University of Texas at Austin
Recent News About University of Texas at Austin
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New method accelerates ocean-based carbon storage without harmful chemicals
AUSTIN, Texas — Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a new method for storing carbon captured from the atmosphere that works significantly faster than current techniques and does not require harmful chemical accelerants.
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Fossil find expands known range for extinct saber-toothed cat
Important scientific finds do not always come in the biggest, most publicized packages. Sometimes new discoveries are made from seemingly insignificant objects. Such is the case of a 6-centimeter-wide, nondescript mass of bone and teeth that helped a scientist at The University of Texas at Austin expand the geographic footprint of a large cat that roamed the Earth tens of thousands of years ago.
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UT installs 'Texas' sign on Guadalupe Street ahead of SEC celebration
AUSTIN, Texas — Forty-foot-tall burnt orange letters with white trim spelling “T-E-X-A-S” now span the center of Guadalupe Street as part of The University of Texas’ ongoing efforts to enhance the campus experience for its 53,000 students. The design on the famous “Drag,” the western boundary of UT’s traditional campus, is spelled out between UT’s West Mall and neighboring retail establishments, including the University Co-op. The installation comes during a time of peak visits to campus by admitted and prospective students, and during the leadup to the University’s...
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University of Texas plans all-day celebration for entry into Southeastern Conference
The University of Texas at Austin and Texas Athletics will host an all-day celebration on June 30 to mark the Longhorns' inaugural day in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The event, which runs from 1 to 10 p.m., will be held across campus with primary activities centered on the Main Mall in front of the UT Tower. Admission is free, and both Longhorn Nation and the Central Texas community are invited.
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AI-driven research rethinks computer operating systems
AUSTIN, Texas — Research aimed at using artificial intelligence to enhance the performance and energy efficiency of computer operating systems will be spearheaded by a team from The University of Texas at Austin. This initiative is supported by a significant grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Expeditions in Computing program.
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Tool use by sea otters aids survival in changing environment: Study
Sea otters, notably females, utilize tools to access their food, according to a recent study. The research found that these tool-using sea otters can consume larger prey and reduce tooth damage when their preferred food sources become scarce.
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University of Texas develops AI framework to avoid copyright infringement
Artificial intelligence (AI) models, while powerful, have been known to falter by either generating false information or replicating others' work. To address the latter issue, a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has developed a framework that trains AI models on images so distorted they are unrecognizable.
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Leaky City Pipes Benefit Drought-Resistant Trees on UT Campus: Study
Even during periods of drought, Waller Creek on The University of Texas at Austin campus remains hydrated. This is due to a significant proportion of the water that flows through it — ranging from 25% to 50% — originating from wastewater leaking from city pipes.
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Texas researchers discover defense mechanism in persistent cholera strain
A lethal strain of cholera bacteria, first identified in Indonesia in 1961, continues to spread globally, causing thousands of deaths and infecting millions annually. This persistent strain has puzzled scientists for decades. However, a recent study published in Nature by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin reveals how this virulent strain has managed to survive.
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UT Seed Fund invests $250,000 in water purification startup NALA Membranes
Discovery to Impact at The University of Texas at Austin has announced a $250,000 investment in NALA Membranes. This UT-affiliated startup is pioneering advancements in water purification through the development of a new class of chlorine-tolerant membranes for reverse osmosis industrial and municipal wastewater systems. This marks the fifth investment by UT's $10 million Seed Fund, which supports promising startups built on University-owned intellectual property emerging from UT Austin’s extensive $845 million research enterprise.
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Stampede3 supercomputer begins full production for open science research
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin has launched a powerful new supercomputer that will enable dynamic open science research projects in the U.S. For over a decade, the Stampede systems — Stampede (2012), Stampede2 (2017) and now Stampede3 (2024) — have been flagships in the National Science Foundation’s scientific supercomputing ecosystem. A $10 million award from the NSF has made Stampede3 possible, which will facilitate computational and data-driven science and engineering research and education.
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Stampede3 supercomputer launched: A boost for US open science research
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin has launched a powerful new supercomputer, Stampede3, which is set to enable dynamic open science research projects across the U.S. For over a decade, the Stampede systems have been key components in the National Science Foundation’s scientific supercomputing ecosystem. The latest addition, Stampede3, made possible by a $10 million award from the NSF, will facilitate computational and data-driven science and engineering research and education.
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UT Seed Fund invests $250,000 in water purification startup NALA Membranes
Discovery to Impact at The University of Texas at Austin has invested $250,000 in NALA Membranes, a startup affiliated with the university that is advancing water purification. The company is developing a new class of chlorine-tolerant membranes for reverse osmosis industrial and municipal wastewater systems. This marks the fifth investment by UT's $10 million Seed Fund, which supports promising startups built on University-owned intellectual property.
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Pulitzer Prize Awarded to History Professor Emerita
"AUSTIN, Texas —Jacqueline Jones, professor emerita in the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for history for her book 'No Right to an Honest Living: The Struggles of Boston’s Black Workers in the Civil War Era,' published by Basic Books.
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Earthquakes Shifting Northeast in Midland Basin of Texas
A team of scientists at The University of Texas at Austin has discovered a concerning trend in the seismic activity of the Midland Basin in Texas. Led by Dino Huang, a research assistant professor at the Jackson School of Geosciences, the researchers found that earthquakes are moving northeast towards Big Spring, away from their usual occurrence in the southwest near Odessa and Midland.The study, based on data collected by the TexNet seismic monitoring network, revealed that the region has experienced an increase in seismicity since 2018. Huang highlighted the potential...
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Two University of Texas Professors Elected to National Academy of Sciences
AUSTIN, Texas — The National Academy of Sciences has recently elected two distinguished faculty members from the University of Texas at Austin. Neuroscience professor Kristen Harris and molecular biosciences professor Keiko Torii have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the field of science.David Vanden Bout, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, expressed his pride, stating, “This outstanding recognition of our faculty members is a reflection of the phenomenal basic research happening here in life science disciplines as diverse as neuroscience and...
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4 UT Scholars Join American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Four faculty members from The University of Texas at Austin have been selected to join the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a prestigious institution dedicated to independent policy research and knowledge sharing. The new members, spanning diverse disciplines, will be honored at an induction ceremony in September.Expressing her pride in the faculty members' achievements, Sharon L. Wood, executive vice president and provost at UT Austin, highlighted the significance of their induction, stating, “The excellence of our faculty is one of the key reasons that The...
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Stretchable E-Skin Could Give Robots Human-Level Touch Sensitivity
A first-ever stretchy electronic skin developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin could revolutionize robotics by providing robots with human-like softness and touch sensitivity. The breakthrough technology aims to enhance the precision and control of force in robotic applications.The new stretchable e-skin, as described by Nanshu Lu, a professor at the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, overcomes a significant limitation of existing e-skin technology. Lu highlighted, "No matter how much our...
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UT Austin study leads to smart windows breakthrough
A study conducted by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has led to a breakthrough in the development of smart windows using common, sustainable materials such as amylose, a natural polymer found in corn, potatoes, and beans.
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John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Names Classics Professor as 2024 Fellow
The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation has selected University of Texas at Austin classicist Andrew M. Riggsby as a 2024 fellow. Riggsby, a historian of the ancient Roman world and the Lucy Shoe Meritt Professor in Classics, was chosen from nearly 3,000 applicants based on his prior career achievements and exceptional promise.Riggsby's work focuses on the history of information in the Roman world, applications of cognitive science to historical analysis, and Roman law. The fellowship will support his upcoming book, "Reading Roman Minds," which aims to merge...