News: Faculty

2020

Ocean circulation may hold the key to finding life on exoplanets

May 19, 2020

exoplanet rising above the ocean horizon

Ocean circulation may hold the key to finding life on exoplanets and planets exactly like Earth may not be best places to look, UChicago study finds


‘Groupie’ galaxies orbiting Milky Way tell us about dark matter, how galaxy formed

May 18, 2020

Milky Way galaxy

Data astronomy research co-led by Asst. Prof. Alex Drlica-Wagner reveals ‘groupie’ galaxies orbiting Milky Way tell us about dark matter, how galaxy formed


A new proof measures repulsive force within polynomials using Schinzel-Zassenhaus conjecture

May 15, 2020

magnetic fields configuring metal sand

Mathematician measures the repulsive force within polynomials with a new mathematical proof involving the Schinzel-Zassenhaus conjecture. Prof. Frank Calegari comments


Prof. Susan Kidwell honored for pioneering work on fossil record

May 15, 2020

Susan Kidwell paleontologist

Prof. Susan Kidwell honored for pioneering work on fossil record. Paleontological Society Medal recognizes scientist’s conservation paleobiology research


CDAC’s new AI + Science grants fund projects and workshops in chemistry, physics, and CS Education

May 14, 2020

Data servers in a server farm

CDAC’s new AI + Science grants fund projects and workshops in chemistry, physics, and CS Education


UChicago meteorologist Ted Fujita American Experience airs May 19

May 13, 2020

Promo for Mr. Tornado PBS American Experience

Meteorologist and UChicago Prof. Ted Fujita profile on PBS American Experience: Mr. Tornado: One Man’s Pursuit to Understand the Deadliest Storms airs May 19


Glowing algebra theorems and glimpses into hospital make science lessons unique

May 13, 2020

Asst. Prof. Daniil Rudenko uses a lightboard

Glowing algebra theorems and glimpses into hospital: UChicago students learn remotely from mathematician in Russia, through daily office hours, from COVID-19 doctors


Researchers to develop AI to help diagnose, understand COVID-19 in lung images

May 12, 2020

Maryellen Giger

Researchers to develop AI to help diagnose, understand COVID-19 in lung images. UChicago, Argonne study hopes to learn to identify cases and guide treatment
 


Physics Prof. Sidney Nagel elected to American Philosophical Society

May 11, 2020

Sidney Nagel

Sidney Nagel, the Stein-Freiler Distinguished Service Professor of Physics, among three UChicago scholars elected to American Philosophical Society. He is a pioneer in studying non-linear and far-from-equilibrium behavior in disordered systems.


Prof. Wendy Freedman reflects on astronomer Wiliamina Fleming for American Masters

May 11, 2020

Painting of astronomer Williamina Fleming.

Prof. Wendy Freedman reflects on astronomer Wiliamina Fleming for American Masters' UNLADYLIKE2020 short film series. Fleming was a pioneering observational astronomer and the first woman to ever hold a title at Harvard University.


Asst. Prof. Suri Vaikuntanathan awarded 2020 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award

May 6, 2020

Asst. Prof. Suri Vaikuntanathan

Asst. Prof. Suri Vaikuntanathan has been awarded a 2020 Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award in the chemical sciences. The prize of $100,000 will support his research on “Controlling Organization, Self-Assembly, and Dynamics in Complex Non-Equilibrium Systems.”


Scientists uncover secret behind molecule that blocks HIV infection

May 5, 2020

HIV proteins in Rhesus macaque

‘Revolutionary’ UChicago simulations point to self-assembly behavior for viral restriction. Study explains how the Rhesus macaques’ immune protein, called TRIM5α, works its magic, and represents a significant step forward in the science of modeling how complex biological proteins assemble themselves.


Prof. David Awschalom among experts nearing a quantum advantage

May 1, 2020

Image of quantum computing chip

David Awschalom among experts nearing a quantum advantage, with unimaginable computational power that could unlock the true potential of machine-learning


Global carbon dioxide emissions predicted to plunge ‘unprecedented’ 8 percent this year

May 1, 2020

Pollution leaving an industrial stack

Global carbon dioxide emissions predicted to plunge 'unprecedented' 8 percent this year. Prof. David Archer of the geophysical sciences says improvements are short lived.


Chemistry Prof. Guilia Galli elected to National Academy of Sciences

April 29, 2020

Picture of Prof. Galli sitting at her office desk, resting chin on one hand and smiling at camera.

Chemistry Prof. Guilia Galli one of two UChicago scholars elected to National Academy of Sciences