News

Alexandra Bayer, Cornell University The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope on the summit of Cerro Chajnantor, Chile.

Astronomy

Major new telescope on Chilean summit opens window on universe

4/10/2026 Cornell Chronicle

The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope was inaugurated in Chile on April 9 with more than 100 attendees, including international dignitaries, project supporters and scientists from the U.S., Germany, Canada and Chile, underscoring the global effort behind this milestone achievement.

City skyline with a waterway in the foreground, filled with boats — Johnson Hung/Unsplash View of Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Government

Taiwan’s opposition leader visits Nanjing, but US and China call the shots

4/9/2026 A&S Communications

As Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun visits China urging reconciliation, the U.S. and China dominate real cross-strait decisions, says Cornell University government scholar Allen Carlson.

City street with pedestrians and a busy sidewalk cafe — Ljubomir Žarković/Unsplash Budapest, Hungary

Government

Hungary’s EU rift driven more by Orbán than voters

4/9/2026 A&S Communications

With April 12 parliamentary elections approaching in Hungary, Cornell government professor Bryn Rosenfeld says the country’s growing rift with the EU reflects Viktor Orbán’s strategy more than voter sentiment.

Student experiences

Ask an ambassador: The first-year music experience

4/9/2026 A&S Student Ambassador

A first-year student talks about her experiences with music at Cornell.

A few dozen people in summer fashions cluster together with a Cornell University banner — Provided CBAA members at a Black Ivy event on Martha’s Vineyard in 2025.

Alumni

‘Built by alumni, sustained by community, driven by purpose’

4/9/2026 Cornellians

A 50th anniversary gala in Washington, DC, April 24–26 will celebrate Cornell Black Alumni Association's (CBAA) strength, history, and impact while planning for its future.

Government

Alumnus hopes historical lessons boost civic engagement

4/9/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Fred Rubinstein ’52, LLB ’55, has honored his late wife’s dedication to civic engagement by endowing a professorship in the Department of Government in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Science and Technology Studies

Earth Day talk to inaugurate Trevor Pinch Memorial Lecture series

4/9/2026 A&S Communications

A lecture featuring sociologist Steven Yearley on carbon sinks and climate policy will launch the Trevor Pinch Memorial Lecture Series on Earth Day, April 22 at 3:30 p.m. in Atkinson Hall room 121.

Distinguished Visiting Journalist

Death penalty explored in Distinguished Visiting Journalist event

4/8/2026 A&S Communications

Distinguished Visiting Journalist Keri Blakinger ’14 will host an in-depth look at capital punishment April 23 at 5 p.m. with a screening of her Oscar-nominated short documentary “I Am Ready, Warden” and a faculty panel discussion.

Student experiences

Ask an ambassador: A senior looks back on study abroad

4/7/2026 A&S Student Ambassador

A student talks about the incredible learning and growing experience she had during a semester abroad at Oxford.

Graduate student research

Student Spotlight: Elexis Trinity Williams

4/7/2026 Cornell University Graduate School

Science and technology studies scholar Elexis Trinity Williams studies scuba diving’s impact on ocean knowledge and human futures, backed by a Zhu Family Graduate Fellowship.

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) transits the Strait of Hormuz, — Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin/U.S. Marine Corps photo Amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) with embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transit the Strait of Hormuz in 2021

History

Trump’s Iran threats could harm civilians and backfire strategically

4/7/2026 A&S Communications

Trump's threats against Iranian infrastructure could backfire legally and strategically, experts warn. Cornell University historian David Silbey says attacking bridges and power plants would harm civilians and undermine U.S. objectives.

trees with pink blossoms in front of a clock tower and a library building

Cornell University

2029 reaccreditation process begins with self-study

4/7/2026 Cornell Chronicle

The first phase of the university’s upcoming reaccreditation process is underway, with the naming of a steering committee and an invitation to the community to provide input.

Five people on a stage with a screen behind them — Provided As part of the Assessing and Imagining the Impact of Generative AI on Science Symposium, Yian Yin, Peter Loewen, danah boyd, Morgan Frank and Sukwoong Choi (r-l) field questions on AI innovation and policy during a March 5 panel discussion.

