
NYUAD celebrates Class of 2025 graduates
The ceremony was attended by a number of officials, as well as members of the university's administrative and academic bodies, including Evan R. Chesler, Chair of the NYU Board of Trustees; Rima Al Mokarrab, NYU Trustee; and Linda Mills, NYU President.
The keynote speech was delivered by former NASA astronaut and geophysicist Andrew Feustel.
'It's been said that luck is where preparation meets opportunity, and with opportunity comes obligation. You now have an opportunity to launch from this place and continue your life mission. You also have an obligation to strive to work to the best of your ability to reach your mission objectives along this path,' said Feustel.
From its inception, NYUAD has been one of the most selective higher education institutions in the world. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 35 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest globally ranked university in the UAE and MENA region.
NYUAD's current student body consists of some 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds. To date, it has produced 24 Rhodes Scholars, 20 Schwarzman Scholars, and 16 Fulbright Scholars.
Approximately four percent of those who applied to be a part of the Class of 2025 were accepted for admission, and the standardised test profile of the Class of 2025 matched those of the most elite higher education institutions in the US.
During their four years, the Class of 2025 has excelled in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. It has participated in student clubs, athletic groups, and built ties with the Abu Dhabi community.
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The National
06-08-2025
- The National
NYU Abu Dhabi study uncovers how life can survive on Mars
Life may be able to survive beneath the surface of Mars and other planets because of energy generated by cosmic rays, researchers from the New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have found. The new study, published in the International Journal of Astrobiology on July 28, suggests that future missions looking for microscopic life may need to dig deeper into the surface. Dr Dimitra Atri, principal investigator at NYUAD's Centre for Astrophysics and Space Science and lead author of the study, told The National that underground regions where cosmic radiation can trigger chemical reactions may be more promising, instead of surface environments warmed by sunlight. 'For decades, most of our ideas about where life might thrive beyond Earth have revolved around sunlight or heat from a planet's interior,' he said. 'But there are places in our solar system, like Mars, Europa (one of Jupiter's moons), and Enceladus (a moon of Saturn) where there just isn't enough sunlight or geothermal heat. It made me ask: could there be another way for life to get energy in these dark, cold places?' How the study worked The study explores how high-energy particles from space, known as cosmic rays, can penetrate below the surface of planetary bodies with thin or no atmospheres, such as Mars and the icy moons. When cosmic rays interact with underground water or ice, they can break apart water molecules in a process called radiolysis, producing energy-rich compounds like hydrogen. 'We have learnt from Earth that some microbes deep underground, cut off from sunlight, can survive using energy from the natural breakdown of radioactive minerals in rocks,' said Dr Atri. 'This process, called radiolysis, splits water molecules and produces chemicals like hydrogen gas, which some bacteria can use. It is not just theory, this is something we have observed in places like deep South African gold mines.' How does the study change our understanding? For decades, habitability was thought to be limited to planets within the "Goldilocks Zone", the region around a star where temperatures are just right for liquid water to exist on the surface. But this new study introduces a different concept: the Radiolytic Habitable Zone (RHZ), an underground region where cosmic rays could generate enough energy to support microbial life without being too damaging. It suggests that life may also thrive in cold, sunless environments deep beneath the surface. 'The big idea was … could cosmic ray-induced radiolysis carve out a 'habitable zone' beneath the surfaces of these worlds, providing a steady and reliable energy source for microbes?' said Dr Atri. The research focused on Mars, Europa and Enceladus, which are all known to have ice or possible liquid water under their surfaces. The computer simulations showed that Enceladus had the most potential to support life in this way, followed by Mars and then Europa. Dr Atri said this work should influence how scientists design future space missions and where they target their life-detection instruments. 'If we take radiolysis seriously, we need to design missions that can drill or sense a few metres below the surface, not just scratch the top layer,' he said. 'Instruments would need to look for chemical signatures of radiolysis, like certain gases or organic molecules linked to microbial life powered by this process. 'It also means focusing on places with thinner ice or rock where cosmic rays can penetrate and water might be present, say, fissures on Enceladus, cracks in Europa's ice, or subsurface layers on Mars.' He said that if mission planners ignore the effects of cosmic rays and radiolysis, they 'could miss the promising habitats in the solar system'. How will the findings shape future missions? Most Mars missions so far have focused on the surface, but newer ones are looking to dig deeper for signs of underground life. The European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover, now set to launch in 2028 after multiple delays, will carry a drill that can dig two metres below the surface to search for signs of life. Nasa's Perseverance rover has been collecting soil and rock samples from the Jezero Crater on Mars since 2021, although it drills only shallow depths. The study is also interesting because cosmic rays are typically seen as harmful, especially for humans, but this research argues that high-energy particles could be a source of energy for life underground. 'Cosmic rays are definitely a double-edged sword. They damage DNA, disrupt cell function, and, at the surface, are a big problem for both life and future astronauts,' said Dr Atri. 'That's why Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere are so important, they shield us from most of this radiation. 'But when cosmic rays hit water or ice underground, they trigger radiolysis, breaking apart water molecules and producing energy-rich compounds that some microbes could use. So, while life on the exposed surface would be at risk, microbes just the right distance below, shielded from the worst of the radiation but still close enough to get radiolysis by-products, could actually benefit.'

