News: Research

2024

How AI protein structure prediction and design won the Nobel prize

November 9, 2024

Icon of protein structure

David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper won this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Jumper attended grad school at UChicago, where he worked alongside biochemist Tobin Sosnick and theoretical chemist Karl Freed.


Five questions with Weixin Tang

November 9, 2024

Photo of Tang

UChicago's Neubauer Family Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry discusses her current research.


‘Quantum CD’ could hold up to 1,000 times more data than today’s optical disks

November 9, 2024

Photo of CD

A new study, co-authored by Prof. Giulia Galli, explores how the properties of quantum mechanics might help develop a new type of data storage device.


New device ‘zaps’ bacteria on the skin, potentially preventing infections

November 9, 2024

Photo of patch

Early experiments suggest a patch that delivers harmless electric currents into the skin can thwart certain bacterial infections. UChicago Prof. Bozhi Tian who co-authored this new study, comments on the possibilities opened up by this work and next steps for the research.


UChicago scientist develops paradigm to predict behavior of atmospheric rivers

November 4, 2024

satellite image of atmospheric river

Study by Asst. Prof. Da Yang provides powerful framework that sheds light on key processes driving extreme weather patterns.


University of Chicago launches groundbreaking new institute to confront climate change

October 29, 2024

Image of UChicago with text

The University of Chicago launched the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, an ambitious effort combining frontier research in economics and climate policy, and key energy and climate technologies, with a pioneering approach to education. The result is a first-of-its-kind institute that will produce new and deeper understandings of the climate challenge as well as practical, effective solutions.


UChicago researchers use new method of finding atmospheres in distant planets

October 23, 2024

Artist rendering of what terrestrial exoplanet GJ 1132 b might look like

UChicago astronomers have tested a simpler, and more accurate way to determine whether or not exoplanets have atmospheres, a leap in learning more about the potential habitability of far-away planets. 


UChicago scientists create molecules that can ‘turn off’ cancer growth in mice

October 23, 2024

Illustration of one such HIF protein

A study from the UChicago showed a new way to target previously “undruggable” proteins involved in cancer by building a new kind of synthetic molecule. These results are encouraging and will further exploration into new methods to fight diseases.  


UChicago to discuss climate and energy, launch new institute at Oct. 30 event

October 23, 2024

Icon of green energy

On Oct. 30, UChicago will welcome world-leading scholars and leaders from industry and government to discuss climate and energy policy and research—culminating with the official launch of a groundbreaking new climate and energy institute at UChicago.  


Control the path and power of hurricanes like Milton? Forget it, scientists say

October 23, 2024

Icon of hurricane

In light of the devastating effects of hurricane Milton, scientists are discussing the possibilities and limitations of scientific responses to climate change. UChicago Prof. David Keith, faculty director of the Climate Systems Engineering Initiative, comments on the potential benefits of geoengineering.


New study reveals how Josephson junctions dissipate energy, offering insights to improve superconducting qubit performance

October 17, 2024

Image of energy dissipating

In new research paper, co-authored by UChicago Asst. Prof. Andrew Higginbotham, scientists demonstrate that Josephson junctions dissipate energy as photons, directly measuring them using a sensitive bolometer.


Three Chicago universities team up to map the brain

October 9, 2024

Asst. Prof. Sarah King (right) and a student working with a photoemission electron microscope.

The University of Chicago, Chicago State University, and the University of Illinois Chicago received a $4.8 million grant from the NIH BRAIN Initiative to build a faster microscope for mapping all the connections in the brain.


Why can’t scientists agree on the age of the universe? Big Brains with Wendy Freedman (Ep. 144)

October 9, 2024

Galaxy icon

In a new episode of the Big Brains podcast, Prof. Wendy Freedman explains the conflicting research surrounding the Hubble constant and the Standard Model of physics.


UChicago scientists decode key mutation in many cancers

October 9, 2024

Photo of a microscope in use

UChicago researchers have discovered how a key gene involved in cancer works—which both suggests new treatment options and furthers our understanding of gene expression itself.


New neutrino detector finally in operation, and it could break physics as we know it

October 6, 2024

The SBND detector system

In a major breakthrough, scientists have spotted elusive neutrinos for the first time using the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). UChicago Prof. David Schmitz commented on the significant impact of this research.