Government

'Wild west' era of GenAI poses opportunities and challenges for science

4/6/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Experts discussed the good, the bad and the unknown ways that GenAI is transforming science at the Assessing and Imagining the Impact of Generative AI on Science Symposium.

A smiling woman and man in caps and "DARE2TRI" T-shirt stand on either side of a young woman athlete wearing the number "266" on her shirt — Provided Big Red grads (from left) Christine Palmquist, Manahil Jafri, and Adam Wolford.

Big Red Spirit

How One Volunteer Gig Reminded Me What Sport Is Really For

4/3/2026 Cornellians

At a triathlon camp for athletes with disabilities, Adam Wolford '14 saw people exceed their perceived limitations—and bonded with fellow alums, including A&S alum Christine Shaw Palmquist '87.

Freedom and Free Societies

Economist: Are living standards falling for young Americans?

4/2/2026 A&S Communications

Kevin Corinth, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, will give a talk, “Living Standards Across Generations: Are Younger Americans Falling Behind?” April 20 at 5:30 p.m. in 198 Statler Hall, sponsored by Cornell University's Program on Freedom and Free Societies.

Collage showing a photo of a bay with homes and an awningl with chickens grazing under it — Laila Milevski/Cornell University Finca de Hamberto, Edgar Oscar Ruiz's farm and resilience center on the island Vieques

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

On storm-ravaged Vieques, a microgrid builds resilience

4/2/2026 Cornell Chronicle

A small Puerto Rican island still has unreliable power nine years after Hurricane Maria - a new collaboration with Cornell is bringing relief in the form of a solar-powered battery and – coming in 2027 – a green-hydrogen fuel cell system.

two people holding newspaper at a hockey game

Student experiences

Ask an ambassador: 10 pieces of advice for new students

4/2/2026 A&S Student Ambassador

An A&S senior shares some wisdom she's gathered during her four years at Cornell.

A display case filled with colorful Easter eggs and interpretive posters — Kathy Hovis/College of Arts and Sciences An exhibit of Ukrainian Easter eggs on display in Goldwin Smith Hall

Comparative literature

Easter egg exhibit showcases Ukrainian program, culture at Cornell

4/1/2026 Cornell Chronicle

An exhibit of brilliantly colored Ukrainian Easter eggs, or pysanky, is one of several new initiatives Cornell’s Ukrainian Program is undertaking to bring the culture, language and history of Ukraine to the Cornell community.

group of students with lake in background

Student ambassadors

Ask an Ambassador: Finding my community at Cornell

3/31/2026 A&S Student Ambassador

A student ambassador talks about how she's found her friend group at Cornell.

People on a stage, dancing dramatically in yellow and orange costumes — Sari Makki Photo Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

Music

Flamenco artists featured on Concert Series April 11

3/31/2026 A&S Communications

The Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series at Cornell University closes its 2025-26 season with renowned company Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Bailey Hall during a performance on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. The event features QUINTO ELEMENTO (Fifth Element), a new work by dancer/choreographer Patricia Guerrero, featuring an original live score by Francis Gómez.

Illustration of a hand, shown in blue, holding a phone screen showing a red comedy mask and a blue tragedy mask — Shea Oleksa/Cornell University

Government

Why we’re skeptical of the emotions we see on our screens

3/31/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Emotional posts rarely persuade online audiences, Cornell University research finds. Experiments by College of Arts & Sciences scholar Talbot Andrews and collaborators revealed that news and social media audiences view emotional climate change messages as inauthentic, even among allies.

Person wearing large headphones, speaking into a microphone — Provided Maya K'iche' broadcaster Beatriz Guarchaj Guarchaj

Klarman Fellows

Panel explores Indigenous voices in Abiayala/Latin America

3/30/2026 A&S Communications

On April 9 at 4:45 p.m. “Indigenous Voices in Abiayala/Latin America" will explore Indigenous media self-representation in Latin America – the region known as Abiayala in the Guna language. Held in the in the A.D. White House and organized by a Klarman Fellow in Romance studies, the panel will feature scholars discussing Mapuche and Maya K’ishe’ cultural production, Indigenous languages and broadcasters’ fight to sustain native-language media such as Guatemala’s oldest Maya radio station.

