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Connie Phong wants to know how an animal adapted to live in a highly specialized environment — just below the freezing point for seawater — responds to warming oceans.
How Northeastern scientists are using Antarctic sea spiders to study life on the edge
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Fleury Augustin Nsole Biteghe has identified a way to target two of the deadliest cancer types with chemotherapy drugs but without the harms associated with chemotherapy.
Northeastern researcher uses light to target and kill cancer cells
Showing 205 results in Physics
What is a ‘black moon’ — and what makes it so rare? An astrophysicist breaks it all down.
A ‘black moon’ is not an official astronomical term, and it does not refer to anything unusual from a physical perspective, says Northeastern University astrophysicist Jonathan Blazek.
From Lego robots to forensic analysis, Northeastern gives Boston high school students a crash course in calculus and STEM
The Bridge to Calculus Program has been a smashing success, and over the past few years it has expanded. It now offers courses in physics, biology, chemistry and more.
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 […]
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 […]
Is Iran’s nuclear program producing energy or developing weapons? A Northeastern expert explains the science of nuclear power
Pran Nath, Matthews Distinguished University Professor of physics, helps explain the difference between a nuclear program designed for civilian purposes and one used for military purposes.
Northeastern researchers identify proteins receptive to treating ovarian cancer
Bryan Spring, associate professor of physics, along with colleagues has identified two proteins abundant on drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells that become receptive to chemotherapy when treated with light.
Northeastern physicists honored with Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for unveiling secrets of the universe
Several Northeastern physics professor, PhD student, and researchers, where recognized in the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their research into the fundamental nature of matter at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
The proposed NASA budget cuts would decimate American science, an expert says
Trump is calling for a 25% slash to NASA's budget and according to Jacqueline McCleary, assistant professor of physics, the cuts will have a larger impact then proposed, including hurting America’s ability to maintain its position as a leader in tech and space exploration.