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Edward Alexander Bouchet was the first African American to receive his PhD in physics. He was the sixth American of any race to receive a PhD in Physics. He did his research on geometrical optics.

PhysicsQuest

Spectra: The Original Laser Super Hero now on PhysicsCentral
Follow Spectra as she learns about her past and about the history of the powerful instrument she has become. In PhysicsQuest 2009 students will learn about why lasers are one of the most important inventions of the 20th century and at the forefront of many technology breakthroughs in the 21st century.

Physics News

Antimatter Supernova
Astronomers announced that a recent search for bright exploding stars -- commonly called supernovas -- found something quite unusual: antimatter.

Physics Posters

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Writers' Gallery

postulate-cover The Fifth Posulate
By Jason Socrates Bardi
Many mathematicians since the time of Euclid attempted to solve a seemingly simple problem about parallel lines without success. Yet the success of their failures would reveal a whole new geometry and description of space and time.

Resources for Educators

PhysicsCentral runs programs for all ages with the goal of making physics fun and interesting for everyone. From coloring books to at home experiments we have something perfect for you and your students to enjoy. Resources for Educators »

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Physics Buzz Blog

And they're off!

Monday, February 08, 2010

Space shuttle Endeavor lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 4:14 a.m. this morning. Clouds had delayed the launch the day before, and while the sky was still dark, the control room took advantage of a hole in the clouds to set Endeavor ... Read more »

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Light
Light is not just that which you can see, it includes electromagnetic waves of all wavelengths, from low energy, long wavelength radio waves. Light particles, called photons, have properties of both particles and waves, a fascinating combination which makes light a very interesting thing to study. With the invention and development of lasers we have gained precise control over light and revolutionized many areas of research and technology.