Two Minute Paper
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Rationale
Rationale
Two Minute Paper is an initiative that began in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University and has now expanded to Texas Tech University. The project aims to communicate the research carried out within the department to the public and broader community in a simple, engaging, and accessible way.
We feature research papers led by TTU Physics and Astronomy resident and visiting scholars through two-minute videos designed for a general audience. The videos are professionally recorded and edited to provide viewers with clear, engaging, and high-quality science content. At present, we record the videos at Studio E in TTU’s Department of English.
Our goal is to expand this initiative to other departments across Texas Tech University and, eventually, to other institutions across the country, developing Two Minute Paper into a broader national science communication project.
The Two Minute Paper Episodes
The Two Minute Paper Episodes
Below you can find YouTube links to all the Two Minute Paper videos done at TTU and MSU's Physics and Astronomy Departments.
Episode 17 with Pragati Acharya
Pragati Acharya, an undergraduate student in TTU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, tells us about her first, first-author paper, in which she and her collaborators explored the powerful flares produced during the 2017 nova eruption V612 Scuti. For the first time, they also transformed data from the eruption into sound, giving audiences a unique sense of what a stellar explosion might sound like. Paper title: From Light to Sound: Spectroscopic Evolution & Sonification of the flaring Nova V612 Scuti.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.08257
Pragati Acharya, an undergraduate student in TTU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, tells us about her first, first-author paper, in which she and her collaborators explored the powerful flares produced during the 2017 nova eruption V612 Scuti. For the first time, they also transformed data from the eruption into sound, giving audiences a unique sense of what a stellar explosion might sound like. Paper title: From Light to Sound: Spectroscopic Evolution & Sonification of the flaring Nova V612 Scuti.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.08257
Episode 16 with Jack Worley
Jack Worley, a graduate student at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his first led paper, where they perform a detailed X-ray study of nova Scorpii 2023 (V1716 Sco). Paper title: X-ray observations of Nova Scorpii 2023 (V1716 Sco) in outburst.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.19102
Jack Worley, a graduate student at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his first led paper, where they perform a detailed X-ray study of nova Scorpii 2023 (V1716 Sco). Paper title: X-ray observations of Nova Scorpii 2023 (V1716 Sco) in outburst.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.19102
Episode 15 with Dr. Shashwat Sardesai
Dr. Shashawt Sardesai, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they implement novel optimal strategies for continuous wave detection in pulsar timing arrays. Paper title: Optimal strategies for continuous wave detection in pulsar timing arrays: Realistic pulsar noise and a gravitational wave background.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01919
Dr. Shashawt Sardesai, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they implement novel optimal strategies for continuous wave detection in pulsar timing arrays. Paper title: Optimal strategies for continuous wave detection in pulsar timing arrays: Realistic pulsar noise and a gravitational wave background.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.01919
Episode 14 with Dr. Sandeep Puri
Dr. Sandeep Puri, a recent PhD graduate student at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they explore how charged particles behave under strong magnetic fields—an important step toward developing fission fragment rocket engines for next-generation space propulsion. Paper title: Alpha Particle Detection in High Magnetic Fields with Applications in Designing Fission Fragment Rocket Engines.
The paper can be found via this link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07556-8
Dr. Sandeep Puri, a recent PhD graduate student at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they explore how charged particles behave under strong magnetic fields—an important step toward developing fission fragment rocket engines for next-generation space propulsion. Paper title: Alpha Particle Detection in High Magnetic Fields with Applications in Designing Fission Fragment Rocket Engines.
The paper can be found via this link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07556-8
Episode 13 with Dr. Victor Bradley
Victor Bradley, a graduate student at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, working with TTU Professor Wade DeGottardi, tells us about his recent paper where they investigate the radiative properties of a finite-sized quantum wire in a microwave cavity. Paper title: Quantum Wire Coupled to Light.
The paper can be found via this link: https://journals.aps.org/prxquantum/abstract/10.1103/PRXQuantum.5.040338
Victor Bradley, a graduate student at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, working with TTU Professor Wade DeGottardi, tells us about his recent paper where they investigate the radiative properties of a finite-sized quantum wire in a microwave cavity. Paper title: Quantum Wire Coupled to Light.