Person wearing a business suit stands in a law library with rows of book stacks behind him — Cornell Law School Jonathan Zhu, J.D. ’92

Graduate student research

Donor’s fund enables dedicated humanities research

3/30/2026 Cornell University Graduate School

… she said. Williams also appreciates the ability to visit archives, spend entire days writing, and participate … support graduate students in pursuit of their degrees. Visit Cornell’s Giving website to explore your options. …

Physics

Nobel Laureate in physics to speak at Cornell April 8

3/27/2026 A&S Communications

Nobel Laureate John M. Martinis will speak about his research in quantum mechanics from 5-6 p.m. April 8 in the Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium, Room KG70 in Klarman Hall.

people standing in front of the Capitol building in D.C.

Student advocacy

Humanities students take D.C. trip to advocate for funding

3/26/2026 A&S Communications

Four Humanities Scholars Program undergraduates and two graduate students attended the National Humanities Alliance Annual Meeting and met with lawmakers.

Government

‘Naked power grab’: The politics behind attacking mail-in voting

3/26/2026 A&S Communications

Professor David Bateman comments on Pres. Trump's attacks on mail-in voting.

Career outcomes

Bright futures: A&S 2025 grads thrive despite economic uncertainty

3/26/2026 A&S Communications

Only 1.3% of last year’s graduating class in the College of Arts & Sciences graduated without a job offer or graduate school admission.

Student experience

Admitted Class of 2030 seeks real-world impact

3/26/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Regular decision students were notified March 26, the official notification date for the Ivy League.

a person swabbing their cheek — Ryan Young / Cornell University Students swab their cheeks in Willard Straight Hall.

Alumni initiatives

Alum’s search for a stem cell donor for his son inspires campus drive

3/25/2026 Cornellians

After Juan Uribe ’96 went viral with his social media campaign, a University effort added 1,350 people to the registry.

A person walking down a runway wearing a white dress

Student work

Memory becomes muse in annual runway show

3/25/2026 College of Human Ecology

Julia Schanen ’26, a mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, is one of the designers featured in this year's show.

Columns and arches form the walls, with a red carpet leading up to the alter in this image of the interior of the cathedral — Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Interior of Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury

Sociology

Historic and swift: Mullally’s rise to Archbishop of Canterbury

3/24/2026 A&S Communications

Prof. Landon Schnabel comments on the ordination of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

Aeriel view of a building complex; the center structure is pentagonal — Touch Of Light/Creative Commons license 4.0 The Pentagon, headquarters of the US Department of Defense

Government

Anthropic v. Pentagon early test of much larger challenge

3/24/2026 A&S Communications

Prof. Sarah Kreps comments on the Anthropic-Pentagon supply chain risk debate.

Active learning

Education researcher Dr. Susan Singer to speak on active learning, DBER field

3/24/2026 A&S Communications

The Center for Teaching Innovation welcomes Singer, president of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. and previous director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Undergraduate Education.

Decorative illustration featuring parts of planet Earth, a round red circle, and Saturn, on the black and white textured background

Astronomy

Cornell scientists drive breakthrough astronomy

3/24/2026 A&S Communications

Since the early days of modern cosmic exploration, Cornell scientists have led the way, from guiding rovers through the red dust of Mars to searching for other life in the universe.

person taking out an electric car battery — Photo by Kumpan Electric on Unsplash

Chemistry & Chemical Biology

Nickel catalyst enables high-performance fuel cell free of precious metals

3/24/2026 A&S Communications

Cornell researchers have developed a non-precious-metal catalyst that represents a major step toward alkaline fuel cells that use inexpensive commodity metals, such as nickel and cobalt, in several energy applications.

Student talent

Belting a Bruno Mars tune, senior wows judges on NBC’s ‘The Voice’

3/23/2026 Cornellians

Last Call member Adi Arora ’26 earned raves from stars John Legend and Kelly Clarkson for his rendition of ‘It Will Rain’ on the NBC show.

Two ships on blue water — Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael H. Lehman/U.S. Navy photo The guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) escorts the merchant vessel Tomahawk through the Strait of Hormuz.

