physics programming

The US Department of Health and Human Services has announced a $10 million Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge aimed at encouraging schools to develop new approaches to youth fitness and physical education. The federal initiative revives the long-standing presidential fitness tradition with a competitive funding format, drawing attention from educators and health policy watchers.

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.

Physicist Matthew Yankowitz of the University of Washington has been selected as a Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator. The honor, announced by the university's College of Arts and Sciences, recognizes leading experimental physicists and typically comes with substantial multi-year funding to support ambitious research programs. The award highlights Yankowitz's standing in condensed matter physics, including his work on quantum materials.

Physicist Jia Leo Li has been selected as a 2026 Experimental Physics Investigator by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The program supports outstanding experimental physicists with flexible long-term funding. Announced by the College of Natural Sciences, the honor places Li among a select group of researchers recognized for the originality and promise of their experimental work.

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.

Alireza Marandi of Caltech has been named a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Experimental Physics Investigator, joining a select group of researchers recognized for inventive approaches to experimental physics. Marandi works on photonic and quantum technologies, and the appointment brings substantial long-term support for his lab's research program.

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 South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing is promoting group fitness programs aimed at strengthening resilience, operational readiness and a sense of community among its personnel. The wing says training together helps airmen stay physically prepared for duty while building camaraderie and morale across units.

A University of North Carolina at Greensboro alumna says her human health sciences degree gave her the preparation she needed for physical therapy school. The university is highlighting her journey as an example of how the program helps students build foundations for careers in health care and graduate study.

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.

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 grant will support his research program, and the university is highlighting the honor as recognition of faculty excellence in experimental nuclear physics and the competitive nature of foundation funding.

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.

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.

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.