Phil Kesten
Philip Kesten is an associate professor of physics at Santa Clara University.
Kesten earned his B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his Ph.D. in high energy particle physics from the University of Michigan. He was a member of the experimental collaboration at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory that announced the discovery of the top quark in 1994.
Since joining the Santa Clara faculty in 1990, Kesten has served as the chairman of the Department of Physics, the associate provost for the Residential Learning Communities Program, and director of the Ricard Memorial Observatory. He has received University awards for teaching excellence and curriculum innovation, including the 1999 David E. Logothetti Teaching Award, the 2006 Louis and Dorina Brutocao Award for Teaching Excellence, and the 2009 Dr. John B. Drahmann Advising Award. Kesten was named the California Professor of the Year in 2005 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education. He holds two U.S. patents, and has published two internationally acclaimed physics textbooks. Kesten has also served as the senior editor for Modern Dad, a newsstand magazine, and was co-founder of the internet software company Docutek, a SirsiDynix company.
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The Moons of Jupiter
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The Physics of Surfing
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Mission to Mars
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When Lightning Strikes
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Why Do Cats Always Land on Their Feet?
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The Healthier Choice: Burger or Hot Dog?
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Don't Bug Me
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Blue Moon Rising
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Outsmarting the Casino at Blackjack
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Watts Up With Your Electric Bill?
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Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Everything You Need to Know
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Rain, Rain Don’t Go Away
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Accelerating Science for More Than 50 Years
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The (Hard and Soft) Science of a Great Night’s Sleep (Part 1)
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Happy Birthday to Two!
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Sugar: The Sweetest Craving
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Wow Your Friends: Cool (Science) Party Tricks
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Don't Try This at Home (Alone)
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Now Playing in a Sky Near You
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Coffee: Can’t Leave Home Without It
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The Remarkable Potential of Stem Cells
![Person standing on a beach at sunset, gazing at the ocean.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-17-760x253.jpg)
Warning: Don't Drink the (Ocean) Water
![View of Earth from space with the Moon in the background.](/media/portals/illuminate/blog/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-15-760x253.jpg)
There's No Place Like Home... Well, Maybe
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Why Does A Ship Float in Water and I Sink?
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Coming Soon: A Rare Astronomical Event
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How the Giants Throw No-Hitters
![Person reading a book with sunlight shining through a window.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-12-760x253.jpg)
Red in the Face: The Science of Blushing
![Cast of Star Trek in colorful uniforms on the bridge set.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-10-760x253.jpg)
What Star Trek Teaches Us about Antimatter
![A rainbow with a cluster of light reflections on the right.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-feature-11-760x414.jpg)
What Leads to a Pot of Gold?
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GPS: How Does It Know Where I Am?
![A reddish moon is prominently visible against a dark night sky.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-9-760x253.jpg)
When the Moon Goes Dark
![Wide horizon with subtle orange sky and silhouetted trees.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-6-760x253.jpg)
Why Do We See Mirages?
![Golden State Warriors logo on a dark background.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-8-760x253.jpg)
The Science behind the Warriors 3-Point Shots
![A bee approaching a purple flower in a garden.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-5-760x253.jpg)
The Birds and the Bees Know Physics
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Interstellar: The Curious Nature of Time
![Blue and white light beams in a tunnel-like structure.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-3-760x253.jpg)
How Fast?
![Two vintage light bulbs glowing in a dark setting.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-2-760x253.jpg)
Hot and Cold
![Sunny sky with scattered clouds.](/media/portals/illuminate/images/Illuminate-PhilKesten-header-1-760x253.jpg)