The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has been awarded $999,997 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build a Tunable Photoionization Chemical Dynamics Facility—a powerful scientific facility that lets researchers closely examine chemical reactions, helping them understand not just what chemicals are produced and what happens during chemical reactions, but exactly how and why the reactions happen.

With the new facility, 糖心视频 researchers will be able to uncover the hidden processes behind chemical reactions—knowledge that could help advance cleaner energy technologies and lead to future scientific discoveries.

The new facility will bring together key chemical technologies under one roof:

• Tunable high-power lasers (powerful adjustable lasers used to precisely study molecules)
• Molecular-beam experiments (controlled streams of molecules used to study chemical reactions)
• Isomer-selective photoionization (a technique that distinguishes between molecules with the same ingredients but different structures)
• A chemical microreactor (a small device used to conduct chemical reactions under controlled conditions)
• Machine-learning-accelerated simulations (computer simulations that use AI to speed up predictions)

“This is an opportunity to build a novel capability from the ground up鈥攐ne that will be unique in the United States,” 糖心视频 Mānoa Professor Ralf I. Kaiser said. “We want to understand chemical reactions not simply by looking at what comes out at the end, but by determining the molecular processes that lead to the products we observe.”

Revealing how strong chemical bonds break

The facility鈥檚 first major research project will tackle a fundamental question with implications for cleaner energy technologies: How does hydrogen help break strong carbon–sulfur (C–S) bonds in sulfur-containing compounds widely found in petroleum-derived fuels?

Breaking strong C–S bonds could help improve cleaner fuel production, but scientists still do not fully understand how hydrogen helps break them. Researchers will investigate this process using precisely controlled clusters of titanium, aluminum and boron. By combining laboratory experiments, computer simulations and machine learning, the team aims to understand not just whether these bonds break, but why and how different chemical pathways make the reactions possible.

The project is led by Kaiser, with Professor Rui Sun, a former 糖心视频 Mānoa chemistry faculty member now at Iowa State University, serving as co-principal investigator, and Peng Xu of Ames National Laboratory as a collaborator.

“The power of this approach is that experiment and computation can work together,” Sun said. “The experiments tell us what the molecules are doing, while advanced simulations allow us to understand the underlying pathways and predict how changes in molecular structure can influence the reaction.”

A new scientific asset for Hawaiʻi and the nation

The DOE investment will establish a nationally unique research capability and creates a foundation for future studies of molecular reaction dynamics. For Hawaiʻi, the facility will expand advanced scientific infrastructure and provide undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with hands-on training in molecular reaction dynamics, laser-based experimentation, photoionization, molecular-beam science, chemical microreactors and computational chemistry.

“This facility gives us the ability to ask questions that are extremely difficult to answer with conventional approaches,” Kaiser said. “We are building the experimental capability first, and that opens the door to discoveries that go beyond this initial research problem.”

The project will build not only new instrumentation, but also the scientific workforce needed to use and advance it. The collaboration with Ames National Laboratory will connect 糖心视频 Mānoa to the DOE national laboratory system and brings national-laboratory expertise into development of the new facility.

The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Gas-Phase Chemical Physics program, through DOE EPSCoR, and by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 Mānoa‘s .

A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo undergraduate earned national recognition for her commitment to making a positive difference in her community. Puna resident Lexy Kaye Ramos was selected for Campus Compact鈥檚 2026–2027 Newman Civic Fellows cohort, a national fellowship that supports students with strong potential for civic leadership and community engagement.

“I don鈥檛 fit the traditional image of a leader, but my commitment to my community has driven meaningful change,” said Ramos, who was born into poverty and grew up in a rural barangay, or village, in the Philippines before moving to Hawaiʻi Island in elementary school.

Leadership through service

Ramos, a junior at 糖心视频 Hilo, is a major with a minor and holds a 3.98 GPA. She serves as a third-year Bonner Student Leader with 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 and was also an active member of the campus鈥� chapter of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)鈥揊uture Health Professionals.

Dedicated to addressing health disparities and expanding access to care, she logs hundreds of service hours each year through community-based health education and outreach initiatives. Recently, Ramos and her Bonner cohort conducted a semester-long participatory action research project, facilitating student focus groups to evaluate students鈥� sense of belonging and presenting actionable recommendations to campus leadership.

Aspiring to become a culturally-competent physician, Ramos views medicine and civic action as inseparable.

“My family often says an Ilokano proverb, ‘Ti tao nga nakaam-ammo ti rigat, isu ti makaawat ti padana,’ meaning those who understand hardship understand others. Meaningful change begins at the intersection of personal experience and community need, and I will continue working alongside others to address barriers that shape health and opportunity,” said Ramos, who believes healthcare access shapes how we live with dignity and security.

Leading with kuleana

In nominating Ramos for the fellowship, 糖心视频 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin praised her hard work, humility and dedication.

“Lexy embodies the university鈥檚 commitment to kuleana (responsibility) through service-centered leadership and community engagement. She views leadership not as authority, but as a shared responsibility to bring people together across differences and create meaningful change,” Irwin said.

