News: Research

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

UT News

Early Spread of COVID-19 Appears Far Greater Than Initially Reported

Thousands of patients who thought they had the flu actually had COVID-19 and spread it in the early days of the pandemic.

Artist's image shows human figures in grey, yellow and green with lines between them indicating the spread of disease

Department of Molecular Biosciences

Locking Down Shape-Shifting Spike Protein Aids Development of COVID-19 Vaccine

An experimental COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 elicits neutralizing antibodies and a helpful T-cell response with the aid of a carefully engineered spike protein.

A medical professional vaccinates a patient

Research

A Young Sub-Neptune-sized Planet Sheds Light onto How Planets Form and Evolve

A team of astronomers including McDonald Observatory's Bill Cochran have made a detailed study of a young planet slightly smaller than Neptune with the Habitable-zone...

An artist's rendition of a large planet orbiting a star

UT News

New Tool to Guide Decisions on Social Distancing Uses Hospital Data and Emphasizes Protecting the Vulnerable

Epidemiologists develop framework to help policymakers determine which data to track and when to take action to protect their communities.

Image shows a person's feet in tennis shoes standing near a red circle sticker that reads stay safe and keep your distance

Research

Studying Radioactive Aluminum in Solar Systems Unlocks Formation Secrets

An international team of astronomers including Stella Offner of The University of Texas at Austin has proposed a new method for the formation of aluminum-26...

An elliptically shaped galaxy with a light streak representing its black hole and dust and stars all around

Department of Molecular Biosciences

COVID-19 Vaccine Innovation Could Dramatically Speed Up Worldwide Production

A redesigned version of the coronavirus spike protein called HexaPro might speed up vaccine production and yield a more effective immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

A professor and graduate student working in lab

Research

Discovery about Hep C Drug Offers Insights for Coronavirus Treatments

Finding offers important clues to developing drugs to stop other RNA viruses, such as SARS-COV-2.

  An artist rendering of the Hepatitis C virus.

Department of Molecular Biosciences

COVID-19 Vaccines with UT Ties Arrived Quickly After Years in the Making

The COVID-19 vaccine was only possible because a group of scientists and their partners in industry had already invested years in laying the groundwork.

Thee men in lab coats in a laboratory

UT News

Power of DNA to Store Information Gets an Upgrade

Researchers stored a copy of the Wizard of Oz - in Esperanto - in DNA using a revolutionary new technique.

Artists image of DNA helix in purple, yellow and green with letters GTAC and 01 binary in the background

UT News

COVID-19 Drug Development Could Benefit from Approach Used Against Flu

A new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has found that some antivirals are useful for more than helping sick people...

Artist rendition of COVID-19 virus and pills