David Spergel Receives NASA’s Exceptional Public Service Medal

 Simons Foundation, April 2022

On April 13, NASA has awarded Simons Foundation president David Spergel its Exceptional Public Service Medal, in a virtual ceremony telecast. The award cites Spergel’s “outstanding leadership of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s science teams during its initial mission concept and formulation period.” This medal is awarded to recipients whose “record of achievements sets a benchmark for other nongovernment contributors to follow.”

Simons Foundation Funds Center for Computational Physical Chemistry at NYU

 Simons Foundation, March 2022

The future relies on chemistry. Advancements in computation mean that theoretical chemistry — which has long played second fiddle to experimental chemistry — is now poised to complement or even surpass what’s achievable with modern experiments. As a result, the burgeoning field of computational physical chemistry has the potential to spur unprecedented advances in batteries, medicine, desalination and even environmentally friendly insecticides.

‘Quantum Friction’ Slows Water Flow Through Carbon Nanotubes, Resolving Long-Standing Fluid Dynamics Mystery

 Simons Foundation, February 2022

For 15 years, scientists have been baffled by the mysterious way water flows through the tiny passages of carbon nanotubes — pipes with walls that can be just one atom thick. The streams have confounded all theories of fluid dynamics; paradoxically, fluid passes more easily through narrower nanotubes, and in all nanotubes it moves with almost no friction. What friction there is has also defied explanation.