News

2022

A new look at disordered carbon

July 21, 2022

Unlike diamonds (left) and graphite, amorphous carbon (right) has no crystalline structure,

A team of scientists led by physics professor Giulia Galli have utilized a new framework for understanding the electronic properties of amorphous carbon. Their findings let scientists better predict how the material conducts electricity and absorbs light.


The new science coming from the James Webb telescope has astronomers giddy

July 21, 2022

A man takes a cellphone picture of the James Webb Space Telescope images being shown to Times Square.

Assoc. Prof. Jacob Bean of astronomy and astrophysics expresses to NPR his excitement at the James Webb Space Telescope's view of the planet GJ 1214b—“my favorite planet” of study for ten years.


UChicago Data Science Institute announces founding industry affiliates

July 15, 2022

Mike Franklin speaking at the DSI Summit

The University of Chicago Data Science Institute launched its Industry Affiliates Program with four founding core members from the sectors of finance, insurance, and telecommunications: American Family Insurance, DRW Holdings LLC, Prudential Financial, and Verizon Communications.


Enlightened: Kenneth Sembach, AB’88, leads the mission to find the universe’s first light

July 14, 2022

Kenneth Sembach

UChicago Magazine profiles Kenneth Sembach, AB’88, the director of the Space Telescope Science Institute, the NASA-contracted nonprofit organization responsible for Webb’s flight and science operations.


Awarded time with the JWST, astronomers from Northwestern and UChicago are over the moon

July 14, 2022

Jacob Bean

What can the James Webb Space Telescope show us about exoplanets? Prof. Jacob Bean, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, is co-leading a team of about 150 scientists thrilled to access new data to shed light on their composition, atmospheres, and habitability.


NASA’s new flagship telescope just released its beautiful first images of the universe

July 12, 2022

cosmic cloud captured by James Webb Space Telescope

Nebulas and galaxy clusters are among the first batch of images from James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to Hubble. “These are some of the sharpest images of the universe ever taken by humanity,” said University of Chicago astrophysicist Michael Gladders.


Cryptography solutions selected to fight cyberattacks from quantum computers

July 11, 2022

Illustration of quantum infrastructure for computing

Assistant Professor Bill Fefferman, Department of Computer Science, comments on the four new US standards to fight cyberattacks from quantum computers and the imperative that they be implemented quickly.


Emily Chen, SB’20 Chemistry, among inaugural class of Arley D. Cathay Fellows

July 11, 2022

Emily Chen

Emily Chen, SB’20 Chemistry and a researcher in the lab of Prof. Giulia Galli, has been selected for the inaugural Arley D. Cathey International Graduate Study Fellowships, which provide financial assistance to pursue a rigorous, research-oriented master's degree at an internationally renowned foreign research university.


Summer reading recommendations from UChicago faculty

July 11, 2022

A woman is peering at a shelf of books in a library

Teaching award winners select books that explore climate change, colonialism and more—including physics professor David Schmitz recommending The Last Man Who Knew Everything: The Life and Times of Enrico Fermi, Father of the Nuclear Age by David Schwartz.


BigBrains Podcast: Extreme heat waves: Why are they surging? with Noboru Nakamura

July 8, 2022

Noboru Nakamura

Paul Rand interviewed Prof. Noboru Nakamura of the Department of the Geophysical Sciences about extreme heat waves for the UChicago BigBrains podcast.


UChicago scientists invent ‘quantum flute’ that can make particles of light move together

July 8, 2022

A metal quantum device with holes snaking in a line, known as a quantum flute

A new “quantum flute” experiment by University of Chicago physicists could point the way towards new quantum technology. The holes create different wavelengths, akin to ‘notes’ on a flute, that can be used to encode quantum information.


Scientists announced the discovery of the Higgs boson 10 years ago. What’s next?

July 8, 2022

Large Hadron Collider

University of Chicago scientists helped built parts of the calorimeter at the Large Hadron Collider's ATLAS experiment. Ten years later after the experiment detected the Higgs boson, physicists reflect on what there is still to learn about and from the Higgs particle.


Robert J. Zimmer steps down from position as University of Chicago chancellor

July 8, 2022

Robert Zimmer

The University of Chicago announced that Robert J. Zimmer will step down from his role as chancellor to focus on his health. A visionary leader in mathematics and higher education, he is the Betty L. Bergman Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the College and former Chairman of Mathematics.


CERN’s Large Hadron Collider scientists reveal new particle discovery as accelerator research resumes

July 6, 2022

Scientists in CERN's facilities

Upgrades to CERN’s Large Hadron Collider could help scientists discover more new particles and gain better understanding of dark matter.


The Higgs boson turns ten

July 5, 2022

Lian-Tao Wang, Gavin P. Salam, and Giulia Zanderighi review the role of the Higgs field in the Standard Model of particle physics and explain its impact on the world around.