Purdue Physics and Astronomy

06/23/2026

Congratulations to Ishaan Singh, a Purdue junior studying honors physics, on being named a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar!

The prestigious national scholarship recognizes outstanding undergraduate students pursuing research careers in science, engineering and mathematics. Way to represent Purdue Physics and Astronomy, Ishaan!

Read more: https://purduesci.com/4uNAYpt

Purdue juniors Charles Behrman, Shreya Krishnan and Ishaan Singh have been named recipients of the 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholarship. The award is the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship for…

06/23/2026

Our halls just got a little more cosmic! 👀

Associate Professor Danny Milisavljevic stands in front of our new wall wrap featuring the stunning supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, one of the most detailed images ever captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. 🔭💥

Danny led the international team behind the groundbreaking JWST observations that revealed never-before-seen details of this stellar explosion’s aftermath, helping scientists better understand how stars live, die and seed the universe with the ingredients for future planets and life.

If you’re in Physics, stop by and see it for yourself! 🌌

🔭✨

06/23/2026

Purdue Physics and Astronomy’s Abigail Polin joins The Astrophysics Podcast by PhysAstro's Paul Duffell for another astrophysics Q&A, answering questions from a class of third graders in Indiana!

From simple questions to big cosmic ideas, the conversation shows how curiosity can open the door to complex science.

Listen here: https://rss.com/podcasts/astrophysics/2874444/

06/21/2026

Purdue Science is excited to join Purdue Agriculture and Purdue Engineering in fostering an interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation to advance applications through one-year seed grants. Read more here: https://purduesci.com/4tG5mlD

06/17/2026

⚛️ PhysAstro’s Michael Manfra is helping position Indiana at the front of the quantum computing race!
As Purdue’s first chief quantum officer and director of the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, Manfra is working to strengthen the state’s role in a field that could transform computing, cybersecurity, materials science and more.
Read more from WTHR: https://purduesci.com/4fknU6B

The Midwest has become a landscape for data centers and now quantum computing. Tech companies express goals for collaboration between the two, but what does it mean?

06/16/2026

Purdue alumni gathered in Houston for "Meet Purdue's Deans of Science and Liberal Arts," an evening of conversation, connection and big ideas.
Purdue Science Dean Lucy Flesch joined Dean Christopher Yeomans of the Purdue University College of Liberal Arts for a fireside chat exploring AI literacy and the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents across higher education, the workforce and society. They were joined on stage by Shawn Taylor, member of the Purdue University Board of Trustees. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an engaging discussion and for helping strengthen the Purdue alumni community in Houston.

06/15/2026

How do massive stars change as they explode?

Purdue Physics and Astronomy’s Miranda Pikus and Paul Duffell are featured in the AAS Journal Author Series discussing their research on how thermal cooling can shape the structure of supernovae!

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDTs0esMIjI

Miranda Pikus and Paul Duffell (Purdue University) chat about their...

06/15/2026

What happens when physics goes beyond fermions and bosons?

In this video, Purdue Physics and Astronomy's Erica Carlson explores anyons, a fascinating “third kind” of particle behavior, and how researchers are working to braid them in semiconductor systems in her latest episode on The Quantum Age.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoLJ2VhPNvE

Be sure to visit her channel for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/

Every particle in the standard model of particle physics is either ...

06/13/2026

Purdue University has been named to Forbes’ New Ivies 2025: 20 Great Colleges Employers Love list. Based on a survey of more than 380 senior business leaders, the ranking reflects a shift in hiring trends toward universities producing career-ready graduates. Purdue is the only public university in Indiana on the list, one of four Big Ten institutions recognized, and the largest by undergraduate enrollment. https://purduesci.com/4u298pF

06/12/2026

🎉 That’s a wrap on Physics Inside Out 2026!

For our final day, the Physics & Astronomy Demonstration Group showed students The Fun in Physics, using hands-on demonstrations and real-world experiences to bring physics concepts to life and show how science is all around us. Even a ended on a sweet note with a little bit of liquid nitrogen made ice cream!

A huge thank you to the graduate students who helped make Physics Inside Out such a success this week, and special thanks to our Demonstration Assistants in Physics & Astronomy, Austin Beidelman and Emma Burzynski, for their tremendous support and enthusiasm throughout the program.