U of U's College of Science

Could a fungus provide a blueprint for next-gen hydrogels? | College of Science Could a fungus provide a blueprint for next-gen hydrogels? October 3, 2025 Above: Steven Naleway, left, and Atul Agrawal examine a fungal culture growing in a liquid medium in Naleway’s lab at the Uni...

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.

Breakthrough Biosensor Tracks Glycine in Living Cells | College of Science Breakthrough Biosensor Tracks Glycine in Living Cells September 22, 2025 Above: The pop art-inspired illustration highlights a new light-up RNA aptamer called Golden Broccoli that was developed throug...

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 ⬇️

‘Greatest honor I could possibly receive’ | College of Science 'Greatest honor I could possibly receive' September 12, 2025 Above: Phyllis "Lissy" Coley at the newly named Phyllis D. Coley Trail on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Credit: Jorge Aleman "I first went...

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...

Mysterious gamma-ray explosion unlike any discovered before | College of Science Mysterious gamma-ray explosion unlike any discovered before September 11, 2025 Above: The orange dot at the center is the powerful explosion that repeated several times over the course of a day. Credi...

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 - @theU U chemists discover critical steps bacteria take to oxidize potent greenhouse gas and how they interact in larger microbial communities.

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...

Oxygen came late to ocean depths during Paleozoic | College of Science Oxygen came late to ocean depths during Paleozoic September 4, 2025 Thallium isotopes show O2 levels rose and fell at the ocean floor long after marine animals appeared and diversified half billion ye...

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.

Anna Little: Above the Noise | College of Science Anna LIttle: Above the Noise August 13, 2025 Above: Anna Little, awardee of the NSF Career Grant In the constant chaotic communication of the modern day it is vitally important to find promising indiv...

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.

A molecule that enables microbes to eat methane - @theU U chemists discover critical step bacteria take to oxidize potent greenhouse gas and how they interact in larger microbial communities

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 🧯

Kinetic art adorns L. S. Skaggs Building - @theU Featured in the atrium and foyer of the L. S. Skaggs Building are the art pieces Three Medusae and Sisyphus, both created by artist Bruce...

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...

Building the future of science at the University of Utah Pearl Sandick, interim dean of the College of Science and professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Utah, discusses the newly completed Crocker Science Complex, a $97 million project tha...

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...

Field Notes: From the Classroom to the Wetlands of Eastern Türkiye | College of Science Field Notes: From the Classroom to the Wetlands of Eastern Türkiye August 19, 2025 Above: "Rufous-tailed Scrub Robbins in-hand: These Scrub Robbins were caught in the same round. Alva found one and Ma...

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

As the Great Salt Lake dries up, clouds of dangerous dust blow into boomtowns Dozens of dust events probably happen each year across the 120-square-mile playa once covered by the Great Salt Lake. But there are no comprehensive state or federal records of them.

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...

Life on Mars? Great Salt Lake May Hold Clues | College of Science life on Mars? Great Salt Lake may hold some clues August 14, 2025 Above: Great Salt Lake Utah’s Great Salt Lake is a place of extremes, and its ecosystem is evidence that life can thrive under some of...

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.”

Wildfire smoke exacerbates ozone pollution - @theU U research modeled smoke produced in epic 2020 wildfire season to demonstrate how it drives ozone formation, further degrading air quality.

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

Utah scientists search deep space for traces of violent events Scientists with the University of Utah are using a thousand square miles of desert near Delta to scan for evidence of violent events in deep space.

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."

‘The elephant in the room’ for SciComm | College of Science ‘The elephant in the room’ for sciComm August 5, 2025 Above:  Assuming the position for your daily dose of science communication Scientists are crucial voices in the public debate about wicked problem...

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.

Humans of the U | College of Science Humans of the U: Dalyana Guerra July 22, 2025 Above: Dalyanna Guerra My grandma was a teacher, and my mom studied teaching, so I grew up surrounded by educators. In high school, Math was my favorite s...

"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 Pioneer Pierre Sokolsky, Yodh Prize | College of Science Physics Pioneer Pierre Sokolsky awarded the 2025 Yodh Prize July 23, 2025 Above: Pierre Sokolsky To many, the (literally) rarefied air of the field of ultra high energy cosmic ray physics can prove el...

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!

Aurora Clark Named New Chair of Chemistry - Department of Chemistry The University of Utah Department of Chemistry welcomes Aurora Clark as its new chair beginning July 1, replacing interim chair Peter Armentrout. She brings with...

We're so excited to welcome the new Chair of the Chemistry Department, Aurora Clark!

Read the full announcement:

chemistry.utah.edu/history/auro...

Celebrating science and curiosity: University of Utah completes its sprawling Applied Science Project. University's Crocker Science Complex is expected to be a scientific hub for inquiry, research and collaboration.

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...

Where inquiry meets impact - @theU The new L. S. Skaggs Applied Science Building completes the 275,000-square-foot Crocker Science Complex, a celebration of science and our shared belief in a better...

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:

Opinion: Why the University of Utah is seizing the opportunity to fund scientific research Investing in scientific innovation leads to commercialization, job creation and ultimately economic stability for thousands of Utahns and their families.

This week, the @utah.edu will open the L.S. Skaggs Applied Science Building — a new home for future physicists, astronomers and atmospheric scientists. #inspire #innovate #serve #ImpactUniversity
www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...

Great Salt Lake’s mystery islands | College of Science Great Salt Lake's mystery islands July 10, 2025 Above: Great Salt Lake   U geologists are investigating phragmites-covered mounds that reveal spots where ancient groundwater reaches daylight. A helico...

Utah geoscientists are investigating strange, phragmites-covered mounds emerging off the drying shores of Great Salt Lake.

It may be stinky and buggy, but Great Salt Lake is worth saving - @theU U scientists are helping guide Utah's Great Salt Lake Strike Team, formed three years ago at the urging of U President Taylor Randall.

Our scientists are helping guide Utah's Great Salt Lake Strike Team, formed three years ago at the urging of President Taylor Randall // @uofupresident.bsky.social

Savin is the Chief Scientific Officer at Redwire, a bioengineering company specializing in manufacturing protein crystals and human tissue in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station, in partnership with NASA and the ISS National Laboratory.