News

Roderic Vanderscoff (LS ’14) always had his eyes on the stars. His love for space exploration was forged in his youth, informed by penchants for stargazing and science fiction, and conversations with his grandfather, an aerospace engineer who worked on the Apollo program. 

Inside a 3,000-square-foot space adjacent to the UC Davis Physics Building, Nancy Aggarwal searches for invisible ripples and substances in the fabric of space-time. It’s a space uniquely suited for detecting gravitational waves and dark matter, built on its own foundation and outfitted with thick concrete walls. 

What: The topic is research at UC Davis related to the dark universe: neutrinos, dark matter, dark energy, gravitational waves, and new dark ingredients. This year’s program is here.

Who: Any UC Davis researcher is welcome to attend and participate.

It's that time of year again to showcase your culinary and scientific skills at The Great Physics Bake Off! 🍰✨

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or an eager amateur, this is your chance to add a little science to your treats. Here's what you need to know to participate.

🍽️ Guidelines for Your Submission:

TIME has named University of California, Davis Distinguished Research Professor Tony Tyson, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, to the 2026 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. 

In the write-up about Tyson, who is chief scientist of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, TIME published: 

PICNIC DAY 2026 - Saturday April 18th

Join the Physics and Astronomy Department for two fun shows, all day April18th!