A team of researchers led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has uncovered a faster way that large carbon-based molecules may form in space, helping solve a long-standing mystery about how some of the building blocks of the universe grow.

The study, and first-authored by chemistry graduate student Shane Goettl identifies a new chemical process that could explain the rapid formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—large molecules made of carbon and hydrogen that are found throughout the universe, from dying stars to clouds of gas between stars.

Scientists have known these molecules are abundant in space, but existing theories could not explain how they formed quickly enough to match what telescopes observe or the material space missions returned from carbonaceous asteroids such as Ryugu.

Faster chemical process

The research shows that a newly identified chemical reaction can build these complex molecules much faster than previously thought. Rather than adding carbon atoms one at a time, the process allows several new chemical bonds to form in a single step, speeding up the growth of larger molecules.

The team demonstrated the process in laboratory experiments that recreated the extremely high temperatures found around aging stars and other energetic environments in space. The reactions produced several large PAHs that had been predicted, but were difficult to explain using older models.

The discovery could improve scientists鈥� understanding of how carbon evolves in the universe and how increasingly complex molecules are created. Those molecules are believed to play an important role in the chemistry of stars, planets and the material that eventually forms solar systems.

“This discovery changes how we think these large carbon molecules are built,” said Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “For years, we knew they existed in enormous numbers throughout space, but we couldn鈥檛 explain how nature produced them so efficiently. We鈥檝e now identified a much faster pathway that helps connect the smallest carbon molecules to the complex structures found across the universe.”

The research was led by 糖心视频 Mānoa in collaboration with researchers in Taiwan (Agnes Chang) and the synchrotron facility SOLEIL in France (Laurent Nahon).

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 Mānoa鈥檚 .

Paul Wermager, a retired University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 science librarian who spent decades researching and championing the legacy of pioneering chemist Alice Augusta Ball, died August 2, 2026.

I believe that Alice Ball鈥檚 greatest gift to humanity was hope.
—Paul Wermager

Wermager served at 糖心视频 for 20 years, retiring in 2010 as head of the Science and Technology Department at . Before becoming a librarian, he worked as an intensive care unit nurse and pharmacist, and earned a master’s degree in public health.

“I liked finding answers to new things, and with a science background, I thought it was a good fit,” Wermager told 糖心视频 News in 2024 about becoming a librarian.

Researching a forgotten scientist

That curiosity led Wermager into a decades-long effort to restore the story of Ball, a 糖心视频 alumna whose groundbreaking work developing an injectable treatment for Hansen’s disease had been largely forgotten.

His interest began with a question from a 糖心视频 professor about whether there was a chaulmoogra tree on campus. After learning of the tree’s connection to Hawaiʻi‘s Hansen’s disease history, Wermager began researching Ball. He described the work as a giant jigsaw puzzle, with pieces of her life scattered across historical records.

His research eventually connected him with Stan Ali, a retired Baltimore resident who had independently rediscovered Ball’s story while researching Black people in Hawaiʻi. The two shared information about Ball and helped piece together her life and accomplishments.

“I finally got enough to envision what she was like,” Wermager told , describing the research process that led him to see Ball as a “very caring and giving” person.

Wermager contributed a chapter about Ball to the 2005 book They Followed the Trade Winds, gave presentations, and co-authored a scholarly paper on her contributions. After retiring, he continued working on a comprehensive biography and was still seeking a publisher when he died.

Kimberley Haines, a former Hamilton Library colleague who became a close friend, regularly heard updates about the project, noting he never stopped seeking answers about Ball’s life.

Keeping Ball’s legacy alive

Wermager’s commitment to Ball extended beyond his research. In 2017, he established the Alice Augusta Ball Endowed Scholarship to support underrepresented minority students pursuing science at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. The scholarship reflected his own experiences; he wrote that his family struggled financially and that others helped him complete his education, motivating him to provide similar opportunities to students. To date, 12 students were awarded the scholarship.

Wermager brought Ball’s story to wider audiences and the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 campus. He co-produced the film The Ball Method and, in 2018, collaborated with librarian Monica Ghosh and artist Chad Kikuchi on a plaque and portrait honoring Ball, now displayed in the Science & Technology Reading Room near the life-sized bronze bust unveiled in 2024.

In 2024, Wernager and former 糖心视频 President David Lassner submitted the nomination that led the American Chemical Society to designate her “Ball Method” a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The designation was celebrated at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in February 2026.

“Paul’s curiosity, tenacity and intellectual rigor were on full display through his work over these last many years to bring to light the story of one of the great scientists of the 20th century, Alice Augusta Ball,” Lassner said. “Paul’s work demonstrated how a dedicated scholar could rediscover a lost slice of history so that all of us can now celebrate her remarkable life and contributions.”

Hamilton Library Russian Bibliographer Patricia Polansky, added, “Paul was a stalwart colleague. At one point he had outlined a novel about Soviet spying, but his work on Alice Ball took precedence. That work, along with his contribution to documenting our library’s history, form a lasting legacy.”

