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  • 2020-2021

  • Making Headlines
    • 2020-2021
  • News Archive
  • Events
  • Talks
  • Physics & Astronomy Chair Announcement

    June 22, 2022

    Professor Pauline Barmby's five-year term as Department Chair commences on July 1, 2022

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  • Peacock Medal to Dr. Roberta L. Flemming

    April 22, 2022

    The Peacock Medal is the highest award bestowed by the Mineralogical Association of Canada and recognizes the long-term research efforts and contributions of an individual to the Earth sciences within the Canadian context. This medal is awarded to a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to the mineral sciences in Canada.

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  • Western Physics and Astronomy in the IEEE Canadian Review, Spring 2022

    By Daryoush Shiri, IEEE Canadian Review, April 20, 2022

    Historical and present day research by Drs. Misener and Peeters in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Western University are discussed in the Spring 2022 issue of the IEEE Canadian Review.

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  • Bright fireball event near Lake Simcoe expected to have dropped meteorites

    By Jeff Renaud, Western Media Relations, April 18, 2022

    Western University's all-sky camera network observed a bright fireball at 11:37pm on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Analysis of the video data suggests that fragments of the meteor are likely to have made it to the ground near the eastern shore of Lake Simcoe, just north of the town of Argyle.

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  • See How the Tonga Volcano Unleashed a Once-in-a-Century Shockwave.

    By Aatish Bhatia and Henry Fountain, The New York Times, April 14, 2022

    “It’s super spectacular,” Peter W. Brown, a physicist at the University of Western Ontario, said of the shockwave, which traveled around the world several times at the speed of sound. “Everybody who studies atmospheric waves are all quite, I would say, awestruck.”

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  • Three Western researchers named Distinguished University Professors

    By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, March 17, 2022

    Dr. Pauline Barmby is one of three researchers who will be named Distinguished University Professors next month; an award that recognizes careers of excellence in teaching, research, and leadership.

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  • Neuroscientist partners with law firm for concussion research

    By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, March 17, 2022

    Western physicist-turned-neuroscientist Andrea Soddu has developed unique brain-imaging software that is helping a London, Ont., law firm strengthen the case for better support for clients with concussions.

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  • Small asteroid hits Earth just hours after astronomers detect it

    By Will Gater, New Scientist, March 15, 2022

    A space rock that exploded in the atmosphere near Iceland was only the fifth asteroid that has been observed before an impact with Earth

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  • James Webb Space Telescope set to launch on December 22

    CBC Radio, December 17, 2021

    The largest telescope ever built is set to launch on December 22 following nearly 2 decades of development.

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  • Woman rocked awake by meteorite chunk crashing into her bedroom

    CBC News, October 12, 2021

    Physics and Astronomy professor Peter Brown confirms rock, which fell through the ceiling and landed on a pillow next to Ruth Hamilton in her home in Golden, BC, was indeed a meteorite.

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  • Sarah Gallagher takes helm at Western Space

    By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, October 06, 2021

    New director shares vision for interdisciplinary space research collaboration

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  • White Dwarfs Become Magnetic As They Get Older!

    September 24, 2021

    An international team of astronomers from Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland and the University of Western Ontario in Canada published a paper today in the Monthy Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society sharing new insights into the origin and evolution of the magnetic field of white dwarfs.

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  • Publication of "Essential Astrophysics Interstellar Medium to Stellar Remnants" by professor Shantanu Basu

    September 20, 2021

    This highly accessible story of the observed contents of our Galaxy includes intuitive explanations, informative diagrams, and basic equations, as needed. It is an ideal guide for undergraduates with some physics and mathematics background who are studying astronomy and astrophysics. It is also accessible to interested laypeople, thanks to its limited equations.

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  • Nuclear waste-storage research gets $3.3M grant

    By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, August 17, 2021

    Western researchers Jamie Noel, Lyudmila Goncharova and Des Moser awarded $3.3-million research grant for work to safeguard storage of used nuclear fuel.

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  • Canadian-made space telescope to search for distant planets, explore ‘origins of life’

    By Raquel Fletcher, Global News, August 07, 2021

    “One of the biggest questions in astronomy nowadays is the search for life — extrasolar life — in the universe,” said Stanimir Metchev, Canada research chair in extrasolar planets and professor at Western University‘s Institute for Earth and Space Exploration.

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  • Forecast perfect for ‘mythic’ Perseid meteor spectacle

    By Jeff Renaud, Western News, August 06, 2021

    The Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12 to 13 and the stars are aligning for a really big show.

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  • Seeking out suspended smoke

    By Mari-Len De Guzman, Western News, August 06, 2021

    Victoria Pinnegar, a graduate student in Robert Sica's research group, is tracking air particulates from wildfires over 1000km away

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  • Western University meteor hunters join forces with worldwide network

    By Heather Rivers, The London Free Press, August 01, 2021

    Western University scientists Denis Vida and Mike Mazur monitor the sky with the Global Meteor Network to pinpoint meteors more accurately.

