News

2026

SciFM 2026 at UChicago: inside the premier gathering of AI, foundation models, and the future of scientific discovery

June 17, 2026

Photo of members gathered in a room listening to a speaker.

Walking onto the University of Chicago campus this May, visitors to SciFM 2026 could sense the electric anticipation. As the third installment of the Scientific Foundation Models conference series unfolded, world-renowned researchers, national lab experts, and industry leaders collided in a three-day conversation that asked: How is AI reshaping the practice of science—and what still stands in its way?


Prof. Giulia Galli appointed CNRS fellow-ambassador

June 17, 2026

Photo of professor Giulia Galli.

Galli joins a prestigious cohort of leading figures from the world’s scientific community


Finding Home: How North Dakota Native vote and the University of Chicago Data Science Institute are protecting indigenous voting rights

June 17, 2026

Close-up satellite map of NDNV’s Find Your Address tool with an address’ voting information.

A new tool born from a community partnership is supporting Native voters to navigate an ID system that wasn't built with them in mind.


Can AI agents replicate science? Argonne’s Rick Stevens puts them to the test.

June 17, 2026

AI looking through a microscope.

Have we reached a point where AI agents can reliably function as scientific collaborators? Can they go one step further and work as autonomous scientists?


Most exoplanets might be ‘soot factories,’ scientists say: ‘Like you have a natural diesel engine’

June 17, 2026

Soot planets.

A chemical engineer noticed that the spectra of the hazy atmosphere of mini-Neptune planets looked like the soot produced by combustion engines.


PSD recognizes four students with a William Rainey Harper Dissertation Fellowship for 2026-27

June 11, 2026

Top: Jiaheng Chen, Sarah Christensen. Bottom: Hanyu Hong, Rachel Scrandis.

The Physical Sciences Division has selected four graduate students to receive a William Rainey Harper Dissertation Fellowship for the 2026-2027 academic year.


This soft and bendy hologram fan is touch friendly, and also *checks notes* can be used to prevent chemical burns

June 8, 2026

Image of the hologram fan in action.

Called the BloomBeacon, the project features two soft and flexible blades for the purposes of creating a touchable holographic display.


Superconducting diamond reveals a hidden three-phase order

June 8, 2026

Inside a structurally perfect diamond crystal, physicists uncovered an electronic patchwork no instrument could have predicted, and it may change what quantum chips are made of.


Discussing the impact of data centers on the environment and economy

June 8, 2026

Ask an expert.

The AI boom is driving an unprecedented expansion of data centers. At the same time, tech companies are facing questions over their impact on the environment and economy. To answer those questions and more KCBS Radio News Anchor Steve Scott spoke with Andrew Chien, professor of computer science at The University of Chicago.


Second-year Zilin Xiang wins inaugural CSEI student essay contest

June 8, 2026

Photo of University of Chicago gate.

CSEi’s first essay contest sparks undergraduate engagement on sunlight reflection methods (SRM), awarding $7,000 in prizes.


Quantum technology, explained: A big brains live event

June 8, 2026

Members of the podcast speaking.

UChicago scientists demystify quantum, separate hype from reality, and explore potential applications—from cybersecurity to medical sensors to computers


Many planets might be ‘soot factories’, according to new study

June 8, 2026

Illustration of rows of planets emitting smog and surrounded by particles.

Analysis by UChicago scientists suggests 'mini-Neptune' exoplanets may have smoggy atmospheres with similar chemistry as diesel exhaust.


Advancing community-centered data science: five years of partnership

June 8, 2026

Speaker lecturing at event.

The University of Chicago’s Data Science Institute (DSI) recently celebrated five years of community-centered data science in partnership with The 11th Hour Project, the primary grantmaking arm of The Schmidt Family Foundation. The event highlighted the impact of this partnership both globally and locally in Chicago through talks on research collaboration, open source tool development, and student-led projects spanning human rights, food systems, ocean health, climate solutions, and civic technology. 


Are students hiding their AI use? The social stigma behind AI use in the classroom

June 8, 2026

Students sitting in front of a computer screen  working on assignments.

New research by Assistant Professor Alex Kale and collaborators Yier Ling and Alex Imas finds that social desirability bias may lead students to underreport how often they use AI due to shame and peer pressure.


PSD faculty earn NSF CAREER Awards

June 2, 2026

NSF CAREER Awards

Congratulations to the PSD faculty members who have received NSF CAREER Awards. According to the NSF, the prestigious CAREER award supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.