Purdue Physics and Astronomy

05/30/2026

Congratulations to the Purdue College of Science Class of 2026!
These graduates are officially the newest Boilermaker Science alumni and can now proudly add “scientist” to their titles. We can’t wait to see where their discoveries, innovations and impact lead next.
Check out our graduation galleries here: https://purduesci.com/4ftf0nl

05/29/2026

Purdue Physics and Astronomy researchers Matheus Macedo and Norbert Neumeister contributed to a recent CMS collaboration analysis at CERN, working with collaborators from Université Libre de Bruxelles.

The result highlights the power of international teamwork in exploring some of the rarest signals produced in particle physics experiments! This was presented at the 2026 Large Hadron Collider Physics Conference (LHCP) in Paris and highlighted in the conference's final presentation.

Learn more from CMS: https://cms.cern/news/hunting-heavy-particles-through-high-mass-pairs-electrons-or-muons

Hunting heavy particles 💥
CMS records rare collisions producing the most massive pairs of electrons or muons ever observed, opening new territory in the search for undiscovered heavy particles.

📍Read more: https://cms.cern/news/hunting-heavy-particles-through-high-mass-pairs-electrons-or-muons

05/27/2026

🎉 Celebrating excellence in Physics and Astronomy!
From groundbreaking research to outstanding teaching, check out the 2025-2026 award winners. 🌌🔬
👏 See the full list of honorees: https://purduescience.exposure.co/2026-physics-and-astronomy-awards

Welcome to the Purdue Physics and Astronomy Awards! Please join us as we recognize our faculty, staff, and students!

05/26/2026

Purdue’s Quantum Open House was featured in UNESCO’s final report for the International Year of Quantum!

The recognition highlights the global reach of Purdue Physics and Astronomy’s efforts to make quantum science more accessible, engaging and inspiring for the next generation of scientists. 2025 was the United Nations-proclaimed International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
Check out the report here: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398055.locale=en

You can also check out the QOH recap below:
https://purduescience.exposure.co/quantum-wonders-unveiled-quantum-open-house-2025-at-purdue

Quantum Open House 2025

05/23/2026

Make a splash for Purdue Science by June 30!🌊
$10+ gift = Boilermaker sunglasses
$75+ gift = Beach towel and sunglasses
Soak up the sun in style! 🏖️ Make your gift today at https://purdue.university/4lBSWbm

05/20/2026

What can stars teach us about the universe?

Purdue Physics and Astronomy’s Dr. Jeff Ge**er joins The Astrophysics Podcast with Paul Duffell to talk about the giant balls of plasma that first inspired astrophysics and continue to help scientists explore plasma physics, turbulence, nuclear reactions and stellar evolution.

Listen to “Let’s Talk Stars”: https://purduesci.com/4tEqIiu

05/18/2026

Purdue Physics and Astronomy PhD student Saumitra Phatak has created AMO Toolkit, a student-built educational resource for those entering atomic, molecular and optical physics and optical tweezer-based research groups!

The site introduces core experimental techniques and connects the field to the broader quantum computing landscape. Explore the resource here: https://amotoolkit.com/home.html

05/16/2026

Purdue Physics and Astronomy’s David D. Nolte looks back at the first quarter of the 21st century in his latest Galileo Unbound post, “The Best Physics of the Century (So Far).” From exoplanets and gravitational waves to the Higgs particle, black holes, quantum computing and nuclear fusion, Nolte explores the discoveries that have already shaped modern physics and what they may signal for the rest of the century.

Read more: https://purduesci.com/3R6TDyd

05/15/2026

Huge congratulations to Ishaan Singh on being named a 2026 Goldwater Scholar! Ishaan is one of three Boilermakers selected for this prestigious honor, and it could not be more well deserved.

A double major in honors physics and biochemistry in and John Martinson Honors College, Ishaan has already made a real mark on the research world as an undergraduate. His work in Professor Chi Zhang's lab led to a co-authored publication in The Journal of Physical Chemistry B exploring the sensitivity of Raman spectroscopic techniques. He also independently developed code for hardware control and image acquisition and authored a paper in Chemistry Methods advancing real-time precision opto-control.

Learn more about this year's awardees: https://purduesci.com/42DVdtV.