Skip to content

Posts categorized Science & Technology

Posts Loop

John Cassada, in astronaut uniform, giving a thumbs up
Science & Technology
August 6, 2018 | 03:46 pm

An alumnus in space

University of Rochester alumnus Josh Cassada ’00 (PhD) has been named one of nine NASA astronauts making up the first U.S. crew in history to journey to space in American-made, commercial spacecraft. Cassada would be the third Rochester alumnus to go to space, joining Jim Pawelczyk ’82 and Ed Gibson ’59.

topics: alumni, Department of Physics and Astronomy, featured-post,
Chemistry professor Ellen Matson and PhD student Brittney Petel in Matson's laboratory
Science & Technology
August 1, 2018 | 02:42 pm

Group ‘cleaves’ oxygen from surface of metal oxide, enhancing reactivity

A new method of opening solid state materials to oxygenation, using metallic oxide clusters, can eliminate guesswork from discovery of new catalysts. The ultimate goal is to more efficiently convert greenhouse gases to useful fuels.

topics: Department of Chemistry, Ellen Matson, featured-post, Materials Science Program, Natural Sciences, pollution, research finding, School of Arts and Sciences,
Hand-drawn cartoon says the word NOTHING in large type but appearing to disappear
Science & Technology
July 24, 2018 | 11:28 am

Ultimate vacuum chamber creates nothing

The concept of nothingness is the subject of everything from children’s books to philosophical debate. In the universe, however, is nothing ever possible? How have scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians thought about the concept of nothing throughout history and up to the present?

topics: Alison Peterman, Department of Mathematics, Department of Philosophy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Materials Science Program, Nicholas Bigelow, research finding, School of Arts and Sciences, Steve Gonek,
illustration of Jupiter and Juptier's magnetic field
Science & Technology
July 23, 2018 | 03:29 pm

Researchers unravel more mysteries of metallic hydrogen

Liquid metallic hydrogen is not present naturally on Earth and has only been created in a handful of places, including the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics. LLE scientists are researching the properties of liquid metallic hyrdrogen to understand how planets both inside and outside our solar system form magnetic shields.

topics: exoplanets, featured-post-side, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Materials Science Program, Mohamed Zaghoo, planets, research finding, Rip Collins,
close-up of two clear cubes with beams of light shoot through them
Science & Technology
July 11, 2018 | 11:34 am

Measuring each point of a beam of light

A University of Rochester research team has devised a much simpler way to measure beams of light—even powerful, superfast pulsed laser beams that require very complicated devices to characterize their properties.

topics: Chunlei Guo, featured-post-side, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Institute of Optics, light, Materials Science Program, research finding,
bust of Frederick Douglass
Science & Technology
June 27, 2018 | 12:24 pm

‘I am content to be made known through this specimen of your art to all who may come after me’

In a letter recently acquired by River Campus Libraries, abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass expresses his pleasure with a bust that can now be reproduced by anyone with a 3D printer.

topics: Department of English, featured-post, Frederick Douglass, Gregory Heyworth, Lazarus Project, River Campus Libraries, School of Arts and Sciences,
illustration of a laser pulse on glass-like beads
Science & Technology
June 20, 2018 | 03:38 pm

Laser bursts generate electricity faster than any other method

A University researcher who predicted that laser pulses could generate ultrafast electrical currents in theory now believes he can explain exactly how and why actual experiments to create these currents have succeeded.

topics: Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ignacio Franco, lasers, Materials Science Program, nanotechnology, research finding, School of Arts and Sciences, URnano,
detail from the cover of official US patents, with ornate design that says PATENT
Science & Technology
June 20, 2018 | 01:01 pm

US patent office issues its 10 millionth patent to Rochester alumnus

Joseph Marron ’86, an alumnus of the Institute of Optics, has more than 20 patents to his credit. But his latest, for a new way to obtain real-time readings from large laser radars, has special significance.

topics: alumni, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Institute of Optics,
illustration of twisted light
Science & Technology
June 14, 2018 | 03:04 pm

Tackling the 12 ‘Herculean tasks’ of quantum optics

Optical physics and quantum optics will have a profound effect on our daily lives in the decades to come, and two Rochester faculty are among the authors of a new survey of the biggest scientific challenges and questions in the field.

topics: Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Institute of Optics, quantum science, Robert Boyd, Thomas Brown,