University of Missouri scientists are unlocking the secrets of halide perovskites — a material that’s poised to reshape our future by bringing us closer to a new age of energy-efficient optoelectronics.

Suchi Guha and Gavin King, two physics professors in Mizzou’s College of Arts and Science, are studying the material at the nanoscale: a place where objects are invisible to the naked eye. At this level, the extraordinary properties of halide perovskites come to life, thanks to the material’s unique structure of ultra-thin crystals — making it astonishingly efficient at converting sunlight into energy.

Think solar panels that are not only more affordable but also far more effective at powering homes. Or LED lights that burn brighter and last longer while consuming less energy.

A typical human pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, but most parents know this number is only a rough estimate.  

Babies are born on a seemingly unpredictable timeline, with a normal pregnancy ranging from 38 to 42 weeks. And 10 percent of all births are preterm, meaning they occur before 37 weeks of gestation, which puts babies at risk of a host of complications. 

Now, UC San Francisco researchers have discovered a molecular timer in mice that plays a role in controlling when they give birth. Surprisingly, the timer is activated in the very first days of pregnancy and operates within the uterus. 

UCF has continuously been recognized as a top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries, and two UCF professors plan to solidify that reputation through a new national consortium.

Professors Subith Vasu and Jayanta Kapat are leading a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to establish a consortium that will support students from underrepresented communities who are interested in earning engineering degrees.

The PARtnership and Training for NNSA Engineering and Relevant Sciences (PARTNERS) consortium will include the University of California, Irvine and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Sandia National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory will collaborate and support students and faculty. 

The goal of PARTNERS is to provide a training ground and talent pipeline for the next generation of nuclear engineers.