News
Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin
New Initiative Aims to Reveal the Origins of Complex Life
There is currently a fundamental gap in the understanding of the origin of complex life, eukaryotes.
![Numerous cells with their nucleuses evident](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/cells-1900px.jpeg)
UT News
UT Austin Selected as Home of National AI Institute Focused on Machine Learning
The National Science Foundation has selected UT Austin to lead the NSF AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning.
![The Gates-Dell Complex at The University of Texas at Austin](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/gates_dell_complex-ut-austin700.jpeg)
Ask the COVID-19 Experts
An epidemiologist and two molecular bioscientists get to the bottom of your burning COVID-19 questions.
![Illustration of a physician in a white lab coat](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/covid_researcher_2400x1350.jpg)
International Project to Provide Detailed View of New Complexities Linked to Synapses
UT Austin researchers will lead research that can help us understand more about how we think, sense, learn, act and remember.
![An artist's rendition of a synapse](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/1mitosermax-cropped.png_1500x1018_q85_subsampling-2.png)
Some Bacteria Sacrifice Themselves to Protect their Brethren from Antibiotics
Discovery may aid the fight against antibiotic resistance.
![Bacterial cells in microscopic image. Some are stained green and others bright orange on a black background.](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/bacteria1.jpg)
Tiny Insects Provide Inspiration for New Biomaterials
They may be tiny, but leafhoppers have a super power: they secrete a substance that makes their bodies water-repellant and anti-reflective.
![Oncometopia hamiltoni leafhopper insect](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/o.ham_cro_20200809-191122_1.jpg)
UT News
Early Spread of COVID-19 Appears Far Greater Than Initially Reported
Thousands of patients who thought they had the flu actually had COVID-19 and spread it in the early days of the pandemic.
![Artist's image shows human figures in grey, yellow and green with lines between them indicating the spread of disease](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/meyers-1400px-1200x800-c-default.jpeg)
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Locking Down Shape-Shifting Spike Protein Aids Development of COVID-19 Vaccine
An experimental COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 elicits neutralizing antibodies and a helpful T-cell response with the aid of a carefully engineered spike protein.
![A medical professional vaccinates a patient](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/b2ap3_large_vaccination-1400px.jpeg)
A Young Sub-Neptune-sized Planet Sheds Light onto How Planets Form and Evolve
A team of astronomers including McDonald Observatory's Bill Cochran have made a detailed study of a young planet slightly smaller than Neptune with the Habitable-zone...
![An artist's rendition of a large planet orbiting a star](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/noirlab_img1.png)
UT News
New Tool to Guide Decisions on Social Distancing Uses Hospital Data and Emphasizes Protecting the Vulnerable
Epidemiologists develop framework to help policymakers determine which data to track and when to take action to protect their communities.
![Image shows a person's feet in tennis shoes standing near a red circle sticker that reads stay safe and keep your distance](/sites/default/files/uploads/images/default/social-distancing-1400px-1200x800-c-default.jpeg)