News and events - Physics and Astronomy - University of Birmingham

Description: Understanding the history of our galaxy depends on having precise measurements of the properties of its stars. This has only been possible for stars that are within around 300 light-years from Earth. However, the University of Birmingham's Andrea Miglio and colleagues have used advances in asteroseismology — the study of the interior structure of stars through the analysis of their pulsations — to show that this limitation can now be overcome.

Description: Pamela Relph, one of the University's Physics alumni, has taken gold in the mixed coxed fours rowing event at the 2012 paralympics.

Description: Scientists at the University of Birmingham have developed a method to visualise gold on the nanoscale by using a special probe beam to image 20 atoms of gold bound together to make a cluster. The research is published today (26 July 2012) in the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Nanoscale.

Description: Researchers from the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in which University of Birmingham physicists play key roles, have today (4th July 2012) confirmed that they have observed a new particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson. These results mark a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the fundamental laws that govern the Universe.

Description: A report out today (2 July) from the University of Birmingham's Policy Commission on nuclear power gives strong warnings to government about a 'sense of drift' in UK energy policy and suggests recommendations for a 'roadmap' which it says is critical to the future of the nuclear option.

Description: The BBC reports how Prof. Bill Chaplin and colleagues in the School of Physics and Astronomy are using asteroseismology – the study of the oscillations of stars – to study new exoplanetary systems discovered by the NASA Kepler Mission.

Description: Scientists from the University of Birmingham have led an international team of astronomers to discover evidence for the existence of an ordinary black hole in the Centaurus A galaxy, which is over 12 million light years away. According to the research, which is published in the April issue of the Astrophysical Journal, this is the first time that a "garden variety" black hole has been detected outside the immediate neighbourhood of our galaxy.

Description: Two recent editions of the University's Ideas Lab Predictor Podcast have highlighted the work of professors in the School of Physics and Astronomy - Professor Bill Chaplin on asteroseismology and Professor Martin Freer onthe future of nuclear power.

Description: Researchers from the University of Birmingham have led an international team of astronomers to discover evidence for the existence of a 'garden variety' black hole in the 12 million light year-distant galaxy Centaurus A.

Description: The University of Birmingham's Astronomical Society (AstroSoc) hosts their free outreach event, 'Other Worlds' on Saturday 10 March 2012 from 10:00 to 16:00. Open to all members of the public and the university, the event will feature a rich selection of talks and activities for all running throughout the day.

Description: Researchers from the University of Birmingham and Lancaster University, analysing data taken by the ATLAS experiment, have been at the centre of what is believed to be the first clear observation of a new particle at the Large Hadron Collider. The research is published today (22 December 11) on the online repository arXiv.

Description: As the world marks the first anniversary of the meltdown at Japan's tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear reactor, the UK is confronted by a familiar conundrum over its own energy policies. It is in some ways unhealthy to continue to filter all discussion through the prism of the events of March 11 and the days that followed, but it cannot be denied that they propelled the debate over nuclear energy back to the top of the socioeconomic and political agendas. Japan is extremely cautious about the future. The likes of Germany swiftly decided nuclear power represents a dead end, while the likes of France continue to see it as a path to sustainability. And Britain still loiters at the crossroads.

Description: The University of Birmingham is working with partners at Jammu University on particle physics experiments, including those at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research – CERN.

Description: Data from NASA's Kepler space telescope have revolutionized the search for planets outside the Solar System — and are now doing the same for asteroseismology, with researchers from the School of Physics and Astronomy leading the way.