News: Research

Ripples in the fabric of space-time called gravitational waves may be the key to solving the Hubble tension — one of the biggest nagging problems in physics.
 

A team of scientists says it's possible to use tiny ripples in space and time, or gravitational waves, to measure the rate at which our universe is expanding. This could solve one of the biggest mysteries in physics today, a disparity in calculating this rate known as the "Hubble tension."

A proposed five-satellite Cosmic Positioning System could measure cosmic distances directly and help address discrepancies in the Hubble constant through solar system–scale triangulation.

Event highlights faculty studies on AI’s role in education, and AI-driven research in fields ranging from oncology to visual arts.

Research from the lab of Paul Alivisatos, and a clear Cellular Automaton model for future teams, shed new light on cation exchange reaction of nanocrystals.

From split‑ring resonators to rare‑isotope beams, ATLAS has been expanding the frontiers of nuclear physics for four decades — and it’s just getting started.

Chicago researchers, teachers, and curriculum leaders partnered to test if robots need fictional personalities to boost students’ social-emotional learning. Their results show that honest, factual robots can effectively supplement classroom instruction—challenging conventions and illuminating a new, ethical path for educational technology. The study was honored with the Best Paper Award at the prestigious 2026 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction.
 

UChicago researchers launch civic chatbot to educate and challenge voters.
 

Argonne scientists discover how extreme conditions shape carbon into advanced materials for medicine, energy and defense.

Still in its original galaxy, a rare holdout from the second generation of stars sheds new light on the origins of the elements—and how massive supernovae reshaped the cosmos.

In this spring’s Compton Lectures, Keith McBride, a UChicago postdoctoral researcher, will illuminate how astroparticles can answer questions about the farthest reaches of our universe as well as be harnessed as practical tools to understand our earth. The free public talks run every Saturday from March 28 through May 16 at 11 AM.
 

University of Chicago’s PUEO mission floated above Antarctica for 23 days, collecting data on ultra-high energy neutrinos from 120,000 feet, with results expected in one year.

Scientists have dived deeper into the "eye of the storm" swirling around supermassive black holes than ever before. This unprecedented investigation of the turbulent and violent conditions around these cosmic titans, including the first black hole ever imaged by humanity, was possible thanks to the joint Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA)/ NASA X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM).
 

New infrared light sources mark 100-fold efficiency boost, could improve broad range of sensors, technology.

Greg Engel and Julian Solway are leading the new UChicago Berggren Center to bring quantum tools into the clinic. In a Q&A, they explain what that means for patients.