College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

HaloSat re-enters Earth's atmosphere after successful mission

Friday, January 8, 2021
A small, new-generation satellite designed and built at the University of Iowa has re-entered Earth's atmosphere, after a successful mission to search for matter believed to be missing since the birth of the universe. The mini satellite, called HaloSat, was designed and built by a team led by Philip Kaaret, professor and chair in Department of Physics and Astronomy. HaloSat was the first...

Monica Correia connects generations of UI design with Figge Art Museum exhibition

Visitors to the Figge Art Museum’s “Seating by Design” exhibition are greeted by an unconventional chair—beige, wooden, oblong—with a title: “For Your Eyes Only.” The piece serves as an appropriate opener to the exhibition, which features a series of chairs designed by artists associated with the 3D Design Program in the School of Art and Art History. Created by the late University of Iowa...

Physicist comments on fusion energy plan

Scott Baalrud, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, offers insights into plans submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy to develop fusion energy, a virtually limitless, carbon-free energy source that has been elusive to create. Baalrud co-chaired a committee of physicists that outlined a 10-year vision for fusion energy and plasma physics research. The committee’s...

Physicist wins additional funding to continue quantum computing experiments

Friday, December 18, 2020
Yannick Meurice, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been awarded $2.3 million to continue studying the foundational aspects of quantum computing in theoretical high-energy physics. The grant follows a $1.3 million award Meurice obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Essential Workers Gold.jpg

Thank you, UI faculty and staff, for continuing to rise to the challenge

Thursday, December 17, 2020
The fall 2020 semester has been unlike any other, and Hawkeyes across campus have worked tirelessly to keep buildings open and safe; provide quality education to our students; and keep other essential operations running smoothly. Here are just a few of their stories.

In Memory of Marvin Bell (1937-2020)

Marvin Bell—the first Poet Laureate of Iowa, a National Book Award Finalist, and professor of literature—died peacefully at his home in Iowa City, Iowa, on December 14, 2020. He was 83.

UI physicist wins NSF CAREER award

Monday, December 14, 2020
Allison Jaynes, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, has won a CAREER award from the U.S. National Science Foundation. She receives $682,000 over five years to investigate an atmospheric phenomenon on Earth known as pulsating aurora.
2020_05_21-Pentacrest Graduates-tschoon-084.JPG

Dates and times of fall 2020 virtual commencement ceremonies announced

Thursday, December 10, 2020
On Dec. 17–20, almost 1,900 University of Iowa students will receive their degrees in livestreamed, virtual commencement ceremonies.

The Voyagers Found a Small Surprise in Interstellar Space

A team of scientists has detected sudden bursts of cosmic rays around the Voyagers. The bursts, they report, are caused by shock waves emanating from solar eruptions that spew particles out at a million miles an hour. The shock waves take more than a year to reach the Voyagers, but when they do, they excite cosmic-ray electrons nearby. Scientists have observed similar phenomena closer to home...
Illustration of voyager 1

Voyager spacecraft detect new type of solar electron burst

Thursday, December 3, 2020
The Voyager spacecraft continue to make discoveries even as they travel through interstellar space. In a new study, University of Iowa physicists report on the Voyagers’ detection of cosmic ray electrons associated with eruptions from the sun—more than 14 billion miles away.

Rachel Williams' book, 'Run Home If You Don't Want to be Killed,' publishes in March

Monday, November 30, 2020
University of Iowa Associate Professor Rachel Marie-Crane Williams' book, Run Home If You Don't Want to be Killed, will be available in March 2021 through The University of North Carolina Press.

Former biology student is paper author after describing new species

Monday, November 30, 2020
A biology student at the University of Iowa helped author a journal paper after describing a new species. Hannah Ericson, who graduated last May, characterized the new parasitic wasp species, called Coptera tonic. She is a co-author of the paper published earlier this month in the journal Zookeys.