The Universe really seems to be expanding fast. Too fast, even. A new measurement confirms what previous — and highly debated — results had shown: The Universe is expanding faster than predicted by theoretical models, and faster than can be explained by our current understanding of physics. This discrepancy between model and data became known as the Hubble tension. Now, results published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters provide even stronger support to the faster rate of expansion.

The University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is spearheading the IFE-STAR ecosystem, an initiative supported by a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. This program is set to reshape the future of inertial fusion energy (IFE) by bringing together experts from academia, national laboratories, and industry while investing in the next generation of researchers. Central to this effort are two transformative programs: the inaugural IFE-STAR conference, taking place April 7-11, 2025, in Breckenridge, Colorado, where leading scientists will address the most pressing challenges and advancements in fusion research, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), which will immerse students in hands-on research alongside top IFE scientists at over 20 institutions. These initiatives are designed to drive meaningful progress in fusion energy science while cultivating the talent essential for its future.

Leo P, a small galaxy and a distant neighbor of the Milky Way, is lighting the way for astronomers to better understand star formation and how a galaxy grows.

In a study published in the Astrophysical Journal, a team of researchers led by Kristen McQuinn, a scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute and an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Rutgers University-New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences, has reported finding that Leo P “reignited,” reactivating during a significant period on the timeline of the universe, producing stars when many other small galaxies didn’t. 

Resembling the interlocking links in chainmail, novel nanoscale material is incredibly strong and flexible. The interlocked material contains 100 trillion mechanical bonds per 1 square centimeter — the highest density of mechanical bonds ever achieved. Small amounts of the mechanically interlocked polymer added to Ultem fibers increased the high-performance material's toughness.