News: Research

2025

Self-assembling nanoparticles at room temp could transform drug delivery

August 25, 2025

Researchers designed nanoparticles that can self-assemble at room temperature and deliver RNA (green) to living cells (nuclei shown in blue), offering a new pathway to vaccine and biologic drug design.

Stuart Rowan and other researchers developed self-assembling nanoparticles that deliver RNA and proteins at room temperature, offering a simple, scalable solution for drug delivery.


Ultra-metal-poor star discovered in Milky Way’s halo

August 25, 2025

On-sky location of GDR3_526285, Small Magellanic Cloud, and Large Magellanic Cloud in Galactic coordinates.

Astronomers discovered an ultra-metal-poor star, GDR3_526285, in the Milky Way's halo, offering insights into the early universe and star formation.


The Webb telescope’s look at an Earth-size alien planet was bleak

August 25, 2025

Scientists did not find a robust atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1d, an Earth-size exoplanet many hoped would show signs of having air.

The James Webb Space Telescope found no atmosphere around the Earth-sized exoplanet TRAPPIST-1d, casting doubt on its habitability and further dimming hopes for the TRAPPIST-1 system's potential to support life.


Harvard team builds sunlight-powered flyers to explore Earth’s upper atmosphere

August 25, 2025

Artist depiction of disc-like devices in mesosphere.

David Keith and a Harvard team creates sunlight-powered flyers to study the mesosphere, offering new insights for climate science and future planetary exploration.


Magnetic field mapping in Sagittarius C reveals new clues to Milky Way core dynamics

August 25, 2025

Swirling red lines around a central black point.

SOFIA data maps Sagittarius C’s magnetic fields, revealing how star winds shape gas, filaments, and dynamics at the Milky Way’s turbulent core.


The third rock from another sun shows no signs of life so far

August 25, 2025

An artist’s concept of the exoplanet passing in front of its red dwarf star, which could be too volatile to allow for organic life.

James Webb finds no Earth-like atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1 d, dimming hopes for life in the nearby seven-planet system 40 light-years away.


How AI poisoning is fighting bots that hoover data without permission

August 25, 2025

Image depicting various hand gestures, animals, and eyes.

AI bots now dominate web traffic, prompting creators to “poison” data to block scrapers, though the same tactic could fuel misinformation.


NASA records 13-billion-year signal — Dawn’s whisper captured on Earth

August 25, 2025

Image of 3 bright white and blue lights against a dark blue background.

NASA detects a faint 13-billion-year-old polarized light signal from the universe’s first stars, revealing clues about the cosmic dawn.


New Simons collaboration explores black holes and strong gravity

August 25, 2025

An illustration of a black hole.

Daniel Holz, professor in the Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Physics, serves as a PI on a research project that explores the physics of strong gravity. 


Levitating disks could open a new window into the Earth’s upper atmosphere

August 25, 2025

An illustration of how the devices could levitate high in the atmosphere powered only by sunlight.

Devices can levitate powered only by sunlight, could explore little-known areas.


Scientists rule out an Earth-like atmosphere for nearby exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 D

August 25, 2025

This artist’s concept depicts what planet TRAPPIST-1 d might look like as it passes in front of its turbulent star, with other members of the closely packed system shown in the background.

Webb telescope helps scientists narrow down the search for “Earth twin” planets.


Quantum-enabling startup founded at UChicago joins the Chicago Quantum Exchange

August 25, 2025

The K1 Semiconductor research and engineering team advancing semiconductor wafer reuse platform technology to unlock innovation across industries.

K1 Semiconductor, which recently took second place in the Polsky New Venture Challenge and Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge, is developing a technique that could drastically improve chip manufacturing.


Institute for Climate and sustainable growth announces 2025 venture and seed fund awardees

August 25, 2025

Plastic bottles and materials wrapped in plastic wrap.

Ten of the 18 projects awarded grants involve faculty from the Physical Sciences Division. These projects are crucial in tackling climate change.


PhD alumni Ahmed Bou-Rabee featured in Quanta Magazine

August 25, 2025

Picture of Ahmed Bou-Rabee.

Ahmed Bou-Rabee's superdiffusion research, featured in Quanta Magazine, proves a 1980s prediction using new methods in stochastic homogenization, with co-authors Scott Armstrong and Tuomo Kuusi.


Under a mountain in Savoie, the hunt for “dark matter” particles

August 14, 2025

Installation of the prototype of the Damic-M experiment for tracking dark matter, at the underground laboratory in Modane (Savoie), in March 2025 DAMIC-M.

Near Modane, a laboratory buried beneath the Alps is attempting to capture elements of a world parallel to our own. Paolo Privitera uses this laboratory to study dark matter. 

[Article published in French. View in Chrome browser for translation option.]