Physics News Stories

Physics Undergraduate Natalie Lam awarded LLNL/SPS Scholarship

Natalie Lam, a UCSD undergraduate majoring in Physics with a specialization in Astrophysics, has been named as a recipient of the 2022 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory / Society of Physics Students (LLNL/SPS) Scholarship. Natalie has been active in the leadership of the UC San Diego chapter of SPS and is the current chapter president. UC San Diego SPS is a member of National SPS (https://www.spsnational.org).
Physics Undergraduate Natalie Lam awarded LLNL/SPS Scholarship

Shelley Wright Named 2022 SETI Institute Drake Award Recipient

    UC San Diego Associate Professor of Physics Shelley Wright will receive the 2022 Drake Award from the SETI Institute. Wright will be recognized for her decades-long work in the field of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Wright is the principal investigator of UC San Diego’s Optical and Infrared Laboratory (OIRlab) in the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences. The OIRlab uses optical and infrared astronomical ins...
Shelley Wright Named 2022 SETI Institute Drake Award Recipient

Society of Physics Students - Zone 18 Meeting - April 22-23, 2022 @ USD

Date: Friday & Saturday, April 22-23, 2022 Location: University of San Diego - Shiley Center for Science and Technology Registration is $10, and covers meals on Friday and Saturday, you can pay when you register or at the meeting.
Society of Physics Students - Zone 18 Meeting - April 22-23, 2022 @ USD

Bridging a Gap in the Theory of Synaptic Transmission

If you touch a hot pan, your hand may instantly recoil. This action happens automatically thanks to synapses, which not only help your body sense that the pan is hot, but also send a signal to your hand to pull away. Synapses are the structures through which neurons speak to each other and help govern many physiological functions—including the ability to process and store memories. Synapses from different biological systems vary greatly in size, speed of signal transmission, and molecular constituents. Despite these variation...
Bridging a Gap in the Theory of Synaptic Transmission

UCSD Physics Professors Fogler and Keres among the world’s most influential researchers

  UCSD Physics professors Mischa Fogler and Dusan Keres are among the world’s most influential researchers in their fields according to the 2021 Clarivate listing of Most Highly Cited Researchers in the World. Clarivate’s 2021 list identifies some 6600 researchers from across the globe who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. UC San Diego ranked 9th globally for most highly cited resear...
UCSD Physics Professors Fogler and Keres among the world’s most influential researchers

Physics Graduate Student Yu-Hsuan “Eltha” Teng Awarded Prestigious Scholarship From The Government of Taiwan

Earlier this year physics grad student Yu-Hsuan “Eltha” Teng was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the government of Taiwan.  It is called the "Government Scholarship to Study Abroad" (GSSA) and is an honor given to only a small number of Taiwanese students pursuing PhD degrees outside of Taiwan. The scholarship comes from the Ministry of Education of Taiwan. Eltha's current research with Prof. Karin Sandstrom is focused on the molecular gas and star formation in nearby galaxy centers. Stars...
Physics Graduate Student Yu-Hsuan “Eltha” Teng Awarded Prestigious Scholarship From The Government of Taiwan

UCSD Physics Undergraduate Megan Grace Li 2021 Universities Space Research Association Distinguished Undergraduate

Megan Grace Li is a 2021 Universities Space Research Association Distinguished Undergraduate. She will graduate UCSD this Winter with a B.S. in Physics with a Specialization in Astrophysics. At UCSD, she researches the morphology of nearby galaxies under Dr. Karin Sandstrom. Megan also does exoplanet research with Breakthrough Listen at the Berkeley SETI Research Center. In May of 2020, Megan founded Big Sister STEM (
UCSD Physics Undergraduate Megan Grace Li 2021 Universities Space Research Association Distinguished Undergraduate

‘Feel Good’ Brain Messenger Can Be Willfully Controlled, New Study Reveals

Neuroscientists show that mice can learn to manipulate random dopamine impulses for reward From the thrill of hearing an ice cream truck approaching to the spikes of pleasure while sipping a fine wine, the neurological messenger known as dopamine has been popularly described as the brain’s “feel good” chemical related to reward and pleasure. A ubiquitous neurotransmitter that ca...
‘Feel Good’ Brain Messenger Can Be Willfully Controlled, New Study Reveals

Breakthrough with Quantum Materials Pushes Biologically Inspired Learning Devices

UC San Diego physicists create new nano-scale ‘neuristor’ that mimics brain functions To Oleg Shpyrko, the brain is the ultimate device. For certain tasks, the human brain can outperform powerful computers, yet requires the energy output of a light bulb. As one example, the cybersecurity tests required before entering certain websites—picking out pictures of buses and street signs—demonstrate the agility of the human mind over the processing mechanics of a robot. Several groups of physicis...
Breakthrough with Quantum Materials Pushes Biologically Inspired Learning Devices

New Blueprint of Brain Connections Reveals Extensive Reach of Central Regulator

Map of basal ganglia connectivity uncovers key links with implications for range of disorders Thousands of our daily activities, from making coffee to taking a walk to saying hello to a neighbor, are made possible through an ancient collection of brain structures tucked away near the center of the cranium. The cluster of neurons known as the basal ganglia is a central hub for regulating a vast array of routine motor and behavior functions. But when signaling in the basal ganglia is weakened or broken, debilitatin...
New Blueprint of Brain Connections Reveals Extensive Reach of Central Regulator