What will you discover in 2026? After nearly 100 years off the radar, Iowa State researchers (and a super-enthusiastic citizen scientist) found the elusive ball-nosed planthopper hiding in our tallgrass prairies — showing us that even tiny creatures can reveal big stories about biodiversity. 🐛🌾

Iowa State University study shows it’s possible for bird flu to infect mammary glands

Innovation sometimes means building the tool before you can build the idea. Meet Ethan Secor, an Iowa State researcher using aerosol jet printing to explore new possibilities in additive manufacturing for electronic materials—often with systems designed right in his lab. go.iastate.edu/HFQQPB

Soybean cyst nematode can cut yields by 30–40%—even when plants look healthy. Iowa State nematologist Greg Tylka explains how decades of research are helping Iowa farmers fight back. 🎥 via Iowa Soybean Association buff.ly/PRwm7HX #IowaStateResearch #SCN

How can robots move more like us — and stay safe while doing it? Iowa State’s Bowen Weng and his team are exploring the limits (and ethics) of physical intelligence. go.iastate.edu/KU6KB4

AI in farming? Some growers aren’t sure what to make of it — but Iowa State researchers are showing how it can make agriculture smarter and more sustainable. 🎥 Watch the Washington Post feature: buff.ly/FJxwEQR

Great explainer article by Iowa State's own Doug Jacobson.

New in The Conversation US from Iowa State’s Carl Weems: how our existential anxieties affect the way we take in information.

When extreme heat hits, lives are at risk. At Iowa State, researchers from engineering, data science, and architecture joined forces to pilot CommHEAT, a new heat alert app that could save lives — showing what’s possible when disciplines work together.

How do you train for chaos? Our engineers built a game that helps emergency managers practice decisions when disasters strike. It’s based on lessons from Iowa’s 2020 derecho, developed alongside Iowa emergency management pros, and funded by NSF. #InnovateIowaState #greysky

Nine years ago, Iowa State researchers dreamed up a future where AI could help farmers fight pests. Now that future has arrived. Pest-ID can identify insects and weeds with 96% accuracy from just an uploaded photo. It's AI for ag, built here in Ames. 🧪

Turning ag waste into a double win: 🌱⚡ Iowa State research shows that digestate has boosted soil carbon by nearly 50% over 12 years—work co-authored with farmers who are also alumni.

Electrochemistry is everywhere: batteries, fuel cells, even medical devices. Iowa State researchers (with @tufts.edu and @stanford.edu) are building open-source tools to make simulations faster + more accurate—helping us get from lab to real-world breakthroughs sooner. go.iastate.edu/SFAFS2

The placenta might hold the key to healthier pregnancies. Iowa State’s Geetu Tuteja is using cutting-edge tools to help scientists worldwide unlock its mysteries. 🎥 Watch her story:

Bamboo isn’t just panda food 🌱—it’s one of the most puzzling plants on Earth. Iowa State botanist Lynn Clark has spent 50+ years trying to untangle its mysteries. (1/4) research.iastate.edu/2025/09/16/s...

Iowa State writing professor Jo Mackiewicz explores the often overlooked genre of women in the skilled trades.

Managing chronic illness often means juggling clinic visits, follow-ups, and telemedicine. Iowa State’s Kevin Scheibe and colleagues found that patients prefer doctors who make it easy to move between online and in-person care — a model called omnichannel healthcare. doi.org/10.1080/0742...

And then there were 15. The RuralSTAMINA project, led by Iowa State, is a finalist in NSF's $160M Engines competition. Together with our core partners across Iowa and Nebraska, we're working to transform the Heartland into a bioeconomy powerhouse. research.iastate.edu/2025/09/18/i...

From heritage cultivars to trellised orchards, Iowa State's horticulture researcher Suzanne Slack is helping apple growers adapt to modern production systems. Research rooted in Iowa’s history is shaping the orchards of tomorrow. www.cals.iastate.edu/news/2025/io...

How does research move from the lab to the field? 🌱 One Iowa startup is developing slow-release fertilizer technology to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Backed by Iowa State’s research and innovation ecosystem, this is discovery in action. www.news.iastate.edu/news/iowa-st...

Balancing crop protection and public concern: The role of neonicotinoids in U.S. potato production Researchers led by Iowa State University sociologist Katie Dentzman are examining neonicotinoid use in U.S. potato production, probing consumer perceptions, regulatory gaps, and farmer trade-offs.…

From “what if?” to “here’s how.” Iowa State's study models mobile fast-pyrolysis units that turn field and forest leftovers into bio-oil—then lock carbon underground by plugging abandoned wells. That's the thrill of research: solutions hiding in plain sight. research.iastate.edu/2025/09/03/b...

Big step for bio-based innovation in Iowa: BioMADE + Iowa State will add a multi-use fermentation facility at the BioCentury Research Farm—helping ideas like biopesticides, feed ingredients & bioplastics grow from lab to market. More: www.news.iastate.edu/news/isu-inf...

This year brought plenty of challenges, but Iowa State’s research community kept showing up—and it mattered. For the third year in a row, they brought in more than $300M in external funding. Here’s what their persistence made possible 👇

Meet Mark Mba-Wright, professor of mechanical engineering. His work at Iowa State's Bioeconomy Institute exemplifies the integration of visionary ideas with practical applications, driving forward the boundaries of what is possible. research.iastate.edu/faces-of-dis...

In 1895, Iowa State built Marston water tower to solve a campus crisis. 130 years later, we're leading a new water innovation effort—HYDRO—to develop next-generation solutions for clean water: rural access, dialysis, space travel, and rare earth recovery. research.iastate.edu/2025/07/09/n...