Polansky noted in 2008, Wermager compiled . “His extensive work in the archives provided not only the story of our science and technology services, but also a broader picture of Hamilton Library’s history,” she said.

Wermager often spoke of Ball not only as a pioneering scientist but as someone whose life could inspire others. In 2022, he wrote in , “I believe that Alice Ball’s greatest gift to humanity was hope.”

For decades, Wermager worked to ensure that Ball’s story would not disappear again. Although his biography remains unpublished, his research, scholarship and advocacy helped restore her contributions to the history of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and gave generations of students an opportunity to learn from her legacy.

Hayden Niles grew up 1,500 miles from the nearest ocean, in Waubay, South Dakota—a landlocked town of 500 where the closest thing to the deep sea was a swimming pool. This spring, he graduates from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with a bachelor’s in , a minor in , a , and his sights set on hydrothermal vents two miles below the surface.

When it came time for college, Niles, who graduated high school with a class of eight students, initially considered a practical path in nursing. But the ocean鈥檚 pull was undeniable. He chose 糖心视频 Hilo, recognizing it as a realistic option that offered an incredible, accessible marine science program.

“The opportunities here genuinely are shocking,” Niles said, noting the constant stream of emails about internships and jobs. By his freshman year, he had already earned his scientific diving certification, diving headfirst into his passion. He praises 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 intimate class sizes, which allowed for hands-on learning and tight-knit relationships with professors.

“You get a chance to really, really get to know your professors, and that helps a ton,” he explained.

Niles didn鈥檛 just study the ocean; he actively engaged with it. Before his senior year, he secured a highly competitive deep-sea exploration , an opportunity with only a 2% acceptance rate. This experience, which included crossing the equator and studying unmapped seamounts, solidified his desire to pursue deep-sea microbiology. He specifically hopes to research hydrothermal vent bacteria, noting that “there鈥檚 a lot of potential鈥� specifically in the deep sea,” particularly for discoveries that could lead to treatments for diseases such as cancer.

But his ambitions extend beyond research. Niles is dedicated to giving back, currently working with the Bonner Program to manage hydroponic food baskets, aiming to bring sustainable agriculture models back to rural communities like his hometown in South Dakota. He believes in the power of agricultural change, stating, “We can make a difference by shaping people鈥檚 perspectives.”

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The recognized students, faculty and program contributors at its annual award ceremony on April 24.

The event honored 30 graduating seniors, along with 38 new learning assistants and three new faculty members joining the program. The ceremony also highlighted four award categories recognizing excellence in teaching innovation, program advocacy, and student support.

The Learning Assistant (LA) Program places undergraduate students in courses across campus to help facilitate active, discussion-based learning. Learning assistants work with faculty to support collaborative instruction in lectures, labs and discussion sections, helping shift traditionally lecture-based courses into active learning environments. The program, which began in STEM fields, has since expanded to include a wide range of disciplines across 糖心视频 Mānoa.

For the first time, graduating seniors in the LA Program were presented with honors cords, recognizing their academic progress, skill development and contributions to student success. The cords were approved following the LA program鈥檚 transition into the , after serving as a successful pilot of the Provost’s office for the past several years.

Program organizers describe the cords as a symbol of dedication, perseverance, and belonging within the LA community. They recognize students who have significantly supported active learning environments while completing their own academic journeys.

“The honor cords recognize meaningful time supporting their peers and partnering with faculty to cultivate active learning communities across disciplines,” said LA Program Director and Professor Tara O’Neill. “This program is about creating meaningful learning experiences on both sides of the classroom—where students and instructors are shaping how knowledge is built and shared at 糖心视频 Mānoa. As LAs, our students are not only strengthening their own content knowledge, they are transforming learning at 糖心视频 Mānoa by creating spaces that encourage engagement, questions and innovation.”

Program awardees

• Outstanding Learning Assistant Award recognizing students for excellence in supporting course instruction and fostering engaging learning environments: Katie Thai, Jack Santos and Kevin Phan
• The Agent of Change Award promoting new approaches to active learning at 糖心视频 Mānoa: Instructor Astrid Delorme
• Curriculum Innovation Award for course design work that integrates LAs to improve student learning experiences: Professor Monique Chyba
• LA Advocacy Award for leadership in advancing the program: Interim Vice Provost of Student Academic Success Amy Ebesu Hubbard

Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 have developed a new step-by-step chemical process that converts methane, the primary component of natural gas, into valuable chemicals.

Because the catalyst (a substance that speeds up chemical reactions) for this process is made from common, widely available elements instead of costly precious metals like palladium, it could be a more affordable option for large-scale use.

By allowing methane to be converted at lower temperatures, the research opens the door to cleaner and more efficient ways to use one of the world鈥檚 most abundant energy resources.

Abundant but difficult

Methane is abundant but difficult to transform because of its strong carbon-hydrogen bonds. In the gas phase, breaking these bonds usually requires temperatures near 1,500 Kelvin (about 2,240°F).

Additionally, most methods rely on oxygen, which can generate unwanted carbon dioxide and reduce overall efficiency. The new pathway overcomes both challenges.

