physics programming

Microsoft has broadened its Xbox disc-to-digital program so that all Xbox Series X and Xbox One owners can obtain digital licenses for supported games they already own on physical discs. The move lets players keep playing their disc-based purchases digitally, without needing to keep the disc in the drive, for titles included in the program.

Penn State is marking a century of graduate education in physics with a Q&A reflecting on the program's legacy. The feature looks back at 100 years of physics graduate studies at the university, highlighting its history, developments and contributions to the field over the decades.

Purdue University Northwest is observing October as Exercise is Medicine® Month, a campus initiative highlighting the role of physical activity in health and disease prevention. The program encourages students and staff to treat exercise as part of medical care, with events and resources promoting movement as a form of medicine throughout the month.

A longtime physics professor at Alabama A&M University, who also served as a dean and founded the institution's STEM Day, is retiring after more than 24 years of service. The university announced the departure, highlighting the professor's dual role in academic leadership and in building STEM outreach programs aimed at drawing younger students into science and engineering fields.

University of Washington physicist Matthew Yankowitz has been selected as an Experimental Physics Investigator by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The honor recognizes leading experimental physicists and provides substantial long-term support for research. Yankowitz, known for work on quantum materials including twisted bilayer graphene, joins a select cohort of investigators backed by the foundation's flagship physics program.

A new study of British Columbia's e-bike rebate program found the benefits went beyond getting drivers out of their cars. After about a year, rebate recipients were traveling more, spending less on transportation and getting more physical activity, with some of the largest gains reported among groups the program hoped to reach. The findings are being shared as evidence that e-bike subsidies can deliver broader public health and affordability benefits alongside emissions cuts.

A new fitness program is using videos to help children become more physically active and combat rising inactivity among young people. The initiative aims to make exercise more accessible and engaging for kids, particularly as screen time and sedentary lifestyles continue to raise health concerns. Details on where the program operates and who is behind it remain limited in initial coverage.

Mississippi State University physicist Ben Crider has been selected for a prestigious investigator award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation worth $1.35 million. The honor recognizes his work in physics and provides substantial funding to support his research program. The university announced the selection, calling it a significant achievement for both Crider and the institution.

September 30 is observed as Women's Health and Fitness Day, an annual occasion highlighting the importance of physical activity and wellness for women. Coverage, including from Austin-based broadcaster KVUE, reminds audiences of the day and encourages attention to exercise, preventive care, and healthy habits. The observance typically prompts fitness organizations and clinics to promote programs and screenings aimed at women's health.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro highlights an alumna who says her human health sciences degree prepared her well for physical therapy school. The profile points to the program's coursework and advising as a pathway into graduate health careers, joining a broader stream of university alumni success stories used to showcase academic programs.

Sebastian, a researcher with Columbia University's Will Lab, has been awarded a $1.35 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The award supports the lab's work in physics, and the announcement is drawing attention within the research community as recognition of the group's ongoing experimental program.

Researchers at UC San Diego report that a structured exercise program helped breast cancer survivors improve attention and slow markers of biological aging. The findings suggest regular physical activity may counteract some cognitive and cellular effects of cancer treatment. Health outlets are covering the study as encouraging news for survivor care.

Fitness communities and programs are joining breast cancer awareness efforts, combining exercise events and wellness activities with fundraising and education about the disease. The initiative highlights how gyms and trainers use group fitness to support patients, survivors, and research, tying physical health to a cause that affects millions worldwide.

A clinic in El Paso is combining physical and mental health services under one roof, according to local reporting by KFOX. The integrated care model means patients can address medical and psychological needs in the same visit, an approach gaining attention as communities look for ways to close gaps in mental health treatment. Details on the clinic's name and programs were not provided.

Kiyoul Yang of Harvard University has received federal Young Investigator awards, recognition given to early-career researchers showing exceptional promise. The awards typically come with multi-year funding to support ambitious research programs. The announcement highlights Yang's standing in the physics community and the federal government's continued investment in promising young scientists.

A new push is underway to move first responder mental health from quiet stigma to concrete action. Firefighters, paramedics and police face high rates of trauma, burnout and suicide, and advocates are calling for departments to treat psychological support as seriously as physical safety, with peer programs, training and open conversation.

A free program run by the Institute for Public Health is encouraging children to stay physically active, with participants earning a bike as a reward. The initiative, covered by KSAT, aims to promote exercise and healthy habits among kids while giving families a hands-on incentive to keep children moving.

A University of California, Riverside physicist has been selected as an experimental physics investigator by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The appointment recognizes the researcher's work in experimental physics and comes with support from the foundation's investigator program, which funds leading scientists. The announcement was shared via a research news release.

Ohio Warriors, a sled hockey program, is helping military veterans rebuild social connections after leaving service. The team gives former service members a competitive sport adapted for sled hockey while offering camaraderie that many struggle to find once their military careers end. Local coverage highlights how the group combines physical activity with peer support.

Lafayette's Parks and Recreation department is running youth sports programs aimed at helping children in the Louisiana city stay physically active. Local coverage highlights the recreational offerings available to families, positioning the programs as a community resource for youth health and fitness in the Lafayette area.

Microsoft's Xbox Disc to Digital program, which lets players convert eligible physical game discs into digital copies, has expanded its list of supported publishers to include Sega. The move broadens the program's reach beyond earlier partners, giving Sega fans a way to build digital libraries from discs they already own.