❤️💍 The more school you attend, the later you’re likely to marry, but you’re not less likely to marry overall. A nuanced look at how schooling shapes love lives (By John V. Winters @iastateresearch.bsky.social): theconversation.com/higher-eds-r... #highered #edusky

Have you heard of legal deserts? More than half of rural U.S. counties have few or no practicing lawyers, highlighting a growing access-to-justice gap. A new Iowa State study examines the implications for rural communities. go.iastate.edu/UQWZRQ

Each semester, Iowa State hosts a Research & Innovation Roundtable—bringing great minds together across disciplines to spark bold new research. This time, we welcomed collaborators from USDA-ARS and Australia’s CSIRO. The result? These four groundbreaking projects are just getting started. 1/5

Some of Iowa's 71,000 miles of gravel roads are being upgraded sustainably with 3D-printed geogrids made from recycled plastic. Hats off to Araz Hasheminezhad and the Iowa State College of Engineering!

Research takes time - it's worth it! Slowly, as data is gathered, we learn more and can implement what we've learned. Check out this project by Charlie Loewen @loewen-ecology.bsky.social‬ on water treatment wetlands designed to improve Iowa's water quality, ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture.

Imagine being accused of a crime you didn’t commit. The evidence is shaky, but the prosecutor offers you a deal: plead guilty and serve 15 years in prison—or go to trial and risk 55. What would you do? For psychologist Miko Wilford, it isn't a theoretical question--it's research! buff.ly/LTlixpe

What if a wearable device could help you walk better—after an injury, a stroke, or just with age? That’s the vision behind SmartStep, a new interdisciplinary research project funded by our 2025 Bridging the Divide grant.

🦠 What if we could model both disease spread and human response? At Iowa State, mathematician, Claus Kadelka, and political scientist, Filip Viskipič, are teaming up to do just that—with support from our 2025 Bridging the Divide grant.

Iowa State scientists are building tech that lets soybeans “speak” about their health—catching viruses, pesticide residue & stress before it's visible. Early support from @IowaSoybeans made this possible—and now it’s getting national attention via USDA.

When does a pile of sand flow like liquid or stay solid? A new 3D imaging method allows scientists to see forces between individual grains. A geologist explains the benefits: buff.ly/C4zIt3S

Granular systems—sandpiles, rockslides, even cereal—are everywhere, yet notoriously hard to describe. In this piece for The Conversation, Jacqueline Reber, a professor at Iowa State, shares new research that could change that. theconversation.com/granular-sys...

Nearly 1 in 3 human pregnancies are affected by placental disorders. Iowa State researcher Geetu Tuteja is working to better understand the placenta’s functions and why placental disorders start. www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-...

When Brian Hornbuckle looks up, he sees more than clouds—he sees data that could change the future of farming. By using NASA satellites to measure plant moisture, he's helping farmers detect drought stress before it’s visible. #InnovateatIowaState go.iastate.edu/I5N1D0

Nine Iowa State researchers have been named AAAS Fellows, a lifetime honor recognizing scientific excellence. Their work spans chemistry, physics, psychology, engineering, and more—advancing our understanding of immune signaling, media effects, and sustainable agriculture. go.iastate.edu/PR3FXX

What happens to wind turbine blades after their service life ends? Iowa State researchers are pioneering a solution! By integrating magnetic microparticles into blade materials, they're enabling efficient recycling through targeted microwave heating. #InnovateIowaState buff.ly/EXKCihW

How can robots and virtual reality shape the way young people learn empathy and collaboration? E.J. Bahng and her team at Iowa State are on a mission to find out! go.iastate.edu/6PLBBM

Bowen Weng, assistant professor of computer science, and his team are pushing the boundaries of humanoid robotics, working to make these futuristic machines impressive, but also safe for the world around them. #LASProud 🦾 Learn more about the research into humanoid robotics: go.iastate.edu/R5IW3R

Iowa State has been driving scientific discovery since 1869—everything from industrial chemistry to atomic research. Today, faculty like Brett VanVeller @brettvanveller.bsky.social continue this legacy, tackling challenges like antimicrobial resistance with high-reward research.

How can farmers help fight climate change? New research from Iowa State University reveals that conservation practices like no-till farming and crop rotation store more carbon in the soil—but patience is key. It can take years to see the full benefits. https://buff.ly/3QnY1Fy

Scientific research relies on more than just brilliant minds—it needs labs, equipment, and strong infrastructure.

The Fall 2024 Research & Innovation Roundtable at Iowa State led to three groundbreaking projects earning seed funding. These teams are tackling sustainability challenges through circular economy innovations. #InnovateatIowaState research.iastate.edu/2025/01/22/t...

When Prof. Ling Zhang became a mom, she expected nursing bras to be comfortable and supportive. Instead, she found stiff materials, poor fit, and few options. With her background in apparel design, she saw an opportunity for innovation. research.iastate.edu/2025/02/03/r...

Iowa State researchers led by Julien Roche are uncovering the secrets of the "dark proteome"—flexible, unstructured proteins that could hold the key to targeted cancer therapies. Hat tip to one of our talented Iowa State Daily student journalists, Brylee Ryg. #proteomics go.iastate.edu/ZOT4JZ

“Smaller plants require fewer nutrients and inputs, especially if you can get the same yield.” — @diorkelley.bsky.social Dior Kelly, Iowa State. Shorter corn could mean big wins for farmers: better efficiency, resilience, and planting density without yield loss. go.iastate.edu/1CVBTD