By Aurora Bagley and Jiahuai Kang A version of this article was originally published on November 17, 2025 in Smith College’s newspaper, The Sophian. On November 4, retired Admiral Rachel Levine came to Smith College to speak as part of the a colloquia series. Prior to her discussion of the future of public health in…
Professor Nick Holschuh, an assistant geology professor at Amherst College, explains his research and field work on glaciers in Antarctica, as well as his life under the harsh conditions there. Faye: What exactly were you researching in Antarctica? Holschuh: My research is really focused on how glaciers behave as physical systems. There are key processes…
By Vinca Lu Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does the universe contain more matter than antimatter? Does the key to answering these questions lie in ultra-cold molecules? On October 7, the Amherst Physics and Astronomy Department hosted Professor Ben Augenbraun from the Williams College Chemistry department to deliver a colloquium talk titled…
This past summer, Piper Lentz analyzed data of dwarf stars to advance investigations into the possibilities of life beyond our universe. A senior Astronomy and Physics double major at Amherst College, she has spent the past three years working under Professor Bardalez Gagliuffi in the Binary Worlds Lab. When Piper joined the summer after her…
On Thursday October 23, the Peer Educators hosted an event on the history, science, and use of various forms of birth control. The panel featured professors from the Neuroscience and SWAGS departments and clinicians from the Health Center: Professor Jen Manion, a social and cultural historian whose work examines the role of gender and sexuality…
By Brooke Ingemi Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a part of everyday life, transforming how we learn, think, and communicate, while also raising deep questions about what the future will look like. Previously confined to computer science labs, AI now touches nearly every field, from art and law to environmental science and economics. As a…
Cover image credit: ESO/L. Calçada Two thousand years ago, Aristotle posited that the Sun and the planets of our Solar System are immaculate, divine bodies — a belief that stood its ground even into the 17th century. But Galileo, alongside other astronomers of his time, pointed his telescope at the heavens and uncovered a messier…
By Fernanda Morais This semester, the Physics and Astronomy Department welcomed Visiting Assistant Professor Sean Foster, who is currently teaching Electromagnetic Theory I and Introductory Mechanics. He received his Ph.D. from Boston University in 2023, working on the Muon g-2 experiment, and did a postdoctorate at the University of Kentucky, working on both Muon g-2…
It’s the first Friday afternoon of the fall semester at Amherst College, and the Science Center lobby is buzzing with activity. Students and faculty alike are meandering on multiple floors of the Science Center between over 140 colorful posters, driven by a thirst for learning that links the curious minds on campus. The presenters are…
By Liam Warren and Garrett Cleveland Cover image credit: Aaron Bull/Getty Images On September 23, the Physics and Astronomy Department hosted Dr. Asja Rajda for her talk titled, “Transport properties of 2D corals and other ways physics can help us understand biology.” Radja holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and biochemistry from the University of Texas,…