News: Research

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

Research

Improved Method for Estimating the Hubble Constant with Gravitational Waves

There’s a big debate in cosmology about how fast the universe is currently expanding.

A cosmic pairing is bifurcated by a dynamic force shown in light as gases swirl about.

McDonald Observatory

Galaxies Actively Forming in Early Universe Caught Feeding on Cold Gas

James Webb Space Telescope images reveal three galaxies that may be actively forming when the universe was only 400 to 600 million years old.

A swirl of blue-white gas and dust against a black background

Research

Transitioning Gender Identities Is Not Linked With Depression

A landmark longitudinal study of LGBTQ+ youths has found that transitioning gender identities is not associated with depression.

Five teenaged boys and girls stand in a row with their arms around each others' shoulders laughing and smiling.

Research

Artificial Intelligence Trained to Draw Inspiration From Images, Not Copy Them

Researchers are using corrupted data to help generative AI models avoid the misuse of images under copyright.

Three rows of similarly themed illustrations—earnest dogs, scientist pandas and robot graffiti—differ in each of four iterations per row.

Research

Otters, Especially Females, Use Tools To Survive a Changing World

A new study has found that individual sea otters that use tools — most of whom are female — are able to eat larger prey...

A sea otter feeds on a marine animal

Research

To Optimize Guide-Dog Robots, First Listen to the Visually Impaired

Guide-dog users and trainers can provide insight into features that make robotic helpers useful in the real world.

A dog-like robot ascends an outdoor staircase on a college campus.

Research

Persistent Strain of Cholera Defends Itself Against Forces of Change, Scientists Find

Unique immune component has kept one strain of cholera on top for more than 60 years.

Image of cholera bacteria stained purple

Department of Computer Science

Transforming Human-Robot Interaction Through Mood-Inducing Music

UT’s Elad Liebman and Peter Stone consider robots that understand not only our commands but also our emotional states.

A young music enthusiast reclines with head on his hands and a boom box at his feet.

McDonald Observatory

Astronomers Uncover Methane Emission on a Cold Brown Dwarf

The research team used the James Webb Space Telescope to make a surprising finding about a cold, distant world.

A planet-like object has many rings deep in space, with a pronounced ring at its top.

Research

Better Sleep Can Reduce Worry and Rumination in Older Adults

People’s perceptions of their sleep also proves to have stronger associations with their worry and rumination than objective sleep quality monitored with a device.

Older man sitting in dark room with hand on back of neck looking tired.