Division of the Physical Sciences

Using chemistry to extract water from the air, even in the desert A mirage in the desert, with sand dunes in the background and dry trees in the foreground

Using chemistry to extract water from the air, even in the desert

Scientists probe the atmosphere of a planet 340 light-years away Artist concept of small planet VERY close to its sun

Scientists probe the atmosphere of a planet 340 light-years away

University of Chicago chemist Mark Levin named 2021 Packard Fellow Chemist in a blue lab coat and goggles works with beakers in front of machinery

University of Chicago chemist Mark Levin named 2021 Packard Fellow

Center for Bright Beams awarded $22M to boost accelerator science Person in gown and face covering works on metal technological components

Center for Bright Beams awarded $22M to boost accelerator science

NSF announces $25 million institute in Chicago for quantum biology research Scientist works at a table wearing protective glasses with green laser light

NSF announces $25 million institute in Chicago for quantum biology research

More cell phone data use is negatively affecting Wi-Fi performance, study finds Cityscape with abstract illustration of 5G and WiFi signals.

More cell phone data use is negatively affecting Wi-Fi performance, study finds

‘There may not be a conflict after all’ in expanding universe debate Illustration of a bright light at the center of a reddish star

‘There may not be a conflict after all’ in expanding universe debate

Could dark matter be behind mysterious, supermassive black holes in the early universe? Illustration of a black hole with wind flowing from center

Could dark matter be behind mysterious, supermassive black holes in the early universe?

For a sustainable future, scientists rethink plastics and devices Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering lab students

For a sustainable future, scientists rethink plastics and devices

UChicago scientists experiment with materials that can “remember” A research team at the University of Chicago is exploring how cells remember and respond to environmental pressure. In a simulated actin network, actin filaments start out randomly oriented (left) but align after pressure is applied (right).

UChicago scientists experiment with materials that can “remember”