Department of Physics News

UCF planetary scientist Kerri Donaldson Hanna is part of the NASA mission that will create high-resolution maps of water ice on the moon, which will be crucial for future space exploration.

In this role, Khondaker will focus on driving further growth of research development and partnership, which are critical elements of the UCF research enterprise.

Harrington’s duties will include overseeing UCF’s institutes and centers and research strategy councils; participating in collaborative efforts with the Faculty Senate Research Council; and assisting in implementing strategic research initiatives.

The new UCF innovations enable methane to be used in green energy production and to create high-performance materials for smart devices, biotechnology, solar cells and more.

The work will inform research into the origins of the solar system and is one of the most comprehensive studies of active centaurs and distantly active Jupiter-family comets.

The temperature is so hot that it would tear most water molecules apart, and the researchers say detecting the remaining water that survived speaks to the extraordinary sensitivity of the James Webb Space Telescope.

UCF partnerships bring Plant the Moon and Plant the Mars Challenge (and the closest thing to extraterrestrial soil) to K-12 students across the country.

Instead of pigment-based colored paint, which requires artificially synthesized molecules, a UCF researcher has developed an alternative way to produce colored paint that is more natural, environmentally friendly and light weight.

Ammonia is an essential ingredient in many fertilizers for food production, but its primary production method is energy and fuel intensive. UCF researchers are working to change this by increasing the efficiency of a more sustainable method.