News: 2021

February

Four decades and millions of stars later, Sloan Digital Sky Survey co-founder retires

February 8, 2021

Rich Kron

Prof. Richard Kron's legacy includes helping to conceive and lead one of the most influential projects to map the sky, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, as well as the creation of the astrophysics major at UChicago and the project to digitize and explore the scientific potential of 100-year-old photographic images of the sky from the Yerkes Observatory. 


With $3.75M in support, PSD Fellowship Challenge exceeds fundraising goal

February 5, 2021

Illustration of red thermometer has contents surging beyond its limit, representing surpassing the $3.6M fundraising goal to reach $3.75M

The PSD Fellowship Challenge to support incoming graduate students in 2020-2021 surpassed its goal to raise a total of $3.75 million. Thank you to all our supporters!


Geoscientist Elisabeth Moyer explains the impact of Keystone XL Pipeline decision on FOX 32

February 5, 2021

Elisabeth Moyer on FOX 32 news

Geoscientist Elisabeth Moyer joined FOX 32 news to explain the environmental impact of the Keystone XL Pipeline and what the president's decision will mean for renewable energy proponents.


Computer scientist Marshini Chetty works to bridge the gap between science and humanity

February 3, 2021

Marshini Chetty on a mountain in South Africa

Computer scientist Marshini Chetty works to bridge the gap between science and humanity


Prof. Emeritus Eugene Parker and Prof. Joshua A. Frieman named Fellows of the American Astronomical Society

February 3, 2021

Prof. Eugene Parker next to Prof. Joshua A Frieman, and the crest of University of Chicago in white on maroon background

Prof. Joshua A. Frieman and Prof. Emeritus Eugene Parker named Fellows of the American Astronomical Society. Prof. Frieman was recognized for his significant theoretical work on inflationary cosmology and dark energy and for pioneering contributions to optical survey science. Prof. Parker was named a Legacy Fellow for pioneering contributions to solar astrophysics.


Physics student, Grace Chesmore, led optical measurements for Simons Observatory metamaterial tiles

February 2, 2021

Grace Chesmore in a cosmology laboratory

A Physics student in the McMahon lab, Grace Chesmore, led the optical measurements of new metamaterial tiles to improve the sensitivity of large telescopes at SimonsObservatory. This discovery may yield insights into how the universe began.


January

Professor Elena Shevchenko joins Chemistry faculty

January 29, 2021

Elena Shevchenko

Professor Elena Shevchenko joins Chemistry faculty. She is recognized as one of the top scientists worldwide in the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals and nanocrystal superlattices.


Intentional Space: simple strategies blog

January 28, 2021

Blue watercolor background with the title  in white font

better listening
Read the PSD Communications blog Intentional Space for simple strategies to help you navigate working from home and heighten your awareness. For this January post, PSD Communications Specialist Maureen McMahon spoke to psychologists about the gift of better listening—why to offer it, to whom, and how.


Roger Hildebrand, Manhattan Project veteran and ‘giant’ of physics and astrophysics, 1922-2021

January 27, 2021

Prof. Emeritus Roger Hillebrand

Roger Hildebrand, Manhattan Project veteran and ‘giant’ of physics and astrophysics, 1922-2021. Prof. Emeritus Hildebrand, who revolutionized sub-millimeter astronomy and the Dean of the College during the Vietnam era, died Jan. 21. He was 98.


New self-assembly method creates bioelectronics out of microscopic structures

January 27, 2021

Close up of a nanotechnology experiment for simulating human tissue interactions with the nervous system.

New self-assembly method creates bioelectronics out of microscopic structures. Scientists in Prof. Bozhi Tian’s lab use a “bottom-up” approach to yield highly customizable bioelectronics.


Cosmologist Brian Nord on his coalition of physicists and computer scientists promoting algorithmic accountability

January 26, 2021

Cosmologist Brian Nord is interviewed by Gizmodo about building a coalition of physicists and computer scientists promoting algorithmic accountability. Nord is a machine learning expert at Fermi National Laboratory who studies strong gravitational lensing and deep learning.


UChicago CS team led by Prof. Nick Feamster receives $1.2M to map the digital divide in Chicago

January 26, 2021

Nick Feamster

UChicago CS team led by Prof. Nick Feamster receives $1.2M to map the digital divide in Chicago. Grant from data.org to fund ‘moonshot’ to bring high-speed internet accessible to all


The Doomsday Clock will be unveiled again this week

January 26, 2021

The Doomsday Clock is a metaphor that represents how close humanity is to self-destruction, due to nuclear weapons and climate change. The clock hands are set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group formed by Manhattan Project scientists at the University of Chicago who helped build the atomic bomb but protested using it against people. Jan. 26 they will unveil where the hands are for 2021.


PUEO mission led by Assoc. Prof. Abigail Vieregg chosen for NASA Pioneers Program

January 26, 2021

Associate Professor Abigail Vieregg

As part of its new Pioneers Program, NASA has chosen four small-scale astrophysics missions for further concept development, including PUEO, a balloon mission led by Assoc. Prof. Abigail Vieregg, that will launch from Antarctica and detect signals from ultra-high energy neutrinos.


PSD in the News - December 2020 and January 2021

January 22, 2021

PSD in white against a maroon background

There were 39 news articles featuring Physical Sciences Division research and accomplishments in December and January. Scientists created the first computational model of the entire virus responsible for COVID-19, pioneered measurements of electricity in cells, and charted the evolution of U.S. energy consumption. Several valued members of PSD were memorialized, including a Nobel lareaute and a graduate student. See highlights below and read the full list.