News

In a recent article for Science, Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, proposes an approach to artificial intelligence’s unchecked proliferation and escalating harms: a reapplication of the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) program developed for the Human Genome Project.

In an article for Nature, Ananyo Bhattacharya, science writer at the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences and biographer of John von Neumann, founding Professor (1933–55) in the School of Mathematics, lays out the significance of a "major advance" in research into the Langlands program—the "grand unified theory of mathematics" first laid out by Robert Langlands, Professor Emeritus in the School.

Does artificial intelligence have a role to play in pure mathematics—the kind of math still worked out on blackboards over decades? To interrogate this question, The New York Times spoke to IAS scholars from diverse disciplinary perspectives: Members Patrick Shafto (2021–23) and Andrew Granville (1989–91, 2007, 2009–10) in the School of Mathematics, and Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science.

Theoretical computer scientist Ryan Williams returns to the Institute this fall as the architect of a proof described as “stunning” and “massive.” Ben Brudaker of Quanta Magazine interviewed him about the revolutionary result.

In an article for TIME Magazine, Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, has announced her resignation from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. Nelson, who was appointed to the National Science Board in 2024 and the Scholars Council in 2023, outlined the factors behind her decision.

Hong Wang, Member (2019–21) in the School of Mathematics, and her colleague Joshua Zahl have proven the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture, a problem that has, until now, “eluded some of the greatest living mathematicians.” Their work has built on that of other IAS scholars, including Jean Bourgain, Professor (1994–2018) in the School, and Terence Tao, Member (2005, 2023) in the School.

Alessio Figalli, Member in the School of Mathematics, investigates optimal transport, a field with deep theoretical roots and far-reaching applications, including to machine learning. Figalli recently sat down with frequent Director's Visitor Siobhan Roberts for a New York Times interview about his work, which also touched on the importance of free thinking in research.

Drawing on her perspective as a historian of medieval religion and society and her specialization in medieval France, Anne Elisabeth Lester, Visitor in the School of Historical Studies, recounts the devastating fire that engulfed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in April 2019, and the subsequent efforts to rebuild it, for the American Historical Association's newsmagazine Perspectives on History.

Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, spoke with MIT Science Policy Review about the role of scientists and the broader public in shaping policy. She discussed the various ways in which scientists can participate in policymaking and the importance of and challenges that surround public access to science.

Why are some stars brighter than others? Why are some redder or bluer? A plot from a recent research paper by Hsiang-Chih Hwang, Member in the School of Natural Sciences, which addresses this question, has been selected as the Gaia Space Telescope's Image of the Week.

At a workshop held at IAS in March, Sebastian Mizera, Member in the School of Natural Sciences, "met with fellow S-matrix enthusiasts. Inspired by recent progress, they continue to seek more universal rules that govern all S-matrices. [...] They focus on observations, striving to discover truths that will endure even when the shape of future theories remains uncertain."

Jim Simons, former IAS Member (1972), Trustee (2001–18), and Board Vice Chair (2010–18), "led a life driven by curiosity." A tribute posted on the Simons Foundation website honors his achievements in mathematics, business, and philanthropy.

"In 1940, André Weil [Faculty (1958–76) and Emeritus (1976–98) in the School of Mathematics] wrote a letter to his sister, Simone, outlining his vision for translating between three distinct areas of mathematics. Eighty years later, it still animates many of the most exciting developments in the field."

In an article for Quanta, Isabel Garcia Garcia, past Member in the School of Natural Sciences (2022–23), discusses the latent possibilities of LISA, the first dedicated space-based gravitational wave observatory, currently scheduled to launch in the 2030s.

Agustin Moreno, past Member in the School of Mathematics (2021–23), in collaboration with an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has devised new tools for cataloging space orbits using symplectic geometry, helping to reunite two fields which have long since been growing apart. 

A research team led by Adam Burrows, Member in the School of Natural Sciences, has created the largest collection yet of state-of-the-art, three-dimensional core-collapse supernova simulations.