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  • Welcome New Physics Faculty Members

    July 01, 2021

    Welcome announcement for new faculty from Applied Math.

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  • 12 Western scientists and scholars named Canada Research Chairs

    By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, June 15, 2021

    Twelve Western researchers – including Francesca Vidotto – have been named Canada Research Chairs as they bolster their place among the top scholars and scientists in their fields.

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  • Updates to First-Year Physics Courses

    June 07, 2021

    Our first-year physics course offerings have changed! Check out this link if you need help deciding which course is right for you.

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  • Xenon-aided MRIs snap sharper images of lungs

    By Debora Van Brenk, Western News, June 01, 2021

    Alexei Ouriadov of Western’s Department of Physics and Astronomy researching use of hyperpolarized xenon gas to obtain high-resolution information about the lung during MRI scan.

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  • Scientist set to explore massive stars with NASA telescope

    By Western Communications, Western News, May 20, 2021

    An international team, including Els Peeters from Western University's Institute for Earth and Space Exploration will use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the Orion Bar.

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  • Western attracts $1 million to advance virtual learning

    By Western Communications, Western News, May 18, 2021

    Mikko Karttunen among ten Western initiatives have been awarded a total of $1 million in funding as part of the eCampusOntario Virtual Learning Strategy.

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  • Researchers one step closer to developing Canada’s next space telescope

    By Jeff Renaud, Western News, May 17, 2021

    Western University and Bishop’s University are the recipients of $1.1 million to develop what could become Canada’s next space telescope mission.

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  • ‘Oumuamua’s origins

    By Randall Hyman, Astronomy Magazine, April 28, 2021

    Astronomy Magazine article on ‘Oumuamua’s origins cite study by Western University’s Paul Wiegert and Tim Hallatt, which argues that ‘Oumuamua could have formed less than 100 million years ago.

    Read the full article


  • Western Meteor Group contributes to international study of important asteroid recovered in Botswana

    By Jeff Renaud, Western News, April 26, 2021

    Botswana asteroid likely came from Vesta – one of the largest objects in the asteroid belt

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  • Western space scientists identify fastest-spinning ‘failed stars’ ever found

    By Jeff Renaud, Western News, April 08, 2021

    Using data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, a team led by Western space scientists Megan Tannock and Stanimir Metchev has identified the three fastest-spinning brown dwarfs ever found.

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  • Canadian researchers help locate extremely rare meteorite

    By Jeff Renaud, Western News, March 11, 2021

    Canadian researchers have helped discover and study a rare meteorite that fell over Winchombe, England in February. The rare space rock, called carbonaceous chondrite, remained in a deep freeze for the last 4.5 billion years and contains presolar grains, which are small dust particles even older than the Sun.

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  • Sarah Gallagher is co-recipient of the Purvis Memorial Award from the Canadian Society of Chemical Industry

    February 12, 2021

    Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Gallagher, co-recipient of the Purvis Memorial Award from the Canadian Society of Chemical Industry, along with Dr. Cara Tannenbaum, recognizing their contributions to implementing the CanCOVID network.

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  • Blazing fireball shatters during plunge from space

    By Scott Sutherland, The Weather Network, December 08, 2020

    With relatively clear skies at the time, this bright meteor was seen for hundreds of kilometres around. Featuring footage from Western's ASGARD cameras!

    Read the full article


  • Monday night fireball seen over Ottawa

    By Blair Crawford, Ottawa Citizen, December 08, 2020

    A fireball, now known as Event 20201208-003040, was observed over Ottawa with a steep descent and (relatively) slow velocity of 47,000 km/h.

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  • NewsTalk 610 - Interview with Cole Gregg on Newly Discovered Near-Earth Asteroid

    By Tim Denis, NewsTalk 610 CKTB, November 26, 2020

    MSc Astronomy candidate Cole Gregg discusses newly discovered asteroid on Niagara in the Morning talk radio show with Tim Denis (1:25).

    Read the full article


  • CBC News - Asteroid Sighting Interview with Cole Gregg

    By Carole MacNeil and Johanna Wagstaffe, CBC News Network, November 26, 2020

    CBC interview with MSc Astronomy candidate Cole Gregg discussing his remote discovery of a previously unseen asteroid from a home in Chatham.

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  • Western student spots never-before-seen asteroid

    London Free Press, November 26, 2020

    Cole Gregg, MSc Astronomy candidate, discovered an unknown asteroid through remote access to a Spanish telescope on November 18th

    Read the full article


  • CTV News: Early Morning Fireball

    CTV News, October 05, 2020

    Dr. Denis Vida talks with CTV Toronto about an early morning fireball event. Watch the video today (18:31).

    Read the full article


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    • 2020-2021
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