News: Research

2025

New data tool tracks pesticides’ impact on public health and the environment

June 16, 2025

Image containing the words

The California People and Pesticides Explorer equips citizens with visibility into pesticide use and its effects.


How does life rebound from mass extinctions? Scientists find surprising answers

June 16, 2025

Examining the fallout from the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period, researchers found that the species that survived weren’t random.

Study by UChicago, Smithsonian, UK Natural History Museum challenges assumptions about survival after global catastrophe.


Tiny fragment of asteroid giving Field Museum scientists a glimpse 4.6 billion years into the past

June 16, 2025

Photo of an asteroid in space.

The Field Museum is the new temporary home to a tiny piece of pristine asteroid. The fragment of the asteroid Bennu, on loan from NASA, won't be on display for visitors, but will give scientists the chance to study an asteroid sample uncontaminated by Earth's atmosphere.


The James Webb Space Telescope reveals the oldest galaxy in the universe

June 16, 2025

Depiction of galaxy in the black void of space.

Asst. Prof. Harley Katz discusses the finding of the oldest galaxy in the universe and how that affects our understanding of astronomy. 


Epic effort to ground physics in math opens up the secrets of time

June 16, 2025

Yu Deng usually studies the behavior of systems of waves. But by applying his expertise to the realm of particles, he has now resolved a major open problem in mathematical physics.

By proving mathematically how individual molecules create the complex motion of fluids, three mathematicians, including Yu Deng, have illuminated why time can’t flow in reverse.
 


UChicago receives $21M donation for new quantum research center

June 16, 2025

Greg Engel, left, professor at the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the department of chemistry; philanthropist Thea Berggren, center; and Julian Solway, professor of medicine and founding director of the Institute for Translational M

The University of Chicago is establishing a new center on quantum biology and medicine, thanks to a $21 million gift by Thea Berggren. 


A surprising study found hints of biological activity on a distant planet. Now, scientists say there’s more to the story.

June 16, 2025

An artist's concept shows what K2-18b might look like. Thought to be covered entirely in liquid water with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, the exoplanet may be a good place to look for biological activity.

Analysis by Rafael Luque and Michael Zhang casts doubt on the detection of biosignatures. 


Moungi Bawendi delivers 2025 Harkins lecture at UChicago

June 12, 2025

Photo of Moungi Bawendi lecturing in front of a projection of data.

Nobel laureate Moungi Bawendi reflects on quantum dot revolution with his alma mater. 


Argonne projects receive $10M in federal funding for technology to reduce the impact of used nuclear fuel

June 12, 2025

Image of two scientists working in front of a white board.

Two Argonne projects awarded over $10 million in funding as part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E) program to enable transmutation of U.S. commercial nuclear stockpile. 


Argonne and Fermilab receive $3.2M in federal funding for nuclear transmutation technology

June 12, 2025

Argonne physicist Michael Kelly loads a superconducting cavity into a large furnace.

Argonne and Fermilab's funding is part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program to reduce the impact of used nuclear fuel.
 


Muon g-2 announces most precise measurement of the magnetic anomaly of the muon

June 12, 2025

Gathering of people in the Fermi National Accelerator.

The third and final result, based on the last three years of data, is in perfect agreement with the experiment’s previous results. This long-awaited value will be the world’s most precise measurement of the muon magnetic anomaly for many years to come.
 


Understanding ocean rebound after mass extinction events could help us in the future

June 12, 2025

This lineage was widespread and abundant in the Late Cretaceous, but just a few species survive today off the coasts of Australia

David Jablonski discusses how ecosystems recover from extinction events and how we can best prepare for the next one. 


Is the hubble tension starting to go away?

June 12, 2025

Above, Webb’s image of one such galaxy, known as NGC 1365.

Scientists led by Wendy Freedman have made a new calculation of the speed at which the universe is expanding, using the data taken by the powerful new James Webb Space Telescope on multiple galaxies. 


Mina Lee, University of Chicago professor “AI is a partner in thinking together”

June 12, 2025

Professor Mina Lee of the University of Chicago(UChicago).

Mina Lee shares insights into her research on AI and writing, and discusses the future of LLMs.


Astronomers thought they found signs of life on distant planet. New studies are skeptical.

June 12, 2025

This artist's impression shows what the faraway planet K2-18b, its host star and an accompanying planet in this system might look like.

A series of studies, including one by Rafael Luque, have cast doubt on the sensational claim that "the strongest evidence yet" was found that life exists anywhere else besides Earth.