
‘Optical tweezer’ takes Nobel concept in a new direction
Rochester researchers are trapping nanoparticle-sized silica beads in an “optical tweezer” in a series of experiments that could shed new light on the fundamental properties of lasers.

Should higher education go digital?
From smartphones and social media to augmented spaces and virtual reality —three Rochester professors discuss the role digital technologies play in our learning.

Can the laws of physics untangle traffic jams, stock markets, and other complex systems?
Gourab Ghoshal is using the fundamental laws of physics to untangle the complex systems behind human behavior, urban planning, and social networks.

Saving the lost text of a Torah scroll
Professor Gregory Heyworth and his digital media students are using different wavelengths of light to reveal illegible text that could create a sacred, tangible link with Jewish congregations lost to the Holocaust.

‘Selfish’ genetics amplify inflammation, age-related diseases
Research from Rochester biologists shows that a class of genomic parasites may cause more harm than previously thought, triggering inflammation that causes age-related diseases.

‘A very different status and kind of career’
The Rochester Women series continues with the story of Sylvy Kornberg ’38, ’40M (MS), a biochemist most often cited as the wife and the mother of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, but who played a critical role in the discovery of DNA replication.

Researchers turn liquid metal into a plasma
For the first time, researchers at Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) have found a way to turn a liquid metal into a plasma and to observe the temperature where a liquid under high-density conditions crosses over to a plasma state.

Does awe lead to greater interest in science?
In a recent study, participants who watched awe-inducing nature videos or virtual reality simulations consistently reported greater interest in science and greater awareness of gaps in their knowledge.

Rochester scientists receive Sloan fellowships
Biologist Nancy Chen and chemist Ellen Matson are among this year’s recipients of Sloan Research Fellowships, recognizing young scientists for their research accomplishments and leadership in the scientific community.

Unearthing climate clues buried in ice
The Meliora flag flies over the Law Dome research station in Antarctica, where Rochester scientists are battling some of the toughest field conditions ever in their effort to understand humans’ impact on climate.