In the School of Mathematics, AMIAS Member Rachel Greenfeld and Veblen Research Instructor Sarah Peluse (2020–23), have proved that large sets of points with integer distances between them must lie almost entirely on a single line or circle. 

Past Member and frequent Visiting Professor Russell Impagliazzo, and collaborator with Avi Wigderson, Herbert H. Maas Professor in the School of Mathematics, discussed everything from cryptography to Dungeons & Dragons in an interview with Quanta Magazine. 

Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, and her AI Democracy Projects co-founder Julia Angwin have penned an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times about the "misleading" election information that abounds on many AI platforms.

A pair of astronomers, including Itai Linial, Member (2022–23) in the School of Natural Sciences, "have discovered a handful of supermassive black holes that are associated with bursts of X-rays that recur every few hours or days." 

In an op-ed for the Financial Times, Daniela Gabor, Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., and Annette L. Nazareth Member in the School of Social Science, argues that the U.K.'s central bank strategy to unwind quantitative easing is an illegitimate use of its fiscal powers.

In an article for Foreign Affairs, Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, advocates for focusing on the possibilities that artificial intelligence might provide, as opposed to dwelling on its perils. 

Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation Professor in the School of Social Science, spoke with The Nation about the multifront crisis of the post-Trump era, the moral and intellectual commitments of scholars and higher education, and her recent book Nihilistic Times: Thinking With Max Weber.

On the eve of Election Day, Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, and Maya Wiley have co-authored an op-ed for The Messenger, examining the present and future risks of AI to the democratic process and efforts to keep such technology in check.

Edward Witten, Professor Emeritus in the School of Natural Sciences, is the latest guest on the BBC podcast The Life Scientific. As well as discussing his career, Witten reflected on the "special place" of the Institute, describing the "stimulation" provided by his IAS colleagues.

In 1977, Michael Walzer, Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Science, "updated the Augustinian theory on the legitimacy of armed conflicts from a secular and leftist point of view" with his book Just and Unjust Wars. In this interview, he addresses the moral dilemmas surrounding the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Akshay Venkatesh, Robert & Luisa Fernholz Professor in the School of Mathematics, and past Members David Ben-Zvi and Yiannis Sakellaridis have made significant progress "on a long-held dream within a sweeping research initiative in mathematics called the Langlands program."

Princeton Mayor Mark Freda and IAS Director and Leon Levy Professor David Nirenberg discuss the Institute's distinctive strengths, the continuing legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer and other key figures from IAS history, and how the institution plays a role in making the small town of Princeton "punch far above its weight in terms of its intellectual place in the world."

Didier Fassin, James D. Wolfensohn Professor in the School of Social Science, and Anne-Claire Defossez, Visitor in the School, were invited to contribute an article to a special 200th anniversary edition of The Lancet on the subject of how border violence presents a public health concern.

To celebrate her latest book, Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation Professor in the School of Social Science, spoke with EL PAÍS about the relevance of Max Weber today and how both knowledge and politics have been stricken by nihilistic boundary breakdowns and degradation of values.

In the wake of the revelation that over 2,000 objects have been stolen from the British Museum over a number of years, Angelos Chaniotis, Professor in the School of Historical Studies, discusses the implications that this theft has for the Museum's credibility as a repository of monuments.

Inspired by the release of Christoper Nolan's biopic Oppenheimer, this interview highlights the diverse research taking place across all four IAS schools and how the influence of leading figures from IAS history, such as Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer, is still felt at the Institute today.

IAS Director and Leon Levy Professor David Nirenberg "walks in Oppenheimer’s shoes." In an interview with NJ.com, he discusses how, in the current age of AI, the role for the Institute that Oppenheimer helped to carve out is needed "as much as ever."

Kai Bird sat down at the Institute for Advanced Study with CBS correspondent David Martin to talk about J. Robert Oppenheimer ahead of the release of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. 

