2021
Aloof neutrons may actually ‘talk’ to one another briefly in new kind of symmetry
September 9, 2021
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Dam Thanh Son, the University Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago, laid out the argument that aloof neutrons may actually ‘talk’ to one another briefly in new kind of symmetry in a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which he co-authored with Hans-Werner Hammer of the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany. Their findings propose a new realm of ‘unnuclear physics.'
Asst. Prof. Aaron Elmore receives CAREER Award for resource-efficient databases
September 7, 2021
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Aaron Elmore, assistant professor at UChicago Computer Science, develops database models that use intermittent query processing (IQP). The approach grafts machine learning prediction to database processing, providing more efficient computation to systems working with bursty data or intermittent monitoring. As a new recipient of the CAREER award, the National Science Foundation's most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty, Elmore will continue designing these innovative systems for data-driven applications.
PSD in the News - August 2021
September 3, 2021
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This month PSD researchers have been featured for their efforts to bring software that makes quantum computing faster to the market, to speed up development of materials that can harness energy from sunlight, and to pioneer US quantum research and design a new internet protocol that manages different types of quantum information encoding.
A new carbon material for better bioelectronics
September 3, 2021
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Prof. Bozhi Tian’s group has a newly patented method for fabrication of carbon-based bioelectronic devices and interfaces that could shape therapeutics of the future. The discovery demonstrates electrical biosensing that is more flexible, efficient, and stable.
NSF announces $25 million institute in Chicago for quantum biology research
September 2, 2021
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As part of a nationwide initiative to boost research in quantum science, the National Science Foundation will establish a $25 million institute in Chicago to investigate quantum sensing for biology and train the quantum workforce. Headquartered at the University of Chicago and in partnership with Chicago State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Harvard University, the institute will be funded for five years.
U.S. Department of Energy funds center to build a foundation for quantum chemistry
September 2, 2021
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UChicago chemists specializing in mathematical physics, materials chemistry, and physical chemistry are part of a team of scientists who have received $3 million in funding to support three years of quantum information science research. Working with Harvard University and Purdue University, the collaboration will try to build the foundations for using quantum computers to model molecules at the atomic level—yielding not only insights that could lead the way to new chemical discoveries, but potentially laying the groundwork for quantum computing as a whole.
UChicago turbocharges quantum computing quest
September 1, 2021
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Crain’s Chicago Business profiles UChicago’s major investment in quantum computing research in hopes of putting itself and Chicago at the forefront of the next big innovation in technology.
Internet protocol for different quantum information encoding awarded DOE funding
August 26, 2021
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As part of a new $61 million investment from the Department of Energy in quantum research, a consortium of scientists from University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were awarded funding to design a new internet protocol that manages different types of quantum information encoding.
Machine learning provides a shortcut to simulate interactions in materials for solar energy harvesting
August 25, 2021
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Professor of Chemistry Giulia Galli is among a team of scientists at Argonne National Laboratory using machine learning to speed up development of materials that can harness energy from sunlight. The team was able to simplify the solution of the quantum mechanical equations that describe how light is absorbed by a solid, liquid or molecule.
The secret Nazi past and billionaire future of U.S. space innovation, podcast with Jordan Bimm
August 20, 2021
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In this latest episode of the podcast Big Brains, space historian Jordan Bimm examines our militaristic relationship to the stars, and how it still shapes our future.
New startup from CS Prof. Fred Chong and Pranav Gokhale, PhD’20, builds software to make quantum computing faster
August 18, 2021
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Just out of stealth, Seymour Goodman Professor of Computer Science Fred Chong and Pranav Gokhale, PhD’20, have a new startup for software that makes quantum computing faster. Part of Duality, the first accelerator in the U.S. for quantum startups, Super.tech is building software to power next-gen quantum computing.
How a genetic breakthrough could address global hunger, podcast with Chuan He
August 9, 2021
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The University of Chicago podcast network interviews PSD biochemist Chuan He about his breakthrough discovery manipulating RNA for higher yields and greater drought resistance in rice and potatoes, for "Big Brains Podcast: How a genetic breakthrough could address global hunger."
Brian Nord envisions hybrid analysis method, applying AI to cosmology
August 4, 2021
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Fermi and UChicago Kavli scientist Brian Nord has envisioned a new hybrid data-analysis method that was awarded funding by the Department of Energy. It integrates both the strengths of machine learning and the interpretations of statistics. His new method could potentially advance how scientists approach cosmology.
UChicago researchers excel in IBM Quantum Open Science Challenge
August 3, 2021
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Two UChicago-affiliated researchers came out on top at the IBM Quantum Open Science Challenge — Alexey Galda for the graph state challenge and Pranav Gokhale for the SWAP gate challenge. The first-of-its-kind challenge presented two targets to the research community and offered prize money and experimental time on their quantum computer as rewards.
PSD in the News - July 2021
August 2, 2021
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This month PSD researchers have been featured for their efforts to understand how manipulating RNA can allow plants to yield dramatically more crops and increase drought tolerance, explain why planets with oxygenated atmospheres like ours could host alien life, and extol what billionaires mean for the changing arc of aerospace history. And, a Nobel-winning biochemist, Jack Szostak, will join the faculty in 2022.