On March 13, the Department of Physics and Astronomy presented Demos Unleashed! 2026, which showed real-life physics in action through engaging demonstrations.

A big NASA satellite will crash back to Earth on Tuesday (March 10) after nearly 14 years in orbit, experts say. The spacecraft in question is the 1,323-pound (600-kilogram) Van Allen Probe A, which launched in August 2012 along with its twin, Van Allen Probe B, to study the radiation belts around Earth for which they're named.

Associate Professor Casey DeRoo has been selected as a recipient of the Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award for 2026. The award, which is in its fifth year, provides funding and development opportunities for a cohort of tenured mid-career faculty who have established national or international reputations in their disciplines and demonstrate exceptional teaching and mentorship.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy hosted the third annual Acevedo Poster Contest on Feb. 27, giving participating students a chance to show how they used computing resources, tools, or techniques in their research.