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The question of obsolescence—whether a technology, artwork, product, or idea remains relevant—is crucial to the work of artists and scientists. Obsolescence is relevant for myriad reasons. For one, we are often left wondering how much time we have left, with both our technology and life itself. At the same time, contemporary scientific and artistic developments are informed by previous trends.

When astronomers assess the ages of galaxies, they look at the glow of the elements created by nuclear fusion. “Our hydrogen gas comes prebaked with the universe,” says Associate Professor of Physics Jillian Scudder. “Anything else has gone through a star, because the only way you get these heavier elements is if a star built them.”

The students in the introductory computer science course of Associate Professor of Computer Science Cynthia Taylor ’02 don’t scroll through social media in her lectures. Instead, they’re holding iClickers, small devices that enable them to vote on questions posed during class. Then they discuss the problems in small groups, collectively working out the complex concept.

Fighting wildfires is difficult, dangerous work that puts the lives of firefighters at risk. But what if we had a more efficient way to extinguish these fires while putting fewer people in harm’s way? David H. and Margaret W. Barker Associate Professor of Computer Science and Business Adam Eck just might have the solution: highly specialized robots, powered by artificial intelligence, that have learned how to respond to and suppress these unpredictable natural disasters.

What if chemists were able to speed up the creation of new medications using computer-simulated experiments? Or foster lab processes with fewer environmental impacts?

How do we think about musical expression, especially in relation to robots and machines? That’s the question Steven Kemper aims to answer in his research. In the age of artificial intelligence—and the various concerns surrounding it—Kemper’s research proves that robots can, in fact, enhance human creativity.

Advertising signs are used to sell everything from legal services to razor blades. But are there ways to leverage advertising psychology for the good of the planet? And could digital signs be used to encourage pro-environmental thoughts and action?

It’s been nearly a half-century since the Spanish Nationalist general-turned-fascist dictator Francisco Franco Bahamonde died after close to 40 years in power. That’s a long time for a country to exist under a dictatorship. But even now, Spaniards can’t agree on what it all meant or what lingering effects it may have on Spain today — if they bother to discuss it at all.

Eternal youth is sold by the bottle at beauty retailers and features heavily within U.S. mass media. But what if people who possess years of hard-won skills and knowledge experience prejudice at their jobs for looking younger than they are?

What makes a live performance unforgettable? Assistant Professor of Music Theory Samuel Gardner has uncovered compelling evidence that physical gestures—ranging from subtle, unconscious movements to lively, intentional displays—are central to understanding how both performers and audiences connect with sound.