Latest Releases
Find our latest releases below. After searching, you can view the most recent releases by clearing the search.
Browse experts on:

First radio pulses traced to dead-star binary
March 12, 2025
Starting a decade ago, astronomers have detected a pulse of radio emission every two hours, coming from the direction of the Big Dipper. After combining observations from multiple telescopes, the team can now reveal the culprit: a binary system with a dead star.

Plastic recycling gets a breath of fresh air
March 11, 2025
Harnessing moisture from air, Northwestern University chemists have developed a simple new method for breaking down plastic waste.

Food insecurity now, heart disease later
March 10, 2025
Struggling to afford food today could mean heart problems tomorrow. Young adults experiencing food insecurity have a 41% greater risk of developing heart disease in midlife, even after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic factors, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. Food insecurity — struggling to get enough nutritious food to stay healthy — affects one in eight households in the U.S. each year.

Stretching spider silk makes it stronger
March 7, 2025
When they weave their webs, spiders pull their silk threads. New simulations show stretching during spinning causes the protein chains within the fibers to align and the number of hydrogen bonds between those chains to increase. Both factors increase the silk fibers’ overall strength and toughness. Insights could be applied to designing stronger, tougher synthetic materials.

The measles ‘is not a benign disease’
March 5, 2025
Northwestern University infectious disease expert Dr. Tina Tan said it’s likely the measles outbreak in West Texas and on the border of New Mexico will continue to spread due to a large unvaccinated population that is highly susceptible to “one of the most contagious viruses.”
* Media Advisory
* Media Advisory

When you get hurt matters: Circadian rhythms affect muscle repair
March 5, 2025
A new Northwestern Medicine study in mice, published today in Science Advances, suggests that muscle injuries heal faster when they occur during the body’s natural waking hours.

What we can learn from how flies set the thermostat
March 5, 2025
Using two species of flies from different climates — one from the cool, high-altitude forests of Northern California, the other hailing from the hot, dry deserts of the Southwest — Northwestern scientists discovered remarkable differences in the way each processes external temperature.

Unlocking phosphorus to fuel plant growth
March 4, 2025
Researchers find iron oxides are incredibly efficient catalysts — capable of converting organic phosphorus into inorganic phosphorus at rates comparable to the reactions of enzymes.

Treatment for Alzheimer’s may lie in the brain’s own cleanup crew
March 3, 2025
A new Northwestern Medicine study in human clinical-trial brains with Alzheimer's Disease found the brain’s immune cells (called microglia) can not only clear toxic amyloid plaques — they also help restore a healthier brain environment.
Northwestern experts on the economic uncertainty of Trump’s proposed tariffs
March 3, 2025
EVANSTON, Ill. --- President Donald Trump is expected to proceed with plans to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada set to go into effect Tuesday, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Even though there has been much talk, a decision on an exact number — or if it will happen at all — has not been reached.
* Media Advisory
* Media Advisory