History

Escalation playbook: Why limited strikes rarely stay limited

3/20/2026 A&S Communications

With the the Pentagon seeking $200 billion for the escalating Iran conflict, David Silbey, historian in Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences, sees a typical escalatory pattern. He analyzes Strait of Hormuz closures, risks, and deployment options shaping U.S. defense policy.

A striped caterpiller on a green leaf — Provided Cornell researchers have uncovered a new strategy milkweed uses to fight monarchs: upgrading the structure of its toxins.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Milkweed evolves ‘mind-blowing’ tactic to fight monarchs

3/20/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Milkweed has found a new strategy in its epic evolutionary battle with monarch butterflies: structurally upgrading its toxins to outmaneuver monarchs' resistance.

Ecology and evolutionary biology

Ecologist, biogeochemist Emily Bernhardt to lead Cornell Atkinson

3/20/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Emily Bernhardt, Ph.D. ‘01, the James B. Duke Professor of Biogeochemistry at Duke University, will join Cornell as the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability on Sept. 1. Bernhardt earned a Ph.D. in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Alumni

I studied English, am pursuing an MD – and cherish the humanities

3/20/2026 Cornellians

Serin Koh ’26, BA ’25 is pursuing a career in medicine after majoring in literatures in English in Cornell's College of Arts and sciences. She writes that she values interdisciplinarity, which universities often hail as the future of higher education.

Cornell's central campus with lake beyond

Government

Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures names 2026 faculty fellows

3/20/2026 Cornell Chronicle

… Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures names 2026 faculty fellows …

Artist's rendition of all the planets in the solar system next to each other

Astronomy

Where to find other Earths? New list narrows down the targets

3/19/2026 Cornell Chronicle

New Cornell research – co-authored by an undergraduate and two recent alumni – will help exoplanet scientists pinpoint the most likely places to look for life in the universe out of more than 6,000 exoplanets.

Black and white photo of a person hollering into a microphone with an intense look on his face — Provided Orlando Xavier performs with the Berkeley hardcore band Special Forces.

Music

Misfits find a home – and a history – in the ongoing story of punk

3/19/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Music professor Judith Peraino explores the outsider spirit of punk, and how it has been documented, in “We’re Having Much More Fun: Punk Archives for the Present from CBGB to Gilman and Beyond.”

Government

U.S.-China rift widens as Beijing rejects role in Hormuz crisis

3/18/2026 A&S Communications

As President Trump’s request that China help secure the Strait of Hormuz goes unanswered in Beijing, Cornell University expert Allen Carlson, professor of government in the College of Arts and Sciences, says China sees the crisis as U.S.-made and has little reason to help.

Provided Film poster: Hunting Yellow Pigs

Mathematics

'Hunting Yellow Pigs' film shows a singular approach to math education

3/17/2026 A&S Communications

Cornell math professor Steven Strogatz appears in a new film, “Hunting Yellow Pigs,” that celebrates the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM) and its unconventional approach to math education. The Cornell Department of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences will host a screening with filmmaker Ming-I Huang on March 24 at 4 p.m. in Schwarz Auditorium, room 201 in Rockefeller Hall.

Astronomy

Cornell exoplanet expert discusses where we should look for life

3/17/2026 A&S Communications

Astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute, comments on "Project Hail Mary" and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Photograph illustartion of hands, arms, and flowing cloth, representing a dance — Jini Li Poster image for 'Penumbra,' PMA's March 20-21 spring dance presentation

Performing and Media Arts

Spring dance presentation explores ‘the shadow self’

3/16/2026 A&S Communications

Cornell dance students will present “Penumbra: 2026 Annual Spring Dance Presenting Series,” a performance of original dance work hosted by the Department of Performing and Media Arts in the College of Arts & Sciences, March 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Class of ’56 Flexible Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. The show features work by visiting choreographer Babatunji Johnson and Cornell professor of the practice Danielle Russo.

Person in suit holding microphone, in front of a bank of red seats, some occupied — Jason Koski/Cornell University Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences, leads his government class, Disagreement.

