Friday Flyer - November 21, 2025 - DRAFT
Spotlight on the Kansas State University QuarkNet Center
The KSU QuarkNet Center remains active on multiple fronts thanks to the leadership of mentor Bharat Ratra and lead teachers Penny Blue and Renee Teague. Several teachers in the center operate cosmic-ray detectors and have even collaborated across the state to collect and compare data. The center also hosts a masterclass for students each year and took part in a NOvA masterclass during IMC 2025. Participating students also had the opportunity to tour the K-State nuclear reactor facility and explore the JRM Laser Lab as part of the masterclass day.
This past summer, QuarkNet Fellow Nate Unterman co-facilitated a cosmic-ray workshop with QuarkNet staff, featuring both Cosmic Watch detectors and the larger QuarkNet cosmic-ray systems. During the workshop, teachers worked in research groups to carry out an investigation using at least one detector, collected data, and presented results to each other. The workshop wrapped up with a teacher “share-a-thon” and a productive discussion on classroom implementation.
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News from QuarkNet Central
Update on the Cosmic Ray e-Lab: The Cosmic Ray e-Lab is now back up and running, and detector teams should once again be able to upload data. Please give it a try, and let the QuarkNet staff know if you encounter any issues.
World Wide Data Day (W2D2): A big thank-you to all the physicists, teachers, and students who took part in W2D2 2025! Student groups from around the world contributed to the analysis, and many joined one of the several videoconferences held yesterday. We’re grateful for the enthusiasm, collaboration, and hard work that made this year’s event such a success.
Beamline for Schools (BL4S) 2026: Pre-registration is now open for BL4S 2026. Follow this link to learn more about this competition, and to pre-register.
International Masterclasses 2026: Fermilab-based International Masterclasses will be held March 1-28, 2026. Registration is open! We have an online form for Fermilab masterclasses, to be filled out by a single organizer of each masterclass. For all the news, go to the latest IMC circular.
Sad News: We share with sadness the passing of William “Bill” Bardeen earlier this week. Bill was a distinguished theoretical physicist at Fermilab and the husband of Marge Bardeen, QuarkNet’s spokesperson and one of the program’s co-PIs. He was widely respected not only for his scientific contributions but also for his kindness and character. Bill will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and heartfelt support are with Marge and the entire Bardeen family during this difficult time.
Physics Experiment Roundup
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-universe-visible-mass-generated-explore.html
https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/dark-matter-a-worldwide-search?language_content_entity=und
https://interactions.org/press-release/CERN-council-reviews-feasibility-study-for-a-next-generation-collider
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-physicists-constancy-unprecedented-accuracy.html
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-juno-physics-results-months.html
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-quantum-teleportation-photons-distant-sources.html
https://news.fnal.gov/2025/11/fermilabs-sqms-center-funded-with-125-million-to-shape-the-future-of-quantum-information-science/
Resources
If you're looking for quantum-related activities that are designed to fit into a 45-60 minute class period, check out the collection of QuanTime activities from the NSF-supported Q2Work program. Perimeter Institute offers a selection of courses for teachers, including an upcoming asynchronous course on special relativity.
Next, we highlight a few videos, including one from the ICARUS experiment at Fermilab, now marking five years of continuous data collection, is advancing the Short-Baseline Neutrino Program’s search for physics beyond the Standard Model and helping inform the future of projects like the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. MinutePhysics has one on "ghost rainbows," and one from popular science YouTuber Mark Rober, "Testing What Happens If You Jump On A Moving Train."
The next AAPT Virtual Coffee Hour takes place at 7:30 pm EST on December 9 on "Using Generative AI Productively for Teaching and Learning."
Just for Fun
The Thanksgiving holiday in the US is next Thursday (November 27). We begin the "fun" today with a look back at some Thanksgiving-related links from the FF archives: The Physics of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons from Wired, Thanksgiving Chemistry from Bytesize Science, 10 Thanksgiving Experiments from Raising da Vinci, and Turkey Races from STEAM Powered Family. Science brings us How To Science Up Your Thanksgiving Dinner.
Quantum Insider on why we should give "ThanQs" for quantum mechanics,
QuarkNet Staff
Mark Adams: markadams74@gmail.com
Ken Cecire: kcecire@nd.edu
Spencer Pasero: spasero@fnal.gov
Shane Wood: swood5@nd.edu