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Northwestern University


Designing new materials from 'small' data

A Northwestern University and Los Alamos National Laboratory team developed a novel workflow to design new materials with useful electronic properties. By combining machine learning and density functional theory calculations, they created design guidelines for ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 17, 2017

New method to detect ultrasound with light

Northwestern University scientists have developed a tiny, transparent device that can detect ultrasound waves, potentially helping diagnose diseases like macular degeneration and diabetes. The Micro-ring resonator detector uses optical ultrasound detection methods to create high-resolution images of biological materials.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 13, 2017

Myopia cell discovered in retina

Researchers at Northwestern University have identified a retinal cell that may cause myopia when it dysfunctions, and this dysfunction may be triggered by excessive indoor time. The discovery could lead to a new therapeutic target to control myopia.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 6, 2017

New design strategy for longer lasting batteries

A new computational design strategy identifies promising cathode coatings to protect lithium-ion batteries from degradation, extending device lifespan. Northwestern University researchers developed the approach using a massive materials database, ranking top candidates and accelerating experimental testing.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 20, 2017

Making AI systems that see the world as humans do

A Northwestern University team developed a new computational model that performs at human levels on the Raven's Progressive Matrices, a nonverbal standardized test. The model's ability to solve complex visual problems and understand analogies provides evidence for the importance of symbolic representations and analogy in visual reasoning.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPsychological Review·DateJan 19, 2017

Support for Chicago Biomedical Consortium renewed

The Chicago Biomedical Consortium has received a $21 million funding commitment from the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust. This support will focus on fostering entrepreneurship among university researchers and promote translational research projects. The CBC is launching new initiatives, including forums for commercializatio...

Halting lethal childhood leukemia

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a genetic driver of mixed lineage leukemia, a rare and deadly form of childhood leukemia. They identified a targeted molecular therapy that halts the proliferation of leukemic cells by stabilizing the wild-type MLL protein, which drives cancer.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCell·DateJan 5, 2017

Scientists discover concussion biomarker

Researchers at Northwestern University's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory have discovered a biological marker in the auditory system that can reliably diagnose concussions. The study found that children who suffered concussions had a distinct pattern in their brain activity when exposed to sound, which could be used to identify them.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 22, 2016

Shooting, gang violence exposure leads to PTSD

A new Northwestern Medicine study reveals a significant connection between exposure to gang violence and severe depression, with 36% of women exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The research highlights the often-overlooked impact of traumatic experiences on mental health in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·DateDec 8, 2016

Getting into the flow: Sexual pleasure is a kind of trance

A new paper from Northwestern University researcher Adam Safron suggests that orgasm is linked to synchronized brain activity and neural entrainment, producing a sensory absorption and trance-like state. This understanding could change the way people view their sexuality, emphasizing the role of rhythmic aspects in sexual experiences.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalSocioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology·DateOct 31, 2016

Watching RNA fold

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technology platform that provides high-resolution representation of RNA folding during synthesis. This breakthrough allows for the study of RNA folding in unprecedented detail, potentially leading to discoveries in basic biology, gene expression, and disease.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateOct 31, 2016

3-D printing customized vascular stents

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed flexible, biodegradable stents that can be customized for a patient's specific anatomy using 3D printing techniques. The stents are designed to minimize complications and improve healing processes in blood vessels.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateOct 10, 2016

Understanding chromatin's cancer connection

A new imaging technique enables researchers to visualize chromatin's dynamic processes in live cells, revealing its organization and response to stimuli. This breakthrough offers insights into the complex relationship between chromatin and gene expression, with potential implications for understanding cancer development.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 4, 2016

New electrical energy storage material shows its power

A Northwestern University team has developed a nanomaterial that can store large amounts of electrical energy like a battery and charge rapidly like a supercapacitor, promising to improve electric car efficiency. The material's stability allows for 10,000 charge/discharge cycles, making it suitable for commercial applications.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalACS Central Science·DateAug 24, 2016

Researchers discover that DNA naturally fluoresces

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that DNA naturally fluoresces under certain conditions, allowing for label-free super-resolution imaging without the need for toxic fluorescent stains. This breakthrough could revolutionize the understanding of biological processes by providing more accurate images of living cells.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 15, 2016