Congrats to Yao-Yuan Mao, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, on being named a recipient of a 2026 Cottrell Scholar Award!

Banning lead in gas worked. The proof is in our hair. #UofU researchers analyzed samples of Utahns' hair going back a century to document a 100-fold decrease in lead concentrations.

Students! A single application now covers up to 250 scholarships across the College of Humanities, the College of Science, and the College of Social and Behavioral Science for 26-27. Apply by Feb 15, 2026! utah.scholarshipuniverse.com/student/appl...

A mushroom that makes you hallucinate tiny people? Colin Domnauer, a doctoral candidate in biology at the U and the Natural History Museum of Utah, studied Lanmaoa asiatica, a locally popular food in the Philippines that if not cooked thoroughly, might just make you see hundreds of tiny people.

The University of Utah was awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. REFUGES, a Center for Science and Mathematics Education program under the direction of U Physics Professor Tino Nyawelo, is a feature of the classification.

The University of Utah announced today that Pearl Sandick has accepted an offer to serve as dean of the College of Science. Sandick has been serving as interim dean of the college since March 2025. Congrats Dean Sandick! 🎉

A breakthrough from Zhigang Zak Fang called the HAMR (Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction) process may finally remove barriers that have held titanium back from being a more commonly-used material.

Utah's Great Salt Lake Strike Team's annual report highlights successes in controlling salinity despite the lake's levels remaining low. The report emphasizes four points: water contributions, dust mitigation advances, updated water budget, and long-term outlook.

New research examines Earth 66 million years ago during the Paleogene Period when carbon dioxide levels were two to four times higher to understand how global warming could influence future climate. Research found that rainfall occurred in intense downpours with prolonged dry spells.

If you heard the sound of falling droplets striking water out in the wild, you probably wouldn't assume it came from a bird. Yet that watery sound may just belong to the brown-headed cowbird.

“We have exposed more than 800 square miles of lake bed to the atmosphere. That lake bed has become a source of frequent dust events that are coming off the lake and moving into the surrounding communities."

To a 300-plus crowd in the L. S. Skaggs Applied Science Building, celebrated astrophysicist Katherine Freese captivated the auditorium with an exploration into the mystery of dark matter in the universe. Check out our recording of last week's Frontiers of Science: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SqU...

David Pace—widely recognized for his unique talent in translating complex scientific discoveries in accessible and engaging ways, is also a published fiction author with many of his stories based right here in Utah. From @utah.edu's Humans of the U:

“I hope my work will lead to a better understanding of how medicines interact with the brain, and that by following how snail venom targets specific areas of the mind, we can create drugs that do the same in a positive manner.” #HumansOfTheU 📰 attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff...

Chris Miles, an associate professor of mathematics, is bridging mathematics and biology. In his Science @ Breakfast lecture, Miles showed how mathematical modeling can do much more than interpret biological data—it can guide experiments and reveal the hidden dynamics of living systems.

A team of math students ventured into the Arctic to explore how physics, biology, and mathematics shape life on and within sea ice. From braving –20°F wind chills to testing tools like the PlanktoScope, students gained rare hands-on experience connecting mathematical models with the real world.

Frontiers of Science is back! Come explore the mystery of dark matter with us on Dec. 3 with theoretical astrophysicist Katherine Freese in the new L. S. Skaggs Applied Science Building. RSVP here: science.utah.edu/events/front...

🧪✨ Science Cafe is back! Get a taste of inspiring research happening right here in Utah at our informal, cafe-style talks. 🗓️ Nov. 12: Environmental science, geology, biological anthropology, & air quality science In collaboration with @uofu-science.bsky.social. Learn more: bit.ly/444UItR

New NASA-funded research from Issaku Kohl (Department of Geology & Geophysics) shows oxygen in sulfate deposits could identify microbial activity in Earth's rock—and possibly on its planetary neighbor Mars.

Atmospheric Sciences professor and associate chair Gannet Hallar has been elected as trustee to the UCAR board. “UCAR allows for the atmospheric science community to speak with one voice, with expertise across the nation,” says Hallar. Read more ⬇️

College of Science faculty and researchers won three awards at the annual Innovation Awards. Check them out ⬇️ Startup of the Year: Trace AQ (Derek Mallia, Taylor (Kai) Wilmot) Founders of the Year: Vahe Bandarian and Karsten Eastman (Sethera Therapeutics) Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Palais

Mathematics professor Fernando Guevara Vasquez teamed up with the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering to develop a new way of taking a high-definition snapshot that encodes spectral data into images, much like a traditional camera encodes color.

The semi-annual IceCube Neutrino Collaboration took place at the U last week, bringing together an international group of scientists that use the Antarctica-based observatory to detect high-energy neutrinos from cosmic sources and to study dark matter, cosmic rays and neutrino properties.

Distinguished Professor Thure Cerling has been awarded the Penrose Medal by the Geological Society of America. The GSA bestows medals and awards to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the geosciences. Check out his work so far in 2025 ⬇️

New research highlights Marquandomyces marquandii, a common soil fungus, as a promising material for biomedical applications. Researchers found that this fungus can grow into hydrogels—soft, water-rich materials that mimic human tissues.

