Science Outreach and Physics in World Heritage

The Working Group manages our outreach and physics education efforts. We promote physics and excellence in science education in primary and secondary schools, not only by engaging scientists in visits to schools but also bringing students to the Physics Department and our research facilities. We are responsible for the school of excellence in Physics "Quark!" for high-school students from all over the country and for the coordination of the National Physics Olympiad. In addition, CFisUC collaborates on the outreach activities of the Department of Physics, Museum of Science and Centro Ciência Viva Rómulo de Carvalho. Since February 2024, the working groups “Physics Education and Science Outreach” and “Physics in World Heritage” were merged, creating the new working group “Science Outreach and Physics in World Heritage.”

Current projects

Previous projects

Recent Publications

Books

1 - Caderno de Exercícios para as Ciências Farmacêuticas: uma colectânea de exercícios e problemas com resoluções para a unidade curricular de Física Aplicada do Mestrado Integrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas
C. Cosme, M. R. Silva
(2025)

Papers

International Journals

2 - Butterfly-Shaped Donor–Benzophenone Systems: Probing Excited-State Dynamics by Time-Resolved Spectroscopy and Computational Methods
Carla Cunha, José A. Paixão, J.Sérgio Seixas de Melo
Dyes Pigments 244, 113124 (2026)

3 - Covariant Energy Density Functionals for Neutron Star Matter Equation of State Modeling: Cross-Comparison Analysis Using \texttt{CompactObject}
João Cartaxo, Chun Huang, Tuhin Malik, Shashwat Sourav, Wen-Li Yuan, Tianzhe Zhou, Xuezhi Liu, Constança Providência
Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (ApJS) (2026)

4 - CrFe2Ge2: Investigation of novel ferromagnetic material of -type crystal structure
P.L.S. Cambalame, B.J.C. Vieira, J.C. Waerenborgh, P.S.P. da Silva, J.A. Paixão
J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 639, 173745 (2026)

5 - Strongly interacting matter in extreme magnetic fields
Prabal Adhikari, Martin Ammon, Sidney S. Avancini, Alejandro Ayala, ..., HelenaProvidência Pais, Luigi Scurto, ...
Prog.Part.Nucl.Phys. 146, 104199 (2026)

6 - Generating vascular network structures from real data
J.B. Simoes, R.D.M. Travasso, T. Baptista, E. Costa
Expert Syst. Appl. 299(B), 129941 (2026)

7 - Square Kilometre Array Science Data Challenge 3a: foreground removal for an EoR experiment
A Bonadi, P. Alberto et al.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society staf1466 (2025)

8 - A thorough and Comprehensive Study of Novel Phthaloperinone Derivatives: From Synthesis and Property Evaluation to Applications in Light-Emitting Diodes
Ana C. Amorim, Jorge Morgado, João P. Prates Ramalho, Hugo Cruz, Carla Cunha, José A. Paixão, J. Sérgio Seixas de Melo, Susana M. M. Lopes, Luís C. Branco, Anthony J. Burke
Mater. Adv. 6, 9556 (2025)

9 - Radiobiological Modeling with Monte Carlo Tools - Simulating Cellular Responses to Ionizing Radiation
T.A. Azevedo, A.M. Abrantes, J. Carvalho
Tech. Cancer Res. Treat. 24, 15330338251350909 (2025)

10 - Microhydration Dynamics in Molecular Photoswitches: Equilibrium State Reconfiguration in Imine-Based Architectures
N.M. Campos, R.J.C. Roque, P. Pinacho, C.H. Pollok, C. Merten, PSP Silva, M Silva, M. Schnell, S.R. Domingos
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 64 (31) (2025)

11 - Química verde nos documentos curriculares e nos manuais escolares portugueses
Carina Vieira Soares, Maria da Conceição Costa, Maria Mariette Pereira, Telma Esperança , Natália Silva.
APEduC Revista 6(2), 13-30 (2025)

12 - Neural posterior estimation of neutron star equations of state
Valéria Carvalho, Márcio Ferreira, Constança Providência
Phys. Rev. D 112, 083044 (2025)

