News: Research
Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin
UT News
Rare, Blind Catfish Never Before Found in U.S. Discovered in Texas
An extremely rare eyeless catfish species previously known to exist only in Mexico has been discovered in a National Recreation Area in Texas.
![A pair of eyeless catfish](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/mexican-blindcats700.jpeg)
Supporting Pollinators Could Have Big Payoff for Texas Cotton Farmers
Researchers at UT Austin find the secret to increasing cotton production.
![A bee hovers near a pink flower](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/bee-flower-sheilapic76_2400x1600.jpg)
UT News
Hands-On Science Courses Boost Graduation Rates and STEM Retention
Courses that engage students in scientific research early in college dramatically increase students’ odds of completing a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) degree, analysis...
![Three students in a Freshman Research Initiative wearing PPE and handling equipment](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/students_fri_-1200x800-c-default.jpeg)
UT News
Genetic Potential of Oil-Eating Bacteria from the BP Oil Spill Decoded
Microbiologists led by Brett Baker have discovered potential in bacteria that helped to clean up the BP oil spill.
![An Oil Slick stretches across a span of ocean](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/b2ap3_large_oil-slick-one.png)
Serotonin Regulates the Sensitivity of Brain Cells Involved in Hearing
Nace Golding, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas at Austin, and his team were surprised to find that serotonin also regulates the sensitivity of...
![Illustration of the interior of the brain showing active neurons lit up](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/brain2400x1350.jpg)
Scientists Unveil the Most Comprehensive Genomic Tree of Life
Genetic data reveal a group of bacteria that are so diverse genetically that they represent half of all the diversity of bacteria on the planet
![Archaea and eukaryotes.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/b2ap3_large_tree-of-life-vert.jpeg)
Drug Engineered at UT Austin to Treat Anthrax Gains FDA Approval
The anthrax antitoxin obiltoxaximab received approval March 21 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
![White bacterial coloines on a plate of red culture medium](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/anthrax_17095_2400x1350.png)
UT Austin Part of New Partnership for Innovations in Fibers, Fabrics
UT Austin is now a participant of a high-tech partnership called Advanced Functional Fibers of America.
![A pair of hands hold a swath of fabric](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/mit-affoa-cropped.jpeg)
Scientists Study How DNA Repairs Itself Through Single Molecule Imaging
UT Austin scientists are doing research, which uses novel single-molecule imaging techniques partially developed by Finkelstein, and could lead to a better understanding of how cancerous...
![Illustration of a new single-molecule imaging technique](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/fig1a-nolabels2400x1600.png)
UT News
Scientists Find Leukemia’s Surroundings Key to its Growth
A research team led by Lauren Ehrlich of the Department of Molecular Biosciences has discovered that a type of cancer found primarily in children can...
![Dendritic cells shown in green in the tumor microenvironment T-Cell leukemia can only survive and grow send signals to cancer cells of other colors](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/lmo2-tme.jpg)