The team developed a way to transform methane at much lower temperatures without using oxygen. Instead of burning the methane, their method links two methane molecules together to form ethylene, a key ingredient used to make everyday products such as plastics and other industrial materials.

Using a catalyst made of titanium, aluminum and boron, the researchers were able to get methane to react at about 800 Kelvin, about 1,260°F lower than what would normally be needed.

As the temperature increased, the process produced more ethylene.

“Our goal was to find a cleaner, more efficient way to use methane,” Department of Chemistry Professor Ralf I. Kaiser said. “By lowering the temperature and avoiding oxygen, we鈥檝e opened a new pathway that could make methane upgrading more practical.”

The 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 team worked collaboration with the research groups of Musahid Ahmed (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Professor Anastassia Alexandrova (University of California, Los Angeles) and Albert Epshteyn (U.S. Naval Research Laboratory).

The experiments were performed at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory utilizing a catalytic microreactor coupled to a synchrotron single-photon photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 celebrated the legacy of renowned alumna Alice Augusta Ball at the annual recognition ceremony on February 26. This year鈥檚 event was especially meaningful, as her discovery dubbed the “Ball Method” treatment for Hansen鈥檚 disease has been designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Spearheaded by the 糖心视频 Office of the President and the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Office of the Provost with support from various campus and community partners, the ceremony invited the campus community to the chaulmoogra tree on the ma uka side of Bachman Hall, where a plaque honors Ball鈥檚 legacy.

The event began with an oli led by the Hawaiʻi Papa o ke Ao Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Advancement Office and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience鈥檚 Native Hawaiian Place of Learning Coordinator.

Emcee LaJoya Shelly, a lecturer in ethnic studies and educational administration, led the event. 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel was among several distinguished speakers who commemorated Ball.

“She鈥檚 a true role model for all of us,” said Hensel, “Every year is exciting because she鈥檚 such an incredible trailblazer, and to be able to recognize her repeatedly for those contributions is always really special.”

Hensel also read Gov. Josh Green鈥檚 official proclamation declaring February 28, 2026, as Alice Augusta Ball Day.

Long-awaited official recognition

Katrina-Ann Kap膩 Oliveira, Interim Vice Provost for Student Success, presented the National Historic Chemical Landmark Designation on behalf of ACS President Rigoberto Hernandez.

“This landmark dedication reflects ACS‘s commitment to honoring chemists like Ball whose discoveries have improved countless lives,” read Oliveira. “The National Historic Chemical Landmarks program preserves and promotes these histories so that present and future generations can understand the transformative power of chemistry.”

In 2024, the American Chemical Society approved the nomination—submitted by David Lassner, 糖心视频 president emeritus, and Paul Wermager, retired department head of science and technology at Hamilton Library—to award the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation to Ball for her technique of isolating ethyl esterification from the fatty acids of chaulmoogra oil so it could be effectively administered to Hansen鈥檚 disease patients by injection.

• Related 糖心视频 News story: Sculpture honors pioneering scientist Alice Ball

This isolation technique, later called the “Ball Method,” was the first successful treatment for Hansen鈥檚 disease that was used on thousands of patients around the world until the introduction of sulfone drugs in the mid-1940s.

The Ball Method was used to treat patients in Kalaupapa, permitting them to return to their families after being banished to isolation facilities on the remote Molokaʻi peninsula. This treatment was the difference between a life of discomfort and isolation, and a life of fulfillment and connection with family and community.

Inspiring future generations of scientists

Ball was the first woman and first African-American to graduate from the College of Hawaiʻi—now known as the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补—with a master鈥檚 degree in chemistry. Ball had also become the first African American female chemistry instructor and department head.

“What inspires me really, especially during Black History Month, is her being a black woman in STEM,” said Raven Kelley, the student speaker for the Black Student Association, “When we look at U.S. history, women in STEM, in general, rarely ever get the recognition that they truly deserve.”

Ball died on December 31, 1916, at the age of 24, before publishing her groundbreaking work. More than a century later, the university remains committed to honoring her legacy.

“As a black woman in STEM myself, it gives me a sense of pride and honor to see her truly recognized for her work,” said Kelley.

Other program speakers included Phillip Williams, interim dean and professor of chemistry at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 College of Natural Sciences; Diana Felton, chief of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division at the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health; and DeGray Vanderbilt of Ka ʻOhana O Kalaupapa.

The ceremony was followed by the annual Alice Augusta Ball Remembrance Walk, led by Sister Circle at 惭腻苍辞补 and Native Hawaiian Student Services, which included a trip to Hamilton Library to see the life-sized bronze bust of Alice Ball. The walk ended at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services for a screening of The Ball Method film.

鈥攂y Josslyn Rose

Five subject areas were placed in the world鈥檚 top 1%, and an additional four earned top 2% honors in the 2026 , released on January 21.

Education led the way, ranked in the No. 101–125 tier, followed by physical sciences at No. 126–150, arts and humanities at No. 151–175, and law and life sciences each at No. 201–250. To qualify in the world鈥檚 top 1%, rankings must be within the top 250 in the world () 糖心视频 Mānoa was ranked in all 11 of the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject lists.

