News: Faculty

"Oppenheimer" director explains that he attributed the calculation contribution of the Trinity Test to Albert Einstein rather than Arthur Holly Compton, who directed an outpost of the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago, because Einstein was more recognizable.

Photo courtesy of the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center

Professor of statistics and computer science Rebecca Willett says that in regulating AI's use in automated weapons, it's important not to lose sight of the humans behind it, adding that "this is one of the reasons that the U.N. is looking at this...there really needs to be international repercussions so that a company based in one country can’t destroy another country without violating international agreements. Real enforceable regulation can make things better and safer.”

Researchers, including UChicago beamline scientist Vitali Prakapenka, have combined X-ray and laser techniques to illuminate the origin of mysterious deep-Earth structures.

In this audio segment, atmospheric scientist Elisabeth Moyer discusses bad air quality that has affected the Chicago region this summer.

Geophysical sciences professor David Archer says underground climate change is not the same as what we think of as climate change in the atmosphere, which is largely driven by greenhouse gases and has far-reaching effects, adding that “calling it climate change seems like a bit of a coattail thing.”

In an audio piece, Physics chair Peter Littlewood discusses the legacy of the Manhattan Project on scientific research.

Photo by Robert Kozloff

UChicago chemists, including Gregory Voth, use simulation to reveal key mechanism in microtubule growth.

Article mentions astronomy and astrophysics postdoctoral fellow Michael Zhang's plan to measure the spectrum of light from exoplanet TOI 2445b, a rocky world about twice the size of Earth that orbits perilously close to its host star.

Astronomy and astrophysics professor Robert Rosner discusses the potential of nuclear power.

Geophysical sciences professor Noboru Nakamura says Chicago has made smart changes by implementing heat emergency plans, routine wellness checks, and cooling centers, but that "a systemic problem of a resource inequity is something that you can’t really get rid of overnight...that aspect still is a big, big, big, big unsolved problem."

Created by The University of Chicago Yuen Campus in Hong Kong, The Course podcast is a compilation of personal conversations with UChicago professors. Over a dozen PSD professors answer how they found their passion in the academic field, what they were like as kids, and what it takes to become a professor at The University of Chicago.
 

University of Chicago chemist and professor Laura Gagliardi has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Linus Pauling Medal Award for outstanding achievements in Chemistry. Gagliardi is honored for the development of groundbreaking electronic structure theories and combined classical/quantum methodologies that have accelerated the design of new materials, including reticular frameworks.
 

CS professor Ben Zhao discusses the timing of Meta's Threads launch.

Assistant professor of statistics Yi Sun discusses his startup Axiom developing technology to quickly and accurately detect deepfakes on the internet.

Sixteen UChicago faculty members, including PSD professors Michael Franklin and Dan Nicolae, have received distinguished service professorships or named professorships.