The paper can be found via this link: https://journals.aps.org/prxquantum/abstract/10.1103/PRXQuantum.5.040338
Episode 12 with Dr. Unnati Kashyap
Dr. Unnati Kashyap, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about her recent paper where they investigate the polarized emission from a neutron star low mass X-ray binary system. Paper title: X-ray and radio polarimetry of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1728−34.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.14021
Dr. Unnati Kashyap, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at TTU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about her recent paper where they investigate the polarized emission from a neutron star low mass X-ray binary system. Paper title: X-ray and radio polarimetry of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1728−34.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.14021
Episode 11 with Jack Schulte
Jack Schulte, a PhD student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they discover nine new Hot Jupiters, using NASA's TESS mission, with the aim of solving the mystery of formation and evolution of these gas giants! Paper titled Migration and Evolution of giant ExoPlanets (MEEP) I: Nine Newly Confirmed Hot Jupiters from the TESS Mission.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05923
Jack Schulte, a PhD student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they discover nine new Hot Jupiters, using NASA's TESS mission, with the aim of solving the mystery of formation and evolution of these gas giants! Paper titled Migration and Evolution of giant ExoPlanets (MEEP) I: Nine Newly Confirmed Hot Jupiters from the TESS Mission.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.05923
Episode 10 with Rebecca Kyer (They/Them)
Rebecca Kyer, a graduate student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about their recent paper aimed at Monitoring the X-ray Variability of Bright X-ray Sources in the M33 galaxy. Paper title: Monitoring the X-ray Variability of Bright X-ray Sources in M33.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.03075
Rebecca Kyer, a graduate student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about their recent paper aimed at Monitoring the X-ray Variability of Bright X-ray Sources in the M33 galaxy. Paper title: Monitoring the X-ray Variability of Bright X-ray Sources in M33.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.03075
Episode 9 with Dr. Kwangmin Oh
Dr. Kwangmin Oh, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they investigated the evolution of pulsars in globular clusters. Paper title: Influences of dynamical disruptions on the evolution of pulsars in globular clusters.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.04920
Dr. Kwangmin Oh, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper where they investigated the evolution of pulsars in globular clusters. Paper title: Influences of dynamical disruptions on the evolution of pulsars in globular clusters.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.04920
Episode 8 with Joshua Shields
Joshua Shields, a graduate student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper about searching for a surviving companion star in the supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5. Paper title: No Surviving SN Ia Companion In SNR 0509-67.5: Stellar Population Characterization and Comparison To Models.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.03750
Joshua Shields, a graduate student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about his recent paper about searching for a surviving companion star in the supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5. Paper title: No Surviving SN Ia Companion In SNR 0509-67.5: Stellar Population Characterization and Comparison To Models.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.03750
Episode 7 with Dr. Elias Aydi
Dr. Elias Aydi, a NASA Hubble Fellow at MSU's Physics and Astronomy tells us about his recent paper on the early observations of the slow Galactic nova Velorum 2022 (Gaia22alz). Paper title: Catching a nova X-ray/UV flash in the visible? Early spectroscopy of the extremely slow Nova Velorum 2022 (Gaia22alz).
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.04306.pdf
Dr. Elias Aydi, a NASA Hubble Fellow at MSU's Physics and Astronomy tells us about his recent paper on the early observations of the slow Galactic nova Velorum 2022 (Gaia22alz). Paper title: Catching a nova X-ray/UV flash in the visible? Early spectroscopy of the extremely slow Nova Velorum 2022 (Gaia22alz).
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2304.04306.pdf
Episode 6 with Dr. Ryan Urquhart
Dr. Ryan Urquhart, a postdoctoral researcher at at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the observations of supermassive black holes in low mass galaxies. Paper title: X-ray and radio observations of central black holes in nearby low-mass early-type galaxies: Preliminary evidence for low Eddington fractions.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2209.15015.pdf
Dr. Ryan Urquhart, a postdoctoral researcher at at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the observations of supermassive black holes in low mass galaxies. Paper title: X-ray and radio observations of central black holes in nearby low-mass early-type galaxies: Preliminary evidence for low Eddington fractions.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2209.15015.pdf
Episode 5 with Wasundara Athukoralalage
Dr. Ryan Urquhart, a postdoctoral researcher at at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the observations of supermassive black holes in low mass galaxies. Paper title: X-ray and radio observations of central black holes in nearby low-mass early-type galaxies: Preliminary evidence for low Eddington fractions.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2209.15015.pdf
Dr. Ryan Urquhart, a postdoctoral researcher at at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the observations of supermassive black holes in low mass galaxies. Paper title: X-ray and radio observations of central black holes in nearby low-mass early-type galaxies: Preliminary evidence for low Eddington fractions.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2209.15015.pdf
Episode 4 with Alison Duck
Alison Duck, a visiting PhD candidate from the Astronomy department at the Ohio State University, tells us about her recent paper on the uncertainty in determining the size of the star KELT-15 and its exoplanet KELT-15b, by applying different methods. Paper title: An Exploration of Systematic Errors in Transiting Planets and Their Host Stars.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.09266
Alison Duck, a visiting PhD candidate from the Astronomy department at the Ohio State University, tells us about her recent paper on the uncertainty in determining the size of the star KELT-15 and its exoplanet KELT-15b, by applying different methods. Paper title: An Exploration of Systematic Errors in Transiting Planets and Their Host Stars.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.09266
Episode 3 with Prof. Joey Rodriguez
Joey Rodriguez, an assistant Professor at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the role of eccentricity and planet interaction in the migration of hot Jupiter exoplanets. Paper title: Another Shipment of Six Short- Period Giant Planets from TESS.
The paper can be found via this link: arxiv.org/abs/2205.05709
Joey Rodriguez, an assistant Professor at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the role of eccentricity and planet interaction in the migration of hot Jupiter exoplanets. Paper title: Another Shipment of Six Short- Period Giant Planets from TESS.
The paper can be found via this link: arxiv.org/abs/2205.05709
Episode 2 with Prof. Wolfgang Kerzendorf
Wolfgang Kerzendorf, an assistant Professor at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the role of Artificial Intelligence in optimizing supernova simulations. Paper title: Probabilistic Dalek -- Emulator framework with probabilistic prediction for supernova tomography.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.09453
Wolfgang Kerzendorf, an assistant Professor at MSU Physics and Astronomy, tells us about his recent paper on the role of Artificial Intelligence in optimizing supernova simulations. Paper title: Probabilistic Dalek -- Emulator framework with probabilistic prediction for supernova tomography.
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.09453
Episode 1 with Prof. Sierra Casten
Sierra Casten, a graduate student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about her recent paper on a unique X-ray burst in a neutron star system. Paper title: Hydrogen-triggered X-ray Bursts from SAX J1808.4-3658? The Onset of Nuclear Burning .
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.00104
Sierra Casten, a graduate student at MSU Physics and Astronomy department, tells us about her recent paper on a unique X-ray burst in a neutron star system. Paper title: Hydrogen-triggered X-ray Bursts from SAX J1808.4-3658? The Onset of Nuclear Burning .
The paper can be found via this link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.00104
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