News: Research

2022

NSF awards $20 million to universities for advanced data science

August 1, 2022

An illustration of translucent bar graph columns rising across a black expanse to suggest the field of data science

A $20M NSF award will establish the Institute for Data, Econometrics, Algorithms, and Learning, a multi-disciplinary effort led by the University of Illinois Chicago in collaboration with the University of Chicago and other area universities. It will focus on the foundations of machine learning, high-dimensional data analysis and inference, and data science and society.


PSD in the News - July 2022

August 1, 2022

PSD against a white and turquoise background

This month PSD researchers have been featured for their efforts to use supercomputing simulations to reveal weaknesses in HIV-1 defense, share the scientific community's enthusiasm for the first full-color images of James Webb Space Telescope, and to invent a ‘quantum flute’ that can make particles of light move together.


XENON collaboration shatters sensitivity record in search for dark matter

July 28, 2022

Component of XENON Detector

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


Jordan Bimm comments, Russia to drop out of ISS after 2024

July 27, 2022

ESA French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, left, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, center, and U.S. astronaut Peggy Annette Whitson pose for a photo before their final preflight practical examination in a mock-up of a Soyuz space craft at Russian Space Training

UChicago historian of science Jordan Bimm says Russia's departure from the International Space Station creates a constellation of uncertainties about maintaining its operation.


Supercomputing simulation reveals weaknesses in HIV-1 defense

July 26, 2022

Supercomputers at an NSF site in Texas

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 new look at disordered carbon

July 21, 2022

Unlike diamonds (left) and graphite, amorphous carbon (right) has no crystalline structure,

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.


The new science coming from the James Webb telescope has astronomers giddy

July 21, 2022

A man takes a cellphone picture of the James Webb Space Telescope images being shown to Times Square.

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.


UChicago Data Science Institute announces founding industry affiliates

July 15, 2022

Mike Franklin speaking at the DSI Summit

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.


Awarded time with the JWST, astronomers from Northwestern and UChicago are over the moon

July 14, 2022

Jacob Bean

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.


NASA’s new flagship telescope just released its beautiful first images of the universe

July 12, 2022

cosmic cloud captured by James Webb Space Telescope

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.


Cryptography solutions selected to fight cyberattacks from quantum computers

July 11, 2022

Illustration of quantum infrastructure for computing

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.


BigBrains Podcast: Extreme heat waves: Why are they surging? with Noboru Nakamura

July 8, 2022

Noboru Nakamura

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


UChicago scientists invent ‘quantum flute’ that can make particles of light move together

July 8, 2022

A metal quantum device with holes snaking in a line, known as a quantum flute

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.


Scientists announced the discovery of the Higgs boson 10 years ago. What’s next?

July 8, 2022

Large Hadron Collider

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.


CERN’s Large Hadron Collider scientists reveal new particle discovery as accelerator research resumes

July 6, 2022

Scientists in CERN's facilities

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