Physical Sciences News

Astronomy & Astrophysics, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Physics, and Mathematics

The Latest

Eyes in the Sky

UC San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Adam Burgasser led a group of graduate students to the University of California's Lick Observatory for a view that was out of this world.

A New Way to Observe Electrons in Motion

Electrons are incredibly fast. Because of their ultrafast motions, directly observing their behavior has been challenging. Now researchers from UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have suggested a new method to make visualizing electron motion a reality.

UC San Diego’s Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics Embraces a New Year of Discovery

The University of California San Diego is positioning itself as a leader in astronomical research as its new Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics is building a world-class program for faculty-scholars and students.

Follow the Water: Searching for a Lunar Oasis

As humankind imagines living off-planet — on the moon, Mars and beyond — the question of how to sustain life revolves around the physical necessities of oxygen, food and water. We know there is water on the moon, but how do we find it? Researchers from UC San Diego may help bring science fiction to reality by providing a divining rod to guide future space missions. Their work appears in a special issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences called “Water on the Moon and Mars,” which features Artemis I on its cover.

Using Infrared Heat Transfer to Modify Chemical Reactions

In a joint experimental-theoretical work, a team of researchers, including theorists from UC San Diego, have shown for the first time that heat transfer in the form of infrared radiation can influence chemical reactions more strongly than traditional convection and conduction methods.

Itay Budin and Christopher Obara Named Allen Distinguished Investigators

UC San Diego Assistant Professors Itay Budin and Christopher Obara have been named Allen Distinguished Investigators by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The pair will receive $1.5 million over three years to develop visualization and tracking techniques to observe key cellular functions in unprecedented detail.