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School of Physics & Astronomy

@physicsastronomyedinburgh

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What really happens inside a physics research lab?

Part 2 - Moving to the Dark Side

PhD student @lucykotsiopoulou conducts work to help scientists explore two big questions:
What is dark matter, the invisible substance making up ~27% of the universe?
What are neutrinos, the tiny particles that are, among other things, crucial for the evolution of the universe?

The detector at the School of Physics and Astronomy will support work at the DarkSide-20k experiment in Italy - bringing scientists closer to answering these big questions.

Visit the bio for the link to the full video...

#LifeInTheLab
#Research
#PhDLife
#DarkMatter
#Neutrinos

Up next: Part 3 - From Marine Environment to Microscope by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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4 days ago

Did you know…?

Our blog features in-depth student experience stories and interviews…

…and you are welcome to contribute your stories too!

With alumni interviews, staff stories, and favourite physics topics, visit the link the bio to read 🔗and get in touch with Caroline Keir if you want to share your story ✉️

We welcome contributions from any of our students (UG, MSc, and PhD), alumni and staff too! by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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6 days ago

Boo! Join @astronomerroyal (Prof Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland) for a family-friendly look at the spookiest spots in our Universe.🌌

Meet invisible monsters that devour light, the cannibalising vampire corpses of long-dead stars, and discover the cosmic creeps that lurk in the dark... if you dare! 😱

Halloween costumes are welcome!👻 There will be a prize for best costume and best joke!

📅Friday 30 October

Tickets and further information in the bio link.

#SpookySTEM
#Astronomy
#Halloween taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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10 days ago

Many congratulations to MPhys Astrophysics alumnus Luke Scott, who, along with @edinburghchemistry student Stephen Spice, won the @convergechallenge Space Challenge award. 👏

Luke and Stephen co-founded Pleiades Dynamics, a company that specialises in designing and manufacturing affordable liquid rocket engines, with an emphasis on simplicity and versatility. Their win includes a £5,000 prize.🌟

📷
Pleiades Dynamics co-founders and Space Challenge winners, Stephen Spice (left) and Luke Scott (right). by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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11 days ago

What really happens inside a physics research lab?

Part 1 - studying DNA – one molecule at a time

Optical tweezers are scientific instruments used to trap and manipulate microscopic objects such as cells, bacteria, and DNA. 🧬

Researchers at the School of Physics and Astronomy use optical tweezers to help improve our understanding of how proteins interact with DNA – one molecule at a time.

The optical tweezers are based at @edinburghbiology as part of a collaboration between researchers across the University.

Visit the bio for the link to the full video ▶️

#LifeInTheLab
#DNA
#Research
#Edinburgh

Up next: part 2 - moving to the dark side by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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11 days ago

It’s World Space Week! 🚀

From searching for life on distant worlds to designing rockets, our students, researchers and alumni are helping us understand more about the Universe around us.

🎥 The ‘Cosmic Movie’
Containing the world’s largest digital camera, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s 10-year survey is capturing images of stars, galaxies, and objects in our solar system. Edinburgh is playing a key role in processing and analysing the enormous amounts of data it produces.

🚀 Building and launching rockets
Students from the @endeavourockets aerospace programme design and launch rockets. Last year, School members supported local young people to successfully launch and recover their rockets – with their egg payloads still intact!🥚

🌍 Could we detect water beyond our Solar System?
Researchers are exploring how future space missions could identify potentially habitable worlds by looking for water vapour in their atmospheres.

🔭 Exploring the dark Universe
The @euclid_uk space telescope is investigating some of the biggest mysteries in astronomy, including dark matter and dark energy. Edinburgh hosts the UK’s Euclid Science Data Centre, helping turn the satellite’s huge volumes of data into discoveries.

☄️ Could we deflect an asteroid?
Edinburgh astronomers and recent alumni are involved in work that contributes to efforts to defend the Earth from asteroid impacts.

✨From stargazing to science quizzes
@ediuniphyssoc hosts a variety of talks, quizzes, and observatory nights, and is open to all students who are interested in sharing their interest in physics and astronomy.

