Dark energy, explained
Coined by University of Chicago astrophysicist Michael Turner in 1998, dark energy—the force causing the universe to expand faster over time—remains one of the great mysteries of physics.
Cosmic rays, explained
Trillions upon trillions of cosmic rays hit the Earth every day. What are they?
The first nuclear reactor, explained
The world’s first reactor was built underneath the stands of a University of Chicago stadium as part of the Manhattan Project—kicking off the Atomic Age.
Carbon-14 dating, explained
First developed in the late 1940s at UChicago, carbon dating can determine the age of organic materials as old as 60,000 years.
Black holes, explained
Black holes fascinate both the public and scientists—they push the limits of our understanding about matter, space and time.
The solar wind, explained
First proposed in the 1950s by UChicago physicist Eugene Parker, the solar wind is a flow of particles that comes off the sun at about one million miles an hour.
The Doomsday Clock, explained
The Doomsday Clock is a symbol that represents how close humanity is to self-destruction. The clock hands are set annually by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group formed by Manhattan Project scientists at UChicago after World War II.