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University of Chicago

The latest news and top stories on the University of Chicago. A prominent private research university located in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the University of Chicago is dedicated to advancing knowledge through rigorous inquiry and intellectual debate, as reflected in its motto, “Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched.” Renowned for its academic excellence, it encompasses an undergraduate college, four graduate divisions, and numerous professional schools. Notable for its significant contributions to research, including the first self-sustained nuclear reaction, and for fostering influential schools of thought like the Chicago School of Economics, the university has educated over 100 Nobel laureates.

Ngo Bao Chau made history in 2010 as the first Vietnamese recipient of the prestigious Fields Medal, regarded as the mathematics equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Photo: Handout

Scientists

Vietnam’s legendary maths genius Ngo Bao Chau to join University of Hong Kong

The Fields Medal winner and his country’s most distinguished mathematician is leaving the US and returning to Asia.

9 Feb 2026 - 5:29PMvideocam

Science

Wilczek’s Multiverse | Revisiting the peaks of Nobel laureate Chen-ning Yang’s remarkable career

23 Jan 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

Google study finds DeepSeek, Alibaba models mimic human collective intelligence

22 Jan 2026 - 7:00AM

United States

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

19 Jan 2026 - 6:57PMvideocam

Open Questions series

Open Questions | China wins if Venezuela ensnares Trump, Mearsheimer says

Maduro’s ‘kidnap’ and naked grab for Venezuela’s oil may leave US bogged down and less able to keep eye on China, political scientist John Mearsheimer says.

16 Jan 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

US-China relations

Opinion | How Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is escalating US-China rivalry

Maduro’s capture not only challenges China’s influence in Latin America but also signals a bolder US security posture that could reshuffle great-power competition.

11 Jan 2026 - 9:25PMvideocam

Taiwan

Opinion | Taiwan intervention may just spell the end of the West

Mutual economic destruction or worse for China and the West should be enough to deter everyone from internationalising the Taiwan question.

20 Dec 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

A member of the People’s Liberation Army scans the sea during military exercises, with Taiwan’s frigate Lan Yang in the distance, on August 5, 2022. Photo: Xinhua via AP

Science

Mathematician Qian Hong, son of top scientific clan, leaves US for China

Return of pioneering scientists’ latest generation prompts more attention than usual among a growing trend.

17 Nov 2025 - 9:06PMvideocam

Science

World-leading cancer drug scientist Lin Wenbin joins China’s Westlake University

The move follows distinguished contributions at the University of Chicago towards developing more effective cutting-edge treatments.

10 Nov 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

Science

AI scientists fail to impress human experts at one-of-a-kind online conference

Despite rapid advances and fierce competition with China, artificial intelligence shows limitations at Agents4Science event.

2 Nov 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

Artificial intelligence is not yet ready to take over scientific research, experts have warned. Photo: Shutterstock

US-China relations

Open Questions | ‘We live in anarchy’: John J. Mearsheimer on the limits of containing US, China

International relations expert discusses looming flashpoints in the US-China rivalry and the ‘colossal mistake’ if Ukraine joined Nato.

31 Oct 2025 - 11:09AMvideocam

108

Archaeology and palaeontology

Rare duck-billed dinosaur ‘mummies’ reveal a surprise: hoofed feet

Edmontosaurus fossils had large areas of preserved external skin surface, providing the most fleshed-out view of a large dinosaur to date.

24 Oct 2025 - 6:36AMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: sculptor bridges generations, cultures through art

May Yeung earns place as finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the culture category.

7 Oct 2025 - 10:15AM

Japan

Japan’s AI policing tool to monitor social media sparks ‘dystopia’ warnings

The pilot project will use AI to analyse online activity and flag people deemed potential threats, but critics warn it may be an overreach.

18 Sep 2025 - 9:03AM

Police officers stand guard before an election campaign speech by Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo in October 2024. There has been a rise in threatening posts on social media – particularly those targeting politicians. Photo: AFP

Wellness

How just a 15-minute walk in nature could improve your attention span

Humans are very good at concentrating, but our focus only lasts for so long. Experts say exposure to nature can recharge us.

