News Highlights

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

Podcast

“AI for the Rest of Us” Brings Expert Conversations on Artificial Intelligence to UT Community

All summer, University experts will offer up key lessons about AI.

Two people look at a wall emblazoned with the words "AI for the rest of us"

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

Accolades

Faculty Members Elected to National Academy of Sciences

Neuroscientist Kristen Harris and molecular bioscientist Keiko Torii have received one of the highest honors a scientist can receive.

Portrait of two scientists

Features

Top Prize Image in Visualizing Science Contest Captures Research Tied to the Sun

Ph.D. student Maile Marriott’s submission illustrates the complexities of the “space weather” generated by our sun.

Top Prize Editor’s Choice

Features

Undergraduate Researchers Help Unlock Lessons of Machine Learning and AI

From large language models to brain-machine interfaces, students work with faculty on cutting-edge research.

Four students post on a staircase near a limestone building at UT.

Features

Inaugural Class of AI Master’s Students Tackle a Transformative Moment in Tech

The University of Texas at Austin has welcomed its first cohort of students in the new, affordable, online artificial intelligence graduate degree program.

A student wearing a UT sweatshirt sits at a desk with Essentials of AI and a Longhorn silhouette displayed on two screens

UT News

UT Designates 2024 ‘The Year of AI’

Building on decades-long leadership, UT will prioritize AI research and education throughout the year ahead and put this leadership on display through signature events, new...

A yellow robot with four legs parades down Speedway with rolling robots in its wake as students look on

Research

Nuance Needed Regarding Weight-Gain Recommendations During Pregnancy

Patients with obesity while pregnant may receive recommendations from their doctors that need revisiting, researchers say.

A pregnant person, left, speaks with a doctor, right, while she points at a clipboard.

UT News

UT Austin’s Top Research Stories of 2023

From a brain decoder to a supermassive black hole to a cancer drug advance, College of Natural Sciences researchers made breakthroughs this year.

A dense field of galaxies set against a black background of space

Research

Compact Accelerator Technology Achieves Major Energy Milestone

Bjorn “Manuel” Hegelich led the development of a compact laser accelerator that produces an electron beam with an energy of 10 billion electron volts.

A piece of scientific equipment lit from the outside by green light. In a window in the side of the equipment, a pink light glows.