One of the most important reactions in the universe can get a huge and unexpected boost inside exploding stars known as supernovae, according to new research. Luke Roberts, an assistant professor at FRIB and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University, implemented the computer code that the team used to model the environment inside a supernova.

The nuclear theory research of Saori Pastore, assistant professor of physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, directly complements experimental work in the national nuclear and particle physics program, like the work that will be conducted at FRIB.

In this radio interview, FRIB Laboratory Director Thomas Glasmacher explains how FRIB works and what it means for FRIB to be a user facility for the Office of Nuclear Physics in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.

Michigan State University not only has the nation’s top nuclear physics program, it’s also home to one of the field’s most prolific authors, B. Alex Brown. The professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who also works at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, has published over 800 papers during his career, including a paper 30 years ago that still shapes the way people talk about nuclear science today. The prominent journal Physical Review C is featuring that paper in a special collection of articles to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The U.S. Department of Energy has designated the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility. U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette announced the designation at a special ceremony held at MSU in a tent adjacent to FRIB on the 29th of September. DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar was on hand for the ceremony.