News: Department of Physics and Astronomy

Physicist standing over table with green laser beams
Research |

Physicist Ashkan Salamat one of just 46 university professors nationwide – and the first from UNLV – selected for competitive award, which is now in its 10th year.

artist conception of cosmic event
Research |

Two dense, city-sized stars collided in a galaxy far, far away; the resulting X-rays give UNLV’s Bing Zhang and international team of astronomers a new way to spot when it happens and a rare glimpse into how neutron stars form.

Palm trees and U.N.L.V. banner
People |

From UNLV Magazine spring 2019 issue.

An image of the Earth depicted as a flat surface.
Research |

As the Flat Earth Theory gains resurgence with a new Netflix documentary, a UNLV astronomer explains how it fizzles.

A portrait of George Rhee, a professor of physics and astronomy at UNLV.
Research |

UNLV physicist developed a calculator to compute the significance of using renewables in a warming world.

petri dish and beakers containing liquids
Research |

In 2018, faculty and students collaborated with one another and international colleagues on scientific exploration that sought to help people make sense of themselves and the world around them.

The Milky Way Galaxy seen over the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array west of Socorro, New Mexico.
Research |

Astrophysicists discover a large population of potential young planets in distant solar systems.

image of moon orbits
Research |

UNLV astrophysicists ponder "reservoirs of life" on the moons of planets expelled by their hosts and drifting through the galaxy.

two stars in space
Research |

To go further and faster than anything before, the Breakthrough Starshot mission will rely on unproven technology.

Two students practice swordfighting
Campus News |

From magic and witchcraft to building robots using Legos, these wild courses can put swordfighters in training and future presidents ready to deal with environmental catastrophe.

planet illustration
Campus News |

Passing the baton in the search for distant planets.

Portrait Zhaohuan Zhu
People |

UNLV scientist searches for new information and for ways to explain a complex subject to the everyday folk.