News

2021

UChicago, Argonne scientists zero in on molecules that could fight COVID-19

February 26, 2021

Krysten Jones in a chemistry lab

A unique partnership among biologists, chemists and X-ray scientists at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory has zeroed in on several molecules that could be used to create drugs to fight COVID-19.


Beneath the AVS Surface spotlights chemist Rachael Farber, PhD

February 26, 2021

Rachael Farber

Chemist Rachael Farber, PhD, the Kadanoff-Rice Postdoctoral Scholar in the Sibener lab, has been featured in Beneath the AVS Surface, a newsletter for the professional society for sciences related to materials, interfaces, and processing.


Aging stars provide a new cosmological yardstick

February 26, 2021

R Leporis, the bright orange-red star captured here, is an example of the type of carbon stars located in the J-region Asymptotic Giant Branch. The striking color comes from the large amount of carbon in the atmosphere.

Astrophysicist and University of Chicago graduate student Abigail Lee is the lead author on a new paper that analyzed observations of light from a nearby galaxy to validate the JAGB method for measuring cosmological distances. This novel technique will allow future independent distance measurements that can help answer one of the biggest outstanding questions in cosmology: how fast is the universe expanding?
 


Computer Science student group compileHer takes hackathon virtual (and to space)

February 25, 2021

Rectangles of Zoom featuring middle schoolers and UChicago Graduate Students from Computer Science, with space themed backgrounds

Each winter, the UChicago Computer Science student group compileHer gathers middle school girls from around the city to campus for a unique all-day hackathon experience. This year the group took their endeavor virtual (and to space).


PSD in the news - February 2021

February 24, 2021

PSD in white against a maroon background

This month, PSD community members have been featured for their work discovering new metamaterials to improve optics for telescopes, designing patterns in self-propelling liquid crystals, and meauring ceramic chips in meteorites to study the early solar system, and more. In case you missed it, review our news headlines from February 2021.


Library staff, astro faculty, and students join forces to drive new astronomical discoveries

February 23, 2021

Prof. Rich Kron and astronomy students on a ladder at an observatory

The University of Chicago Library continues to look to the sky in an ongoing collaboration with Professor Rich Kron, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, exploring the use of data obtained from historical astronomical glass plates to drive new astronomical discovery.


Prof. Galli’s new research could boost a solar-powered fuel made by splitting water

February 22, 2021

illustration of two magnifying glasses above molecules

Prof. Guilia Galli, a leader in solar fuels, released a new design to optimize photoelectrodes for producing solar fuels. The research could boost a solar-powered fuel made by splitting water.
 


In step toward autonomous materials, researchers design patterns in self-propelling liquid crystals

February 19, 2021

New research shows that the movement in liquid crystals can be harnessed and directed, a step toward developing autonomous materials that can sense inputs, amplify signals, and even compute information.

New research shows that the movement in liquid crystals can be harnessed and directed, a step toward developing autonomous materials that can sense inputs, amplify signals, and even compute information.


Marianna Csörnyei named 2022 AWM-AMS Noether Lecturer

February 19, 2021

Marianna Csörnyei

Prof. Marianna Csörnyei has been named the Association for Women in Mathematics and the American Mathematical Society 2022 Noether Lecturer. The honor acknowledges Csörnyei’s significant contributions to several areas of mathematical analysis, including geometric measure theory, functional analysis and real analysis.


Provost Lee named in Chicago Magazine’s “New Power 30”

February 19, 2021

Headshot of Prof. Ka Yee C Lee

UChicago Provost and Professor of Chemistry, Ka Yee C. Lee is named one of Chicago Magazine's "New Power 30," a list of Chicagoans who have “stepped up in a big way, wielding newfound clout and making change happen”


A famous black hole gets an enormous update

February 19, 2021

illustration of black hole

Prof. Daniel Holz comments on new recalculation of Cygnus X-1’s mass in New York Times


Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Awards recognize UChicago students

February 19, 2021

Five astro students' photos displayed like playing cards

The Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Awards are given to recognize exemplary research by undergraduate and graduate students who present at one of the poster sessions at the meetings of the AAS. Awardees are honored with a Chambliss medal or, in the case of honorable mention, a certificate. Five graduate and undergraduate students from the Astronomy & Astrophysics Department won awards or honorable mentions.


Asst. Prof. Edwin Kite discusses challenges the Perseverance Rover must overcome to land on Mars on FOX 32

February 19, 2021

Edwin Kite on FOX 32

Asst. Prof. Edwin Kite discusses challenges the Perseverance Rover must overcome to land on Mars on FOX 32.


Dark Energy Survey finds new evidence for emerging way to measure dark matter

February 19, 2021

Dark Energy Survey Camera

Yuanyuan Zhang, an astrophysicist with the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, led a study with Dark Energy Survey data of how light from inside galaxy clusters may be linked with dark matter.


McMahon lab uses new metamaterials for studying the oldest light in the universe

February 19, 2021

Top: scientists in an experimental cosmology lab; Bottom: an anti-reflection coated lense for a camera that will be mounted on a telescope

Experimental cosmologist and Assoc. Prof. McMahon and his students developed a new metamaterials-based antireflection coating for the silicon lenses used in cameras that capture the oldest light in the universe.