News: 2026

March

PUEO mission floats over Antarctica to detect rare cosmic particles

March 2, 2026

In this handout photo provided by NASA, a landscape of mountains and valleys speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina

University of Chicago’s PUEO mission floated above Antarctica for 23 days, collecting data on ultra-high energy neutrinos from 120,000 feet, with results expected in one year.


NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the ‘eye of the storm’ swirling around supermassive black holes

March 2, 2026

(Main) An illustration of the supermassive black hole M87* (Inset) the NASA/JAXA mission XRISM

Scientists have dived deeper into the "eye of the storm" swirling around supermassive black holes than ever before. This unprecedented investigation of the turbulent and violent conditions around these cosmic titans, including the first black hole ever imaged by humanity, was possible thanks to the joint Japanese Aerospace Agency (JAXA)/ NASA X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM).
 


From India to University of Chicago: how studying in the US transformed my academic & personal journey

March 2, 2026

Photo of Rahul Kukreja.

Rahul Kukreja, pursuing an MS in Statistics at the University of Chicago, shares his transformative journey from India to the US. He highlights academic rigor, the fast-paced quarter system, cultural adjustment, emotional resilience, and building networks. Beyond studies, he learned self-reliance, cooking, and the value of relationships, emphasizing growth through challenges and curiosity.


This spring at UChicago: TEI’26 unites technology, art, and design on campus

March 2, 2026

This March, the University of Chicago will become a crossroads for researchers, designers, artists, and technologists from around the world as it hosts the 20th ACM Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, TEI’26, from March 8–11, 2

This March, the University of Chicago will become a crossroads for researchers, designers, artists, and technologists from around the world as it hosts the 20th ACM Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, TEI’26, from March 8–11, 2026. For UChicago students, faculty, and staff, it’s a chance to engage with leaders at the forefront of human-computer interaction and help celebrate two decades of innovation in tangible, embedded, and embodied technologies.


UChicago scientists find better way to make infrared light—using quantum dots

March 2, 2026

University of Chicago scientists created tiny structures that use quantum dots to emit infrared light much more efficiently than previous methods. Above, a row of the tiny “bow-tie” structures revealed by electron microscopy.

New infrared light sources mark 100-fold efficiency boost, could improve broad range of sensors, technology.


How quantum science is moving from lab to hospital

March 2, 2026

Quantum tools, such as an emerging class of sensors that can fit inside cells, are opening new horizons for medical research.

Greg Engel and Julian Solway are leading the new UChicago Berggren Center to bring quantum tools into the clinic. In a Q&A, they explain what that means for patients.


U.S. weather and climate disasters could top $1 trillion by 2030

March 2, 2026

Cars and people moving through flooded streets.

Analyzing NOAA's billion-dollar weather disaster database, a UChicago-led study projects sharply rising costs driven by climate change and expanding development.


Submit your images from UChicago research to 2026 Science as Art contest

March 2, 2026

This image, titled “Microfossil,'” was submitted to the 2023 Science as Art contest by Rachel Laker. It shows a micrograph of fossil bone (gray) taken during Laker’s research; embedded within the matrix is a tiny, rainbow-colored microfossil.

University Communications invites all members of the UChicago community to submit images from their scientific research for the fifth annual Science as Art contest. The winner will receive $300. A “fan favorite,” judged by the public on UChicago’s social media feeds, will also receive $150. The images will be displayed on the UChicago main website, the UChicago Intranet, social media, and in exhibitions around campus. The deadline to enter is Friday, March 13.


M3 Workshop advances federated AI for biomedical research

March 2, 2026

Robert Grossman (Frederick H. Rawson Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Computer Science; Jim and Karen Frank Director, CTDS), presented on AI Commons and AI Meshes.

The workshop convened researchers to discuss progress on AI models, tools and data commons for applying AI to biology, medicine, and healthcare.


Giulia Galli appointed associate editor to Reviews of Modern Physics

March 2, 2026

Photo of Giulia Galli.

Globally recognized leader in computational materials becomes the first woman to lead journal’s flagship Computation Physics "Reviews" section.


A week in the life of a part-time online MS in Applied Data Science student

March 2, 2026

Photo of Monica Para.

Monica Para balances a full-time Data Analyst role with part-time online studies in the University of Chicago’s MS in Applied Data Science program. Her week includes office work, AI projects, evening Zoom lectures, assignments, and tech community involvement. She uses weekends for coursework and hiking, emphasizing strong time management.


February

Hunting cosmic ghosts from the edge of space

February 24, 2026

A scientific balloon starts its ascent into the air as it prepares to launch carrying NASA’s Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO) mission.

A University of Chicago–led team launched NASA’s Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO) experiment via balloon above Antarctica, aiming to detect elusive, ultra-high-energy neutrinos. 


Scientists pair AI and human knowledge to tackle notoriously difficult physics question

February 24, 2026

Photo of an ocean whirlpool beneath a bridge.

New approach may help shed light on turbulence, other stubborn natural mysteries.


MS in Applied Data Science students build end-to-end data engineering systems

February 24, 2026

Photo of a computer set up with multiple screens that contain lines of code.

​​In a Data Engineering course taught by Steve Barry, a team of Master’s in Applied Data Science students built a full end-to-end data pipeline, from raw public datasets to an interactive, AI-powered interface. The project gave students hands-on experience designing the kind of data infrastructure that underpins real-world applications, developing the technical skills.


Strengthening the U.S. scientific talent pipeline through postdoctoral fellowships

February 24, 2026

clockwise from top left: Byungjun Kim, Arushi Bodas, and Thomas Wester

Congratulations to Chemistry postdoc Byungjun Kim and Physics postdocs Arushi Bodas and Thomas Wester, who have received fellowship funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.