News and Events

Perovskites may sound like menu items at your favorite Eastern European restaurant, but they serve up tasty options for those trying to extract more energy from solar cells. Two-dimensional perovskites offer even more flexibility for scientists to fine-tune those structures, which could mean more efficient, longer-lasting solar cells. That's the gist of new research from a team that includes Jean-Luc Brèdas, Regents Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

The arrival of a fresh decade gives climate scientists like Kim Cobb, professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, an opportunity to look back on the last 10 years of alarming data on climate change. The focus is now on stronger warnings and direct engagement with policy makers. “You can see evidence of it in speech patterns as scientists communicate with the public,” Cobb says. “There’s none of this business we used to have of, ‘well, ‘I’m not a policy expert.’ People are digging their stake in the ground and saying here are a couple of options.” The same message comes through in a Washington Post story that also features Cobb's insights.

Simon Sponberg is back to experimenting with some of his favorite subjects: Hawkmoths. The School of Physics and School of Biological Sciences assistant professor, who studies the neuromechanics of animal movement, has tethered the large moths to video game joysticks in earlier studies to find out how the insects track targets. Now he's gathering data about just how fast the moths decide on which muscles to use as they hover near flowers. Sponberg's latest study also attracted the attention of The Scientist.