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School of Physics & Astronomy news

Graduation celebrations for ‘exceptional’ physics student

21 July 2022

Josh Colclough, Winner of the School Prize for Outstanding Physics Project, draws praise from leading academics in the UK.

Exoplanet mission given £30m boost

27 June 2022

New funding will help Cardiff University scientists explore how 1,000 known planets outside our solar system were formed and evolved.

Close up photo of semiconductor chip being manipulated with tweezers in clean room

New Investigator Award to develop improved soft image sensors for medical diagnostics

20 June 2022

Dr Bo Hou from the School of Physics and Astronomy has been awarded a prestigious New Investigator Award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to investigate improvements to soft image sensors which have become vital in many areas of our daily lives.

Dr Pete Barry, Dr Angharad Jones and Dr John Harvey

Future research leaders to tackle global issues and commercialise innovations

15 June 2022

Dr Angharad Jones, School of Biosciences, Dr Pete Barry from the School of Physics and Astronomy and Dr John Harvey, soon to join the School of Mathematics, have been awarded prestigious Future Leaders Fellowships from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Image of Gayathri Eknath

Physics and Astronomy student awarded grant from Innovative Scholarships Programme

8 June 2022

Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund support awarded to Physics and Astronomy student, Gayathri Eknath.

School celebrates increase in Research Power in REF 2021

17 May 2022

The School of Physics and Astronomy sees research power almost triple since REF 2014.The School has received a GPA score of 3.45 in REF 2021, with 99% of our overall submission considered world-leading or internationally excellent.

Image of type 2 supernova

Beautiful image of supernova is ESO’s image of the month

6 April 2022

Dr Cosimo Inserra, who is the Principal Investigator of the team on the ePESSTO+ survey, has identified a number of stellar explosions, including this image of a type 2 supernova.

Could life be making its own habitable environment in the clouds of Venus?

20 December 2021

Researchers suggest potential lifeforms could be producing ammonia which would trigger a chain of events that makes the clouds more tolerable to live in.

Gravitational wave scientists set their sights on dark matter

15 December 2021

Incredibly sensitive instruments used in landmark discoveries could help solve one of the biggest remaining mysteries in the Universe

Black holes of ‘all shapes and sizes’ in new gravitational wave catalogue

11 November 2021

Largest ever collection of gravitational wave detections released thanks to pioneering upgrades to detector technology

Astronomers investigating death of nearby galaxies find their culprit

2 November 2021

Scientists provided clearest evidence yet of mechanisms that lead to the shutdown of star formation in galaxies across the Universe

Students doing project in lab

Physics and Astronomy top in Wales in Guardian University Guide

1 October 2021

Physics and Astronomy top in Wales in Guardian Guide

Athena swan silver logo

Athena Swan Silver Award for School of Physics and Astronomy

7 September 2021

The School achieves recognition of its commitment to gender equality with an Athena Swan Silver Award.

Dr Phil Buckle

Obituary to Dr. Phil Buckle

16 July 2021

With a heavy heart, but great fondness, all of us here mourn the death of our friend Phil Buckle

word cloud for girls in stem

Cardiff lecturer strives to tackle gender inequality in physics

15 July 2021

Wendy Sadler delivers presentation as part of '7th IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics'

Gang of black holes spotted at centre of star cluster

5 July 2021

Scientists say surprising new finding could explain the mass evacuation of stars in a tidal stream which, up until now, has remained a mystery.

Black hole and neutron star merger detected for first time

29 June 2021

Cardiff University scientists help to identify brand new source of gravitational waves around a billion light-years from Earth

Cardiff astronomers join Twinkle space mission

10 June 2021

Academics from the School of Physics and Astronomy are taking part in a pioneering space telescope project to understand more about planets beyond our Solar System

Photos of Dr Smith and Dr Raymond

Students speak up to praise excellence in teaching

3 June 2021

Physics staff recognised for excellence in teaching via the Enriching Student Life Awards

Breakthrough in 3D magnetic nanostructures could transform modern-day computing

28 May 2021

Cardiff University scientists create first ever three-dimensional replica of ‘spin-ice’ material