“We are proud that 糖心视频 Mānoa continues to be recognized globally, reflecting our commitment to academic excellence, research and the student experience,” 糖心视频 Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “These rankings underscore the hard work and dedication of our faculty, students and staff, who make 糖心视频 Mānoa a truly exceptional place.”

All 糖心视频 Mānoa rankings:

• Education studies: No. 101–125
• Physical sciences: No. 126–150
• Arts and humanities: No. 151–175
• Law: No. 201–250
• Life sciences: No. 201–250
• Social sciences: No. 251–300
• Medical and health: No. 301–400
• Psychology: No. 301–400
• Business and economics: No. 401–500
• Computer science: No. 501–600
• Engineering: No. 501–600

Times Higher Education considers the following factors for its rankings: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income and international outlook. Regarded as one of the leading national and international university rankings focused on research and academic excellence, Times Higher Education considered between 425–1,555 of the top institutions for each of its subject rankings, out of more than 25,000 institutions worldwide, to be eligible for its World University Rankings by Subject.

Other rankings

糖心视频 Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, October 9, 2025
• Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, October 2, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings, September 23, 2025

For more information, .

A new chemical method that could speed up the creation of medicines, materials and products people rely on every day has been developed by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers. The work, , a journal of the German Chemical Society, shows how common ingredients called aldehydes can be transformed into more complex molecules using visible light and a specialized catalyst.

Lighting the way

Aldehydes are simple, widely available starting materials used across many chemical processes. Traditionally, turning them into useful advanced compounds requires multiple steps, harsh conditions or costly materials. The 糖心视频 Mānoa team introduced a light-powered, energy-efficient approach that guides aldehydes through a controlled reaction, producing valuable molecular structures used in drug development, natural product research and chemical manufacturing.

The process relies on light and a specialized palladium catalyst to drive the chemical changes. It enables chemists to quickly and reliably make two useful types of molecules. The approach is also flexible, working on a wide range of starting materials, including complex molecules found in pharmaceuticals.

Making a big impact

For the general public, the importance lies in what this advancement could make possible. Faster and more efficient ways to build complex molecules can shorten the development timeline for new medicines, reduce costs in chemical manufacturing and improve access to products ranging from therapeutics to advanced materials. By enabling more sustainable and streamlined chemistry, the study offers a step toward innovations that could benefit health, technology and everyday life.

“We鈥檙e always looking for ways to make complex chemistry feel less like a barrier and more like an opportunity,” said Assistant Professor and co-author Zuxiao Zhang. “What excites us most is how this platform opens a new creative space for scientists—giving them tools to build molecules in ways that simply weren鈥檛 practical before. Discoveries like this help lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs we can鈥檛 yet imagine.”

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 .

Studying safer, cheaper rocket and missile fuels that could reduce health and environmental risks is the focus of a new $800,000 grant awarded to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The project will be led by principal investigator Professor Rui Sun with co-principal investigator Professor Ralf I. Kaiser.

The grant falls under a broader push toward green chemistry—designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances. Current propellants can be expensive and toxic, creating risks during manufacture, storage and transport. The research seeks to help lower costs for space exploration while reducing risks to workers and communities.

The work will focus on ethaline-based Deep Eutectic Propellants (DeEPs), which are mixtures made from relatively nontoxic, low-cost components. DeEPs have low vapor pressure (they are less likely to evaporate), tunable physical and chemical properties, and can be formulated to ignite reliably in liquid rocket engines鈥攖raits that make them a promising, safer and cheaper alternative to the current propellants used in space missions and national defense.

“This project lets us assemble a multidisciplinary team of chemists, computational scientists and students to tackle a long-neglected area of chemistry,” Sun said. “It will create hands-on training opportunities for Hawaiʻi students and postdocs and build partnerships with Department of Defense laboratories and industry so promising findings can move quickly from the bench into real-world testing.”

Researchers plan to combine lab experiments utilizing novel droplet merging techniques with advanced computer modeling and machine learning to understand how these propellants ignite and break down. The study aims to reveal the basic chemical steps (the reaction mechanisms) and the speed at which they happen (reaction kinetics). That basic information will play a key role in developing the next generation fuels for space missions and national defense.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 .

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 researchers in the have created a molecule once thought too unstable to exist called methanetetrol using extreme, space-like conditions. The discovery could reshape our understanding of chemistry in the universe and shed light on the complex reactions happening in deep space.

Methanetetrol is the only alcohol which has four hydroxyl groups (OH) at a single carbon atom. Scientists have theorized its existence for more than a century, but no one had ever observed it, until now. Using ultra-cold temperatures, near-perfect vacuum and high-energy radiation to simulate the environment inside interstellar clouds, researchers produced this elusive molecule.

Complex compounds, building blocks of life

This finding shows that outer space may host a far more diverse and unexpected set of chemical reactions than previously believed. These reactions are critical to understanding the formation of organic molecules (building blocks of life) across the galaxy. By proving that methanetetrol can form under cosmic conditions, the team has revealed a surprising pathway for how complex compounds might evolve in the icy dust clouds where stars and planets form.

