Researchers at the University of Chicago and Cornell University have developed a universal jamming gripper that can handle various objects on the same manufacturing line. The company Empire Robotics is now commercializing this technology, which has potential impacts in industries such as prosthetics and mobile robots.
Nine-month-old infants can infer whether people are friends or not based on their reactions to shared evaluations, such as eating the same food. This suggests that infants track social relationships from an early age and make inferences about others' behavior.
A recent study by UChicago scientists reveals how the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on mRNA affects the half-life of mRNA, regulating cellular protein quantities. This discovery could provide fundamental insights into healthy functioning and disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and infertility.
Astronomers have detected clear evidence of clouds in the atmosphere of GJ 1214b, a super-Earth exoplanet, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope. The findings suggest that high-altitude clouds blanket the planet, hiding information about its composition and behavior.
Researchers at the University of Chicago and University of Massachusetts, Amherst, are studying the physical laws governing cellular materials. They aim to catalog phases, understand contraction mechanisms, and develop novel materials for various applications. Gardel's lab focuses on actin filaments, while Ross studies microtubules.
Researchers detected twisting patterns in polarization of oldest light in the universe, hinting at complex processes and properties of the earliest moments in the universe's formation. The discovery could help physicists better understand the distribution of mass and define cosmologically important properties.
A study examines how mainstream news coverage of transgender-related news and policy issues reflects entrenched views about gender, particularly the notion that women are weak and vulnerable. The authors found that perceived threats to women's spaces spur panic, but that clear policies can calm down such reactions.
Researchers found that Siberian hamsters' seasonal timekeeping is influenced by DNA methylation, which regulates reproductive competency. Exposure to short daylight periods decreases DNA methylation in the hypothalamus, stimulating a gene that shuts down reproduction.
A multi-institutional team of engineers has developed a new approach to fabricate nanostructures for the semiconductor and magnetic storage industries. They combine top-down advanced ink-jet printing technology with bottom-up self-assembling block copolymers, increasing resolution from approximately 200 nanometers to 15 nanometers.
Physicists have successfully simulated the evolution of the early universe using ultracold cesium atoms. The experiment replicated patterns resembling the cosmic microwave background radiation, shedding light on the universe's origins. By studying these patterns, researchers can better understand the universe's structure and properties.
Miao Yu, a chemistry graduate student at University of Chicago, has received an International Predoctoral Student Research Fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She will receive $43,000 annually for up to three years to support her research on DNA modifications.
Ngô Bao Châu and Dam Thanh Son have been selected as 2013 Simons Investigators for their groundbreaking work in mathematics and physics. They will receive $500,000 in support over five years to study fundamental questions.
Researchers suggest that chondrules may have formed from high-pressure collisions between planetesimals, which would explain their composition and origin. This theory resolves a long-standing puzzle in cosmochemistry and provides a potential solution to the mystery of how these glassy spherules were embedded within meteorites.
A new study by the University of Chicago and Northwestern University expands the habitable zone for alien planets orbiting red dwarfs, doubling the number of potentially habitable planets. The research suggests that up to 60 billion planets may be habitable in the Milky Way galaxy.
New research at the University of Chicago shows that non-verbal clues about words can help young children learn new vocabulary faster. The quality of these cues explains a quarter of the differences in children's vocabularies when they enter kindergarten.
Researchers discovered that people with absolute pitch can be misled by gradual changes in pitch while listening to music. The study, led by Stephen Hedger and Howard Nusbaum, found that exposure to detuned music affects how individuals identify notes as being in or out of tune.
New research confirms the 'out of the tropics' model for tropical biodiversity, where most evolutionary lineages started in the tropics and expanded outward. Bridge species, which straddle the boundary between tropics and temperate regions, play a crucial role in this process.
Researchers at University of Chicago develop a spintronics approach to manipulate the spin of atomic-scale defects in diamond for new quantum technologies. This approach enables new nanoscale sensors, including single-spin thermometers, with potential applications in temperature measurement and information processing.
A recent University of Chicago study reveals that couples who met online have higher marital satisfaction and lower break-up rates. The research found that online relationships benefit from selectivity and advance screening, providing a larger pool of prospective partners.
A new field experiment by University of Chicago economists found that women are more likely to opt-out of charity donations, especially when given the option. In contrast, men's giving was slightly affected, with women giving only half as much as before in situations where they could avoid donating.
Chuan He has been selected as an HHMI investigator to uncover the mechanisms of reversible RNA methylation. His research team will use genomics tools and expertise in various biology fields to explore this new area.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that psychopaths lack the basic neurophysiological 'hardwiring' necessary for caring about others. This is reflected in altered brain activity in response to pain and distress, with reduced activation in regions critical for empathy and increased activity in areas linked to emotion and reward.
University of Chicago researchers engineer small molecules that support long-lived quantum coherences, mimicking photosynthetic systems. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of recreating quantum mechanics in man-made compounds.
Bozhi Tian has been selected as a 2013 Searle Scholar for his innovative research on single-neuron dynamics and bioelectric circuits. He will use the grant to develop silicon-based biomaterials, with a long-term goal of understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study demonstrates that sleep consolidation helps retain both new memories, overcoming interference from learned tasks. Researchers measured starlings' ability to recognize new songs and found that a good night's sleep improves performance on previously learned tasks.
