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Health & Science

Northwestern’s SuperAging Program studies the brains of older individuals with exceptional memories in order to better understand the science behind memory, aging and dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease.

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A health crisis motivated Victor Su and Patricia Kou to help expand Northwestern’s speech and language services to a wider community. Their gift establishes the Su Family Community Impact Fund, which will support the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and create a scholarship fund for undergraduate students in the McCormick School of Engineering.

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A group of children and adults pose in a mirrored studio room, holding up peace signs, hearts and thumbs up and smiling at the camera.
In May, Northwestern sent six student representatives to join the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project. The students spent a week under the Alaskan early summer sun near Prince of Wales Island, where they cleared beaches of 15,000 pounds of marine debris.

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The research vessel Island C serves as a mother ship and platform for the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project's collection expeditions in southwest Alaska. The white vessel is anchored in open water. There is a small vessel tethered to the larger boat. Crew members wear yellow jackets. here are snow-capped mountains in the background.
Researchers plan to 3D-print a lunar landing pad using the moon’s own materials, with the aim of building a permanent base on the moon. But first they need to analyze what moon dust is made of (and nope, it’s not cheese).

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A rendering of a multi-purpose construction system on the moon.
From Mali to Greenland, these Northwestern researchers are studying tiny creatures and sometimes unseen changes to develop important research conclusions.

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Earth and planetary sciences professor Andy Jacobson leads a team of researchers at Northwestern and the Chicago Botanic Garden investigating the effects of soil additives on agricultural fields.

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A photo of a crop field with many uniform rows of unidentified green plants growing. The crop field extends far into the distance, where some mountains are visible against a horizon and a setting sun. The sky is slightly cloudy.
Quantum physics is an exploration of light and matter at the most fundamental level. Professor Prem Kumar says more than an intriguing curiosity, quantum is essential to creating real-world technologies that will revolutionize our lives.

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Prem Kumar smiles while standing over a lab bench with his right hand twisting a piece of metal equipment. He wears a blue blazer and a dark green shirt.
As the world’s population rises and the effects of climate change threaten crop yields, food insecurity is an urgent matter. With the support of University Trustee Melih Keyman and Zeynep Keyman, Northwestern researchers are pursuing a novel approach to farming with the potential to make a substantial impact on the global food crisis.

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Sarah Sobol, wearing safety glasses, a light blue lab coat with a Northwestern research logo and orange gloves, is conducting synthetic biology research in a lab.
The Lucks Laboratory developed a home test that can detect common contaminants in water. The technology, called ROSALIND, harnesses the “molecular taste buds” found in bacteria and programs them to glow when they detect a contaminant.

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In a lab environment, Julius Lucks, wearing a dark suit and a purple striped tie, stands beside a Northwestern researcher wearing a light blue lab coat. Their mouths are open as though in conversation, and they are gesturing while looking at a laptop screen.
Northwestern has been awarded $50 million over five years from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Simons Foundation to establish the National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB) — the first institute of its kind in the U.S.

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A close-up infrared image of a fruit fly’s brain, displayed in neon reds, greens and yellows.