Northwestern University
Recent News About Northwestern University
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Bacteria discovered capable of breaking down plastics for food
Researchers at Northwestern University have made a significant discovery regarding the breakdown of plastic by a common family of environmental bacteria known as Comamonadacae. These bacteria, often found in urban rivers and wastewater systems, have been observed growing on plastics. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, reveals that a specific bacterium within this family can degrade plastic to use it as a food source.
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Northwestern hosts forum on upcoming Supreme Court term amid election tensions
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to reconvene on Monday, October 7, following a previous term marked by significant decisions on issues such as presidential immunity, abortion, and government regulation of businesses and the unhoused. As a contentious presidential election approaches and public approval ratings for the Court remain low, there is widespread interest in how the justices will approach this session.
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Bioelectronic implant project receives $34M funding boost
A collaborative research team, including engineers from Northwestern University, has secured up to $34 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to expedite the development of a bioelectronic implant aimed at treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes. This announcement was made by the agency today.
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Experts discuss foreign policy implications ahead of November elections
The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to be significant factors for voters in the upcoming November elections. Voters will consider the different foreign policy approaches of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
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Comic tale opens new season at Northwestern's Bienen School of Music
A comic tale of youthful liberation and a master class led by Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Goerke open the 2024-25 season of voice and opera performances at the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music.
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NPR launches 'Stress Less' series featuring Northwestern's Resilience Challenge
Anyone tuning into NPR’s Morning Edition today, Sept. 30, will hear the launch of a new program titled “Stress Less: A quest to reclaim your calm,” aimed at helping listeners cope with life's challenges.
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Northwestern receives $20M grant to study health effects of incarceration
Northwestern University has been awarded $20 million over five years by the National Institutes of Health to investigate the health consequences of incarceration. The study will focus on how incarceration impacts age-related conditions and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).
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Northwestern's Wirtz Center to host free concert by Mexican musical storyteller Jaime Lozano
Northwestern University’s American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) and Teatro Vista Productions (TVP) will host a free concert featuring Mexican musical theater storyteller Jaime Lozano. The event, titled “Jaime Lozano & The Familia: Songs by an Immigrant,” is scheduled for Monday, October 14 at Wirtz Center Chicago in Abbott Hall, located at 710 N. Lake Shore Drive on Northwestern’s Chicago campus.
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Northwestern researchers witness nanoscale formation of water bubbles using palladium
For the first time, researchers have observed hydrogen and oxygen atoms merge to form nano-sized water bubbles in real-time at the molecular scale. This discovery was part of a Northwestern University study aiming to understand how palladium catalyzes this reaction. By examining the process at such a small scale, the team discovered ways to speed up water generation.
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Northwestern University offers improv workshop series for youth who stutter
Northwestern University’s Center for Audiology, Speech, Language and Learning (NUCASLL) in the School of Communication is launching a series of free public workshops using improvisation to help young people who stutter. The series, titled “Break the Blocks,” was successfully piloted last year and is expanding this fall.
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Northwestern expert comments on recent surge in executions
Since Friday, five men on death row have been, or are scheduled to be, executed within a one-week span. The most high-profile case is that of Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams, who was executed in Missouri Tuesday night after a last-ditch effort to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court failed.
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Federico Solmi's 'The Great Farce' displayed at Northwestern University
Federico Solmi's media work "The Great Farce" is now on display at Northwestern University's Block Museum of Art until December 1. This exhibition marks the first time the museum has presented Solmi’s full installation, which consists of nine video projections covering the largest gallery space.
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Bruce Willis's journey highlights challenges in diagnosing frontotemporal dementia
Actor Bruce Willis was first diagnosed with aphasia in the spring of 2022 and later with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) nearly a year after. FTD is a disorder that can affect personality, social skills, and speech.
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Northwestern University announces fall lineup at Wirtz Center Chicago
Northwestern University's Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for Performing and Media Arts in Chicago will host four productions this fall, each highlighting significant historical figures or cultural traditions and exploring art's healing power.
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Federal Assault Weapons Ban linked to prevention of up to 38 additional mass shootings
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (FAWB) prevented up to five public mass shootings when it was active between 1994 and 2004, according to previous research. A new Northwestern Medicine study has found that had the ban remained in place, it would have prevented up to 38 more mass shootings between 2005 and 2022.
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Northwestern scientists uncover mechanism behind static electricity
Static electricity was first observed in 600 B.C., but researchers have struggled to explain how rubbing causes it. In 2019, Northwestern researchers discovered nanosized surface deformations at play. The same researchers now say different electrical charges build up on the front and back parts of a sliding object, creating a current.
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Northwestern leads $20 million national AI research institute in astronomy
A large multi-institutional collaboration, led by Northwestern University, has received a $20 million grant to develop and apply new artificial intelligence (AI) tools to astrophysics research and deep space exploration.
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New treatment extends ovarian function in older mice
A new Northwestern Medicine study in mice has identified a novel method to extend the healthspan of ovaries, potentially improving maintenance and preventing age-related changes in ovarian function. The findings, which will be published on September 16 in the journal GeroScience, suggest significant implications for developing treatments for ovarian cancer.
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Study reveals cancer patients' preference for early assessment of financial concerns
Patients with cancer want their care team to assess them early in treatment about their concerns related to the costs of care, reports a Northwestern Medicine study. It is the first time a study has sought cancer patients’ input on how they want to be screened for financial needs.
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Film centers honor legacy with 'Films by Women/Chicago '74' anniversary
EVANSTON, Ill. --- The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University and the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago will co-host a series of screenings, discussions, and events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the “Films by Women/Chicago ’74” festival. This celebration honors a landmark event that championed women filmmakers during a pivotal era in cinema history.