
Short answers to big questions: Exploring atoms in space
University of Rochester astrophysicist Adam Frank helps NPR listeners answer: If there are points in space with only three atoms per cubic meter, what fills in the rest? / All Things Considered

$2 million to add efficiency to integrated quantum photonics
Rochester researchers working on the next generation of quantum information processing have received a $2 million boost from the National Science Foundation.

Fate of marine carbon confirms importance of polar oceans
A new study shows that the polar seas are much better than other regions of the ocean at trapping carbon from marine plankton.

New book brings shadow into the light
A new book, edited by Kenneth Gross and compiled from lectures by the late John Hollander, traces shadow’s literary history from ancient to modern times.

In Goethe’s novel families, love is all that matters
Susan Gustafson’s recently published book examines Johann Goethe’s depiction of family in his literary works, which were cutting-edge compared to the actual state of marriage and family in early 19th-century Germany.

Come on baby, (re)light my fire
New research indicates that there are ways that couples can sustain—or relight—their passion. The study suggests that when men and women perceive their partners as responsive, they feel special and think of their partner as a valuable mate, which in turn boosts sexual desirability.

Fusion for energy: significant progress, major challenges
In a review of the state of the research in this field, Rochester physicist Riccardo Betti concludes the goal of realizing abundant, clean energy from inertial confinement fusion remains elusive, despite recent significant progress.

Three things you didn’t know about the American Revolution
America typically celebrates the 4th of July as a unifying victory for the country, but the road to independence was more divisive and violent than most people realize, according to historian Thomas Slaughter.

Neidig recognized by Department of Energy
Assistant professor of chemistry Michael Neidig is one of 49 scientists to be recognized this year by the Department of Energy as one of the nation’s “exceptional researchers” in his or her “crucial early career years.”

Making the case for life on other planets
How can we calculate the likelihood of technological civilizations having existed on other planets? That’s a question Adam Frank, professor of astronomy, considers in an essay, “Yes, There Have Been Aliens,” published in the New York Times.