News: Research

Research

World-renowned UT Animal Behaviorist Weighs Role of Beauty in Evolution

Mike Ryan, professor of integrative biology, has a new book that explores the intersection of evolution and aesthetics.

Two chirping frogs on soil face opposite directions

UT News

Study of Secret Sex Lives of Trees Finds Tiny Bees Play Big Part

When it comes to sex between plants, tiny bees the size of ladybugs play a critical role in promoting the genetic diversity that protects against disease, climate change and other threats, according to a study by Shalene Jha, a faculty member in the Departent of Integrative Biology.

A stingless bee approaches a cluster of floewrs

Research

Scientists on the Trail of Central Texas’ Elusive Satan Fish

The fish are part of a project to monitor the overall ecological health of Central Texas aquifers and better understand how water flows through them.

X-ray image of a fish from above and from the side

Research

Oil Impairs Ability of Coral Reef Fish to Find Homes and Evade Predators

Just like a person after one too many cocktails, a few drops of oil can cause coral reef fish to make poor decisions.

Damselfish, Chromis species.

UT News

Rare, Blind Catfish Never Before Found in U.S. Discovered in Texas

An extremely rare eyeless catfish species previously known to exist only in Mexico has been discovered in a National Recreation Area in Texas.

A pair of eyeless catfish

UT News

Genetic Potential of Oil-Eating Bacteria from the BP Oil Spill Decoded

Microbiologists led by Brett Baker have discovered potential in bacteria that helped to clean up the BP oil spill.

An Oil Slick stretches across a span of ocean

Research

Scientists Unveil the Most Comprehensive Genomic Tree of Life

Genetic data reveal a group of bacteria that are so diverse genetically that they represent half of all the diversity of bacteria on the planet

Archaea and eukaryotes.

Research

Engineering Bacterial Communities Improves Plant Growth

University of Texas at Austin scientists say there's a simple way for home gardeners and small farmers to give plants a pesticide-free boost: by harnessing the power of often helpful bacterial communities known as the microbiomes of plants.

A row of 8 plants growing and flourishing at levels to varying degrees appear in front of a wall in an academic setting

UT News

Corals Are Already Adapting to Global Warming, Scientists Say

Some coral populations already have genetic variants necessary to tolerate warm ocean waters, and humans can help to spread these genes, a team of scientists led by Misha Matz of the University of Texas at Austin has found.

A view of a coral reef underwater