News

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

Research

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

Research

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.

Research

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

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

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

Research

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

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

Research

Studying Radioactive Aluminum in Solar Systems Unlocks Formation Secrets

An international team of astronomers including Stella Offner of The University of Texas at Austin has proposed a new method for the formation of aluminum-26...

An elliptically shaped galaxy with a light streak representing its black hole and dust and stars all around

Department of Molecular Biosciences

COVID-19 Vaccine Innovation Could Dramatically Speed Up Worldwide Production

A redesigned version of the coronavirus spike protein called HexaPro might speed up vaccine production and yield a more effective immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

A professor and graduate student working in lab

Research

Discovery about Hep C Drug Offers Insights for Coronavirus Treatments

Finding offers important clues to developing drugs to stop other RNA viruses, such as SARS-COV-2.

  An artist rendering of the Hepatitis C virus.