
Food for thought—and research
In fields like anthropology and linguistics, scholars must earn the trust of the communities in which they work. A basic key to that trust involves the sharing of food.

Uncertainty in a date dampens interest in a mate
A new study by psychologists in Rochester and Israel shows those who feel greater certainty that a prospective romantic partner shares their interest will put more effort into seeing that person again.

Alien apocalypse: Can any civilization make it through climate change?
Does the universe contain planets with truly sustainable civilizations? Or does every civilization that may have arisen in the cosmos last only a few centuries before it falls to the climate change it triggers? Rochester astrophysicist Adam Frank and his collaborators have developed a mathematical model to illustrate how a technologically advanced population and its planet might develop together, putting climate change in a cosmic context.

Emil Wolf, pioneer of optical physics, remembered
Wolf served on the Rochester faculty for more than 50 years and was a leading expert in coherence and polarization of optical fields. His Principles of Optics is the most cited textbook in physics.

MAG director showcases American artist on global stage
Jonathan Binstock is respected as an international expert on Sam Gilliam, one of America’s most prominent abstract painters. Now the Memorial Art Gallery director is cocurating the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in Europe.

Using data science to tell which of these people is lying
University researchers are using data science to analyze more than 1 million facial expressions to more accurately detect deception based on a smile.

An improbable route to Rochester, then Harvard
Growing up in Los Angeles, Matthew Lyskawa ’18 saw no purpose in school. But a teacher saw a spark and lit the fire that set Lyskawa on his journey, first to community college, then Rochester, and now to begin a doctoral program in philosophy at Harvard.

Seniors show beauty of urban art with augmented reality
Four Rochester students saw the beauty of graffiti art in abandoned city subway tunnels. Banding together as the ExSpace Artist Collective, they designed an augmented reality project to share that beauty with others.

From Rwanda to Rochester in one ‘serendipitous’ moment
For Ian Manzi, a photo of Rush Rhees Library left behind in an office at his Rwandan high school changed his life. “It looked so beautiful, a representation of college,” he says.

Basketball star’s biggest assists come off the court
The business major described by her coaches as a “once-in-a-generation player” knows that community service will be in her game plan. “It’s something I love,” Al Leslie says. “And it’s something that will always be part of my life.”