• 2018 Reines Lecture by Kip Thorne

    Exploring the Universe with Gravitational Waves: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

    Kip Thorne, 2017 Nobel Laureate in Physics, will present a public lecture describing the discovery of gravitational waves with LIGO, the 50 year effort that led to it, and the rich explorations that lie ahead.  Join us on March 6, 2018 for this annual event honoring Frederick Reines.

  • Jing Xia’s group discovered 2D materials for future quantum computers

    UCI’s new 2-D materials conduct electricity near the speed of light. 
    Substances could revolutionize electronic and computing devices.

  • Astrobiology’s rising star

    New UC Irvine faculty member Aomawa Shields studies the climate on distant planets. Her aim: find those most likely to host alien life.

  • A Guiding Light

    Franklin Dollar, assistant professor of physics & astronomy, grew up on a reservation in a home with no electricity. Now he studies ultra-high-intensity laser-plasma interactions and works to increase diversity in scientific fields. 

Support Physics & Astronomy

Scientists in the Department of Physics & Astronomy are working to expand our knowledge of the Universe, the laws of physics, and the behavior of matter and energy by examining everything from the smallest particles to the vast expanses of the cosmos. Your support will help continue impactful research and education. For more information on supporting the department's research  programs contact Marijana Lekousis at marijana@uci.edu.