News: Research

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Research

Researchers Disable Antimicrobial Resistance in Cystic Fibrosis-Associated Bacteria

New findings could improve treatment options for people with hard-to-treat infections.

Two black and white microscope images. On the left is an intact bacterium with two lobes like a bar bell. On the right is a similar bacterium whose walls have burst, spilling its contents.

Texas Advanced Computing Center

Little Red Dots: New Clues from the Early Universe

Volker Bromm used TACC supercomputer simulations to shed light on the mysterious origins of these enigmatic cosmic objects.

Six red dots represent early galaxies in the universe as seen by the James Webb Space Telescope

Department of Computer Science

The Research Path from Whimsy to Better Spacecraft Fabrication

That is not a bunny in The University of Texas at Austin computer science space but a showcase of algorithms for designing complex 3D structures.

What looks like a basketwoven rabbit hovers over a field of grass

Research

New Bite-sized CRISPR Molecule May Open Doors for Therapeutic Genome Editing

NIH-funded UT team and colleagues from Metagenomi Thereapeutics discovered highly efficient enzyme could enable targeted gene editing within the human body.

An illustration of a tangle of multicolored ribbons representing the structure of a protein

McDonald Observatory

Astronomers Thought the Early Universe Was Full of Hydrogen. Now They’ve Found It.

Astronomers using data from the Hobby–Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) based at UT made the discovery.

A globular heat map of galaxies is juxtaposed beneath a measure of 100,000 light years

Department of Computer Science

Top 4 Harmful Traits of AI Companions

Brad Knox detailed the psychological and social risks of AI systems designed for companionship at the Texas Symposium on Machine Learning, Responsible AI & Robotics.

A person in a dark room stares at the glowing screen of a smart phone

Research

New Model Shows How Behavioral Flexibility Affects Animal Evolution

Animals able to change behaviors but slow to evolve might fare better than previously thought amid climate change.

A squirrel leans over a natural pool of water to take a sip

Research

Wildflowers Mix it Up to Survive Drought

Researchers at UC Davis, UT and elsewhere use global data on plants and droughts to create framework for planning.

A bunch of orange flowers bloom from small, green bushy plants

Research

Which Mating Call to Choose? People Are in Accord with Bugs, Bats and Frogs

Music to the ears of amorous amphibians and other creatures sounds best to humans, too, a new study finds.

Three birds perched on a wooden rod. Their body feathers are white and black with white chests, brown cheek patches and reddish orange beaks.

Research

A Secret Weapon from Salmonella Could Help Us Maintain Healthier Microbiomes

The discovery could also lend itself to the development of future antibacterial therapies.

An illustration of pink, rod-shaped bacteria connected by filaments