The team used powerful vacuum ultraviolet light to detect tiny amounts of methanetetrol made from water and carbon dioxide. They found that high-energy particles mimicking high energy cosmic rays triggered a series of chemical reactions leading to the creation of methanetetrol and related compounds.

“In collaborations with scientists from Mississippi, Samara University and Shanghai, this work pushes the boundaries of what we know about chemistry in space,” said Department of Chemistry Professor Ralf I. Kaiser.

While this alcohol does not occur naturally on Earth due to its instability in everyday conditions, its formation in space demonstrates that the universe is far more chemically dynamic than previously imagined. The findings push the boundaries of both chemistry and astronomy, and open the door to further discoveries and astronomical observations about how life’s ingredients can emerge in the coldest, darkest corners of space.

The study was . The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 is helping spark the next generation of chemists through its support of the (USNCO), a nationwide competition for high school students.

This year, about 60 students from five Hawaiʻi high schools took part in the local round of the competition, coordinated by 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Associate Professor Jakub Hyvl. The top 10 performers advanced to the national exam, which was hosted in the chemistry department鈥檚 teaching labs in April.

“糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 is proud to provide a platform where young students can challenge themselves and explore their passion for chemistry,” said Hyvl, who coordinated the local competition for the past two years. “It鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to see the enthusiasm and talent these students bring.”

The national exam is part of a multi-tiered process that identifies the top 20 chemistry students across the country. Those students are invited to a study camp at the University of Maryland, College Park, where four are selected to represent the U.S. at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Hyvl said the competition not only highlights academic excellence but also builds community among students and mentors.

“Some of these students may go on to become researchers, educators or industry leaders,” he said. “This experience gives them a glimpse into what鈥檚 possible—and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 is honored to be part of that journey.”

By hosting the national exam and connecting with local schools, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 continues to foster STEM education and inspire Hawaiʻi鈥檚 youth to pursue scientific careers.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College has become the first 糖心视频 campus to sign the national (GCC), boosting its role as a leader in sustainable science education.

GCC connects colleges and universities across the globe in a shared mission to integrate green chemistry principles into teaching and research. It gives 糖心视频 Maui College access to a wide network of like-minded educators and scientists, and provides valuable tools and resources to further sustainability goals.

“I’m thrilled that our department has taken on the Green Chemistry Commitment,” said Sean Calder, 糖心视频 Maui College STEM division chair. “This will enable the college to lower our chemical waste generation and help us become better stewards of the environment, creating a more sustainable future for Maui.”

Modern, industry-relevant skills

糖心视频 Maui College has long embedded sustainability into its curriculum, driven by a dedicated team of faculty. GCC now provides a framework to equip students with modern, industry-relevant skills in sustainable chemistry.

Students enrolled in courses such as Chemistry and Society, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry will benefit from learning how to design safer, more sustainable chemical processes. These skills not only increase their career readiness but also cultivate a deeper understanding of the environmental and health impacts of chemistry.

GCC underscores 糖心视频 Maui College鈥檚 commitment to sustainability on campus and in the community.

Learn more information about , or contact Sean Calder at (808) 984-3220.

Prebiotic molecules central to life鈥檚 earliest metabolic processes—chemical reactions in cells that change food into energy—may have been born in deep space long before Earth existed, according to new research from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 .

Scientists in the have recreated the extreme conditions found in dense interstellar clouds and discovered a way for the complete set of complex carboxylic acids—critical ingredients in modern metabolism—to form without life on timescales equivalent to a few million years.

The study focused on molecules such as those in the Krebs cycle, a fundamental metabolic pathway used by nearly all living organisms. These molecules, which help break down nutrients to release energy, may have cosmic origins, forming in the icy, low-temperature environments of interstellar space.

In their lab, researchers simulated those conditions by freezing simple gases to near absolute zero and exposed them to ubiquitous galactic cosmic ray proxies, then slowly warming them to mimic the heating that occurs as new stars form. Under these conditions, a complete suite of organic acids, including mono-, di- and tricarboxylic acids, of the Krebs cycle was formed. These are the same compounds found in carbon-rich asteroids and meteorites such as Ryugu and Murchison, which have been linked to the early chemistry of life on Earth.

The findings support the idea that early Earth may have inherited a “starter kit” of life鈥檚 building blocks from space. As planets form from the dust and gas around newborn stars, these prebiotic molecules could be delivered by comets or asteroids—jumpstarting chemical processes that eventually lead to life.

“This work shows that the basic ingredients for life鈥檚 chemistry could have been made in space, long before Earth even formed,” said 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Department of Chemistry Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “By simulating these deep space environments right here in Hawaiʻi, 糖心视频 scientists are helping uncover how life might start not just on Earth, but anywhere in the universe.”

Mason Mcanally, Department of Chemistry graduate student and lead author of the study added, “The unique research happening in the islands puts Hawaiʻi at the forefront of astrobiology and space chemistry.”

The study was published in the in April 2025.