IAS Director and Leon Levy Professor David Nirenberg discusses how, after helping invent the atomic bomb, past Director J. Robert Oppenheimer spent decades thinking about how to preserve civilization from technological dangers, offering crucial lessons for the age of AI.

Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, joined Washington Post Live for a conversation about artificial intelligence, the workforce, and the global economy.

Didier Fassin, James D. Wolfensohn Professor in the School of Social Science, writes for the New Statesman about the killing of Nahel Merzouk by a police officer and the social unrest resulting from it.

Jeffrey Gould, Distinguished Visiting Professor in the School of Historical Studies, just returned from a trip to Chile and El Salvador, discusses recent political trends in Latin America.

On May 18, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kai Bird joined IAS Director and Leon Levy Professor David Nirenberg to discuss the complex legacy of past IAS Director J. Robert Oppenheimer and reflect on the emotional impact of Christopher Nolan's upcoming film.

Four current IAS scholars in the School of Natural Sciences—Mikhail M. Ivanov, NASA Einstein Fellow; Giovanni Cabass, Bezos Member; Kazuyuki Akitsu, Member; and Oliver Philcox, a visiting graduate student—have published a paper linking invisible dark matter and "the cosmic web."

“'Today’s future-positive writers critique our economies while largely seeming to ignore that anything might be amiss in our private lives,' writes [past Member in the School of Social Science] Kristen Ghodsee."

In a recent interview with Foreign Policy’s Ravi Agrawal, Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science and architect of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, explains how AI should be regulated as the unprecedented technology and the debates surrounding it develop.

"The architect of Biden's 'Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights' [Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science] Alondra Nelson talks to Christiane Amanpour about the threats and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence."

By Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation Professor in the School of Social Science:

"In 1917 and 1919, at the invitation of University of Munich students, Max Weber delivered two public lectures, 'Science as a Vocation' and 'Politics as a Vocation.'"

Harel Shapira, past Member (2021–22) in the School of Social Science, provides a first-hand account of civilian firearms training.

By Alyssa Battistoni, current Member in the School of Social Science:

"When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law last August, it was celebrated as the biggest piece of federal climate legislation ever passed in the United States."

New research published by Lev Arzamasskiy, current Member in the School of Natural Sciences, and his collaborators, which include past Member (1999–2001) and Visitor (2005) Eliot Quatert, has provided "invaluable" insights into the basic plasma physics that occurs in astrophysical systems.

"For three days last April, the Institute for Advanced Study resembled its 1950s self. Actors wearing mid-century-appropriate clothing were spotted in and around Fuld Hall and Olden Manor, shooting scenes for a feature film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, famed theoretical physicist and Institute director from 1947 to 1966."

In 2014, Nathan Seiberg, Charles Simonyi Professor in the School of Natural Sciences, "demonstrated that the most important symmetries of 20th-century physics could be extended more broadly to apply in quantum field theory, the basic theoretical framework in which physicists work today."

Four years ago, astronomers released the first ever image of a black hole. Now a subset of that team, led by IAS scholar Lia Medeiros, has used artificial intelligence to produce a vastly improved version of the image.

Grigory Kessel, past Member in the School of Historical Studies (2021–22), has played a key role in the rediscovery of a "hidden chapter" of Biblical text nearly 1,500 years after it was first written. 

Christina Dunbar-Hester, current Member in the School of Social Science, discusses how industry and wildlife battle for their share of the Southern California coastline: "To protect human and animal life alike, we have to confront the zero-sum logic where goods movement crowds out space for flourishing life."

"What does a public vision for A.I. actually look like? What do we as a society want from this technology, and how can we design policy to orient it in that direction? There are few people who have thought as deeply about those questions as Alondra Nelson." On this episode of The Ezra Klein Show, the Harold F. Linder Professor in the Institute's School of Social Science explores the A.I. policy challenge and more.

