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Northwestern University

All articles tagged with #northwestern university

AI-Spun Phantom Twist Turns Drones into Sky Blur
innovation1 month ago

AI-Spun Phantom Twist Turns Drones into Sky Blur

Northwestern University researchers unveil the Phantom Twist, a drone whose entire frame spins up to 25 Hz to create motion blur that makes it appear as a semi-transparent disc, about ten times harder to see than a standard quadcopter. An AI-driven design pipeline evaluated 20,000 configurations to ensure stability and non-overlapping components while spinning. The approach could aid wildlife and industrial surveys by reducing disturbance, but the drone is not perfectly invisible yet—sound remains audible and faint outlines can appear—with future work aiming for full transparency and acoustic dampening; findings were presented at RSS 2026 in Sydney.

Mark Ratner, Pioneer of Molecular Electronics, 1942–2026
science1 month ago

Mark Ratner, Pioneer of Molecular Electronics, 1942–2026

Tribute to Mark A. Ratner, a chemist who helped launch nanotechnology and molecular electronics at Northwestern, chaired multiple departments, co-founded the International Institute for Nanotechnology and the Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and proposed that by engineering environmental interactions at the molecular level, molecules could become tunable conductors, bridging chemistry and electrical engineering.

Northwestern names Purdue president Mung Chiang as its 18th leader
education3 months ago

Northwestern names Purdue president Mung Chiang as its 18th leader

Mung Chiang, Purdue University’s president since 2023, was named Northwestern University’s 18th president and will take office July 1, succeeding Michael Schill; the appointment highlights Chiang’s record of expanding research funding, forging industry partnerships and promoting interdisciplinary scholarship, built on prior leadership at Princeton and Purdue and a commitment to free expression and student success.

Old seizure medicine shows potential to prevent Alzheimer's decades before symptoms
science-and-tech5 months ago

Old seizure medicine shows potential to prevent Alzheimer's decades before symptoms

Northwestern University researchers report that levetiracetam, a long-used anti-seizure drug, may prevent Alzheimer’s by blocking the production of amyloid-beta 42, the protein linked to plaques, with results seen in animal models and cultured human neurons (and post-mortem Down syndrome brain tissue). If taken decades before symptoms, it could theoretically slow or prevent disease, though there are no human trials yet and the evidence is observational; researchers caution that the drug would need to start very early and are pursuing longer-lasting formulations and trials, including in genetic forms of Alzheimer’s.

Northwestern University President Michael Schill Resigns Amid Funding and Political Pressures
education11 months ago

Northwestern University President Michael Schill Resigns Amid Funding and Political Pressures

Northwestern University President Michael Schill is resigning amid a $790 million federal funding freeze and controversies over antisemitism and campus protests, with his tenure marked by financial cuts and efforts to address campus issues. He plans to stay until an interim president is appointed and will return to faculty after a sabbatical.

Northwestern University President Michael Schill Resigns Amid Political and Funding Pressures
education11 months ago

Northwestern University President Michael Schill Resigns Amid Political and Funding Pressures

Northwestern University’s 17th president, Michael Schill, announced his resignation after a successful three-year tenure marked by record fundraising, high national rankings, and significant campus developments, citing the need for new leadership to guide the university forward amid ongoing challenges. An interim president will be appointed, and Schill plans to return to faculty duties after a sabbatical.

Northwestern and Pat Fitzgerald settle $130M wrongful termination lawsuit over hazing scandal
education1 year ago

Northwestern and Pat Fitzgerald settle $130M wrongful termination lawsuit over hazing scandal

Northwestern University settled a $130 million wrongful termination lawsuit with former football coach Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired amid a hazing scandal. Fitzgerald denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had no knowledge of hazing and was unfairly dismissed. The university also stated that evidence did not support allegations of his involvement in hazing, and has since taken steps to improve athletic department culture.

Northwestern and Pat Fitzgerald settle wrongful termination over hazing scandal
sports1 year ago

Northwestern and Pat Fitzgerald settle wrongful termination over hazing scandal

Pat Fitzgerald, former Northwestern football coach, settled a wrongful termination lawsuit with the university over allegations of hazing, after initially being suspended and then dismissed following an investigation. Fitzgerald denied knowledge of hazing but acknowledged its occurrence, and the case was scheduled for trial before the settlement. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.