News

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

Marine Science Institute

Digging into the Soil: Shedding Light on Unknown Players in Methane Production

A new study looks at metabolic processes in the previously understudied microbes called Asgard archaea in the soils of freshwater wetlands.

Sunset over wetlands

Department of Molecular Biosciences

Forever Chemical Pollution Can Now Be Tracked

Professor of molecular biosciences David Hoffmann helped develop a new way to fingerprint a type of forever chemical.

A scientist in goggles and a lab coat uses a pipette to add a green liquid to a mostly filled tube.

Department of Computer Science

Computer Science Faculty Members Honored with Test-of-Time Award for Pioneering Cryptographic Research

Brent Waters and Hovav Shacham received recognition from the International Association for Cryptologic Research.

A close-up of the UT Tower clock, featuring gold details.

Accolades

Chemistry Ph.D. Student Awarded Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

UT Austin student Alexia Hartzell has been named a recipient of the prestigious Department of Energy award.

A young woman with long hair smiles in a jacket and collared shirt with UT-themed graphics in the background.

Podcast

How AI is Accelerating Discovery

AI is transforming how scientists design cancer drugs and vaccines, study star formation and understand the brain.

A woman in a white lab coat and gloves holds up a molecule that has been magnified to the size of her head

UT News

Astronomers Use AI to Find Elusive Stars 'Gobbling Up' Planets

The work reveals what planets outside our solar system are made of.

A bright star surrouned by rocky debris from a destroyed planet

Research

AI Opens Door to Safe, Effective New Antibiotics to Combat Resistant Bacteria

Protein large language models identify ways to make antibiotics better at targeting dangerous bacteria, without being toxic to humans.

A green bacteria-shaped object with a red arrow piercing through its center. The bacteria is surrounded by concentric circles and smaller, blue, bacteria-like shapes. The background is a light blue grid with a pattern of binary code.

Announcements

Building Industry Bridges: Computer Scientist Peter Stone Tackles New Role for Sony, While Leading at UT

Peter Stone of UT computer science leads Sony AI in the U.S. and is now its chief scientist and deputy president.

Peter Stone has been tapped by Sony Corp. to head up the U.S. branch of its new global artificial intelligence research division, called Sony AI.

UT Marine Science Institute

Are Parrotfishes Friends or Foes to Coral Reefs?

Parrotfishes help corals grow and survive, grazing on what can otherwise smother corals. But there are trade-offs.

An underwater image of coral reefs shows clear damage where parts seem to have been nibbled off.

Accolades

College of Natural Sciences Faculty Receive NSF CAREER Awards

The awards from the National Science Foundation support innovative work by earlier-career faculty.

Photos of five faculty members around the logo of the National Science Foundation