Photos of the week: Sudden snowfall, Joseph the lobster and coal samples

01/07/26 – BOSTON, MA. – A student walks through campus during light snowfall. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Happy new year, Northeastern! This week, Huskies returned to campus just in time for a picturesque snowy afternoon. Students in Boston were greeted with snowfall, construction on Matthews Arena and, of course, the first day of classes. In Nahant, Joseph the calico lobster posed for pictures at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center. Plus, researchers working with coal samples inched closer to uncovering a more efficient way to extract rare metals.

Shows demolition equipment while worker uses tools to drill on top of the Matthews Arena building. — 01/05/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Demolition of Matthews Arena is underway on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A low angle photo of the front of the Matthews Arena arch, with scaffolding on the outside of the building. — 01/05/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Demolition of Matthews Arena is underway on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Three people walk across a field with sunlight shining across them. Two of them are dressed for snorkeling and the third carries a cooler. — 12/18/25 – BOSTON, MA – Angela Jones, a PhD candidate in marine and environmental science at Northeastern, and Mica Weld, lead graduate researcher, head down to Nahant Beach to snorkel at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 while Andrew Robertson, a recent masters in environmental science and policy graduate, collects mussels to feed the sea stars on land. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

The ocean's surface with trees in the background. A pair of snorkeler's fins break the surface. — 12/18/25 – BOSTON, MA – Angela Jones, a PhD candidate in marine and environmental science at Northeastern, and Mica Weld, lead graduate researcher, head down to Nahant Beach to snorkel at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 while Andrew Robertson, a recent masters in environmental science and policy graduate, collects mussels to feed the sea stars on land. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

A scientists in a white coat, gloves and glasses scoops chemicals inside of a lab. — 01/07/26 – BURLINGTON, MA. – Pathmaker Biotechnology Program participant, Josh Herrington, from Lowell, works on a research project in Building 5, 3rd floor lab at the Innovation Campus in Burlington on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A scientists in a white coat and glasses uses lab tools to measure chemicals. — 01/07/26 – BURLINGTON, MA. – Pathmaker Biotechnology Program participant, Josh Herrington, from Lowell, works on a research project in Building 5, 3rd floor lab at the Innovation Campus in Burlington on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Three people look at a computer monitor in a marine science lab. One of them, wearing a baseball cap, stands on the right, while the other two sit. — 12/18/25 – BOSTON, MA – Angela Jones, a PhD candidate in marine and environmental science at Northeastern, Mica Weld, lead graduate researcher, and Andrew Robertson, environmental science and policy masters graduate, look at various Sea Stars under a microscope at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

A sea star rests in a petri dish with a flashlight shining on its center. — 12/18/25 – BOSTON, MA – Angela Jones, a PhD candidate in marine and environmental science at Northeastern, Mica Weld, lead graduate researcher, and Andrew Robertson, environmental science and policy masters graduate, look at various Sea Stars under a microscope at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

A hand holds a blue yellow multi-colored lobster. — 12/18/25 – BOSTON, MA – Joseph, a 1 in 100 million rare, cotton-candy clawed lobster, is pictured at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

A close up on the face of a blue yellow multi-colored lobster. — 12/18/25 – BOSTON, MA – Joseph, a 1 in 100 million rare, cotton-candy clawed lobster, is pictured at Northeastern’s Marine Science Center in Nahant on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Two students walking through Bostom campus, through trees and side walks. — 01/05/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Students walk through campus on a cold day on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

An overhead photo of a student sitting on vibrant colors seats while typing on a laptop. — 01/05/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Students walk through campus on a cold day on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Damilola Daramola, wearing a lab coat and latex gloves, removes a test tube from a group of test tubes in a stand. — Northeastern professor Damilola Daramola uses a microwave reactor on coal dust samples at the REPRODUCE lab in the Egan Research Center lab on the Boston campus. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

A spoonful of finely ground coal tailings, dark brown. — Northeastern professor Damilola Daramola uses a microwave reactor on coal dust samples at the REPRODUCE lab in the Egan Research Center lab on the Boston campus. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

Students sit in a full auditorium while smiling. — 01/05/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Incoming N.U.in students attend the Husky 101 Orientation in Blackman Auditorium on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

An N.U.in students smiles while petting the nose of a Husky statue. — 01/05/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Incoming N.U.in students attend the Husky 101 Orientation in Blackman Auditorium on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A photo from behind a man standing and observing a large painting. — 01/06/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Ted Landsmark, Northeastern Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center, poses for photos next to the “Watson and the Shark” painting by John Singleton Copley in the Museum of Fine Arts on Jan. 6, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A man sits and poses for the camera with a large painting in the background. — 01/06/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Ted Landsmark, Northeastern Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center, poses for photos next to the “Watson and the Shark” painting by John Singleton Copley in the Museum of Fine Arts on Jan. 6, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A students in a puffy jacket and headphones walks through snow with a "Northeastern University" sign in the background. — 01/07/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Students walk through campus during light snow fall on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A students walks through the Boston campus in snow, holding a black and red umbrella. — 01/07/26 – BOSTON, MA. – Students walk through campus during light snow fall on Jan. 7, 2026. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University