Beckman Institute News

Moving Scientific Research into the Cloud

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:02:14 GMT

Scientific American -- A story about an agreement between Mircosoft and the National Science Foundation to offer free acess to computer servers uses the work of Beckman Institute faculty member Klaus Schulten (fifth paragraph) as an example of how supercomputing resources can be used to advance research.

Graduate Student Seminar Scheduled for February 10

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:46:15 GMT

The Spring 2010 Beckman Institute Graduate Student Seminar series begins on Wednesday, February 10. The seminar will feature three short talks from graduate students Xing Liang, Hunter McDaniel and Jeehae Park. The seminar will be held in Beckman Institute Room 1005 and a pizza lunch will be served.

Visual World Comes in Waves of Consciousness

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

How we interpret the visual world might be more akin to a “wave” than a “stream” of consciousness according to a recent and ongoing research line at the Beckman Institute.

Dipstick Test for Toxic Lead

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:18:27 GMT

Chemistry World -- Beckman faculty member Yi Lu and colleagues have developed a sensor that uses non-cross-linked gold nanoparticle-DNA conjugates, bound to a lead-activated DNAzyme mounted on a solid dipstick platform that can be used to detect lead levels in paints.

Financial Times Interview with Richard Powers

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:13:45 GMT

Financial Times -- An interview with author Richard Powers, U. of I. English professor and Beckman faculty member.

Flexible Silicon Panels

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:50:44 GMT

New Electronics -- John Rogers, a Beckman researcher and U. of I. professor of materials science and engineering, says that his research team obtained lightweight, flexible devices that bend without measurable changes in their electrical or mechanical properties by stamping hundreds of these microcells onto plastic substrates. This, says Rogers, makes them ideal for integration on fabrics such as backpacks, clothes and cases.

Digital Signage Illuminates Beckman Institute

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT

An eye-catching digital sign recently installed in the east end of the Beckman Institute atrium is just the first stage in a plan to make information about the building’s spaces, events, people, and facilities easier to use and more efficient.

From Idea to the Marketplace in 13 Short Years

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:40:11 GMT

It took more than 13 years but a landmark discovery by current Beckman Institute researcher Joe Lyding and former Beckman research theme co-chair Karl Hess is going into mass production. In 1996, in a conversation in Hess’s office, the two hit on the idea to use deuterium as a way to reduce hot electron damage in integrated circuit transistors. Last week, an agreement was reached with electronics giant Samsung to license their method for use in semiconductor devices.

Chasiotis Honored at White House

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:50:28 GMT

Beckman Institute faculty member Ioannis Chasiotis received the 2008 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers last week in a ceremony at the White House.

Flexible Semiconductors 'Could Be Used To Monitor Brain And Heart'

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:24:03 GMT

Compound Semiconductor -- John Rogers, a Beckman researcher and professor of materials science and engineering at Illinois, has developed a way in which flat silicon wafers could be replaced so semiconductors can be used to monitor the heart and brain.