News » Archives » January 2012

Ani Aprahamian, the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Physics, has been elected chair of the American Physical Society's Division of Nuclear Physics. APS is the second-largest organization in the field, chartered “to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics.” It publishes a number of journals, conducts extensive education and outreach programs, and is active in public and governmental affairs. The Division of Nuclear Physics is composed of scientists and educators who study fundamental problems related to the nature of matter – the properties of nuclei and of their ultimate constituents, quarks and gluons.…

The 6th College of Science Joint Annual Meeting (COS-JAM) will take place in Jordan Hall on Friday, May 4, 2012, as part of the 5th Undergraduate Scholars Conference. The intent of COS-JAM is to highlight the research achievements of undergraduate students conducting scientific research at the University of Notre Dame.…

A multi-university research group which includes several University of Notre Dame faculty and graduate students, has recently published a paper detailing new work on the analysis and dating of human bruises. The research, which is funded by the Gerber Foundation, will have particular application to pediatric medicine, as bruise age is often key evidence in child abuse cases.…

A massive explosion on the sun has made its way to Earth. In the past, solar flares have knocked out complete power grids and can affect our technology. So what can we expect from this one?

It's a phenomenon that's been happening on the sun for eons -- massive explosions send magnetic fields and atomic particles hurling into space. On occasion, they can hit Earth.…

University of Notre Dame nuclear physicists Philippe Collon and Michael Wiescher are using accelerated ion beams to pinpoint the age and origin of material used in pottery, painting, metalwork and other art. The results of their tests can serve as powerful forensic tools to reveal counterfeit art work, without the destruction of any sample as required in some chemical analysis.…

César Hidalgo, who earned a Ph.D. in Physics at Notre Dame in 2008, has started an online video series of scientists, “Cambridge Nights: Conversations About a Life in Science.” The series is produced at the M.I.T. Media Lab that he joined last year. Hidalgo is the ABC Career Development Professor at The Media Lab and a faculty associate at the Center for International Development at Harvard University.…

The University of Notre Dame's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, which celebrated 25 years in 2011, provides opportunities for undergraduate students to experience hands-on participation in research in many areas of Physics. Students are granted stipends, university housing, and assistance with travel and food expenses. This means that if you are a rising junior or senior, you can come to Notre Dame and work with a professor for ten weeks. You will either help this professor with his or her work, or work on an experiment of your own. The REU program gives you valuable research experience, to help you decide if physics research is right for you.…