2022
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- August 15, 2022
Lenses and Mirrors-Shadow the Scientists receives Heising-Simons Foundation grant
Kickstarted by UC Santa Cruz Astronomy and Astrophysics Professor Raja GuhaThakurta, Lenses and Mirrors–Shadow the Scientists brings cutting-edge scientific research to anybody’s computer screen.
- August 12, 2022
Astrophysicist Bruce Macintosh appointed director of UC Observatories
UC President Michael Drake has appointed Bruce Macintosh director of UC Observatories, an astronomical research unit headquartered at UC Santa Cruz and serving nine UC campuses.
- July 26, 2022
Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership
The Center for the Advancement of STEM leadership has been established, effective July 1, 2022. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, will be the faculty director of the center.
- July 22, 2022
Measuring the universe with star-shattering explosions
An international team of scientists has analyzed archive data for powerful cosmic explosions from the deaths of stars and found a new way to measure distances in the distant universe.
- June 13, 2022
Simulations reveal hydrodynamics of planetary engulfment by expanding star
A new study using hydrodynamical simulations reveals the forces acting on a planet when it is swallowed by an expanding star, as will eventually happen to the inner planets of our solar system when the sun becomes a red giant.
- May 31, 2022
Amanda Quirk
Amanda Quirk's research on galaxy mergers showed evidence that the Andromeda galaxy had some kind of major galactic collision in the past 4 billion years, and survived—which has implications for our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
- May 12, 2022
UCSC student wins second place at UC systemwide Grad Slam
Astronomy and astrophysics Ph.D. candidate Amanda Quirk came in second place in an elite group of ten competitors at the UC systemwide Grad Slam finale on May 6. She pulled off this feat after winning the UCSC Grad Slam in March.
- May 03, 2022
Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz chosen for prestigious Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair
Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, has been selected to hold the Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, for 2022.
- April 28, 2022
Summer programs draw visitors to Lick Observatory for music and stargazing
Tickets are on sale now for the observatory's popular summer evening programs.
- April 11, 2022
Risa Wechsler named 2022 Physical and Biological Sciences Distinguished Graduate Student Alumna
UC Santa Cruz alumna Risa Wechsler (Ph.D. Physics ’01) has played an instrumental role in groundbreaking research in the cosmology field, with pioneering galaxy structure and cosmic structure surveys, and more than 300 widely cited publications. Wechsler has also been committed to ensuring the growth of diversity and inclusion within the physics and astronomy community.
- April 05, 2022
UC Santa Cruz hosts ‘Universe in Verse’ April 16 in the Quarry Amphitheater
The fifth annual Universe in Verse—a charitable celebration of science and nature through poetry and music, created and hosted by writer Maria Popova (Marginalian)—will be held in person at UC Santa Cruz in the Quarry Amphitheater on Saturday, April 16.
- March 31, 2022
Postdoctoral fellowships support planetary science research
Brittany Miles and Paul Dalba have won 51 Pegasi b Fellowships to support their research on exoplanets and brown dwarfs.
- March 28, 2022
Methane could be the first detectable indication of life beyond Earth
A new study assesses the planetary context in which the detection of methane in an exoplanet’s atmosphere could be considered a compelling sign of life.
- March 14, 2022
Cannibal galaxies and devastating collisions
Amanda Quirk won the annual Grad Slam competition last week after compressing billions of years of galactic history into a humorous and insightful three-minute presentation. She won $3,000 and a chance to compete in the UC Grad Slam finals in May.
- February 09, 2022
White House honors astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz with mentoring award
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring represent the highest honors bestowed upon mentors who work to expand STEM talent.
- January 11, 2022
MaNGA team releases largest-ever collection of 3D maps of nearby galaxies
The release of the complete dataset of 10,000 galaxies observed by the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) project makes MaNGA the largest galaxy survey of its kind.
- January 10, 2022
Simulated image shows how NASA’s Roman could expand on Hubble’s deepest view
The Roman Space Telescope will have the power to perform an observation similar to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, but on a much larger scale.
- January 06, 2022
Astronomers witness the explosive end of a dying star
The Young Supernova Experiment transient survey observed a red supergiant during its final 130 days leading up to a supernova explosion.
