News: Faculty

With their latest results, the XENON collaboration broke their own record for the most sensitive direct detection dark matter experiment ever conducted. 

A study led by Prof. Gregory Voth, Dept. of Chemistry, ran the first realistic simulations of how the HIV capsid stabilizes and forms. "The vulnerabilities in the armor of the HIV-1 virus capsid were revealed by the simulations and analyses we did," said Voth. The realistic model could result in better understanding of the infection process and improved treatments.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Lee Chang-Li Teng, a theoretical physicist who contributed to and designed many particle-accelerator-based projects around the globe, and University of Chicago alumnus, died June 24.