Michael Pravica

Professor, Physics
Expertise: General Physics, High Pressure Science, Explosives, X-ray Spectroscopies, Accelerator Physics, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy, Condensed Matter Experiment, Helium

Biography

Michael Pravica is an expert in general physics. He especially enjoys research focused on the study of matter at extreme conditions of high pressure, high temperature, and high radiation flux.

Pravica — well-known for his community activism and dedication to spreading the joy of science to the masses via television, radio, print media, and public forum appearances — has worked to further the field through development of several innovative concepts. They include: a) A new field of science, dubbed "useful hard x-ray chemistry," wherein high energy, penetrating and focused x-rays are harnessed to initiate novel chemistry in isolated and sealed chambers, and b) Ion Beam Nuclear Transmutation Doping, a novel method to dope wide bandgap semiconductors using penetrating, high-energy protrons initiating nuclear transmutation to create dopant layers.

He has also decades of experience using liquid helium for nuclear magnetic resonance (related to MRI technology).

Education

  • Ph.D., Experimental condensed matter physics, Harvard University
  • M.A., Physics, Harvard University
  • B.S., Physics and applied mathematics (honors), California Institute of Technology

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Michael Pravica In The News

The Economic Times
A new theory by Michael Pravica, a professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, suggests that human consciousness might originate from hidden dimensions of the universe rather than solely from brain activity. Pravica claims that during moments of heightened awareness—like making art, practicing science, or even dreaming—our consciousness could transcend the limitations of our physical dimension and tap into these invisible realms.a
WION
Scientists have never been able to explain the origin of consciousness. Where does it come from? What is its origin point in the human body? Now an expert has suggested that consciousness might not be a part of our three-dimensional world and likely comes from a hidden dimension.
Daily Mail
A baffling new theory to explain human consciousness has suggested it comes from hidden dimensions and is not just brain activity. A physicist claimed that we plug in to these invisible planes of the universe when making art, practicing science, pondering philosophy or dreaming, and this could explain the phenomenon that has evaded scientific understanding for centuries.
Popular Mechanics
When we think creatively or have “Eureka” moments, we may actually unlock access to a dimension outside of our everyday perception, according to the controversial theory.

Articles Featuring Michael Pravica

Josh Hawkins, UNLV
Campus News | July 3, 2024

News highlights featuring UNLV students and staff who made (refreshing) waves in the headlines.

The Las Vegas strip as seen on Super Bowl weekend (Josh Hawkins/UNLV).
Campus News | March 1, 2024

A collection of news stories and highlights featuring UNLV students and faculty.

Graduation surprise
Campus News | August 1, 2023

News stories from the summer featuring UNLV students and faculty.

A man rests his palm on his face in front of a whiteboard with equations
Research | February 5, 2021

Physics professor Michael Pravica's work on useful hard X-ray photochemistry could reveal novel materials — and possibly an explanation for the origin of life on Earth.