The Department of Physics & Astronomy at George Mason University

🔬✨ Unlock the mysteries of the universe—no physics background needed!

Explore lasers, smartphones, and spooky quantum wonders 

in PHYS 106: The Quantum World—online this fall! 💡🌌

Tonight, Mayor Catherine Read declared April 21-28, 2025, as International Week in , encouraging support for protecting our precious dark skies resources. Accepting the proclamation were Thomas Reinert Jr., president, DarkSky International; Peter Plavchan, George Mason University professor of Physics and Astronomy and GMU Observatory director; and Eileen Kragie, founder of Dark Sky Friends , DarkSky NOVA Chapter leader, and DarkSky International advocate.

The aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind: the experience of standing under a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe, encouraging a growing interest in science and nature, particularly among young people and visitors from outside the local communities.

Light pollution has economic and environmental consequences, resulting in significant impacts on the ecology and human health of all communities, including $3B annually of wasted energy in the US alone.

Nearly 80% of the world’s population lives under a dome of light pollution and may never experience the visual wonder or ecological and health benefits of living under a dark sky.

Find out more about dark-sky initiatives from DarkSky International (darksky.org), the globally recognized authority on light pollution that raises awareness of the effects of light pollution and provides free education, resources, and solutions to the public to encourage the protection of and enjoyment of dark skies and responsible outdoor lighting.

Need a moment to recharge? Take a sweet break! 🍩 Join us for Donut Destress with Women Leaders in STEM on Friday, May 2, from noon to 2 p.m. in Exploratory Hall (2nd floor). Come grab a donut, connect with students, faculty & staff, and unwind before the semester wraps up. Open to all Mason community members! 💚🧠

This , College of Science at George Mason University congratulates Professor Rainald Löhner, Director of the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University, for receiving an honorary doctorate from Technische Universität Braunschweig! 🇩🇪
An international leader in computational fluid dynamics, Löhner has redefined what’s possible in simulating complex physical phenomena—from underwater explosions to pandemic-era airflow modeling.
Born in Braunschweig, educated in Buenos Aires, Wales, and Germany, and now a faculty member in The Department of Physics & Astronomy at George Mason University, his career is a testament to global impact through science. 🌐
Learn more about Löhner and this prestigious award: https://science.gmu.edu/news/physics-professor-earns-honorary-doctorate-tu-braunschweig
📷: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig