News: Research

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

McDonald Observatory

Discovery of Ultra-Massive Galaxies May Not Rewrite Cosmology, But Still Leaves Questions

Based on the most widely accepted cosmological model, they shouldn’t have been able to evolve until much later in the history of the Universe.

A field of stars and galaxies in deep space

Research

Researchers Discover New Ways to Excite Spin Waves with Extreme Infrared Light

New ultrafast method for controlling magnetic materials might enable next-generation information processing technologies.

Two red waves enter a crystal from the left and on the other side, a blue and green wave emerge, each with a different wavelength

Research

Researchers Uncover Potential Non-Opioid Treatment for Chronic Pain

A new approach to treating neuropathic pain is making a key step forward thanks to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

Black human shape with image of brain and nervous system overlaid in orange. Blue background with white lightning bolts.

Research

Genes That ‘Don’t Play Well Together’ Drive Development of Distinct Species

Justin Havird, Erik Iverson and their colleagues have identified genes involved in hybrid incompatibility in swordtail fishes.

Fish swimming in an aquarium

Research

Chemists’ New Process Offers Safer 3D Printing Option, Requiring Less Energy and Cost

The University of Texas at Austin researchers have developed a chemical process that could revolutionize light-driven 3D printing.

A red plastic 3D printed frog illuminated by UV light

Research

Natural Labs: UT Field Stations Help Predict Drought Impact

UT scientists study how droughts affect local ecosystems at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory and the Stengl Lost Pines Biological Station.

A wooden frame with clear pastic cover sits in a field of grass and shrubs surrounded by trees

Research

Tracking the Impacts of Climate Change on Food Webs in the Arctic

New research provides the latest evidence that climate change is having an impact on food webs in high-latitude ecosystems.

One scientist in protective clothing against insects leans over a metal circle in a grassy area, while another dressed similarly taking notes seated in the grass nearby

Research

Promising Drug Candidate Reduces Inflammation, Chronic Pain in Mice

Ken Hsu and collaborators are working towards a non-addictive painkiller using a novel way to shut off inflammation.

An artistic depiction of energy metabolism in cells

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.

Research

New Sensors Could Detect Cancer and Other Diseases Earlier and More Precisely

Devleena Samanta led a team to develop a new kind of sensor that can be used to find unique fingerprints of cancers, infections and neurodegenerative...

A complex soup of molecules