Research & Expression

Natural Sciences in Action

Natural Sciences in Action showcases the discovery and innovation that drive scientific understanding at the University. Faculty and students explore the fundamental principles of the natural world, from atoms and ecosystems to galaxies and beyond, advancing knowledge through research, experimentation, and collaboration. Their work expands what we know about the universe and applies that knowledge to address pressing challenges in health, energy, and the environment. Explore the stories below to see how scientific inquiry fuels progress and transforms our world.

little brown bat in mid flight through green leaves.

Why Don’t Bats Get Cancer?

Rochester scientists discover that strong immune systems and protection from genes are at play—and the findings could apply to human longevity.

The view from the rim of the caldera of Olympus Mons on Mars, the largest volcano in the solar system.

Mars Surface Patterns Resemble Earth, Revealing Secrets of its Past

Wave-like landforms on Mars offer insights about the planet’s icy past, its potential habitability, and the physics of flowing granular materials.

Illustration of a close-up of vertical stacks of light blue cubes representing qudits in Hilbert space connected at the bottom to circuitry.

Researchers Discover More Efficient Way to Route Information in Quantum Computers

Using qudits, Rochester scientists have solved a notoriously difficult problem involving Hilbert space, or the quantum matrix.