This is just some of the fascinating work taking place at the School of Physics and Astronomy, and there’s still plenty more to discover!💫

#WorldSpaceWeek #Astronomy #SpaceResearch #UniversityOfEdinburgh #EdinburghPhysics

Photo credits:
- NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA
- Endeavour Rocketry: outreach members Jacob Hunter and Ben Tullett with some of the school teams
- ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CFHT, ESA/Gaia/DPAC,image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre and E. Bertin (CEA Paris-Saclay) by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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13 days ago

Are you interested in Postgraduate study in Physics and Astronomy at The University of Edinburgh? 🎓

Find out more about core and optional courses, career prospects, and student experience in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh.

🔗Click the link in the bio to book onto one of our sessions now. by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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13 days ago

🎥
What goes on behind the lab doors? 👀

From DNA and dark matter to marine science and microscopy, our new weekly video series will take you inside our labs to explore the equipment, experiments and research questions, and meet some of the researchers behind them.

🔬 Curious?
🧬 Intrigued?
👀 Want to know more?

The #LifeInTheLab series starts next Wednesday.
#PhysicsResearch
#Edinburgh taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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18 days ago

Research into physics teaching and learning 📚

Today marks the official opening of the Edinburgh Physics Education Research Group (EdPER) laboratory space! 🌟

The aim of the EdPER group is to develop and evaluate research-based instructional strategies and better understand the student learning experience.

The laboratory space will provide researchers with a dedicated space to perform eye-tracking studies and conduct focus groups, supporting a range of our activities in physics teaching and learning.

The EdPER group was the first research centre of its kind dedicated to physics teaching and learning in the UK, having been established in 2010.

📷
1. Official ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the EdPER laboratory space. L to R: Prof Ross Galloway, Prof Paula Heron and Dr Drew Rosen.
2. A student tests out the equipment in the EdPER laboratory space.
3. Presentation on the history and current activities of the EdPER group.

#PhysicsEducation
#PhysicsTeaching
#PhysicsEducationResearch taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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23 days ago

Calling all year 1 students!

Here’s a quick guide to the locations for the lectures, tutorials and workshops that form part of your compulsory courses.

📍 Nucleus Building
- all Physics 1A lectures
- one Maths for Physics 1 lecture

📍 Ashworth Laboratories
- one Maths for Physics 1 lecture
- Transition for Uni Maths for Physicists lecture

📍 KB House
- all Maths for Physics 1 tutorials

📍 Murchison House and JCMB
- Physics 1A tutorials
- Transition for Uni Maths for Physicists tutorials and workshop

🧭
All locations correct at time of post upload! taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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a month ago

A huge welcome to all the new students who have joined us this September! 👋

😄 Hello PhD Students

We have around 50 PhD students joining us.

During their induction, they learned about:

library and academic resources, tutoring and demonstrating opportunities, SUPA initiatives (physics research and education across 8 Scottish universities), and lab safety.

And joined our existing PhD community for a BBQ. 🍔

☺️Hello MSc students!

We are thrilled to have around 70 new MSc students joining us this year.

Whether you are:
exploring habitable worlds with the MSc in Astrobiology and Planetary Science
tackling equations with the MSc in Mathematical Physics
delving into the core with the MSc in Particle and Nuclear Physics, or
seeking answers with the MSc in Theoretical Physics,
exciting discoveries await!

Students enjoyed a breathtaking walk up Blackford Hill and social to help kick things off. 🌄

😀 Hello new undergraduate students!

As well as new year 1 and direct entry year 2 students, we have some students visiting for a year from an overseas university.

During the week, students attended School talks, a trivia quiz, breakfast social and scavenger hunt – where students were tasked to find Peter Higg’s equation, a particle physics PhD student, a place to get advice, and the Careers Service. 🔎

We are glad to have you join us, and hope you are feeling inspired for the year ahead.✨

#welcome taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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a month ago

Postgraduate Students, this one is for you!

Like chatting to people and looking for a part time job that is flexible around your studies?

Apply to be a Student Ambassador and share your authentic experience with prospective students, campus tours, on-campus and online events, peer-to-peer text chat, student panels and much more

Find out more, including how to apply: edin.ac/studentambassador

❗️Applications must be received by 23:59, Monday 21st September 2026

#studentambassador #unilife by @physicsastronomyedinburgh

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a month ago