13 - Calibrating the medium effects of light clusters in heavy-ion collisions
T. Custódio, A. Rebillard-Soulié, R. Bougault, D. Gruyer, F. Gulminelli, T. Malik, H. Pais, C. Providência
Phys. Rev. Lett. 134 (8), 082304 (2025)

14 - An innovative approach based on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using pomegranate peel extract for antibacterial purposes
Rocio Diaz-Puertas, Francisco Alvarez-Martinez, Enrique Rodríguez-Cañas, Fernando Borrás-Rocher, Alberto Falco, Artur Valente, José Paixão, Ricardo Mallavia
Bioinorg. Chem. Appl., 2009069 (2025)

15 - Learning about neutron star composition from the slope of the mass-radius diagram
M. Ferreira, C. Providência
Phys. Rev. D 112(8), 083058 (2025)

16 - Unanticipated Reactivity Towards Nucleophilic Attack in the Synthesis of Saccharyl-1,3,4-Thiadiazolyl Conjugates: Structure and Mechanistic Insights
Bruno Guerreiro, Daniel Carvalho, Jaime Coelho, José Paixão, Luís Frija, Maria Lurdes Cristiano
J. Org. Chem. 90(46), 16301-16309 (2025)

17 - Synthesis and structure of novel pyrimidine-thioethers: structural effects on reactivity along with an unpredicted dimethylamination reaction
Inês C. C. Costa, Luís M. T. Frija, André F. Augusto, José A. Paixão, Maria L. S. Cristiano
ChemPhysChem 26(18), e202500308 (2025)

18 - Synthesis of chiral spirocyclopropanepenicillanates via [2+1] annulation of 6-alkylidenepenicillanates and sulfur ylides
João Gonçalves, Ricardo Carvalho, Jéssica Macedo, Paloma Gonçalves, Inês Bártolo, Américo Alves, José Paixão, Nuno Taveira, Teresa Pinho e Melo
J. Org. Chem. 90(29), 10225-10234 (2025)

19 - Constraints on maximum neutron star mass from protoneutron star evolution
D. Kumar, T. Malik, H. Mishra, C. Providência
Phys. Rev. D 112(6), 063042 (2025)

20 - Dense matter in neutron stars with eXTP
A Li, AL Watts, GB Zhang, ..., C Providência, et al.
Sci. China-Phys. Mech. Astron. 68(11), 119503 (2025)

21 - A 3D Computational Study on the Formation and Progression of Tumor Cells in Diffuse Gastric Cancer
V. Lopes, J. Figueiredo, P. Carneiro, M. Gouveia, RDM Travasso, J. Carvalho
Bull. Math. Biol. 87(2), 28 (2025)

22 - Structural evolution and magnetic behavior of Ba- and Mn-substituted BiFeO3: Impurity-driven artifacts and intrinsic limitations
M. Das, B. F. O. Costa, J. A. Paixão, V. A. Khomchenko
J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 36(33), 2129 (2025)

23 - Magnetic and structural domain walls dynamics in a two magnetic sublattice system
M. M. Gomes, A. S. Silva, R. Vilarinho, J. Agostinho Moreira, M. Mihalik Jr., M. Mihalik, C. S. Davies, A. Kirilyuk, J. A. Paixão, M. A. Carpenter
Phys. Rev. B 112, 224104 (2025)

24 - Exploring the interaction of high-performance triazine-based porous organic polymers with antibiotics and carbon dioxide
P.M.C Matias, S.C.C. Nunes, J.M. Gil, M.J. Ferreira, A.A.C.C. Pais, D. Murtinho, A.J.M. Valente
Chem. Eng. J. 526, 171078 (2025)

25 - Light clusters as a possible source of crustal impurities: A quasi-particle approach
H. Pais, H.D. Thi, A.F. Fantina, F. Gulminelli, C. Providencia
Astron. Astrophys. 699, A129 (2025)

26 - Inferring the equation of state from neutron star observables via machine learning
N.K. Patra, T. Malik, H. Pais, K. Zhou, B.K. Agrawal, C. Providencia
Phys. Lett. B 865, 139470 (2025)

