News: Physics

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Research

Experiment Sets Tightest Limits Yet on Proposed Dark Matter Particles

UT physicists involved with LUX-ZEPLIN helped analyze the largest dataset ever collected by a dark matter detector.

A large white cylinder in the center of a laboratory. A person wearing a full-body white clean room outfit descends nearby stairs.

Accolades

5 Questions for Vernita Gordon

The winner of a Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award highlights classroom approaches linked to lasting impact.

Two students in rows chat with an instructor after class, who leans in with a smile.

Research

“Rival” Neutrino Experiments NOvA and T2K Publish First Joint Analysis

The results add to physicists’ understanding of neutrinos and validate collaboration between major experiments.

A large, multistory space like a warehouse houses giant scientific machinery with surrounding balconies for scientists and engineers to observe

Research

More Dark Star Candidates Found in JWST Data

A growing list of dark star candidates could help explain why some early galaxies were so big, so early in the universe.

The background shows the blackness of space, dotted with colorful stars and galaxies. In a pullout box at the top left, an arrow points to a fuzzy red blob shaped like a jelly bean. A label reads JADES-GS-z14-0.

Texas Quantum Institute

Quantum Leap for STEM Graduate Training at UT

A new initiative will prepare graduate students in the rapidly evolving field of quantum science and technology.

Illustration shows how atom-thin materials enable control of individual photons of light

Research

Stephen Hawking Was Right: Black Holes Always Grow in Area

Researchers celebrate 10th anniversary of gravitational wave discovery, announce verification of a Hawking theorem.

In this screenshot from a computer simulation, two objects leaving behind a white trail sprial inward and collide against the black background of space

Accolades

Three College of Natural Sciences Faculty Win NSF CAREER Awards

The award, recognizing early-career faculty, will support research in computer science and physics.

Headshots of Dr. Gilpin, Dr. Kim and Dr. Baldini

Accolades

2025 Breakthrough Prize Recognizes Collaboration Involving UT Physicists

The researchers have been working at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland on the ATLAS project.

A proton proton collision in the ATLAS detector

Research

UT Scientists Spied a Skyrmion. What is That?

This, and six other questions about a recent first in physics, answered.

A 3D vector field plot illustrating the direction and magnitude of vectors in a plane. Arrows are color-coded: blue arrows point towards a spot below the left side, red arrows point towards a point above the right side, and green arrows indicate intermediate directions and magnitudes.

Research

Physicists Reveal Muscles’ Molecular Secret to Balancing Strength and Stamina

The findings could have implications for robotics, prosthetics and energy efficient machines.

John McGrath at a lab bench with machinery