A History of Impact
September 18, 2025A place of big ideas, then and now.
Notre Dame asks the big questions, the important ones, and we act on the answers.
We were advancing flight research before the Wright brothers took off. We were experimenting with wireless communication before most Americans had electricity. Our researchers unlocked breakthroughs in nuclear physics, synthetic rubber, and vector biology.
That same spirit of discovery animates everything we do today, as we fight for a future where knowledge serves humanity and discovery becomes a force for good.
So ours is research that meets the moment, while anticipating the next. From exploring the moral boundaries of artificial intelligence to combating rare diseases, from supporting peace efforts abroad to confronting mental health crises at home, Notre Dame researchers are committed to solving real problems for real people, right now.
Rooted in purpose, shaped by faith, and powered by conviction, Notre Dame chooses hope, building on a history of impact to find solutions to today’s problems, today. Tomorrow’s, too.
From the principles of flight to hypersonic systems.
In 1882, an ambitious Notre Dame student, Albert Zahm, constructed one of the nation’s first wind tunnels to study the lift and drag of various wing shapes. Today, the University is at the forefront of aerospace research, operating advanced facilities, including the Large Mach 10 Quiet Wind Tunnel—the first and only wind tunnel of its kind in the nation.
From national defense to the forefront of nuclear physics.
Notre Dame was among the first U.S. universities to conduct nuclear physics research. In the 1930s, one of its particle accelerators was utilized by researchers contributing to the Manhattan Project during World War II. Today, the University is home to seven state-of-the-art accelerators, anchoring one of the nation’s most advanced programs in radiation chemistry and nuclear physics research.
From the first wireless signal to envisioning the future of the wireless spectrum.
Notre Dame has been a pioneer in wireless technology since the late 1800s when faculty transmitted the first long-distance wireless signal in the U.S. using an antenna suspended from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to nearby Saint Mary’s College. Today, the University leads the future of wireless innovation through SpectrumX, the National Science Foundation’s Spectrum Innovation Center.
Timely answers to life’s timeless questions.
“The mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart,” wrote Rev. Basil Moreau, C.S.C., capturing the holistic vision of Notre Dame’s education. Since its founding, scholarship in the humanities has been central to the University and housed in the College of Arts & Letters, its oldest and largest college. In the 21st century, Notre Dame remains a leader in this field, securing more National Endowment for the Humanities awards than any other university in the U.S.
From synthetic rubber to advanced materials analysis.
In 1920, Rev. Julius Nieuwland, C.S.C., discovered the chemical process that led to neoprene, the world’s first commercially successful synthetic rubber. Building on this legacy, Notre Dame now leads a cutting-edge materials science program that includes NAUTILUS—a-one-of-a-kind materials analysis system transferred from the U.S. Navy to the Notre Dame campus.
Understanding persistent and emerging threats to human health.
In 1957, renowned entomologist George Craig founded Notre Dame’s Vector Biology Laboratory, initially focusing on mapping the morphological traits of the Aedes genus of mosquitoes. Today, the University remains a global leader in vector biology research, collaborating with the U.S. Army on REDI-NET—a cutting-edge system for detecting, predicting, and containing emerging vector-borne diseases.
A University for the nation and the world.
Notre Dame’s founder, Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., envisioned the University as “one of the most powerful means for good in this country.” Today, that vision extends globally, especially to communities facing poverty and conflict. The University plays a critical role in implementing Colombia’s Peace Accords, advising on education and development programs worldwide, and serving as a trusted partner in global humanitarian efforts.