute zero.
Physics and Astronomy In The News
On Episode 137 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Dr. Jason Steffen, a professor of physics at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and a member of the science team for the Kepler Space Telescope mission. This mission finally ended in 2018, but the discoveries keep coming. Kepler returned so much data that it was like "drinking from a firehose," Jason tells us.
The process of boarding an airplane,often perceived as a simple routine, has been the subject of study and discussion for years. Airlines, always looking to optimize their operations and improve the passenger experience, have explored different strategies to streamline this process. In this context, American Airlines, one of the world's leading airlines, took a step forward by implementing an innovative boarding system, designed to transform the way travelers begin their journey.
In 2006, NASA and its partners launched the Kepler telescope with a goal to try and identify planets in other solar systems. Since then, the telescope found over 2,700 planets orbiting different suns and existing in different solar systems before its retirement in 2018.
The darkest time of the year is the winter solstice, the day with the least sunlight and the longest night. However, the coldest time of the year is typically about one month after the winter solstice. So why isn't the darkest time of the year also the coldest?
Although you may not believe it, boarding passengers on a plane is one of the most difficult operational processes of airlines. It may seem simple and predictable to passengers, but " boarding " is a complex stage with rigorous logistics behind it, designed to reduce the time spent on the ground and ensure maximum efficiency. Romania, through its major airports, Otopeni, Cluj-Napoca and Iași, could implement on a large scale internationally tested methods to improve this stage and reduce unnecessary waiting and flight delays, thus gaining customer respect and higher competitiveness in the regional market.
Major change in airports. Efficient passenger boarding is an ongoing challenge for airlines and is essential to reduce delays and optimize the flight experience. In Romania, where air transport has become more and more accessible, the implementation of new rules could significantly improve this process. Following successful international strategies and adapting them to local airports could have a positive impact on passengers and airlines alike.