Government

Course introduces students to constructive disagreement

3/16/2026 Cornell Chronicle

… The new class, dean Peter John Loewen said, for students to … and move through disagreements at work, at home, in their communities and in society. … (GOVT 1109), brings speakers together each week for a discussion about one of today’s most contentious … students to constructive disagreement.” Evan Liberman ’26, a government and French major in A&S, took the class to …

Person reading a book while sitting on a large rock outdoors — Cornell University file photo

Alumni

Your March 2026 reads

3/13/2026 Cornellians

This month’s featured titles by A&S alumni and faculty include an evolutionary look at dating, a Christian work on inner peace and a queer love story.

City street with people on a walkway and bright signs in Chinese lettering — Margo Evardson/ Unsplash on a Shanghai street

International politics

Ethnic unity law contradicts China’s constitution, puts premium on assimilation

3/10/2026 A&S Communications

“The law is consistent with a dramatic recent policy shift, to suppress the ethnic diversity formally recognized since 1949," says one Cornell expert. "The next step may be the formal abolishment of ‘ethnic minorities.’"

Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series

Renowned pianist Sir Stephen Hough plays Dallas Morse Coors Concert Series

3/10/2026 A&S Communications

In the concert, Hough will play an imaginative program that includes works by Schubert, Brahms, Schoenberg, Beethoven and a suite from "Mary Poppins."

Illustration featuring boxes will figures doing various activities: dancing, walking a dog, reading a book in a chair — Illustration by Ashley Osburn/Cornell University

Alumni

'There's a misconception that you lose your independence'

3/10/2026 Cornellians

Consultant Meredith Oppenheim ’95 on the benefits of senior housing – and why the industry isn’t ready for the Baby Boomers.

A family of four in a posed picture — Provided The Uribe family is searching for a stem-cell donor for 15-year-old Max (second from right).

Alumni

Stem-cell registry drive will mobilize campus to save lives

3/10/2026 Cornell Chronicle

To help the son of an Arts & Science alum and thousands of people in need of life-saving intervention, Cornell is hosting a stem-cell cheek swabbing campaign March 13-20 across the Ithaca campus.

Person holding a microphone near a large screen projecting a slide about "Joint disease across the species" — Simon Wheeler for Cornell University Sydney Womack presents her winning Three Minute Thesis during the 2025 3MT competition.

Graduate student research

Nine students advance to 2026 3MT finals

3/10/2026 Cornell University Graduate School

Neti Bhatt, physics is one of nine Cornell research degree students who will advance to the final round of the 2026 Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT).

semi-realistic image of a human hand reaching toward a robot hand through a screen — created with AI

Physics

Testing large language models on scientific literature

3/10/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Cornell physicists and Google researchers wondered whether LLMs could understand scientific literature at the level of a specialist.

Two people seated in large chairs, conversing in front of an audience — Alexandra Bayer/Cornell University Seth Klarman ’79 (left) and Bret Stephens discuss the state of journalism and debate in the U.S. March 6 in Klarman Hall.

Distinguished Visiting Journalists

NY Times writer and Klarman '79: Civil debate can change minds

3/10/2026 Cornell Chronicle

A live and online audience of nearly 1,000 tapped into a conversation between Bret Stephens and Seth Klarman.

Sunset with a pump mining crude oil — Zbynek Burival/Unsplash

International politics

Cornell expert warns of strategic backfire, as oil shock looms

3/9/2026 A&S Communications

“In economic terms, this is already the largest oil supply shock ever," says historian Nicholas Mulder.

Distinguished Visiting Journalist

NY Times journalist to offer insights on White House reporting

3/7/2026 A&S Communications

New York Times White House correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs will share insights about his work covering immigration, homeland security, criminal justice and inequality in an event March 17 with Dean Peter John Loewen.

Two people dressed very well stand together in front of a large building — Provided Victor Schwartz and his daughter, Chloë, with whom he runs VOS Selections, at the Supreme Court.

Alumni

Alum took his case all the way to the Supreme Court – and won

3/6/2026 Cornellians

Wine importer Victor Owen Schwartz ’80 has made global headlines with his company’s successful battle against tariffs; an update

two people with microphone standing outside

Media studies

World According to Sound offers immersive audio experience March 23

3/6/2026 A&S Communications

A sonic experience where the audience sits blindfolded is returning to Cornell March 23 for a 6 p.m. performance in Sage Chapel.

