Department of Physics

The US Department of Health and Human Services has announced a $10 million Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge, a federal competition aimed at spurring new approaches to youth fitness and physical education in schools. The announcement was published on the department's official site. Details on eligibility, timelines and judging criteria were not included in the initial announcement, and reaction from schools, educators and health advocates has not yet emerged.

Elon University is hosting a 'Physics & Astro Tea' session focused on seeing physics in the national parks. The talk invites students and staff to consider how physical principles show up in natural landscapes such as geysers, rock formations and night skies across America's park system. It is part of the department's regular informal discussion series.

Physics educator Aayudh, known to students as 'Brofessor', has left ed-tech platform Physics Wallah, announcing the move as the start of a new chapter. The announcement, shared by his channel Doctor Aayudh, has drawn over 100,000 likes, with students speculating about his reasons for departing and what his next teaching venture will be.

Princeton University's physics department has wrapped up an experiment using artificial intelligence to grade student work and published its findings. The results were mixed, with AI grading showing promise but also clear limitations compared with human assessment. The report is drawing attention as universities weigh how far AI should be allowed into academic evaluation.

The Computational Relativistic Astrophysics department at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam has announced it is hiring postdoctoral researchers. Each position will run for two to three years, with details published on the institute's website. The announcement is circulating among academics, particularly early-career researchers in gravitational physics and astrophysics looking for opportunities in the field.

The US Department of Energy has announced up to $400 million in funding for its Office of Science under a fiscal year 2027 funding call. The allocation is directed toward the office's research programs, which support national laboratories and fundamental scientific work including physics, computing, and energy research. The announcement gives researchers and institutions advance notice of upcoming funding opportunities.

Chinese online retail giant Shein has opened its first permanent shop inside a Paris department store, marking a shift from its online-only model to physical retail in Europe. The move is drawing attention as the fast-fashion brand expands globally while facing scrutiny from regulators and criticism from some French politicians over its labor practices and environmental impact.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced a $10 million challenge to promote the Presidential Fitness Test in schools across the United States. The program aims to encourage student participation in physical fitness testing, a longstanding but recently scaled-back tradition. The move has drawn attention as part of a broader push to restore emphasis on youth fitness and physical education nationwide.

The Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity department at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam is inviting applications for several postdoctoral appointments. The positions are offered at different levels depending on experience and seniority, with contract durations ranging from two to five years. The announcement is circulating among physicists and academics, with researchers likely sharing it with potential candidates in gravitational physics and cosmology.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge aimed at improving youth fitness in American schools. The initiative invites schools to develop new approaches to physical education and student health, reviving the long-running presidential fitness program tradition.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced a $10 million challenge aimed at increasing participation in the Presidential Fitness Test, the long-running school fitness testing program. The funding is intended to encourage more schools and students to take part. Reaction so far has focused on the size of the investment and what it means for physical education in schools.

Mississippi State University's Department of Kinesiology is recruiting participants for a research study on cardiovascular and fitness health. The department is inviting community members to take part, with the findings expected to contribute to understanding of heart health and physical fitness. Further details about eligibility and study procedures have not been widely reported.

Imperial College London has announced that two new academics are joining its Department of Physics. The appointments strengthen the department's teaching and research staff, though Imperial's announcement gives no further details about the new arrivals or their specialisms.

Nordstrom is operating a pop-up space in New York focused on gourmet foods, part of the retailer's broader push to refresh its pop-up format with new concepts. The move reflects how department stores are experimenting with food and experience-driven retail to draw shoppers into physical locations and test new merchandising ideas.