27 - Integrated processing platform for the production, recovery and separation of bio-produced tellurium particles
Pedro Farias, Inês Costa, Alexandre M. S. Jorge, Rita Branco, Paula V. Morais, José António Paixão, Jorge F. B. Pereira
Sep. Purif. Technol. 370, 133202 (2025)

28 - Charge density and quantum-chemical study of triphenylguanidine and triphenylguanidinium trifluoroacetate
Pedro S. Pereira Silva, Manuela Ramos Silva, Mauro A. Pereira Gonçalves, Nuno M. F. Campos, José A. Paixão
Struct. Chem. (2025)

29 - Collective modes in relativistic cold asymmetric nuclear matter within the covariant Vlasov approach
A. Rabhi, O. Boukari, S. S. Avancini, C. Providência
Phys. Rev. C 111 (1), 015804 (2025)

30 - Comparing strange and nonstrange quark stars within resummed QCD at NLO
TE Restrepo, JL Kneur, C Providência, MB Pinto
Phys. Rev. D 112(5), 054013 (2025)

31 - Faster than g, an experiment for the classroom
R. Roque, Pedro S. P. Silva, MR Silva
Phys. Educ. 60(4), 045022 (2025)

32 - Relaxation of Nateglinide-Pyridinecarboxamide Coamorphous Systems to Cocrystals: Synthon Competition with Acid, Amide, and Pyridine Groups
J.F.C. Silva, A. Drzewicz, M. Galazka, E. Juszynska-Galazka, PSP. Silva, M.R. Silva, M.F.M. Piedade, M.E.S. Eusébio, M.T.S. Rosado
Cryst. Growth Des. Early Access (2025)

33 - Feasibility study of a dark matter admixed neutron star based on recent observational constraints
P. Thakur, T. Malik, A. Das, T.K. Jha, B.K. Sharma, C. Providência
Astron. Astrophys. 697, A220 (2025)

34 - Predicting cardiac frequencies in mammals
R.D.M Travasso, C.A. Penick, R.R. Dunn, E.C. Poiré
Sci. Rep. 15 (1), 7017 (2025)

35 - Composition-, temperature-, and field- driven magnetic phase transitions in Bi0.9Ca0.1Fe1-xMnxO3 multiferroics
V. A. Khomchenko, M. Das, J. A. Paixão
J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 614, 172703 (2025)

36 - Complex magnetic behavior in the antipolar phase of Bi1-xLaxFe1-xMnxO3
V.A. Khomchenko, J.A. Paixão
Mater. Lett. 398, 138995 (2025)

37 - Symmetry generators and quantum numbers for fermionic circularly symmetric systems
V.B. Mendrot, A.S. de Castro, P. Alberto
Ann. Phys. 482, 170178 (2025)

38 - Muonium reaction in MgO: A showcase for the final steps of ion implantation
R.C. Vilao, A. Roonkiani, A.G. Marinopoulos, H.V. Alberto, J.M. Gil, R.B.L. Vieira, R. Scheuermann, A. Weidinger
SciPost Phys. Core. 8(3), 056 (2025)

39 - Impact of the scalar isovector δ meson on the description of nuclear matter and neutron star properties
L.G.T. dos Santos, T. Malik, C. Providência
Phys. Rev. C 111 (3), 035805 (2025)

40 - Structure, IR spectrum and UV-induced photochemistry of a pyridyl-substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole-thione in Ar matrix and intermolecular interactions in the neat crystalline phase
İsa Sıdır, Susy Lopes, José António Paixão, Timur Nikitin, António Jorge Lopes Jesus, Rui Fausto
J. Photochem. Photobiol., A. 470, 116610 (2025)

Portuguese Journals

41 - As pioneiras: Mulheres no Laboratório de Física da Universidade de Coimbra (1911-1972)
Gilberto G. Pereira, Décio Martins e Carlos Fiolhais
Gazeta da Física 48 (1), 15-20 (2025)

42 - A grande revolta dos gatos de Schrödinger após 100 anos de quântica
Constança Providência, Helena Alberto
Gazeta de Física 48, nº 1, 2-2 (2025)

