COS News
Research

Yihzi You, assistant professor of physics, received a prestigious CAREER award from the National Sciences Foundation to study specific interactions between subatomic particles.
How Yizhi You’s quantum research could revolutionize computing and STEM education
Co-op

Amelia Langan, husky alum, helped a Bay Area start up create a device that may help prevent toxic algae from growing in ocean waters.
As grad student, Northeastern co-op helps Bay Area startup develop device to prevent toxic algae blooms
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Hot, dry weather kills the deer ticks that cause Lyme. But your clothes dryer does an even better job
The black-legged deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease to thousands of Americans every year can survive below-freezing temperatures and go more than a year without a meal. Want to see their superpowers evaporate? Bring on hot, dry weather. One thing deer ticks hate: Hot, dry weather When deer ticks are exposed for too long to […]

Why are people crashing out? Emotional breakdowns have gone viral
Remember when Britney Spears shaved her head and attacked a paparazzo’s SUV with an umbrella? Or when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars? Celebrity meltdowns like these once played out on TV or in tabloids. Now, anyone can go viral for an emotional breakdown, or what Gen Z calls a “crash out.” […]

Friction, speed and surprise: What sets Wimbledon’s grass courts apart from clay, hard courts
The grass tennis courts of Wimbledon are among the most recognizable in the world. But despite its fame, grass is one of the rarest surfaces on which tennis is played today; many tennis fans and players may never set foot on its lush turf during their lifetimes. How does the iconic Centre Court lawn compare […]

What made the Texas flash flood so deadly and how AI could improve forecasting
The deluge that surged through Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend devastated the hill country and shocked the world with its intensity and loss of life. The Guadalupe River at Kerrville rose from 1.73 feet to 34.29 feet in three hours on July 4, according to a river gauge maintained by the federal government. The […]

This psychologist says we need to be more comfortable with not knowing the answer in therapy
People often turn to therapy for answers about themselves, their lives or their relationships, but one psychologist says we need to get more comfortable with saying, “I don’t know” –– and that includes therapists too. Aaron B. Daniels, an associate teaching professor at Northeastern University with a decade plus of experience as a practicing therapist, […]

COVID data revolutionized disease projection models. Northeastern researchers explain what’s next
Scientists sometimes compare predicting the course of epidemics to forecasting the weather. But there’s a major difference — the impact of human behavior — says Alessandro Vespignani, director of Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute. Consider what happens during a downpour, he says. “If we all open an umbrella, it will rain anyway.” “In epidemics, if we […]

What is the optimal setting for your air conditioner? We asked a Northeastern physics professor
Ahh, summer, a time of vacations at the beach or mountains — and sky-high electricity bills as your air conditioner labors against the heat and humidity. But what is the optimal temperature to set your air conditioner at? And how does your body adapt to heat? Northeastern University’s Stefan Kautsch, a teaching professor in physics, […]

Northeastern expert says Rubin Observatory is a game-changer in detecting near-Earth asteroids and assisting in the planet’s defense
Northeastern University astrophysicist Jonathan C. Blazek knew to expect stunning views of galaxies when the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile released its first images of the night sky on June 23. And the sights were extraordinary. With a telescope as wide as a tennis court and the world’s largest digital camera, the observatory captured more than 10 […]

Northeastern discovery in quantum materials could make electronics 1,000 times faster
Researchers at Northeastern University have discovered how to change the electronic state of matter on demand, a breakthrough that could make electronics 1,000 times faster and more efficient. By switching from insulating to conducting and vice versa, the discovery creates the potential to replace silicon components in electronics with exponentially smaller and faster quantum materials. […]

A Northeastern immersive art project visualizes how COVID misinformation spread on social media
To some, fake news may be a tweet, a Facebook post or a url on the dark web. To Northeastern University professor Albert-László Barabási and students in the Barabási lab, fake news is hundreds of small spheres bubbling up across the walls of a darkened room, in reds, oranges, then blues and pinks, while unintelligible whispers grow louder […]

Siima Kiriziya Machayo ‘26, BS Behavioral Neuroscience
What inspired you to pursue your current field of study/research? My inspiration for pursuing behavioral neuroscience is rooted in my fascination with how the brain influences every aspect of people’s lives and how this knowledge can be applied to improve human health. My middle name, my grandmother’s maiden name, is a meaningful way to honor […]

Naomi Rajput ‘26, BS Behavioral Neuroscience
What inspired you to pursue your current field of study/research? My first co-op resulted in me pursuing my venture – Eden. Working as a front office administrator, I saw pain points on administrative workflows that affected physicians, admins, and patients alike. This resulted in me exploring current solutions in the space and after realizing that […]