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“The basic premise is that AI can help us do better physics, and something that is less expected is that physics can also help us understand AI better,” said Northeastern professor James Halverson.
AI and physics have more in common than you might think.
News
Mark Williams, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics, will assume the role of Dean of the College of Science, effective July 1, 2026.
Mark C. Williams named Dean of the College of Science
Galaxy clusters could be used as natural dark matter colliders to understand nature of invisible particles
Observing groups of galaxies, where dark matter naturally collides, could help scientists pinpoint what kind of particle makes up dark matter, a Northeastern University paper finds.
Pran Nath, Northeastern’s longest-tenured professor, pursues the beautiful mysteries of physics
After 58 years, the world-renowned researcher continues to explore the secrets of the universe. His explorations are a mystery to most of us, conducted with a stream-of-consciousness array of mathematical symbols reinforced by terminology that sounds like English taken to the third power.
Northeastern summit on innovative public health technology is an important first step to fixing systemic flaws
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the nation’s public health infrastructure was underprepared, to say the least. Public health officials relied on fax machines to deliver test results, hand wrote people’s vaccination status on small pieces of cardboard and discovered that stockpiles of masks and gowns to protect health care workers were insufficient. “We really have...
Does traditional Chinese medicine work? Network science can help evaluate effectiveness, Northeastern researchers say
In a striking example of old meets new, Northeastern University researchers say network science promises to be a powerful tool in evaluating the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine herbal remedies used for more than 2,000 years. Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, has proved a challenge for researchers seeking to pinpoint the specific mechanisms by which...
Northeastern network science professor Albert-László Barabási elected to National Academy of Sciences
Albert-László Barabási was sitting in Central Café in Budapest, Hungary, when he got the call that he had been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for his work in network science. Network science’s recognition has felt like a long time coming, he says. In 2005, the National Research Council — “the operating and...
What should stay open during the next pandemic? New model weighs protecting public health and the economy
The COVID-19 pandemic not only threatened the health of people around the world, but also exacted a significant toll on the global economy.
Groundbreaking blood test for rheumatoid arthritis treatment is ‘first step towards a better future’ for patients
Seven years ago, Northeastern graduate Susan Dina Ghiassian was the first employee of Scipher Medicine Corp., a precision medicine company co-founded by Northeastern professor Albert-László Barabási.
Northeastern receives $17.5 million from CDC to launch infectious disease prediction center
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving Northeastern University $17.5 million over the next five years to head an innovation center designed to help detect and prepare the United States for the next outbreak of infectious disease, especially in rural areas.
NSF grant will help bring methods of network science to the world of solid materials, establishing new multi-university center
Northeastern will soon embark on a collaborative project to bring the methods of network science to the world of small particles and novel materials, with help from a substantial National Science Foundation grant.
Network Science Institute expansion to London creates new European hub for trail blazing academic field
Northeastern University has expanded its world leading Network Science Institute to the university’s campus in London in a move that will establish a new European hub in the fast-growing research field of network science. As part of the expansion, the university has recruited a team of researchers to join its faculty in the United Kingdom....
How the annihilation of Ukraine’s agricultural production affects the world
The Russia-Ukraine war causes not only stark losses in the supply of staple grains and dietary oils to parts of the world, but also a significant reduction in the production of other foods dependent on them such as poultry and pork, a new study shows.
More Than 50% of COVID-19 Deaths Could Have Been Prevented
Better access to vaccines could have prevented more than 50% of COVID-19 deaths in 20 lower income countries, according to a new paper in Nature Communications co-authored by Northeastern professor Alessandro Vespignani.