Economy ME
28-07-2025
- Economy ME
Could life exist underground on Mars or Enceladus? NYUAD study says yes
A groundbreaking study from NYU Abu Dhabi has revealed that cosmic rays — high-energy particles from space — could provide the energy needed to support life beneath the surfaces of planets and moons in our solar system. The research, published in the International Journal of Astrobiology, challenges long-standing beliefs that life requires sunlight or geothermal heat to survive. Led by Dimitra Atri , principal investigator of the Space Exploration Laboratory at NYUAD's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), the study shows that cosmic rays may not only be harmless in certain subsurface environments, but could actively fuel microscopic life. The process, known as radiolysis, occurs when cosmic rays interact with water or ice underground, breaking water molecules and releasing electrons. Enceladus (Saturn's moon) – NASA Read: MBRU scientists publish first Arab Pangenome Reference in major genomic breakthrough Energy source for microorganisms Some Earth bacteria use these electrons as an energy source, much like plants rely on sunlight. Using advanced computer simulations, the team examined how much energy radiolysis could generate on Mars and on the icy moons Enceladus (Saturn) and Europa (Jupiter). Enceladus showed the highest potential to support life, followed by Mars and Europa. Research breakthrough 'This discovery changes the way we think about where life might exist,' said Atri. 'Instead of looking only for warm planets with sunlight, we can now consider places that are cold and dark, as long as they have some water beneath the surface and are exposed to cosmic rays. Life might be able to survive in more places than we ever imagined.' Radiolytic Habitable Zone The study introduces the concept of the Radiolytic Habitable Zone — a new way of identifying potentially life-supporting environments not based on proximity to a star, but on the presence of subsurface water and exposure to cosmic radiation. This expands the possibilities for habitable worlds beyond the traditional 'Goldilocks Zone', also known as the habitable zone. It is the region around a star where a planet's temperature is suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface. Redefining future space exploration The findings provide critical direction for future space exploration. Rather than focusing solely on surface conditions, missions may begin targeting underground environments on Mars and icy moons, using instruments designed to detect the chemical energy generated by cosmic radiation. The research opens exciting new frontiers in the search for extraterrestrial life, suggesting that even the darkest, coldest places in the solar system could harbor the necessary conditions for life to survive.


Gulf Today
26-07-2025
- Gulf Today
Global Ideation Lab builds sandbox for innovative ideas
The Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP), under the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, launched a Global Ideation Lab in collaboration with New York University (NYU). The Ideation Lab was held alongside the UAE delegation's participation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York City. It brought together leading experts, academics, UN officials, diplomats, policymakers, and university students to explore new prospects in government sector innovation and global cooperation. The session drew participation from 26 ministers, experts, academics, and UN officials, including Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships, and Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Attendees also included sustainability officials and diplomats from countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Paraguay, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Kingdom of Eswatini, and others. Members of the UAE delegation to the HLPF, officials from NYU's administrative and academic bodies, and 30 students from NYU, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania also participated. Global Ideas Sandbox The Ideation Lab helps build a global ideas sandbox and provides a creative open space. It highlighted the developmental role of comprehensive initiatives supporting global partnerships, particularly the UAE's GEEP, which serves as an incubator for scalable cross-border partnerships and an effective knowledge sharing platform. UAE Commitment to expanding partnerships Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the UAE's knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive, leveraging contributions across sectors locally and globally. The session drew participation from 26 ministers, experts, academics, and UN officials. This approach provides an environment for creating innovative ideas and impactful development solutions. 'In the UAE, we have successfully built a pioneering model for international cooperation based on knowledge exchange with countries and governments, and GEEP is a crucial part of this endeavour,' Lootah said. 'We are committed to involving various sectors, particularly academia, and cooperating with everyone in developing solutions to urgent global challenges, including developmental challenges, and expanding frameworks for sharing, transferring, and exchanging best government practices to help achieve sustainable development.' He added: 'The joint Global Ideation Lab between GEEP and NYU exemplifies the collaborative approach we adopt in the UAE to develop best practices that enhance readiness for present and future opportunities.' Challenge and solution model The Global Ideation Lab adopted a collaborative approach between GEEP and NYU, centred on posing challenges, linking academic insights with practical governance, and involving various stakeholders in designing partnership-based and scalable solutions. The session outcomes contributed to aligning knowledge inputs with policy, empowering stakeholders to participate in developing innovative solutions to urgent governance challenges, and accelerating progress towards the 2030 SDGs. UN High-Level Political Forum The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the UN's central platform for reviewing and advancing SDGs. Established in 2012, the forum plays a pivotal role in monitoring national and international progress on the 2030 Agenda. Participating delegations assess progress toward the SDGs, with this year's forum featuring in-depth reviews of five priority goals: SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages); SDG5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls); SDG8 (promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all); SDG14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG17 (strengthening and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).