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?
Missy Pfohl Smith named director of Institute for the Performing Arts
The Institute for the Performing Arts was formed in 2015 to bring together the disciplines of music, theater, and dance into a collaborative venture. Smith, who also serves as the director of the Program of Movement and Dance, is appointed to a three-year term.
‘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.
Strong sibling bond protects against negative effects of fighting parents
In a 3-year study, Rochester psychologists found children with strong sibling relationships experience less distress in response to future fighting between parents.
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.
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.
‘High-risk’ research receives University seed funding
University Research Awards for 2018-19 have been awarded to 15 projects ranging from an analysis of the roles of prisons in the Rochester region, to a new approach to genome editing, to new initiatives for advanced materials for powerful lasers.
Outstanding dissertations honored with PhD student awards
Each year Arts, Sciences & Engineering and the School of Medicine and Dentistry recognize outstanding research and dissertations by PhD students.
The ethics of autonomous vehicles
As a computer science major minoring in philosophy, Josh Pachter was ideally suited for developing concepts for programming self-driving cars that behave ethically. His idea: create ethical machines through a process similar to how we raise children.