The IFUSP was founded in 1970, by the union of the Physics Departments of the former Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters and the Polytechnic School. In the beginning, research focused on studies of the structure of the atomic nucleus, studies of cosmic rays and electron and ion accelerator physics. In the years that followed, these areas diversified, while others emerged such as condensed matter physics, field theory, elementary particle physics, plasma physics, atmospheric physics, cosmology, biophysics, among others, which led to the diversity of research lines that the IFUSP presents today. For more details, check out http://acervo.if.usp.br/destaque