Unveiling the Cosmos: Research at the UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

The UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (EPSS) stands as a pioneering force in space science research and applications, driving NASA missions and investigations throughout the solar system. With a diverse community of faculty, researchers, and staff, UCLA has established itself as a leader in the field, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of Earth, other planets, and the vast expanse of space.

A Hub of Space Science Research: The SPACE Institute

The SPACE Institute at UCLA encompasses three departments within the Division of Physical Sciences: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS), Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (EPSS), and Physics & Astronomy. This collaborative environment fosters strong ties with the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Anderson School of Management, enabling interdisciplinary approaches to complex scientific challenges.

UCLA's long-standing leadership in space science is built upon a foundation of observational techniques, instrument and satellite platform development, and the integration of basic theory, numerical modeling, machine learning, and laboratory plasma experiments. These diverse capabilities allow researchers to explore a wide range of phenomena, from solar physics and solar-wind interactions to the search for extraterrestrial life.

Exploring Earth and Beyond: Research Highlights

The EPSS department at UCLA is home to a diverse group of researchers, each contributing unique expertise to the exploration of our planet and the cosmos. Their work encompasses a wide range of topics, including:

Unraveling Earth's Secrets and Martian Mysteries with Seismic Waves

Beghein, an associate professor at UCLA, utilizes 3D mapping techniques to model changes in seismic wave speed during earthquakes on Earth and on Mars, as part of NASA’s InSight mission. By studying how seismic waves travel through rocks, researchers can gain insights into the temperature and composition of planetary interiors, potentially revealing clues about the presence of underground water or magma.

Charting the Unknown: Exploring the Kuiper Belt

Jewitt, a professor of planetary astronomy, focuses on exploring the outer reaches of our solar system, particularly the Kuiper Belt, a vast ring of primordial objects beyond Neptune. His work aims to expand our knowledge of this relatively unexplored region and its role in the formation of the solar system. "Many people think of the solar system as a known place, but in fact only the inner parts have been observed in any detail. Some years ago, I discovered and then explored the Kuiper belt, a vast ring of primordial objects beyond Neptune."

The Enigmatic Dark Matter: Unveiling the Universe's Hidden Component

Kamaha, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy, is an expert on dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up the majority of matter in the universe. She co-led the program to keep the world’s most sensitive dark matter detector, LUX-ZEPLIN, free from contamination during the assembly process and led the installation and commissioning of its calibration systems. Her dark matter research with LUX-ZEPLIN is ongoing. "Dark matter accounts for 85% of the matter in the universe, but we’ve never seen it nor detected it. The search for this missing matter is at the forefront of physics research today. Besides the satisfaction of completing our understanding of the matter content of the universe, I can’t help but to think about the potential technological advances which could arise from this."

The Quest for Life Beyond Earth: Expanding the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)

Margot, a professor in both the EPSS and the Physics and Astronomy departments, investigates the dynamics and geophysics of planetary bodies, radio and radar astronomy, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). With the support of significant investments from federal agencies, Margot and his team are expanding the search for life beyond Earth, utilizing large radio telescopes to explore the possibility of both primitive and complex life forms throughout the galaxy. "The search for life in the universe is one of humanity’s most profound scientific endeavors. Federal agencies are investing tens of billions of dollars to enable searches for biosignatures in the solar system or around nearby stars. With large radio telescopes, we can expand the search from primitive to complex life and from the solar neighborhood to the entire galaxy."

Deciphering the Solar System's Origins: Analyzing Asteroid Samples

McKeegan, a professor of geochemistry and cosmochemistry, specializes in the formation of our solar system and the isotopic and chemical compositions of meteorites, asteroids, and the moon. He is actively involved in analyzing samples brought back from the Ryugu asteroid, the first carbon-rich asteroid to have its samples gathered and studied, offering invaluable insights into the early solar system. "Ryugu is the first carbon-rich asteroid from which samples have been gathered and studied. What makes Ryugu special is that unlike meteorites, it has not had potentially contaminating contact with Earth."

Cosmic Collisions and Planetary Architectures: Exploring the Dynamics of Stars and Planets

Naoz, an associate professor of physics and astronomy, is a theoretical astrophysicist who studies the collisions of stars and black holes, the architecture of extrasolar planetary systems, and the formation of the very first stars. Her research sheds light on the complex dynamics of celestial objects and the evolution of planetary systems. "Astronomers used to think they might never detect black holes merging because it is challenging to overcome the stages of stellar evolution required for two stars to become black holes. However, the gravitational wave detector LIGO has recently detected them, and it’s really common - LIGO estimates two black holes merge about every 15 minutes!"

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Unveiling the Universe's Past: Observing Galaxy Formation with the James Webb Space Telescope

Treu, a professor of physics and astronomy, studies cosmology, focusing on the formation and evolution of galaxies and black holes. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, he and his team are peering deep into the past to observe galaxies forming new stars at an unprecedented rate, providing crucial data for understanding the universe's evolution. "Through the James Webb Space Telescope, we’re looking deep into the past to watch galaxies form new stars at an electrifying pace."

Galactic Nuclei and Supermassive Black Holes: Understanding the Heart of Galaxies

Do, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and deputy director of the Galactic Center Group at UCLA, is interested in understanding the formation of the nuclei of galaxies and the physics and astrophysics of supermassive black holes. His lab is developing technology similar to that used in generative AI art to learn how the universe formed by training on images of galaxies across cosmic time. "Our lab is currently developing similar technology to those that power generative AI art to see if we can learn how the universe formed from training on images of galaxies across cosmic time."

Solar Physics: Understanding Our Star and Its Impact on Earth

Ulrich, a professor emeritus of physics and astronomy, studies solar physics. His research on solar neutrinos led him to study the physics of our own sun more broadly. He also oversees a project to digitize an archive of more than 150,000 images of the sun taken over the past 100 years at the Mt. Wilson Observatory. His work highlights the importance of understanding the sun's behavior and its potential impact on Earth. "Solar physics is in a bit of an odd corner, being a source of disturbances in the Earth’s environment and being very complex. Big solar storms can harm airline passengers and crew, cause radio blackouts, damage electrical transmission grids and can cause failure of spacecraft."

Space Weather

UCLA's investigations encompass solar physics, solar-wind interactions with terrestrial and planetary magnetospheres, and ionospheric physics, collectively known as “space weather.”

Discovering Waterworlds

They have also been responsible for discovering “waterworlds” in our solar system and beyond, and are developing new instrumentation for remote sensing, medical studies of astronauts in space and for deep space discoveries.

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Preparing for the Future: The Commercial Space Sector

The commercial space sector economy is projected to reach $1-$2.7 trillion by the 2040s. This growth will create demand for thousands of qualified space professionals, with unique transdisciplinary expertise that spans research to real-life applications.

Accessing Resources: The William C. Beghein Library

The William C. Beghein Geological Library supports the research endeavors of the EPSS department by providing access to a wide range of resources. Current UCLA students, faculty, and staff can access the library's online subscription resources from on-campus computers and wireless networks. Off-campus access is also available through VPN software, which allows users to securely connect to the UCLA network and access restricted sites.

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