News: Research

2024

Silicon Valley renegades pollute the sky to save the planet

October 3, 2024

Icon of cloud

Entrepreneurs are exploring the potential of using pollutants to combat climate change. In response, scientists are expanding research into stratospheric solar geoengineering, with UChicago recently launching an ambitious new program.


Building the quantum economy — Chicago style

October 2, 2024

Icon of Chicago Sears Tower

Among the projects seeking to expand the reach of quantum technology research, the Chicago Quantum Exchange stands out. In this interview, UChicago's David Awschalom, founding director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, talks about the origins of this project and its ambitions to position Chicago at the forefront of quantum technology.


‘Weird’ ancient galaxy discovered by James Webb Space Telescope

October 2, 2024

Astronomy animated icon

A new study co-authored by UChicago Assistant Prof. Harley Katz uncovered a galaxy from the early universe where gas may shine brighter than its stars. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists found that this galaxy may help explain how the first stars and galaxies formed.


‘Spooky action at a distance’ observed in quarks for the first time

October 2, 2024

The ATLAS detector

Physicists at CERN report the first observations of quantum entanglement in quarks. A key contributor to this discovery was UChicago physicist Yoav Afik, who helped develop a method to measure entanglement in top quarks.


Data Ecology: A socio-technical approach to controlling dataflows

September 26, 2024

Portrait of Prof. Castro and Prof. Fahey

Computer Science Asst. Prof. Raul Castro Fernandez and Law School Asst. Prof. Bridget Fahey are developing a new field of cross-disciplinary study on what they call “data ecology.”


Prof. Feamster puts network performance under the microscope

September 26, 2024

Animated icon of a computer

In this podcast episode, UChicago Professor Nick Feamster discusses how his teams at the Internet Equity Initiative and NetMicroscope are using data analytics to provide insight into regional network performance, application quality, and how to improve network automation.


Can we engineer our way out of the climate crisis? U. of C. hopes to find out.

September 26, 2024

Portrait of Prof. David Keith

UChicago continues to position itself as a leader in the emerging field of geoengineering. Prof. David Keith leads the university's climate engineering program, seeking to understand how geoengineering can be used to cool down the planet. This initiative continues to recruit a wide range of researchers committed to the cause of fighting global warming.


The Goldilocks zone of cobalt reactivity: navigating the balance of stability and reactivity in cobalt oxides

September 24, 2024

Icon of microscope

Looking for more sustainable energy solutions, scientists are examining the promising role that cobalt oxides can play in innovative technologies; however, utilizing their potential poses a challenge for researchers. New research from John Anderson's laboratory tackles this complexity by successfully stabilizing a molecule with two cobalt centers.


A scientific polymath paves her own path to intellectual freedom

September 24, 2024

Portrait of Prof. Palmer

Prof. Stephanie Palmer, whose work blends biology, physics, math, and computer science, is one of six new Schmidt Science Polymaths, a program to support creative, multidisciplinary researchers.


Was life on Earth inevitable or incredible?

September 19, 2024

Animated icon of the galaxy

In this opinion piece, Chemistry Prof. Jack W. Szostak discusses the mysteries behind the origins of life on Earth and how these questions can inform scientists' search for life elsewhere.


NSF and Simons Foundation launch $20 million National AI Research Institute in Astronomy

September 18, 2024

SkAI

SkAI Institute will develop AI tools and accelerate astronomy’s data-driven revolution.


2024 Innovator of the Year: Shawn Shan builds tools to help artists fight back against exploitative AI

September 17, 2024

Photo of Shawn Shan

Shawn Shan, a PhD student in computer science, was named one of MIT Technology Review’s 2024 Innovators Under 35. Shan helped create Glaze and Nightshade, tools that allow artists to protect their work from AI scraping.


Beckman Foundation revisits Sarah King’s spectroscopic research

September 17, 2024

Portrait of Prof. Sarah King

In a new video, the Beckman Foundation highlights the research of UChicago Asst. Professor Sarah King in dynamic spectroscopy. King was a recipient of the 2020 Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Program award.


Ben Zhao: One of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI

September 13, 2024

Photo-Illustration by TIME

The second edition of TIME100 AI showcases some of the most influential new leaders in AI research and technology. Featured in this year's list is UChicago's Computer Science professor Ben Zhao, the inventor of Nightshade, a program that helps protect artists' work from AI scraping.


Something is wrong with our understanding of the Universe and the closer we look the weirder it gets

September 13, 2024

Photo of the Planck satellite

Scientists' understanding of the universe is ever-evolving, and recent research has tackled some of the biggest questions in cosmology. Professor Wendy Freedman's work is among these landmark developments, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope to challenge the existence of the Hubble tension.