physics

Feb 9, 2026

The Physics of Figure Skating Jumps

Kasey Wagoner is an assistant professor of physics at NC State who is interested in the oldest light in the universe – the cosmic microwave background – as well as the physics of sports, including Olympic sports. He wrote this piece examining the physics of figure skating jumps. You can also read his explanation of the… 

Feb 9, 2026

Some Physics of the NFL’s Dynamic Kickoff

Kasey Wagoner is an assistant professor of physics at NC State who is interested in the oldest light in the universe – the cosmic microwave background – as well as the physics of sports. He wrote this piece examining the physics of football’s dynamic kickoff. You can also read his explanation of the physics behind figure… 

Jan 21, 2026

Chiral Phonons Create Orbital Current via Their Own Magnetism

Chiral phonons can create orbital current without magnetic elements, and the effect can be achieved in common crystal materials. 

Sep 8, 2025

‘Re-Entrant’ Mixing Behavior in Organic Solar Cells Necessitates New Modeling Approach

Researchers find that some solar cells have a more complex phase behavior than previously assumed. 

Jul 7, 2025

‘Ice in a Volcano’ Reveals Age of Gas Cloud at Milky Way’s Center

Researchers find clouds of cold gas embedded deep within larger, superheated gas clouds – or Fermi bubbles – at the Milky Way’s center. 

May 28, 2025

Solitonic Superfluorescence Paves Way for High-Temperature Quantum Materials

A new study describes both the mechanism and the material conditions necessary for superfluorescence at room temperature. 

Oct 30, 2024

Linking Energy Loss to Interfaces in Organic Solar Cells Could Make Them Much More Efficient

A new study provides a deeper understanding of what is happening in organic solar cells when light is converted into electricity. 

Oct 16, 2024

‘Old’ Star Could Provide New Insights into Star Evolution

A newly discovered star could challenge some models of how stars evolve and the way they produce elements as they age. 

Oct 11, 2024

Engineering Perovskite Materials at the Atomic Level Paves Way for New Lasers, LEDs

New technique dictates precisely how layered hybrid perovskite materials convert electrical charge into light. 

Jul 11, 2024

AI Powers Interdisciplinary Innovation

At NC State University, interdisciplinary teams are leveraging AI to revolutionize research in agriculture, chemical engineering, education and more. 

May 3, 2024

When Injecting Pure Spin into Chiral Materials, Direction Matters

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Pittsburgh studied how the spin information of an electron, called a pure spin current, moves through chiral materials. They found that the direction in which the spins are injected into chiral materials affects their ability to pass through them. These chiral “gateways” could be used… 

Apr 15, 2024

Why Figuring Out How Potassium Is Destroyed in Stars Is Important to Understanding the Universe

If you want to know where elements come from, look to the stars. 

Mar 27, 2024

The Physics of a Curveball

A well-placed curveball can be an amazing pitch. But how does it work? 

Mar 15, 2024

Printed Polymer Allows Researchers to Explore Chirality and Spin Interactions at Room Temperature

A new polymer allows researchers to measure how much charge comes from spin within spintronic materials. 

Nov 27, 2023

Understanding Charged Particles Helps Physicists Simulate Element Creation in Stars

Figuring out how nucleons interact at low energy can lead to understanding how elements form within stars.