Physicists are driven by the deep questions:
Why does gravity exist?
Why can’t we simply turn off gravity like we do electricity—allowing us to launch rockets with less fuel or construct larger buildings?
Why can’t we travel back in time?
Why is there more matter than antimatter in the universe?
Why are some cancers resistant to radiation, while others are not?
What is dark matter—and why does it seem to fill the universe without interacting with light?
In their quest to answer these “Why” questions, physicists have made discoveries that transformed science, technology, and society. Their work led to the creation of groundbreaking technologies such as the integrated circuit, the transistor, the laser, MRI machines, X-ray imaging, and the scanning electron microscope (SEM), among many others.
But physics is more than its inventions. It’s a way of thinking. Physics majors develop powerful skills—like programming, mathematical modeling, logical reasoning, creativity, and advanced problem-solving—that are highly valued across countless fields.
If you’re curious, love solving puzzles, and want to understand how the universe really works, physics might just be the perfect major for you.
Featured Alumni Jose Pacheco discusses his research with PC World Magazine.