Several people clustered around a large table, on which shoes, handbags, boxes and collars are displayed — Ryan Young/Cornell University Denise Green shows students around the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection and highlights artifacts on loan from the family of Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54.

RBG’s influences featured in ‘Fashioning Justice’ exhibit

3/6/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54 was a champion for women’s equality. Her style, and the substance behind it, will be on display in an exhibit, “Fashioning Justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54 and the Power of Presence.”

U.S. marines and sailors loading into an aircraft — Joel Rivera-Camacho/Unsplash U.S. marines and sailors

Religion

End-times rhetoric in US military ‘didn’t infiltrate, was invited in’

3/5/2026 A&S Communications

Use of Christian apocalyptic language by commanders reflects a climate shaped from the top down, says one Cornell expert. Another adds: the belief that Christians should actively bring about the end times rests on a misreading of the Book of Revelation.

Person standing in front of a body of water, balancing a hockey stick across her back and wearing a gold medal on a red ribbon — Jordan Leigh/Provided With her Olympic medal—and rings tattoo—at West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay.

Alumni

Olympic champion is a trailblazer in women’s pro ice hockey

3/5/2026 Cornellians

A three-time captain for the Big Red, Micah Zandee-Hart ’19, BA ’20, now leads the New York Sirens of the PWHL

Light bulb growing out of a circuitboard with "AI" glowing in its center — AI-generated image

AI in science

Experts to examine the use of generative AI in science

3/4/2026 Cornell Chronicle

The Assessing and Imagining the Impact of Generative AI on Science Symposium, March 3-5, will feature experts from across academia and industry engaging in discussions on the use and implications of generative AI.

Jason Koski/Cornell University Spring flowers bloom near Ho Plaza

Social sciences

Cornell Center for Social Sciences names 2026-27 Faculty Fellows

3/4/2026 Cornell Chronicle

The Cornell Center for Social Sciences has selected 10 faculty members, including several from A&S, as 2026–27 Faculty Fellows, providing course release and funding to support interdisciplinary social science research with real-world impact.

people sitting around a table — Provided Prof. Alexander Livingston talks with Upward Bound students over winter break during a pilot of the new summer program for high school students.

Government

Cornell faculty and staff honored for community-engaged innovation

3/4/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Fourteen members of Cornell’s faculty and staff are being recognized this year with Community-Engaged Practice and Innovation Awards from the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement; from A&S it's government professor Alexandre Livingston.

History

Student spotlight: Amorette Lyngwa

3/4/2026 Cornell University Graduate School

Amorette Lyngwa, a doctoral student in history with a focus on modern South Asia from Shillong, India, studies the urban and social history of Shillong through a community-focused perspective.

High school students smiling and looking at an old photo negative. — Jason Koski/Cornell University Students examine old strips of film.

Astronomy

Spacecraft image center brings the universe to NYS

3/4/2026 Cornell Chronicle

The center manages print and online images taken by NASA missions, supports astronomy research and conducts outreach events.

Missile heading up into the sky — Photo by Maciej Ruminkiewicz on Unsplash

History

SM-6 missile strain raises strategic risks in wider conflict

3/3/2026 A&S Communications

Iran’s retaliation to the intensifying war may be swift, but the longer-term risks lie in how prolonged fighting could strain U.S. defenses and tempt rivals like China.

Person standing befor others, a computer open, looking confident — Chase Chappell/Unsplash

Government

Workers who love ‘synergizing paradigms’ might be bad at their jobs

3/2/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Employees who are impressed by vague corporate-speak like “synergistic leadership,” or “growth-hacking paradigms” may struggle with practical decision-making, a new Cornell study into “corporate BS” reveals.

Government

‘Little reason to expect any meaningful check’ on president despite some vocal opposition to strikes on Iran

3/2/2026 A&S Communications

Presidents typically seek approval from Congress for prolonged military actions as an opportunity to convince the American public and cultivate buy-in from members, says professor David Bateman, but this administration couldn’t care less.

Physics

Holding chaos at bay in the quantum world

2/27/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Researchers have found that quantum systems in a frozen state can be stabilized long enough to be a useful strategy for preserving information before it disappears.