Emmy Murphy is a past Member and Visitor in the School of Mathematics, serving as a von Neumann fellow in 2019–20. In this Quanta interview, Murphy discusses geometric spaces and the spaces inhabited by mathematicians, as well as the inspiration that she draws from her namesake, past IAS Visitor Emmy Noether. 

An interview with Kristen Ghodsee, past Member in the School of Social Science (2006–07), on her new book Everyday Utopia.

By Eben Kirksey, past Member in the School of Social Science:

"Since James Watson and Francis Crick first described the structure of the DNA double helix, scientists have debated the potential for creating genetically modified babies."

"[Shafi] Goldwasser has worked to bring the same rigor to the study of vulnerabilities in machine learning algorithms. She teamed up with [Vinod] Vaikuntanathan and the postdoctoral researchers Michael Kim, of the University of California, Berkeley, and Or Zamir, of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, to study what kinds of backdoors are possible."

"Alondra Nelson stepped down last month from her role as leader of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Today’s editorial in Science highlights her accomplishments while she served in the Biden administration."

"To examine the special history of the region, I turned to Jeffrey Gould, who has known the area well as an activist, documentary filmmaker, and scholar since the 1970s."

As an educator, he worked to put architecture on an equal footing with other disciplines. As an architect, he was known for buildings at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

By Siobhan Roberts, frequent Director's Visitor:

"Lisanne Taams, a student at Radboud University in the Netherlands, is working on a Ph.D. about, in her words, 'computing motives of moduli stacks of vector bundles on stacky curves.'"

Alondra Nelson, Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science, and the first woman of color to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) earlier in the Biden administration, is set to step down from her current post as a deputy director on February 10, 2023.

By Christina Dunbar-Hester, current Member in the School of Social Science:

"Ports in the Los Angeles region entered national headlines as a supply chain crisis unfurled during the pandemic. After an initial near-halt to commerce and shipping in early 2020, some of us saw bluer skies and enjoyed cleaner air for a fleeting moment."

By Alyssa Battistoni, current Member in the School of Social Science:

"When the multi-hyphenate scholar of science Bruno Latour died last October at the age of 75, tributes poured in from all corners of academia and many beyond. In the aughts, Latour had been a ubiquitous reference point for Anglophone social and cultural theory, standing alongside Judith Butler and Michel Foucault on the list of most cited academics in fields ranging from geography to art history."

By Joan Wallach Scott, Professor Emerita in the School of Social Science: 

"[The Hamline case] is not an example of any tension between diversity and academic freedom, but of the confusion between fair treatment of minority students (respect and care for their well-being) and capitulation to religious censorship. The one does not require the other."

As part of a three episode series which aims to help improve understanding of liberalism, host Justin Kempf speaks with Michael Walzer, Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Science. The podcast touches on Walzer's newest book, The Struggle for a Decent Politics: On Liberal as an Adjective.

By David Nirenberg, Director and Leon Levy Professor: 

"What counts as antisemitism? Is it on the rise, and if so, who’s to blame—the left or the right, Christians or Muslims? Or is it “the Jews” and their actions that are at fault, as some maintain. These questions may feel new, but the resurgence of antisemitism didn’t begin in 2022, and it’s not only happening in the U.S."

"It is a cliché to refer to the long economic boom in France that followed the Second World War—the three decades between 1945 and 1975—as les trente glorieuses. The phrase has no satisfying translation, though 'golden' hints at the éclat thrown off by the final adjective. Adopting this terminology for our ends, we might refer to the 1980s as Yve-Alain Bois’ décennie glorieuse."

By Hillary Angelo, current Member in the School of Social Science:

"Beatty, an old gold rush town in Nye County, Nevada, looks like a Wild West stage set. Burros, legacies of the region’s mining past, wander the streets. A century ago, it was a bustling three-railroad town. Today, it’s home to 854 people."

Angelos Chaniotis, current Faculty in the School of Historical Studies, discusses the significance of Pope Francis' recent decision to donate fragments of the Parthenon sculptures held by the Vatican to Greece, and looks at whether this serves as an example for the British Museum to take similar action.