Physics Phun Day 2026 Brings Big Science and Big Crowds to UA
April 14, 2026
The Physics and Atmospheric Sciences building was buzzing with excitement this weekend as the University of Arizona Physics Department hosted its largest annual outreach event, Physics Phun Day!
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Nearly filling the auditorium, the event marked the highest attendance since the program’s restart in 2022. Audience members of all ages, from young children attending their first science show to long-time community supporters, were all captivated throughout the evening.
The event was a high-octane journey through the laws of nature, brought to life by a talented lineup of presenters and hands-on demonstrations:
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- Heerok Das — Explored Newton’s laws with fire-spewing bottle rockets.
- Lauren Whitaker — Dazzled the audience with colorful demonstrations of birefringent materials.
- Adrian Rose — Illuminated the relationship between force and pressure with the death-defying bed of nails.
- Jack Robinson — Demystified the world of waves and sound with his giant hoot-tubes.
- Dr. Ian Lim — Cleverly used a classic Faraday cage demonstration to introduce the audience to the unification of electricity and magnetism.
- Dr. Charles Stafford — Astounded all with his explanation and demonstration of the Meissner effect.
- Ewan Wolgemuth — Demonstrated the relationship between projectile cannons and rocket propulsion using a potato gun and a fire-extinguisher rocket.
- Kyle Rine — Served as master of ceremonies with plenty of humor while also exploring the properties and uses of liquid nitrogen.
The success of Physics Phun Day was made possible by the many volunteers who shared their expertise and enthusiasm with the community. Special thanks go to Kyle Rine for being the driving force behind the event, helping to make this year’s Physics Phun Day the biggest and most engaging yet.
