News

2025

Thirty-one UChicago faculty members receive named, distinguished service professorships in 2025

January 6, 2025

Hening Lin (left) and Rebecca Willett

Two PSD faculty members have received named professorships. Hening Lin has been named the James and Karen Frank Family Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Chemistry and the College, and Rebecca Willett has been named the first Worah Family Professor in the Wallman Society of Fellows in the Departments of Statistics and Computer Science and the College.


What is quantum supremacy?

January 2, 2025

quantum computer

We may be on the cusp of quantum supremacy. But what does that actually mean? Bill Fefferman, assistant professor of computer science, weighs in.


The future lifespan of plants just got extended

January 2, 2025

Time until land plant extinction (Gyr) vs. CO2 outgassing rate

A trio of scientists from UChicago and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel has put forth a new model that pushes the terrestrial biosphere's lifetime out to 1.7 billion years.


A ‘Second Tree of Life’ could wreak havoc, scientists warn

January 2, 2025

abstract illustration of scientific iconography related to life

Research on so-called mirror cells, which defy fundamental properties of living organisms, should be prohibited as too dangerous, biologists said. 

“The consequences could be globally disastrous,” said Jack Szostak, who helped write a 299-page technical report on the risks of the research.


How the AI boom threatens to short-circuit climate action

January 2, 2025

papercut-like illustration of a keyboard with hands and a bird

The energy-devouring technology is giving new life to fossil fuels. CS professor Andrew Chien comments.


2024

Astronomers unveil their favorite discovery of 2024

December 24, 2024

illustration of silhouette looking through telescope

Wendy Freedman shares her standout discovery of the year.


What to read and watch over winter break 2024

December 24, 2024

students in Mansuetto

UChicago award winners share their selections for the holidays.


Looking back at 2024 at the University of Chicago

December 24, 2024

UChicago campus

UChicago retrospective article features PSD breakthroughs and accolades.


UChicago partners on new National Science Foundation large-scale research infrastructure for education

December 24, 2024

NSF logo

Researchers from Computer Science and DSI have received a $900,000 sub-award for their critical contributions to the NSF SafeInsights project, which aims to build a transformative infrastructure for inclusive education research at a national scale.


DOE awards Fred Chong and his national research team $7.5M to develop a SMART software stack to control quantum computer noise

December 24, 2024

SMART stack

University of Chicago Computer Science Seymour Goodman Professor Fred Chong is part of a national team building software to manage quantum noise, an increasingly relevant problem due to the rapid development of quantum computing technologies.


Saturdays with CSIL — How undergraduates are transforming CS education for local high school students

December 24, 2024

Saturdays with CSIL

Saturdays with CSIL (Computer Science Instructional Laboratory) focuses on exposing Chicago Public School high school students to computer science at an introductory level, as some CPS students have limited access to CS classes.


The climate app designed to tackle Chatham’s flooding crisis

December 24, 2024

climate app team

Fourth-year PhD student Kelly Wagman, in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and the Greater Chatham Initiative, develops a community-based app that bridges the gap between the residents’ and the scientists’ needs for flood-reporting resources and data.


UChicago course puts art under the microscope

December 24, 2024

Photo of scientists in a lab

When mixing disciplines, there are some subjects that are much more readily paired—psychology and biology or visual arts and photography. However, one physical science course at the University of Chicago seeks to combine three subjects that aren’t a natural fit on the surface. “The Chemistry of Artists' Materials,” taught by Assistant Instructional Professor Hannah Lant, blends together art, history and science.


How an ‘accidental chemist’ honed his approach at UChicago on the way to a Nobel Prize

December 24, 2024

John Jumper

UChicago alumnus John Jumper was awarded a share of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the AlphaFold project, which uses AI to predict protein structures. Learn more about Jumper's academic and scientific journey.


New technology points to unexpected uses for snoRNA

December 24, 2024

RNA illustration

Scientists from UChicago created a new way to study snoRNAs, showing they may serve a surprisingly broad range of functions across many cell types.