Physical sciences
Categories
Not sure where to start? Choose a topic below.
How can academia help implement lessons from the 2022 climate summit?
The 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference concluded Nov. 18 at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, after two weeks of deliberations. Ashish Sharma, an atmospheric sciences professor and climate and urban sustainability lead at the University of Illinois System’s Discovery Partners Institute, spoke with News Bureau physical sciences editor Lois Yoksoulian about the key takeaways […]
Organizing nanoparticles into pinwheel shapes offers new twist on engineered materials
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —Researchers have developed a new strategy to help build materials with unique optical, magnetic, electronic and catalytic properties. These pinwheel-shaped structures self-assemble from nanoparticles and exhibit a characteristic called chirality – one of nature’s strategies to build complexity into structures at all scales, from molecules to galaxies. Nature is rich with examples […]
Nine Illinois scientists rank among world’s most influential
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nine researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have been named to the 2022 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list. The list recognizes research scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated exceptional influence – reflected through their publication of multiple papers frequently cited by their peers during the last decade. This year’s […]
How can the 2022 Global Carbon Budget report help inform UN Climate Summit?
The Global Carbon Project published the Global Carbon Budget 2022 today, giving world leaders access to data on atmospheric carbon concentrations, emissions and trends for the 2022 United Nations Climate Summit – or COP27 – in Egypt. Illinois atmospheric scientist Atul Jain was among the many scientists worldwide who contributed data to the report. Jain […]
Previously unseen processes reveal path to better rechargeable battery performance
To design better rechargeable ion batteries, engineers and chemists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign collaborated to combine a powerful new electron microscopy technique and data mining to visually pinpoint areas of chemical and physical alteration within ion batteries. A study led by materials science and engineering professors Qian Chen and Jian-Min Zuo is the […]
Artificial intelligence and molecule machine join forces to generalize automated chemistry
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Artificial intelligence, “building-block” chemistry and a molecule-making machine teamed up to find the best general reaction conditions for synthesizing chemicals important to biomedical and materials research – a finding that could speed innovation and drug discovery as well as make complex chemistry automated and accessible. With the machine-generated optimized conditions, researchers at […]
What is place-based adaptation to climate change?
A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll states that roughly half of registered voters say climate change is either “very important” or “one of the most important issues” in their vote for Congress this year. However, many citizens struggle to understand their place in this global issue. Applied Research Institute senior research scientist Ann-Perry Witmer, also […]
Experimental composer headlines events examining art-science connections
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A two-week series of performances, workshops and lectures will explore connections between art and science in celebration of the history of experimental music at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The event series will feature composer, performer and George A. Miller visiting professor David Rosenboom, who studied at the U. of I. School […]
Deformation fingerprints will help researchers identify, design better metallic materials
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Engineers can now capture and predict the strength of metallic materials subjected to cycling loading, or fatigue strength, in a matter of hours – not the months or years it takes using current methods. In a new study, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign report that automated high-resolution electron imaging can […]
Krannert Center performance combines art, science to examine what makes us human
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — An interdisciplinary performance combining science, music and movement will explore humanity’s place in the universe, ranging from the microscopic level to the expanse of the cosmos. The world premiere of “The Joy of Regathering” is Sept. 17 at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The recurring theme of the piece is coming […]
Layered limestone deposits give unique insight to Roman aqueducts
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Mineral-rich waters originating from the Apennine Mountains of Italy flowed through ancient Rome’s Anio Novus aqueduct and left behind a detailed rock record of past hydraulic conditions, researchers said. Two studies characterizing layered limestone – called travertine – deposits within the Anio Novus are the first to document the occurrence of anti-gravity […]
Nanoscale observations simplify how scientists describe earthquake movement
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Using single calcite crystals with varying surface roughness allows engineers to simplify the complex physics that describes fault movement. In a new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, researchers show how this simplification may lead to better earthquake prediction. Scientists describe fault behavior using models based on observational studies that account […]