Latest Releases

For the first time ever, Northwestern University researchers show how toddlers’ brains respond during natural moments of play with their parent or caregiver using child-friendly electroencephalography.

Taking opioids for years does not seem to improve pain and functioning in people with chronic back pain, according to a new Northwestern University study that compared 70 long-term opioid users to 70 similar patients not taking opioids.

Contrary to popular belief, the postmenopausal ovary is not defunct. In a new, paradigm-shifting study in ovaries from 28 women, scientists at Northwestern University and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging found in the decades well past menopause, the ovary remains biologically active and continues to remodel with age, showing increased inflammation and changes in tissue structure.

Fall marathon season is upon us. Northwestern physical therapist Dawn Brown is available for print and broadcast interviews to provide her top 10 marathon prep and recovery tips.
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Northwestern University’s Wirtz Center Chicago, 710 N. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago is launching a season designed to spark conversation in its 2026–27 Presenting Series starting Thursday, Oct. 8.

For the first time, Northwestern scientists have identified a set of neurons — cells in the brain — that play a role in generating anxiety after exposure to cannabinoid drugs, especially under stressful conditions. Cannabinoids are a class of substances that includes THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Northwestern University scientists have developed remarkably long, precisely patterned molecular threads that could open new possibilities for designing advanced materials. The scientists also discovered these threads — called supramolecular polymers — can dramatically enhance brain cell activity.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will deliver the Northwestern Prison Education Program commencement address on Friday, Oct. 16. This graduation marks the first time incarcerated women students in the U.S. will be conferred a bachelor’s degree from a top 10 university.

How does a developing heart know how big to grow? A Northwestern Medicine study has found lymphatic vessels, long known for transporting fluid and immune cells, also send signals to different cardiac cell types that help control heart growth.

A new Northwestern Medicine study has found patient navigators — trained guides who help patients access care and resources while working alongside the healthcare team — can ease the challenging transition to motherhood for low-income pregnant individuals, leading to better health in their postpartum period and more consistent primary care for years to come.