News: Research

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

Research

For Rainforest Amphibians, the Bigger the Toes, the Higher They Go

In rainforests in Gabon, amphibians with larger toes relative to their body length are found higher in the forest canopy.

Photo of orange and brown frog leptopelis boulengeri on a tree branch

Research

Targeted Grazing May Help Beat Invasive Buffelgrass

Researchers head to Kenya to unlock the weaknesses of invasive buffelgrass to combat it here in Texas.

Image of buffelgrass and cattle

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.