Researchers analyzed how particle shape affects the behavior of jammed materials, employing a computer algorithm to optimize shape configurations. The results were verified through large-scale 3D printed tests, providing insights into the complex interactions between particles and material properties.
Astronomers found dust-enshrouded, star-forming galaxies that were previously unknown in the universe. The newly discovered galaxies produce stars at a prodigious rate, creating thousands of new suns annually.
The NASA grant will support the U.S. institutions in building lasers and monitoring equipment for calibrating the telescope's optics from around the globe. The Extreme Universe Space Observatory aims to discover the sources of ultra high-energy cosmic rays by observing their traces in the atmosphere.
University of Chicago physicists create linked and knotted vortex loops, a feat long elusive in lab experiments. Their work relates to turbulence, plasma physics, ordinary fluids, and superfluids, offering potential solutions to longstanding puzzles.
A study at the University of Chicago shows that birds' brains coordinate physical actions and brain activity to produce complex movements, similar to how humans govern skilled performance. The research may lead to new ways of understanding human speech production and other complex movements.
A team of UChicago astronomers, led by Jacob Bean, is utilizing new methods to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets, with a focus on distinguishing between gas giants and water worlds. The search for exoplanets has revealed an estimated 17 billion Earth-sized planets in the Milky Way galaxy, potentially harboring life-sustaining worlds.
A study found that natural disasters can alter children's altruistic giving, with 9-year-olds showing increased willingness to give and 6-year-olds becoming more selfish. The research suggests that empathy plays a key role in this development, with older children better able to regulate their emotions and act pro-socially.
Research shows that children's executive function and vocabulary development play a crucial role in the formation of complex thinking skills as young as age 4.5. High executive function skills at school entry are related to higher reasoning skills in adolescence.
Ultrastable glasses have been produced in days or hours with properties matching those of thousands-year-old materials. These advancements could lead to stronger metals and faster-acting pharmaceuticals., Computer simulations confirmed the findings, revealing a correlation between molecular structure and physical properties.
Researchers found iron 60, a radioactive sign of an exploding star, in low abundance and uniformly distributed in solar system material. The findings suggest the low levels of iron 60 likely came from long-term accumulation of iron 60 in interstellar medium rather than a nearby cataclysmic event.
Researchers at the University of Chicago are developing 'designer atoms' through nanocrystal assembly, offering new opportunities for solar energy, quantum computing, and functional materials. By controlling electron correlation, they aim to create strongly correlated systems with unique properties.
A new brain study suggests that recognizing intentionality is the first step in moral computations, linking emotion to morality. The study found that adults can detect intentional harm within 60 milliseconds, triggering an emotional response.
A type of exploding star that fails to detonate, known as a failed explosion, is probably the cause of most peculiar supernovae. These dim stars are anywhere from 10-100 times fainter than normal ones and may account for approximately 15% of all type Ia supernovae.
The Skynet Junior Scholars program will train middle school educators to engage youths in telescopic observations of planets, asteroids, and galaxies. The program aims to introduce students to potential STEM careers during the critical middle school years.
Research at the University of Chicago shows that math anxiety can prompt a brain response similar to physical pain. The anticipation of doing math activates the same brain areas as registering bodily harm or experiencing pain.
Researchers found that animals can adjust their sniffs to target specific odors in complex blends. The study showed that rats learned to detect highly absorbent odors more quickly than less absorbent ones, highlighting the importance of physical properties and sniffing techniques in olfaction.
Researchers found that pre-Cretaceous ecosystem changes and environmental factors led to more fragile communities in late Cretaceous North America. The study's findings suggest that human-made changes to modern ecosystems could worsen their ability to withstand disturbances, emphasizing the importance of understanding ecological function.
Researchers created a defect in the structure of a single-layer crystal by inserting an extra particle, then observed as the crystal 'healed' itself. The discovery has important implications for improving conductivity in electronics and other materials science applications.
A new study found that moving from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods increases happiness and well-being in low-income adults, despite not improving economic self-sufficiency. The study suggests that neighborhood income segregation is a key factor in shaping the outcomes of adults in these communities.
A new study by University of Chicago and University of Michigan researchers found that the 1996 welfare reform may have made life harder for the very poor, who face multiple barriers to work. The research shows a significant decline in cash assistance for deeply poor families with children, while near poor families receive increased aid.
Research at the University of Chicago found that high-achieving students experience math anxiety from an early age, which can disrupt their working memory and negatively impact their math performance. The study suggests that reframing anxiety through writing or expressive picture drawing can help alleviate this effect.
A new study by the University of Chicago shows that 60 percent of grandparents provided some care for their grandchildren during a 10-year period. Grandparents with less income and less education are more likely to take on care for their grandchildren, highlighting the diversity in grandparent care.
Astronomers have discovered a massive galaxy cluster, known as the Phoenix Cluster, that is breaking several important cosmic records. Stars are forming in this object at the highest rate ever seen in the middle of a galaxy cluster.
A new study at the University of Chicago found that teacher incentives can improve student academic performance. When teachers received a bonus upfront with conditions attached, students showed a significant gain of up to 10 percentiles in their scores compared to those without such incentives.
Scientists Scott Waitukaitis and Heinrich Jaeger report a groundbreaking study on non-Newtonian liquids, revealing the 'impact-activated solidification' process that transforms suspensions into solids under sudden impact. The experiment uses a combination of high-tech instruments to observe the phenomenon in unprecedented detail.