Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Iowa

10/19/2026

A recent Daily Iowan feature highlights the impact of the Department of Physics & Astronomy's Public Observing Nights at the Van Allen Observatory. Through hands-on telescope viewing, constellation tours, and conversations about the universe, our faculty, staff, and student volunteers are helping make astronomy accessible and inspiring for students and community members alike.

We're proud of the outreach and educational opportunities these events provide and grateful to everyone who helps bring the night sky a little closer to our community.

The rain stopped, and storm clouds dissipated just in time for the Public Observing Night atop the roof of Van Allen Hall. Equipped with various sizes of telescopes and astronomical knowledge, the staff and student volunteers answered students’ and children’s questions. University of Iowa studen...

10/05/2026

University of Iowa physics and astronomy students are helping shape one of the most ambitious particle physics experiments in the world. Through their work on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), undergraduate and graduate students are building and testing critical electronics that will help scientists unlock the mysteries of the universe.

Explore the story and photo gallery to see how our students are contributing to this groundbreaking international collaboration.

About a dozen undergraduates and several graduate students are building and testing hundreds of electronic circuits and protective boxes that will be central to one of the most high-profile particle physics experiments of this century.

10/02/2026

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' specialized shops and laboratories help turn ideas into reality across the University of Iowa. From the Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory to the Electronics Repair and Calibration Lab in Physics & Astronomy, these facilities support research, teaching, innovation, and student learning in countless ways.

Glass, electronics, engineering, and machine shops support everything from scientific research to art installations.

09/29/2026

What happens when students from physics, astronomy, engineering, art, and education come together to tackle a real-world challenge?

A group of University of Iowa students traveled to Iceland to design, build, and launch high-altitude weather balloon payloads, collecting scientific data while embracing creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in one of the world’s most dynamic landscapes. The experience highlights the power of the Iowa Idea and includes inspiring contributions from Physics & Astronomy students who gained valuable hands-on research and instrumentation experience.

University of Iowa students took an ambitious art-and-science course into the field in Iceland, where high-altitude balloon launches tested their technical skills, creative instincts, and ability to work across disciplines in unpredictable conditions.

09/25/2026

How does Jupiter withstand the constant barrage of particles streaming from the Sun? New research using data from NASA’s Juno mission reveals that the giant planet relies on a surprisingly complex system of plasma waves and multiple shock regions to slow and deflect the solar wind.

The findings could also help scientists better understand some of the most powerful shock waves in the universe, including those produced by exploding and dying stars.

University of Iowa researchers have made the most detailed observations yet of Jupiter’s bow shock, a barrier that helps deflect harmful particles from the sun. They found that Jupiter uses a more complex wave structure than Earth to efficiently handle the solar wind. The findings could help...

09/22/2026

UI students are helping power the future of particle physics!

Students in the University of Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory are building key components for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a global research project designed to study some of the universe's most mysterious particles. Learn how they're gaining real-world experience while contributing to world-changing science.

Work underway inside the University of Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory will eventually become part of one of the world’s largest particle physics experiments.Studen

09/11/2026

✨ Behind every groundbreaking discovery is a team that helps make it possible.

The Grant Support Office in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is hiring a Research Support Manager (Pre-Award) to support the exciting research and scholarship taking place in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

From NASA missions to cutting-edge work in astrophysics, plasma physics, and quantum information science, this role helps researchers secure the funding that makes discovery possible.

Apply today:

Research Support Manager (Pre-Award), University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy.The Grant Support.....

08/06/2026

The Department of Physics and Astronomy recently hosted six Iowa high school physics teachers for the annual QuarkNet Professional Development Program. During the two-day workshop, educators worked alongside University of Iowa physicists and STEM leaders to explore particle physics research, analyze real scientific data, and develop engaging classroom activities. Through QuarkNet, teachers gain firsthand research experience and valuable connections that help bring cutting-edge science to students across Iowa, inspiring the next generation of STEM innovators.

https://physics.uiowa.edu/news/2026/08/university-iowa-hosts-quarknet-professional-development-program-iowa-physics-teachers

07/28/2026

06/22/2026

University of Iowa researchers, using NASA’s TRACERS mission, are tracking fast-moving electrons to better understand how solar energy travels to and interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.

Their findings offer an exciting step forward in understanding space weather and its potential effects on our daily lives.

Read more about how this groundbreaking research is helping us better predict solar impacts on Earth!

A University of Iowa-led research team has documented how energy from the sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field and moves closer to our planet, using detailed electron measurements. The study marks the first published results from TRACERS, the approximately $170 million NASA-funded mission and...