UChicago Explainer Series

Learn about some of the intellectual contributions pioneered at the University of Chicago, and how its scholars continue to shape the world and our understanding of it.

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T-cells work to fight cancer

Immunotherapy, explained

Scientists are very hopeful about these new treatments, which use the body’s own defense system to shut down cancer.

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Plant growing out of a Kilauea lava eruption
Ecological succession, explained
Illustration depecting Behavioral economics
Behavioral economics, explained
Hand moving the Doomsday Clock; Photo by Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press
The Doomsday Clock, explained
Illustration of an object crashing into the proto-Earth
How the Earth and moon formed, explained
Child learning music
Perfect pitch, explained

All Explainers

The origin of life on Earth, explained Earth

The origin of life on Earth, explained

The Fujita Scale, explained Tornado

The Fujita Scale, explained

The Chicago Manual of Style, explained Chicago Manual of Style book covers

The Chicago Manual of Style, explained

Ecological succession, explained Plant growing out of a Kilauea lava eruption

Ecological succession, explained

How the Earth and moon formed, explained Illustration of an object crashing into the proto-Earth

How the Earth and moon formed, explained

How the microbiome affects human health, explained Microbiome

How the microbiome affects human health, explained

Perfect pitch, explained Child learning music

Perfect pitch, explained

Behavioral economics, explained Illustration depecting Behavioral economics

Behavioral economics, explained

The Hubble constant, explained The Hubble Constant, explained

The Hubble constant, explained

The first nuclear reactor, explained CP 1 Painting

The first nuclear reactor, explained