14 Sep 2025 - 8:15AM

If you find yourself losing focus after hours of concentration, a walk in nature could recharge your mental batteries. Photo: Shutterstock

Science

After 40 years in US, pioneering mathematician Zhongwei Shen returns to China

Shen will continue decades of research on partial differential equations and harmonic analysis at Westlake University in Hangzhou.

9 Sep 2025 - 11:58AMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

New Communist Party rules hint Xi Jinping is delegating more power to deputies

New party rules aim to standardise policy coordination and strengthen decision-making at the top.

7 Jul 2025 - 3:44PM

US-China relations

Could hi-tech China revive the US rust belt – and steady superpower ties?

Political scientist Robert Pape says there’s an opportunity for China’s university-industry model to be transposed to America.

4 Jul 2025 - 11:00PMvideocam

China’s power is its innovation, according to political scientist Robert Pape. Photo: AFP

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University of Chicago

Vietnam’s legendary maths genius Ngo Bao Chau to join University of Hong Kong

The Fields Medal winner and his country’s most distinguished mathematician is leaving the US and returning to Asia.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Wilczek’s Multiverse | Revisiting the peaks of Nobel laureate Chen-ning Yang’s remarkable career

Google study finds DeepSeek, Alibaba models mimic human collective intelligence

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer

International relations scholar says US could easily take Greenland, while regime change in Tehran would be more difficult.

Open Questions | China wins if Venezuela ensnares Trump, Mearsheimer says

Maduro’s ‘kidnap’ and naked grab for Venezuela’s oil may leave US bogged down and less able to keep eye on China, political scientist John Mearsheimer says.

Opinion | How Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is escalating US-China rivalry

Maduro’s capture not only challenges China’s influence in Latin America but also signals a bolder US security posture that could reshuffle great-power competition.

Opinion | Taiwan intervention may just spell the end of the West

Mutual economic destruction or worse for China and the West should be enough to deter everyone from internationalising the Taiwan question.

Mathematician Qian Hong, son of top scientific clan, leaves US for China

Return of pioneering scientists’ latest generation prompts more attention than usual among a growing trend.

World-leading cancer drug scientist Lin Wenbin joins China’s Westlake University

The move follows distinguished contributions at the University of Chicago towards developing more effective cutting-edge treatments.

AI scientists fail to impress human experts at one-of-a-kind online conference

Despite rapid advances and fierce competition with China, artificial intelligence shows limitations at Agents4Science event.

Open Questions | ‘We live in anarchy’: John J. Mearsheimer on the limits of containing US, China

International relations expert discusses looming flashpoints in the US-China rivalry and the ‘colossal mistake’ if Ukraine joined Nato.

Rare duck-billed dinosaur ‘mummies’ reveal a surprise: hoofed feet

Edmontosaurus fossils had large areas of preserved external skin surface, providing the most fleshed-out view of a large dinosaur to date.

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: sculptor bridges generations, cultures through art

May Yeung earns place as finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the culture category.

Japan’s AI policing tool to monitor social media sparks ‘dystopia’ warnings

The pilot project will use AI to analyse online activity and flag people deemed potential threats, but critics warn it may be an overreach.

How just a 15-minute walk in nature could improve your attention span

Humans are very good at concentrating, but our focus only lasts for so long. Experts say exposure to nature can recharge us.

After 40 years in US, pioneering mathematician Zhongwei Shen returns to China

Shen will continue decades of research on partial differential equations and harmonic analysis at Westlake University in Hangzhou.

New Communist Party rules hint Xi Jinping is delegating more power to deputies

New party rules aim to standardise policy coordination and strengthen decision-making at the top.

Could hi-tech China revive the US rust belt – and steady superpower ties?

Political scientist Robert Pape says there’s an opportunity for China’s university-industry model to be transposed to America.

Wilczek’s Multiverse | Revisiting the peaks of Nobel laureate Chen-ning Yang’s remarkable career

Open Questions | Why US raid on Venezuela could ‘work to China’s advantage’: John Mearsheimer