Astronomy & Astrophysics
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New technique improves estimates of pulsar ages
Astronomers have developed a new technique to determine the ages of millisecond pulsars, the fastest-spinning stars in the universe.
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Astronomer Sandra Faber honored by Franklin Institute
Astronomer Sandra Faber received the 2009 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science in a ceremony yesterday in Philadelphia.
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Transfer students to benefit from physics and astronomy scholarships
UCSC has received a five-year, $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support talented but financially needy students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in physics or astrophysics.
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Sloan Research Fellowships awarded to two UCSC profs
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded Sloan Research Fellowships to Samit Dasgupta, assistant professor of mathematics, and Mark Krumholz, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
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Astronomer Sandra Faber to receive Franklin Institute’s prestigious Bower Award
Astronomer Sandra Faber has been chosen to receive the 2009 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science from the historic Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
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Astronomers get a sizzling weather report from a distant planet
Astronomers have observed the intense heating of a distant planet as it swung close to its parent star, providing important clues to the atmospheric properties of the planet.
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New study resolves mystery of how massive stars form
A study led by astrophysicist Mark Krumholz shows how massive stars can form without blowing away the clouds of gas and dust that feed their growth.
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Astronomers use gamma-ray burst to probe star formation in the early universe
The brilliant afterglow of a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) has enabled astronomers to probe the star-forming environment of a distant galaxy, resulting in the first detection of molecular gas in a GRB host galaxy.
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Astronomy professor Douglas Lin receives Outstanding Faculty Award
The Division of Physical and Biological Sciences has given its 2007-08 Outstanding Faculty Award to Douglas Lin, professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
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UCSC earns top ranking for scientific impact of astronomy research
UCSC is the top-ranking university in the country for the quality of its research in astronomy and astrophysics, according to a new analysis of papers published in scientific journals and how often those papers are cited by other scientists.
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Princeton awards Madison Medal to astronomer Claire Max
Princeton University will present the James Madison Medal, one of its top honors for alumni, to Claire Max, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz who has developed techniques to enable astronomers to more clearly observe the universe.
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Serendipitous observations reveal rare event in life of distant quasar
Thanks to the sharp eyes of a UCSC undergraduate, astronomers have obtained a surprise view of a never-before-observed event in the birth of a galaxy.