Donald Gurnett, a pioneering space scientist whose career as a student, teacher, and researcher at the University of Iowa spanned more than 60 years, died on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. He was 81.

About 400,000 years after the universe was created began a period called “The Epoch of Reionization.” During this time, the once hotter universe began to cool and matter clumped together, forming the first stars and galaxies. As these stars and galaxies emerged, their energy heated the surrounding environment, reionizing some of the remaining hydrogen in the universe.

Philip Kaaret, professor and chair, and Caroline Roberts, Astronomy Laboratory coordinator and Van Allen Observatories manager, both from the University of Iowa, talk to George Shillcock about recent meteors captured on video.

On this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer talks to University of Iowa astrophysicist Keri Hoadley about the James Webb Space Telescope that launched on Christmas Day. It will serve as NASA's premier space observatory for the next decade.

Assistant Professor Keri Hoadley anticipated the James Webb Telescope telescope launch on Dec. 25. “It's going to be able to see further and further back in time than Hubble can, to when the first galaxies and maybe even the first stars formed," she said.

Physics and Astronomy student Salvatore Quaid been selected to receive a $1,000 award from the John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Research Fund for the fall 2021 semester.

Congratulations to Dr. Andrew McCubbin for successfully defending his PhD thesis this week! Committee: Professors Greg Howes, Jasper Halekas, Craig Kletzing, Frederick Skiff, and Sarah Vigmostad Thesis Title: A STUDY OF COLLISIONLESS PARTICLE ENERGIZATION IN CURRENT SHEETS: ROLES OF TURBULENCE AND MAGNETIC RECONNECTION

Several students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy were candidates for degrees at Fall Commencement ceremonies Dec. 17-18. 

Prof. Phil Kaaret is quoted in a Science magazine article about NASA's IXPE mission, which could reveal the magnetic engines of stellar remnants and the mechanics of black hole jets by measuring polarized light.

George Hospodarsky presented 6 sessions at the STEAM Institute for 7th graders on Nov 24, 2021 at the Kirkwood Regional Center at The University of Iowa, 2301 Oakdale Boulevard, Coralville, IA.