Associate Professor from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 organized an international workshop on machine learning in molecular and multiscale simulations in Mesilla, New Mexico. This research helps scientists understand how molecules behave, much like predicting how ingredients mix in a recipe—but on a microscopic scale, shaping everything from new medicines to sustainable materials.

The workshop, held March 9–12 in Mesilla, New Mexico, brought together scientists from around the world, including experts from the U.S., Asia and Europe, to explore groundbreaking applications of artificial intelligence in chemistry. The workshop featured a diverse range of topics, from reaction dynamics of a few atoms to large-scale biophysical simulations involving millions of atoms. Discussions focused on how machine learning can advance the understanding of complex molecular interactions and revolutionize chemical research.

“This workshop brought together brilliant minds from around the world to push the boundaries of machine learning in chemistry,” said Sun. “The discussions and collaborations here will drive the next wave of breakthroughs in the field.”

Under Sun鈥檚 leadership, this year鈥檚 workshop upheld the tradition of excellence of Mesilla Chemistry Workshop—an annual, international gathering of leading scientists, founded by William L. Hase in 1997, focused on discussing a different topic at the frontiers of chemistry each year. Sun鈥檚 involvement in the workshop reinforces 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 role as a leader in computational chemistry and AI-driven scientific research.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补’s .

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 honored the legacy of Alice Augusta Ball on February 28 with a moving ceremony at the chaulmoogra tree next to Bachman Hall. Held annually, Alice Ball Day serves as a powerful tribute to perseverance, innovation and the lasting impact of Ball鈥檚 contributions to science and history.

A 糖心视频 alumna and groundbreaking chemist, Ball developed the first effective treatment for Hansen鈥檚 disease (also known as leprosy), transforming countless lives. Ball died on December 31, 1916, at the age of 24, before publishing her groundbreaking work. Students, faculty and community members gathered to reflect on her achievements and the barriers she overcame.

Emcee LaJoya Shelly, a lecturer in ethnic studies and educational administration, led the event. Featured speakers included 糖心视频 President Wendy Hensel, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Provost Michael Bruno, Valerie Monson, executive director of Ka ʻOhana O Kalaupapa, and other distinguished guests. Shelly recited a poem about Ball by Kathryn Waddell Takara, emeritus professor of ethnic studies, who was unable to attend.

Former 糖心视频 President David Lassner, who established this annual event and helped elevate Ball鈥檚 legacy, was also in attendance. Lassner played a key role in supporting the installation of a life-sized bronze bust of Alice Ball at Hamilton Library in December 2024.

“Her contributions may have been overlooked for decades, but together, we stand here today to ensure that Alice Augusta Ball is remembered and celebrated,” Hensel said before reading Gov. Josh Green鈥檚 official proclamation declaring February 28, 2025, as Alice Augusta Ball Day.

Among the speakers was Naava Lee Simckes, a 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 undergraduate in mechanical engineering, who shared how Ball鈥檚 story has inspired her own academic journey.

“Alice Ball鈥檚 determination proves that we, too, can push boundaries and create change,” Simckes said. “Her legacy drives me to push myself further as a woman in STEM, appreciate the opportunities I have, and never take them for granted. She inspires me to follow in her footsteps.”

The ceremony also recognized Paul Wermager, a retired 糖心视频 science librarian who founded the Alice Augusta Ball Endowed Scholarship in 2017 and is finishing up a comprehensive biography of Ball. While Wermager was unable to attend, Bruno applauded his dedication.

“Paul has dedicated years to uplifting Alice鈥檚 story and ensuring future generations are inspired by her,” Bruno said, as current scholarship recipient Rachel Jun was presented with a lei.

The event concluded with an oli led by N艒weo Kai, campus arboretum curator, as attendees placed lei and flowers at Ball鈥檚 plaque beneath the chaulmoogra tree. Donated in 1931 by the King of Siam in gratitude for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 efforts in combating Hansen鈥檚 disease, the tree stands as a tribute to Ball, whose groundbreaking work continues to inspire students and researchers alike.

Expanding recognition for Ball鈥檚 contributions

Ball鈥檚 legacy also extends with the annual Remembrance Walk organized by the Black Student Association and Sister Circle at 惭腻苍辞补. Participants visited the bronze bust of Ball at Hamilton Library before gathering at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services for a screening of The Ball Method film.

Announced by Lassner at the 2024 event, the American Chemical Society had unanimously approved Alice Augusta Ball鈥檚 nomination for the National Historic Chemical Landmark designation in recognition of her groundbreaking treatment for Hansen鈥檚 Disease. Further details on the official recognition will be shared at a later date.

More 糖心视频 News stories on Alice Ball.

A team of researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 has received a grant to help turn their innovative wound healing technology into a real-world solution for chronic wounds.

