News: 2026

In this spring’s Compton Lectures, Keith McBride, a UChicago postdoctoral researcher, will illuminate how astroparticles can answer questions about the farthest reaches of our universe as well as be harnessed as practical tools to understand our earth. The free public talks run every Saturday from March 28 through May 16 at 11 AM.
 

Bonnie Fleming has joined UChicago as professor of physics, effective March 9. Previously, Fleming served as Fermilab’s Deputy Director for Science and Technology and Chief Research Officer and a part-time University of Chicago faculty member with appointments in the Physics Department and the Enrico Fermi Institute. Read a Q&A with our newest full-time physics professor.

University of Chicago Prof. Emeritus Karl Frederick Freed, whose mathematical rigor provided the scaffolding for modern molecular theory, died Jan. 11. He was 83.

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.

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).
 

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.