Northwestern Research

09/01/2026

Could scientists be closing in on one of the universe’s greatest mysteries?

An international collaboration, including Northwestern University physicist Eric Dahl, has found the most compelling hint of elusive dark matter to date.

Nearly a mile underground in South Dakota, the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment recorded a single particle interaction that researchers cannot explain through known sources. After extensive analysis, the team estimates there is just a 0.5% chance that the unusual signal came from an ordinary phenomenon.

The scientists are not claiming a discovery. Not yet. But Dahl, who has searched for dark matter for two decades, calls it “the most interesting single event” he has seen during that time.

Dark matter is invisible, yet it makes up roughly 85% of all matter in the universe. Understanding what it is could transform our knowledge of the cosmos and reveal new physics beyond the Standard Model.

The detector has collected only one-quarter of its planned data, so the search—and the careful work of testing this result—continues.

Learn more about the signal and Northwestern’s role in the international collaboration:

https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/09/dark-matter-detector-picks-up-a-mysterious-signal

Dark matter experiment detected a single particle event that known background sources struggle to explain.

08/31/2026

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Northwestern University $30 million over five years to establish a new multi-institutional Science and Technology Center—the Center for Genome Intelligence Engineering (GENIE).

GENIE will uncover a hidden layer of information in the human genome by bringing together experts in physics, biology, engineering, AI, and medicine—with the goal of ultimately manipulating the genome’s 3D architecture to improve human health. The work could pave the way for helping cells withstand injury, restore lost function, and regenerate tissues without changing underlying DNA.

As Northwestern President Mung Chiang said:
“Winning a hyper-competitive NSF STC is a tremendous accomplishment for our Northwestern community. GENIE will open a new frontier in understanding the genome and engineering cellular memory. By leading this partnership, the Northwestern team will advance transformational discovery, educate the next generation of researchers and lay the foundation for innovations that improve lives and strengthen the country’s leadership in science and technology.”

Read more: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/08-2/northwestern-to-launch-30-million-center-to-unlock-genomes-hidden-code

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Northwestern University $30 million over five years to establish a new center aimed at uncovering a hidden layer of information within the human genome.

08/17/2026

Selected from 27 proposals, the latest awards span therapeutics, devices and diagnostics, and health IT and data sciences. The Northwestern projects address challenges in cancer, neurodegenerative disease, maternal-fetal health, mental health, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and precision neuromodulation. Funding will help teams pursue next-stage milestones, including prototype and app development, feasibility testing, biomarker validation, preparation for regulatory studies, and the generation of evidence needed to attract additional funding and partners. https://tinyurl.com/ycphwtk3.

07/31/2026

Deep-science challenges demand collaboration across disciplines and institutions. Northwestern researchers are proud to partner with Argonne, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Illinois Chicago on CMOS+X, using AI to accelerate the design of ultra-cold electronics for advanced sensors and quantum technologies. An exciting contribution to the U.S. Department of Energy’s . Argonne National Laboratory

07/22/2026

Innovation happens through partnership. Northwestern University is excited to join the Genesis Mission Awardee cohort and collaborate with fellow awardees advancing breakthrough research. Our inaugural projects will use AI and advanced computing to accelerate materials discovery, fusion energy, sustainable manufacturing and next-generation microelectronics. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/a5npv5tb

07/06/2026

Northwestern Medicine scientists have demonstrated that a highly sensitive blood test can detect traces of pancreatic cancer missed by standard testing, potentially helping physicians identify patients whose disease is more likely to return even when scans appear reassuring.

The sensitive blood test focuses on KRAS, a genetic mutation that drives more than 90% of pancreatic cancers. The findings come as a new revolutionary drug targeting KRAS is showing substantial survival benefits and nearing FDA review.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have demonstrated that a highly sensitive blood test can detect traces of pancreatic cancer missed by standard testing, potentially helping physicians identify patients whose disease is more likely to return even when scans appear reassuring.

06/09/2026

Northwestern just launched something exciting — and the planet needs it.

Earth's sustainability challenges aren't arriving one at a time. Climate change, pollution, food insecurity, and water scarcity — they're accelerating together, reinforcing one another in ways that affect everyday life and the health of communities.

That's why Northwestern launched the Thriving Planet Institute (TPI), a new research hub where scientists, scholars, and problem-solvers work across disciplines to build real solutions, especially for communities facing the greatest environmental burdens.

TPI will focus on four areas:
♻️ Redesigning chemical and material systems to reduce harm to people and the environment
💧 Strengthening water and food security for communities at growing risk
🌿 Restoring ecosystem services that sustain human life
📊 Developing open data and decision-support tools so communities can act on better information

Learn more:

Northwestern has launched the Thriving Planet Institute (TPI) where researchers can work across disciplines and sectors to design solutions to problems regarding health and well-being, especially for people facing structural barriers and environmental burdens.

06/02/2026

What can ancient astronomy teach us about the modern universe?

At Northwestern's fifth annual Astronomy Night Out, hundreds of community members, students, families, and astronomy enthusiasts gathered to explore that question through an evening of science, history, and stargazing.

The event featured a fascinating keynote by classics scholar and former physicist Nick Winters, who traced how ancient Greek and Roman civilizations mapped the cosmos and developed tools such as the astrolabe—a remarkable "portable computer" for navigating the heavens. Visitors also enjoyed telescope viewing, hands-on activities, conversations with researchers, and a chance to experience the wonder of discovery firsthand.

Events like Astronomy Night Out highlight how Northwestern's interdisciplinary research connects the sciences, humanities, and the broader community through a shared curiosity about our place in the universe.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/mrxcb83t
CIERA Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics

CIERA’s fifth annual event blended a public lecture, hands-on activities, and telescope viewing at Dearborn Observatory By Matt Golosinski Photo credits: Bonnie Robinson Hundreds of community members, students, families, and astronomy faculty and enthusiasts gathered at Northwestern Univers

05/18/2026

Mung Chiang, the president of Purdue University, has been named the 18th president of Northwestern University, Northwestern's Board of Trustees announced today.

05/15/2026

A decade in, and Northwestern’s Center for Synthetic Biology has a lot to show for it.

The center just marked its 10th anniversary—10 years of cross-campus collaboration that’s pushing synthetic biology forward in areas like medicine, sustainability, biomaterials, and biotech.

Since day one, it’s grown into a major research hub connecting Northwestern Engineering, Weinberg, and Feinberg, with impact that’s easy to quantify:

24 faculty collaborators
85+ joint publications
300+ graduate students and postdocs
100+ undergraduate researchers
8 startup companies
$53M+ in research funding

The anniversary celebration brought together faculty, trainees, alumni, industry partners, artists, and collaborators—part reunion, part reflection, and part momentum-builder for what comes next.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3sx4mpt8. Northwestern Engineering Northwestern University Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine