News
Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin
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.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/high_level_with_consistency_3-2.png)
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](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/otter_thumb.png)
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.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/boston-dynamics-spot-robot-4-3.png)
Texas Undergraduate College
Computer Science and Mathematics Dual Major Receives Goldwater Scholarship
Luisa Mao of The University of Texas at Austin is among a select group of undergraduates to be awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
![A young woman in a v-neck shirt smiles standing on a balcony with a city skyline behind her.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/luisa_mao.jpg)
Defense Research Advancement
Computer Science Professor Trains AI Through Game Theory
Computer scientists Ryan Farrel and Chandrajit Bajaj will test a novel reinforcement learning approach.
![A younger man and older man, each in suit jackets, stand in front of a screen with many images of houses and models behind them.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/bajaj_3-2.jpg)
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](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/vibrio-cholerae-bacteria-thumbnail.jpg)
Defense Research Advancement
Physicists Earn Recognition for Innovative Research
Early career researchers from the Department of Physics were selected for highly competitive Department of Defense awards.
![A man in a collared shirt stands in front of a textured background and a woman crosses her arms as she poses before a blank background.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/dod-awards.jpg)
Graduating Former President of Natural Sciences Council Reflects on Public Health at UT
A Longhorn EMT and honored graduate, Arvind Subramanian looks back on lessons from his Texas Science major.
![An image of Arvind Subramanian.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/5f0a3767-981a-4680-b518-f3a62b068541.jpeg)
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.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/transforming-human-robot-interaction-through-mood-inducing-music_article.jpg)
UT Provost’s Office
Natural Sciences Undergraduates Honored for Excellence with Mitchell Awards
Josíah Garza, Anirudh Sudarshan, Lars Deutz and Nirmal Patel are 2024 UT Co-op George H. Mitchell Award Recipients.
![UT is spelled in flowers south of the main mall with the UT Tower in the distance](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/3-2-tower-university-ave.-orange-flowers-ut-2022139208-copy-2400x1600-b6b12ebe-5022-4038-83d1-95b78c2b17dc.jpg)