Robert Sullivan, with short gray hair and a closed-mouth smile, leaning against a ship's rail with the sea and clouds behind him. — Provided Robert Sullivan on a Mediterranean cruise near Naples, Italy, in January 2024.

In memoriam

Planetary scientist Robert Sullivan dies at 63

2/27/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Robert John Sullivan, Jr., one of the world’s foremost authorities on aeolian processes -- how wind can carve and change a landscape -- died Feb. 15 in Ithaca.

Asian studies

Daniel Gold, professor of Asian studies emeritus, dies at 78

2/26/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Daniel Gold, a professor of Asian studies emeritus in the College of Arts and Sciences, died on Feb. 16 in Ithaca. He was 78.

Students sit at tables, discussion together — Jason Koski/Cornell University As part of the new course, students broke out into small groups to discuss big questions relating to law, health, technology and business.

Government

Civic leadership class asks students to consider their purpose

2/26/2026 Cornell Chronicle

On a Saturday morning in February – the coldest day yet of a cold winter – more than 350 students trekked to Statler Hall for an innovative new course on civics.

Government

Anthropic v. Pentagon reveals enduring rift between tech, national security

2/26/2026 A&S Communications

“It’s striking that Anthropic appears caught off guard by how its model is being used," says government professor Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell’s Tech Policy Institute.

Literatures in English

Literary critic Biodun Jeyifo dies at 80

2/26/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Biodun “BJ” Jeyifo, a leading literary critic and cultural theorist known for his analysis of modernity and its attendant social and cultural crises, died Feb. 11 in Lagos, Nigeria. He was 80.

Classics

Making an impression: A new approach to classical concepts of the image

2/26/2026 A&S Communications

For the ancient Greeks, an image could be understood as a seal pressed on a material to leave a mark, as opposed to an inferior imitation (mimēsis), scholar Verity Platt argues in a new book.

Person smiling next to a sculpture of a person sitting — Cornell University file photo Mike Fontaine

Classics

Back to in-person work? Classics professor offers tips on office humor

2/25/2026 Cornellians

In early February, classics professor Mike Fontaine tapped the expertise he gleaned from writing How to Tell a Joke to address a very modern phenomenon: the current push by many companies for a return to the office.

Person looking at a sky full of stars and color — Greg Rakozy/Unsplash

Ecology and evolutionary biology

Online module helps students recognize, develop critical thinking

2/25/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Cornell researchers have developed an online module, running just over an hour in length, that can be offered as a way to instill concepts of critical thinking early in a student’s academic journey.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Proteins organize for extracellular electron transfer

2/24/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Researchers discovered electron transfer in electroactive bacteria is mediated by CymA proteins’ ability to synchronize and form a biomolecular condensate in the cell’s inner membrane.

filmy, white globs with red dots in their centers float against a blue background

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Researchers observe dynamic “gate” that tames powerful signaling molecule

2/24/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Cornell researchers have uncovered a built-in molecular “gate” that controls the production of the molecule nitric oxide, a crucial signaling molecule throughout biology that in humans helps regulate blood pressure, brain signaling, and immune defenses. But when levels go unchecked, it can damage cells and disrupt normal signaling.

A crowd gathered, holding blue and yellow flags; hands in the foreground hold a sign that says "Ukraine Resist" — alisdare1/licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 A pro-Ukraine protest in London's Trafalgar Square

History

Little changing as Ukraine-Russia war drags toward Fifth year

2/24/2026 A&S Communications

On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, what’s notable is the lack of change in the last year, says David Silbey, a professor at Cornell University who specializes in military history and defense policy.

desktop globe model in a dimly lit room — Kyle Glenn/Unsplash

International studies

Global Hubs researchers probe war, how to keep peace

2/24/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Two Cornell researchers collaborated with colleagues in the United Kingdom in an effort to understand the organized violence of modern war.

Jason Koski/Cornell University Héctor Abruña, the Émile M. Chamot Professor in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Abruña honored for chemistry in the public interest

2/23/2026 A&S Communications

The Gustavus John Esseln Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest from the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society honors outstanding achievement in scientific and technical work that contributes to public well-being.

