Caltech

Caltech students in Andy Klesh’s Practical Electronics for Space Applications course are building payloads for the space station. Traditionally, the course used balloons to test payloads at near-space altitudes. This year, the project has expanded beyond balloon tests to include space station deployment.

Julie Messersmith was appointed as vice president for institute initiatives at Caltech, effective July 1, 2026. She brings over a decade of senior administrative experience from Johns Hopkins University to advance cross-institutional initiatives and innovation at Caltech.

Caltech researchers found that individuals making risky decisions with a partner tend to compromise, but those who attribute more credit to themselves for successes and less blame for failures compromise less. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A Caltech spinoff developed a five-minute test that detected hidden heart failure markers in 40% of high-risk patients screened, according to a study by Ventric Health published in Physiological Measurement.

Caltech welcomed Ray Jayawardhana as its tenth president on July 1, 2026. He also holds the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and is a professor of astronomy at the Institute.

The article discusses the increased demand for data centers due to the growth of AI and large language models like ChatGPT. It highlights concerns about the environmental impact of these centers, particularly energy and water usage, as well as their local effects on small communities.

San Pedro’s Sunken City, a landslide-affected area on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, became unstable in 1929 due to ground weakness and wave erosion, leading to fractured streets and abandoned homes. The city of Los Angeles plans to reopen a section for public access in the near future.

Student researchers return to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for a summer internship program, working with engineers and scientists on spacecraft projects. Caltech announced the 2026 class of interns in collaboration with its Student-Faculty Programs office, highlighting the program's continuation despite budget cuts.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used but pose safety risks and limitations. Julia R. Greer's lab at Caltech has developed a new approach to make them less dangerous and more environmentally friendly.

Pasadena is set to spend $4.36 million on a groundwater-cleanup well project, with costs covered by Caltech under a 2006 agreement. The project, involving R C Foster Corporation, aims to address contamination from volatile organic compounds and perchlorate.

Pasadena Unified Board voted to continue Eaton Fire soil cleanup and protect trees, Councilmember Justin Jones highlighted Juneteenth and Black heritage, Caltech dedicated a quantum research building, and city crews repaired a damaged pergola at La Pintoresca Park.

Caltech researchers discovered a chemical reaction involving benzene and hydrogen cyanide that could explain the formation of DNA and RNA nucleobases on early Earth and potentially Mars. The study suggests sunlight and asteroid impacts may have driven this pathway, offering a simpler explanation than previous theories.

Caltech has dedicated a new four-story laboratory building designed to isolate quantum research experiments from environmental disturbances. The Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement features rooms engineered to eliminate vibrations, electromagnetic interference, and temperature fluctuations, enabling highly sensitive instruments to operate undisturbed.

Caltech is dedicating the Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement, a four-story building with subterranean labs designed to minimize environmental interference. The facility will support research in quantum science, quantum information, and gravitational-wave detection, located near the Linde Hall of Mathematics and Physics.

Caltech’s free public-astronomy series 'Astronomy on Tap' is celebrating its 150th show and 10th anniversary at the Dog Haus Biergarten in Old Pasadena. Researchers will discuss star formation in the Milky Way and dark sky preservation, coinciding with Pasadena’s City of Astronomy events and the American Astronomical Society’s 248th meeting.

Caltech is preparing to build the world’s most sensitive radio telescope to observe cosmic radio waves from sources like black holes and pulsars. The project will utilize advanced telescope designs, including single-dish structures like China’s FAST and array systems such as the Very Large Array in New Mexico.

Kip Thorne, a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist, will deliver the keynote address at Caltech's 132nd Commencement on Beckman Mall. This is Thomas Rosenbaum's final commencement as Caltech President before he steps down in June.

Freddy Snyder, charged with murder, carjacking, and first-degree residential burglary, pleaded not guilty to killing Caltech astrophysicist Grillmair. Officials stated Snyder had a fight with his mother before the incident.

Freddy Snyder pleaded not guilty to murder, carjacking, and burglary charges in the killing of Caltech astrophysicist Carl Grillmair. The suspect had a prior fight with his mother before the incident.

A 30-year-old man from Llano has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 67-year-old Caltech astrophysicist who was shot in the neck at his home on Feb. 16. The District Attorney’s Office announced the plea, which followed the suspect allegedly firing a rifle shot into the victim’s home.

Caltech may lose control of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge for the first time since NASA's creation in 1958. The situation requires Caltech to compete for continued management of the facility.

NASA is opening bidding for the next contract to manage the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as the current agreement with Caltech is set to expire in 2028. This marks a significant transition for one of NASA's premier research institutions.

Cole Tomas Allen, a Caltech graduate and indie video game developer described as 'a godly person,' is accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at the White House correspondents' dinner. The incident highlights a stark contrast between his professional background and alleged criminal actions.