Physical Sciences

NASA’s Webb identifies tiniest free-floating brown dwarf
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Central portion of the star cluster IC 348 with three brown dwarfs shown

Astronomers have identified the new record-holder for the smallest object that forms like a star: a tiny, free-floating brown dwarf.

Spinning up control: Propeller shape helps direct nanoparticles, researchers say
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Aaronson and McGovern in lab
Two Eberly researchers receive 2023 Teaching Transformation and Innovation Grants from Schreyer Institute
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Text logo for Schreyer INstitute
Elacqua selected as 2023 Roy Award winner by Materials Research Institute
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elacqua

Six faculty were selected to receive the award this year.

Discovery of planet too big for its sun throws off solar system formation models
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illustration of huge planet next to small sun in background
Earth-like planets could form even in the harshest environments, study reports
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illustration of nebula with bright star in corner and ring of dust

New study using the James Webb Space Telescope studied planet-forming disks that experience harsh ultraviolet radiation from nearby stars. 

Jain selected as Holder of the Eberly Family Chair in Physics
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Jainendra Jain

Jainendra Jain selected as Holder of the Eberly Family Chair in Physics

Three Penn State faculty members elected as Fellows of the APS
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Anna Stasto, Chaoxing Liu, Adri van Duin

Anna Stasto, Chaoxing Liu, and Adri van Duin have been elected as Fellows of the American Physical Society.

Zarzar named a recipient of the Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship
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Lauren Zarzar
Alexander Wolszczan named Atherton Professor
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alex wolszczan standing in front of radio telescope

Evan Pugh Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics will retire Dec. 31

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