News: 2026

As robots become more expressive and socially capable, the line between machines and living characters is starting to blur. From Disney’s lifelike Olaf robot to interactive droids inspired by Star Wars, recent developments highlight how far robotics has come in replicating human-like behavior and emotion.

A newly confirmed ancient star may preserve one of the clearest records of the universe’s earliest stellar generations.

Congratulations to Guangbin Dong, who has received the 2026 Janssen Prize. This award recognizes his groundbreaking contributions in a broad range of topics including activation of inert Carbon-Carbon and Caron-Hydrogen bonds, total synthesis of bioactive natural products, development of novel boron chemistry methods, and syntheses of specific graphene nanoribbons.​​

Chicago Human+AI (CHAI) Lab launches Agent4Science, a platform where AI agents share, critique, and debate research.
 

Chuan He developed a technique known as nano-hmC-seal that labels DNA fragments carrying the 5-hmC modification, allowing scientists to map patterns of gene activity across the genome, which is now being used to create blood-based DNA signals to help track osteosarcoma. 

DSI, CEO and the RCC co-hosted a watch party sponsored by NVIDIA for Jensen Huang's GTC 2026 keynote, one of the most anticipated talks in AI each year.
 

The largest neutrino experiment in the United States was named the Project of the Year by the Underground Construction Association for completing a significant and challenging underground construction project with little or no issues.

Like many people, Miguel Roca had long struggled to fall asleep. Podcasts helped, sometimes, soft voices narrating history or science, but they were inconsistent. So he began to wonder: what if the story could be tailored, not just to a general audience, but to him? That question led to Stories for Sleepless Nights, an AI-driven system that generates personalized bedtime stories designed to calm the mind.

A novel experiment at UChicago reveals fundamental laws governing swirling fluids.

From sustainability-themed campus tours to a park clean-up, get involved with green campus initiatives through April.

Prakapenka was selected for developing the GeoSoilEnviroCARS beamline into a hotspot for high-pressure science.

Physicist Clay Córdova has been named a recipient of the 2026 New Horizons in Physics Prize for his work in quantum field theory.
The New Horizons prize, which is given to early-career scientists and mathematicians who have already made a substantial impact on their fields, includes an award of $100,000.

Project Hail Mary is a story about science saving the world. In March, the University of Chicago and Argonne teamed up to celebrate the science of Project Hail Mary with offerings for science and science-fiction fans.

The University of Chicago Data Science Institute faculty, affiliated faculty, and partners win seed funding to advance actionable AI weather forecasting in developing economies in Africa and Asia.

Congratulations to Alexandra Worden, professor of Geophysical Sciences and senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory, who has received a Guggenheim Fellowship. She joins a group of distinguished artists, scientists, and scholars in the 101st class of Guggenheim Fellows honored for “prior career achievement and exceptional promise.”