News: 2024

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.

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.

Scientists in the quest to mitigate climate change have proposed new ideas in geoengineering. A prominent proponent of this strategy, UChicago professor David Keith, believes it is essential to continue research efforts in this field.

Recently, Central Europe and eastern North Carolina have been affected by devastating floods. Prof. Noboru Nakamura, from the Geophysical Sciences department, comments on the unusual environmental conditions in the United States.

UChicago professor and Nobel Prize winner Jack Szostak is the co-author of a new book titled Is Earth Exceptional?: The Quest for Cosmic Life. In this new interview, Prof. Szostak and his co-author, astrophysicist Mario Livio, discuss the questions that fuel their scientific work.

Zewei Liao, Michael Rosenbaum, Brennan Schaffner, Lennart Maximilian Seifert, and Shawn Shan were selected to the prestigious program’s Class of 2025.

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.

Prof. Scott A. Snyder has been appointed as the new Master of the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division. In a new interview, he shares insights into his research, his upcoming duties, and what has made his experience at UChicago unique.

Please welcome the faculty joining the Physical Sciences Division in the ’24–25 academic year.

A new master’s program in environmental science at the University of Chicago will provide students with the foundational quantitative and data science skills needed across a wide range of environmental science disciplines, as well as the opportunity to specialize in areas such as climate science, biogeochemistry, ecology, and oceanography.
 

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

A new $75 million investment in geoengineering research will analyze the efficacy of plans to artificially cool the planet. This initiative relates to the work and advocacy of UChicago Prof. David Keith, a leading figure in the field.

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.

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.

This October marks the return of  UChicago’s South Side Science Festival, fostering community between campus and South Side communities and expanding scientific engagement. The annual event is co-organized by the University’s Biological Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and Office of Civic Engagement.