43 - Estrelas de neutrões como laboratórios de física
Constança Providência, Milena Albino, João Cartaxo, Valéria Carvalho, Tiago Custódio, Luigi Scurto, Márcio Ferreira, Tuhin Malik, Helena Pais
Gazeta de Física 48, nº 2, 38-41 (2025)

44 - Será um osso de mamute?
Constança Providência, Rita Wolters
Gazeta de Física 48, nº 1, 37-38 (2025)

Proceedings

International Conferences

45 - Spatial localization and scaffold proteins enable sensitive and site-specific hydrogen peroxide signaling through peroxiredoxin-mediated redox relays
M. Griffith, A. Araújo, R. Travasso, A. Salvador
Free Radic. Biol. Med. 233 (1), PP II_A06 (2025)

46 - Observational constraints on neutron star matter equation of state
Tuhin Malik, João Cartaxo, Constança Providência
J.Subatomic Part.Cosmol. 4, 100086 (2025)

Communications

Invited

47 - The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025
José A. Paixão
Café com Física 29 oct (2025)

48 - Spanning neutron star properties within a microscopic description: learning about composition
Providência, Constança
Making Neutron Stars a Laboratory of New Physics: one-week TH-Institute, CERN June 9-13 (2025)

49 - Learning about the neutron star composition from observations
Providência, Constança
Café com Física Oct 22 (2025)

50 - Spanning neutron star properties with microscopic descriptions: can we learn about composition?
Providência, Constança
2nd Workshop on modern equations of state and spectroscopy in neutron-star matter, Universidad de Alcalá May 26-28 (2025)

Oral

51 - From X-rays to atomic physics and beyond
J.A. Paixão
5th International Conference on the History of Physics, Coimbra, 29-31 May 2025 (2025)

Poster

52 - Novel Pyridyl-Saccharinates as Selective Ligands of Metal Cations
Bruno C. Guerreiro, Joana F. Leal, José A. Paixão, Maria L. S. Cristiano
PhyChem, Faro, 28-30 April (2025)

53 - The beginnings of experimental studies on radioactivity at the Physics Laboratory of the University of Coimbra
Gilberto G. Pereira, Décio Martins e Carlos Fiolhais
5th International Conference on the History of Physics, 29-31 May (2025)

54 - Synthesis of novel indolyl-functionalized thiazoloisoindolinones as potential p53 activators
Susana M. M. Lopes, Caroline Fortuna, José A. Paixão, Fernanda A. Rosa, Lucília Saraiva, Teresa M. V. D. Pinho e Melo
XXIX Encontro Nacional da Sociedade Portuguesa de Química, Coimbra, 20-23 julho (2025)

Other

55 - QuantumLand
Helena Alberto, Sagar Pratapsi, Constança Providência
Rómulo: Exposições (2025)

56 - Numerical Relativity Simulations of Dark Matter Admixed Binary Neutron Stars
Edoardo Giangrandi, Hannes R. Rüter, Nina Kunert, Mattia Emma, Adrian Abac, ..., Tim Dietrich, Violetta Sagun, Wolfgang Tichy, Constança Providência
arxiv 2504.20825 [astro-ph.HE] (2025)

57 - Single-crystal XRD studies of conformational and color polymorphism
J.A. Paixão
Seminar, IKU-SPECTRA Molecular Sciences and Spectroscopy Applied Research Center. Istanbul Kültür University, Istanbul, Türkiye 2 Oct (2025)

58 - Investigating the Impact of Higher-Order Phase Transitions in Binary Neutron-Star Mergers
P. Hammond, A. Clevinger, Milena Albino, Constança Providência, et al
arxiv 2508.10698 [astro-ph.HE] (2025)

59 - Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 211 "Strong-Interaction Matter under Extreme Conditions"
Providência, Constança
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) June 16-17 (2025)

60 - Novos Talentos
Providência, Constança
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (2025)

61 - Curiosidade: Motor da Ciência
Providência, Constança
Rómulo: Exposição (2025)