Associate Professor Ellinor Haglund, serving as the project鈥檚 technical lead, and graduate student Ivy Vo, the entrepreneurial lead, are developing their project, WoundWhiz: Genius Wound Healing Technology. The initiative focuses on using cutting-edge protein science to develop an enzyme-based therapeutic designed to accelerate the healing process of chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds affect approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S. each year, contributing to an estimated $25 billion in healthcare costs. A primary factor in delayed healing is an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation, which impede the body鈥檚 natural recovery processes. WoundWhiz aims to address this challenge by promoting faster and more effective wound healing.

“This project has the potential to transform wound care not only in Hawaiʻi but across the U.S. and globally, improving healing outcomes for millions suffering from chronic wounds,” Haglund said. “By advancing this technology, we aim to reduce healthcare costs and enhance the quality of life for patients worldwide.”

Nathan Friedman from W. L. Gore & Associates serves as the industry mentor, with over twenty years of leadership and product development experience within the medical device sector.

The NSF I-Corps program is an entrepreneurship training initiative designed to help researchers commercialize their scientific innovations. Through the program, Haglund and Vo will receive mentorship, hands-on training, and $50,000 in funding for customer discovery and market validation. The program will assist them in identifying key industry needs, refining their business strategy, and navigating the transition from research to commercialization.

The Department of Chemistry is housed in 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

• Related 糖心视频 News story: $1M award transforms world-class research into public-impact solutions, September 13, 2022

A groundbreaking University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 study on the freezing of water droplets suspended in air sheds light on a key process in Earth鈥檚 water cycle: the transformation of supercooled water into ice.

Conducted using a novel cryogenically cooled ultrasonic levitation chamber, the research captures real-time molecular-level changes during the freezing process, mimicking conditions in the Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. This innovative setup enables researchers to observe how water droplets transition to ice at subzero temperatures, providing valuable insights into cloud formation and precipitation.

This research ties into the larger effort by 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 researchers and their collaborators to address climate challenges through a $26 million project to develop sustainable refrigerant technologies.

“By uncovering the mechanisms of supercooled water freezing, we open pathways to innovations in low-temperature chemistry and climate-friendly cooling technologies,” said 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Professor Ralf I. Kaiser. “This research holds particular importance for Hawaiʻi, where sustainable cooling solutions are vital to addressing the region鈥檚 unique environmental and energy challenges.”

The research findings were published in the .

More about the research

By recreating atmospheric conditions, including pressure and temperature variations, the study also opens the door for future experiments involving chemically reactive trace gases, advancing our understanding of ice nucleation (process where ice begins to form, starting with tiny ice crystals developing in supercooled water) under realistic scenarios. Understanding the molecular interactions driving ice formation can help refine models of cloud dynamics and precipitation patterns, both of which play critical roles in predicting weather and climate changes.

The refrigerant project focuses on reducing harmful emissions from heating and cooling systems, a major contributor to global greenhouse gases. By integrating findings from studies such as the water droplet research, scientists can better predict how new refrigerants interact with atmospheric ice particles, ultimately informing climate-friendly innovations.

As rising global temperatures drive increased demand for cooling, these research efforts underscore the need for interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate environmental impact while advancing scientific understanding of Earth鈥檚 complex systems.

Read more about the ERC EARTH project in this 糖心视频 News story.

As part of a groundbreaking national initiative to create sustainable refrigerants, a University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 student is taking the lead on integrating cultural and a broader range of perspectives into climate change solutions.

Allen Vincent, a PhD student in the , is the president of the , which stands for .

The fourth-generation hub was established by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which recently awarded $26 million to 糖心视频 and five other universities to launch the project. This is the first time 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 has been part of a NSF ERC, marking a historic milestone for the university.

ERC EARTH strives to create a transformative “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” by lowering hydrofluorocarbon emissions; creating safe, property-balanced replacement refrigerants; and increasing the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Student-focused collaboration

As president of the SLC, Vincent leads approximately 30 students from 糖心视频 and the partner institutions who are involved in the project鈥檚 research and academic activities. Its goal is to foster student engagement, collaboration in ERC EARTH activities and enhance ERC EARTH鈥檚 culture and recruitment of students.

Vincent instilled values of exploration, camaraderie, advancement and competence in the SLC鈥檚 activities, reflecting ERC EARTH鈥檚 overarching goals. The has already developed frameworks for collaboration and organized student workshops aligning with ERC EARTH鈥檚 goals.

“I took the lead to build the SLC up from scratch, to have the SLC and its activities structured around the four pillars of ERC EARTH,” Vincent said. “I am looking forward to helping ERC EARTH reach out to the communities in Hawaiʻi through 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and get more students involved.”

In the fifth year of his doctoral program, under the guidance of Professor Rui Sun, Vincent studies gas phase reaction dynamics鈥攈ow chemical reactions occur between molecules in the atmosphere and interstellar medium, focusing on their reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics and kinetics using quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics simulations. He emphasized how impactful this leadership role has been.

“Over the past two years as the president of the SLC, I have been able to network with PhD students and professors from the other five core universities, which is a unique and amazing experience to have,” Vincent said. “As I aspire to be a professor in the future, apart from the academic skills that I am gaining through research, there is a great deal of people skills that I have been able to pick up from everyone on the ERC EARTH team.”

—By Marc Arakaki