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JILA JILA is a world-leading physics research institute. So although the name "JILA" has stuck, we no longer spell out the acronym that we have outgrown.

We are a collaboration between University of Colorado Boulder and NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology). When JILA was formed in 1962 as a joint institue of CU Boulder and NIST, the acronym stood for "Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics". However, JILA's research quickly expanded to include fields like atomic, molecular and optical physics, as well as biophysics, quantum information, precision measurement, and more. Posted comments do not necessarily represent the views of JILA. While we encourage followers to share thoughts and opinions on the JILAScience page, we expect that this be done in a respectful manner.

10/07/2026
10/06/2026
10/06/2026
Physicist Jun Ye has been named a 2026 Wolf Prize laureate in Physics! 🏆One of the highest honors in the field, the Wolf...
10/02/2026

Physicist Jun Ye has been named a 2026 Wolf Prize laureate in Physics! 🏆

One of the highest honors in the field, the Wolf Prize is awarded to scientists and artists worldwide for their outstanding achievements in advancing science and the arts for the betterment of humanity.

Ye, a fellow of JILA/NIST and the Monroe Endowed Professor in Physics , shares the 2026 prize with Immanuel Bloch, Max Planck Institute, for “transformative, widely applicable advances in the control of ultracold atomic systems.”

From developing the world’s most precise atomic clocks to advancing quantum science, Ye’s research is helping us understand the universe in entirely new ways. ⏱️🌍

Congratulations, Prof. Ye!

Read more: https://www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/10/02/jun-ye-named-2026-wolf-prize-laureate-physics

University of Colorado Boulder | National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | CU Boulder Physics | CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | Wolf Prize

10/01/2026
Congrats to the Q-SEnSE team led by Jun Ye! đź‘Ź
08/27/2026

Congrats to the Q-SEnSE team led by Jun Ye! đź‘Ź

CU Boulder is at the forefront of quantum innovation.

A scientific quest to build more accurate clocks, faster computers and new sensors to detect the faintest signs of disease and disaster is getting a $37.5 million financial boost.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, is investing in the next phase of CU Boulder and its partners’ work to advance quantum science research and engineering.

Read more ↓
https://bit.ly/4qBWrkt

Congratulations to JILA Fellow Margaret Murnane! đź‘Ź
06/04/2026

Congratulations to JILA Fellow Margaret Murnane! đź‘Ź

Congratulations to CU Boulder’s Margaret Murnane – named an honorary member of Optica! 🎉

🏆 The designation is the most distinguished member category bestowed by Optica.

🤩 Since 1916, only 63 individuals have been named honorary members.

Murnane, a distinguished professor of physics and electrical engineering and fellow of JILA, was recognized for her pioneering advances in ultrafast laser technology and extreme ultraviolet science, as well as sustained mentorship and leadership to the optics community.

Congratulations, Professor Murnane! đź‘Ź

Read more: https://www.colorado.edu/physics/2026/06/01/margaret-murnane-named-opticas-newest-honorary-member

Image credit: Boulder Daily Camera

University of Colorado Boulder | CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences | CU Boulder Engineering

Shooting for the moon! 🚀🌒
05/26/2026

Shooting for the moon! 🚀🌒

They rank among the darkest and coldest places in the solar system: thousands of lunar craters, most of them at the moon’s south pole, never receive direct sunlight and lie in permanent shadow. That’s exactly why NIST physicist Jun Ye and his colleagues suggest these craters are the perfect place to build a critical component for an ultra-stable laser.

This laser could lay the foundation for a GPS-like signal for spacecraft to navigate the moon’s surface, highly precise measurements of the distance between satellites, and the first atomic timekeeping signal on another celestial body.

đź”— https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2026/05/shooting-moon-ultrastable-lasers-dark-craters-could-enable-lunar-navigation

Science in action at JILA 🔬✨Last week, more than 110 high school students from Englewood, Northglenn, and Skyline High S...
04/29/2026

Science in action at JILA 🔬✨

Last week, more than 110 high school students from Englewood, Northglenn, and Skyline High Schools put their science and engineering projects on display at the annual PISEC High School Poster Symposium. Students connected with CU mentors, toured labs, and practiced science communication skills.

The future of STEM looks bright 🌟

Read more: https://www.colorado.edu/jila/2026/04/24/high-school-students-present-science-and-engineering-projects-jila

University of Colorado Boulder | CU Boulder Physics | CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences

JILA Fellow and CU Boulder Physics Prof. Jun Ye has been elected a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, ...
04/23/2026

JILA Fellow and CU Boulder Physics Prof. Jun Ye has been elected a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

His election recognizes his extraordinary contributions to physics and quantum science, including pioneering advances in optical atomic clocks, precision measurement, and quantum many-body physics.

Congratulations Prof. Ye! đź‘Ź

Read more: https://jila.colorado.edu/news-events/news/jun-ye-elected-american-academy-arts-and-sciences

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Boulder, CO
80309

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