News: Research
Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin
UT News
Legacy of Colonialism Influences Science in the Caribbean
An international collaboration of researchers shows how the legacy of colonialism remains deeply entrenched within scientific practice across the Caribbean.
![Map of the Caribbean](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/caribbean-map1400.png)
UT News
How Electric Fish Were Able to Evolve Electric Organs
How small genetic changes enabled electric fish to evolve electric organs.
![A glowing electric fish against a pitch dark background](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/zebrafish-gfp-1400px-1200x800-c-default.jpg)
Assistant Professor Lief Fenno is Developing New Tools to Treat Addiction
Neuroscientist Lief Fenno of UT Austin partakes in research which advances the understanding of addiction and how it can be treated.
![Portrait of a man](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/fenno-2400x1600.jpg)
When Good RNA Turns Bad
Biophysicist Dave Thirumalai and his team developed a computer model that helps explain how certain kinds of RNA molecules can clump together in a way...
![Colorful strands of RNA clump up](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/liquid-droplets1400.png)
Supernova Reveals Secrets to Texas-led Team of Astronomers
The discovery improves understanding of the process of how massive stars live and die.
![A drawing with labels shows a supernova with arrows shows shock and reverse shock motions](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/shocks-supernovae.jpeg)
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Live Cell Imaging Reveals New Clues About Processes Linked to Birth Defects
Live cell imaging reveals how a developing embryo transforms from its early ball shape into a more elongated shape with a distinct head and rear.
![Black and white image of cells in a developing embyo](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/moving-cells1400.png)
A More Nuanced Approach is Needed to Manage Coral Reef Ecosystems
Instead of focusing entirely on biomass and one-size-fits-all solutions, researchers recommend finding which fish provide the most useful functions in each reef system and protecting...
![A school of colorful fish swim over a coral reef](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/rangiroa-2400x1350.jpg)
UT News
Invading Hordes of Crazy Ants May Have Finally Met Their Kryptonite
UT Austin scientists have demonstrated how to use a naturally occurring fungus to crush local populations of invasive tawny crazy ants.
![Ants swarm on a larger, dead insect](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/cryptachaea-porteri2_mark-sanders1400.jpg)
New Phononic Crystal Might Enable Better Mobile Communications
UT Austin researchers' new acoustic component, made of aluminum nitride and configured into periodic phononic crystals, allows engineers to direct high frequency elastic waves along...
![Light colored pattern on a dark orange background. A path zigs from the right to left like a backward letter Z.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/picture1-orange-fill2400x1350.jpg)
Department of Computer Science
Computer Science Researcher Aims to Automate Software Development
Isil Dillig works to improve the security and reliability of software systems and automatically generate programs from high-level specifications.
![Portrait of a woman](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/dillig_isil_0_2400x1600.jpg)