Person sitting in a deep windowsill, reading a book — Cornell University file photo

Alumni

Your February 2026 reads

2/20/2026 Cornellians

This month’s featured titles by A&S alumni and faculty include a look at the urban-rural divide, a biography of an anti-poverty activist, and a business guide for "winning dream jobs, awards, and elite opportunities.”

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Student spotlight: Bayu Ahmad

2/20/2026 Cornell University Graduate School

Bayu Ahmad, a doctoral candidate in chemistry and chemical biology, studies the use of organic chemistry for sustainable applications under the guidance of Phillip Milner at Cornell.

Person in a blue USA jersey reaches up to slap hands with a member of the crowd, celebrating — Getty Images/Provided Rory Guilday ’25 thanks fans after receiving the gold medal.

Alumni

Cornell alumnae leave Milan with one gold, two silvers in Olympic hockey

2/20/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Rory Guilday ’25 won a gold medal and Brianne Jenner ’15 and Kristin O'Neill ’20 took silver in women’s Olympic hockey.

Blue plaque with the title, "Toni Morrison" and a paragraph of text — Alexandra Bayer/Cornell University A historical marker for Toni Morrison, M.A. ’55, was unveiled at 513 N. Albany St in Ithaca, where she lived during her first year at Cornell.

Alumni

Historical marker commemorates Toni Morrison’s time in Ithaca

2/20/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Cornell faculty, staff, students and community members celebrated the 95th birthday of Toni Morrison, M.A. ’55, by unveiling a new historical marker in front of 513 N. Albany St., where she lived while in graduate school.

A. D. White Professors at Large

Five A.D. White Professors-at-Large on campus this spring

2/19/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Named for Cornell’s first president, the program sponsors scholars and public intellectuals in the life sciences, physical sciences, humanities, social sciences and the arts and this semester features several connections with the College of Arts and Sciences.

Theater seats and a curtain in the distance — Paolo Chiabrando/Unsplash

Literatures in English

2024-25 Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism winners announced

2/19/2026 A&S Communications

Masi Asare of Northwestern University and arts journalist Billy McEntee have been named winners of the 2024-25 George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism.

Political history

LaFeber-Silbey Lecture considers “A World Without Law?”

2/19/2026 A&S Communications

Scholar of law Philippe Sands will give the LaFeber-Silbey Lecture in History on March 5, considering "Lessons from History and Literature, from Nuremberg to Pinochet and Beyond.”

Clock tower in foreground, snowy college campus in the distance, seen from above in low light

Research fellowships

Five from Cornell named 2026 Sloan Research Fellows

2/18/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Five Cornell faculty members are among 126 early-career researchers across North America who have won 2026 Sloan Research Fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Religious studies

John: The life and times of the ‘maverick’ Gospel

2/18/2026 Cornell Chronicle

The fourth Gospel of the New Testament holds many of the Bible’s most well-known passages, but also some of its controversies.

Molecular biology and genetics

Computational biologist receives NIH NDRI Pilot Award

2/17/2026 A&S Communications

Ayshwarya Subramanian researches diabetic kidney disease, the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, affecting 30% to 50% of people with diabetes.

Music

Events honor the legacy of composer Steven Stucky

2/17/2026 A&S Communications

The Department of Music is honoring the late Steven Stucky, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and beloved Cornell professor, with a series of concerts.

Civic education and outreach

New summer course to spark civic engagement in high schoolers

2/17/2026 A&S Communications

A Teagle Foundation grant will help fund the course and open pathways to higher education.

Distinguished Visiting Journalists

Bret Stephens and Seth Klarman in conversation, March 6

2/17/2026 A&S Communications

The pair will offer a wide-ranging conversation, “On Democracy, Conservatism and Journalism."

Two people in suits standing in front of the recognizable white dome of the US Capitol Building — Provided Christian Gant-Madison '25, right, interned with Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), left, last summer.

AI literacy

Helping urban youth use AI to navigate the future

2/16/2026 Cornell Chronicle

Christian Gant-Madison's '25 platform will use AI to connect youth to jobs, skill development opportunities, civic education information and social resources.

History

How WWII changed ideas of racial purity in Japan

2/16/2026 A&S Communications

The new book explores what happened to “mixed blood” children born to Japanese women and foreign soldiers.