From U biochemists Ming Hammond and Madeline Bodin: the world's first single-dyed ratiometric biosensor for glycine imaging, "Golden Broccoli."

"The second I open my door I hear a loud roar. The team runs back to our car, but the back door is still open. The bear tries its best to infiltrate. Luckily, our car horn scares it away." Read more about Nathan Murphy's research experience in Turkey ⬇️

Incredible honor for @utah.edu Professor Emerita Phyllis Coley! The Smithsonian renamed a trail on Panama's Barro Colorado Island as the Phyllis D. Coley Trail, recognizing her 50+ years of groundbreaking research linking rainforest health to human health. science.utah.edu/biology/liss...

Most celestial flashes of gamma rays usually last just milliseconds to minutes. A recent event, unlike anything witnessed before, lasted about a day.

A molecule that enables microbes to eat methane: read the story from attheU highlighting our chemists' discovery of critical steps bacteria take to oxidize potent greenhouse gas and how they interact in larger microbial communities. attheu.utah.edu/research/a-m...

The explosion of animal life in Earth’s oceans half a billion years ago during and after the Cambrian Period is commonly attributed to a substantial rise of free oxygen (O2) in seawater. New research reveals that O2 levels rose and fell long after marine animals appeared.

The National Science Foundation's CAREER program finds talented researchers and gives them funding to expedite their career growth. Mathematics's Anna Little was among those announced as recipients of the $550,000 prize. Little’s work uses geometric methods for high-dimensional data analysis.

Beautiful science from my colleague Aaron Puri! @utahchemistry.bsky.social attheu.utah.edu/research/a-m...

Safety Day 2025! Workshops included mental health crisis de-escalation, basic first aid, fire extinguisher training, overview of student resources, and much more. Thank you to everyone involved! We can't wait for next year 🧯

The @utah.edu's new L. S. Skaggs Applied Science Building features kinetic art installations by Bruce Shapiro, including programmable 15-foot chain sculptures and a robotic sand-drawing piece that demonstrate motion control as an emerging art medium attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff...

Interim Dean Pearl Sandick was on KPCW Radio sharing her insights on the new Crocker Science Complex! Learn more about her perspective on how it's transforming student experiences & her particle physics research: www.kpcw.org/show/cool-sc...

Our new student writer Nathan Murthy spent his summer in Turkey studying bird migration. The team documented 118 species this spring. His advice: "Take that step. Take flight. You will never regret it." science.utah.edu/cos/field-no... @uofubiology.bsky.social

U of U atmospheric scientist Kevin Perry is making waves in The Washington Post! 🌊 His research on toxic dust from the shrinking Great Salt Lake is crucial work - while biking 2,700+ miles across the exposed lakebed studying particles that could impact millions www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

U researchers recently discovered protected crystalline micro-environments at Great Salt Lake. These support an array of organisms that could hold clues to life on Mars, which contains similar lake beds. “If there ever was life on Mars it would have been in these bodies of water.”

New research from @utah.edu finds wildfire smoke significantly increases ozone concentrations. The research concludes wildfire smoke increases ozone concentrations by 21 parts per billion, or by roughly 20 to 30% higher on average. attheu.utah.edu/research/wil... @uofu-science.bsky.social

Physics professor John Matthews is on the lookout for signs of violent cosmic events—possibly even black holes colliding. 60 telescopes spread across 1,000 square miles of Central Utah are investigating these mysterious events. “They’re big, huge, violent objects with extreme electric fields."

Science 🤝 Communication Research from the U's Department of Communication found that humor in scientific communication can boost engagement, but can undermine trust if delivered incorrectly.

Globally, forests have the biggest potential to mitigate climate change. Trees absorb vast amounts of carbon that would otherwise be in the atmosphere exacerbating the climate crises.

"When students tell me they used to be afraid of math but now enjoy it, that’s incredibly rewarding. I know many people carry bad math experiences, but I believe hard work matters more than innate talent. If you’re willing to put in effort—you’ll succeed."

Physics professor Pierre Sokolsky has won the Yodh Prize, recognizing his impact on the understanding of cosmic rays. Sokolsky played an instrumental role in the development of the atmospheric fluorescence technique as a method for exploring the highest energy cosmic rays.

Our Astronomy observatory has a new home!

Thanks to KSL5TV and @utah.edu alum Matt Johnson for coming out to the ribbon cutting of our new L.S. Skaggs Applied Science and renovated William Stewart buildings which complete our state of the art Crocker Science Complex. #UofU #ImpactUniversity #GoUtah!

We're so excited to welcome the new Chair of the Chemistry Department, Aurora Clark! Read the full announcement: chemistry.utah.edu/history/auro...

This is a place where students’ dreams will be inspired and come true. Where “live and industries will be improved by the research happening at the @utah.edu.” www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...

Donors, policymakers, university leaders, and business luminaries praised the L. S. Skaggs Applied Science Building as a visionary investment in scientific research. Read more about the new building and what the ribbon-cutting ceremony speakers had to say about the future of science in Utah: