University of Florida Research

The complex distribution of molecular gas in the Central Molecular Zone of the Milky Way.

Upgrade your screensaver or wallpaper with the largest and most detailed image ever made of the center of the Milky Way: www.eso.org/public/image...

UF researchers help capture most detailed view yet of the Milky Way’s core University of Florida astronomers helped create the largest and most detailed image ever made of the center of the Milky Way, giving scientists an unprecedented look at the raw material that forms new...

By leading data processing for a major ALMA survey,
@uf-clas.bsky.social astrophysicist Adam Ginsburg helped produce the most detailed map of the Milky Way’s center and revealing vast hidden gas networks that shed new light on star formation and galaxy evolution. news.ufl.edu/2026/02/milk...

Researchers create DNA detection tool to stop spread of invasive Asian swamp eels, bullseye snakeheads University of Florida researchers have developed a DNA-based test that detects invasive species using only the genetic traces left behind in water.

A new UF-developed environmental DNA test can identify invasive fish in Florida waterways using only microscopic genetic material shed into the water. The breakthrough offers wildlife managers a fast, reliable method to spot species disrupting native ecosystems long before traditional surveys can.

New study reveals potential targets to treat progressive supranuclear palsy » McKnight Brain Institute » University of Florida An MBI research team has discovered a molecular mechanism driving a toxic buildup of the protein tau in PSP.

Exciting tau research from our Deputy Director, Dr. Jose Abisambra, and colleagues. New insights into tau-driven disease move us closer to therapies for PSP and related neurodegenerative disorders. Published in The Journal of Neuroscience. mbi.ufl.edu/2026/02/23/n...

Breaking AI on purpose: How researchers are helping make artificial intelligence safer UF scientists are focused on strengthening the security measures built into AI tools to ensure they are safe for all to use.

Using a method called Head‑Masked Nullspace Steering to probe and stress‑test their decision pathways, UF professor Sumit Kumar Jha’s research reveals weaknesses in AI systems’ internal safety mechanisms to support stronger, more reliable defenses.

Antarctica sits above Earth’s strongest “gravity hole.” Now we know how it got that way. Slow rock movements deep under the Earth’s surface over tens of millions of years led to today’s Antarctic gravity hole.

Gravity is weakest beneath Antarctica, and research by UF’s Alessandro Forte and Petar Glišović, of the Paris Institute of Earth Physics shows that slow deep‑Earth rock flow has intensified this “gravity hole” over millions of years, potentially affecting past climate and ice‑sheet growth.

Adult and baby clams being held by project participant of the IRL Billion Clam Initiative

This week I am the Univ. Florida Whitney Laboratory guest lecturer, and have been learning about a lot of cool projects @ufresearch.bsky.social, including the the IRL Billion Clam Initiative, my news to me good news for February 12. #OceanOptimism #EarthOptimism www.whitney.ufl.edu/conservation...

‘Dirty job’ stigma costs workers $100K in earnings over career lifetime, research finds Despite filling essential jobs, dirty roles, like janitors, elderly caregivers and morticians, face reduced earnings and opportunities.

Workers in “dirty jobs” face lasting stigma that reduces earnings and opportunities—costing about $104,000 over a career. UF Warrington College of Business researchers find that bias persists even after workers move into cleaner roles, along with emotional strain from lingering negative perceptions.

a wide view of a steep mountain valley that is misty and green under lacy clouds in the distance and covered in trees in the near view with sunlight pouring across it from the right with a vivid glow against an empty blue sky

Scientists used a group of plants called melastomes to trace ancient bird flight paths over the Caribbean Sea.

Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie...

Study: doi.org/10.1093/botl...

📌 In memory of Walter Judd (1951 – 2026)

2 figures showing distribution of 2 invasive Coptotermes species in Florida. A) Florida distribution for Coptotermes formosanus as of 2025. B) Number of Florida counties positive for C. formosanus and projection of county statuses over time (see main text for model details). C) Florida distribution for Coptotermes gestroi as of 2025, the “10a” line approximately indicates the USDA plant hardiness 10a zone limits from 1990 and 2023 censuses. D) Number of Florida counties positive for C. formosanus and projection of county statuses over time.

Two invasive termite species are spreading rapidly beyond South Florida, threatening buildings statewide. Expanded collaboration between @ifas.ufl.edu researchers and pest control providers has sharpened detection and mapping, revealing an accelerating risk.
Learn more: news.ufl.edu/2026/02/term...

1.8K views · 15 reactions | “It affects the long-term mortality of these fish.” Today on FOX 13 News: As temperatures drop down, fish farms🐟are in survival mode. Working to protect thousands of tropi... “It affects the long-term mortality of these fish.” Today on FOX 13 News: As temperatures drop down, fish farms🐟are in survival mode. Working to protect thousands of tropical species at Consolidated....

As the cold temps settle in, @ufifas-ffgs.bsky.social scientists are monitoring effects on fish and fisheries.

www.facebook.com/reel/2373564...

Researchers, including Postdoctoral Associate in Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences @ifas.ufl.edu, Dinesh Phuya develop improved testing methods that better reflect how plants actually interact with soil.

Where do seashells come from? Seashells are the skeletons of sea creatures – and they’re older than you might think.

Seashells are external skeletons formed by mollusks and other marine animals through biomineralization. UF paleontologist @michal-kowalewski.bsky.social says these shells—sometimes found by the trillions—offer valuable clues about the creatures that made them. theconversation.com/where-do-sea...

Lessons from shell mound Centuries before meteorology, Indigenous Floridians built resilience into their world. Researchers are unearthing their wisdom today.

Hurricane Helene exposed and damaged Florida’s ancient Shell Mound, an Indigenous site once used for solstice ceremonies and regional gatherings. @uf-clas.bsky.social archaeologists say its builders’ methods for enduring extreme weather offer valuable lessons for coastal resilience today.

Plant enzymes linked to fiber breakdown are shown to support dietary fiber biosynthesis UF/IFAS reports a new discovery in New Phytologist showing how Golgi-localized enzymes sustain β-mannan biosynthesis in plant cell walls.

Delighted to share our new insights on the production of mannan fibers. Read the original article @newphyt.bsky.social nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... or the press release blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hosdept/2026... #PlantScience

HiPerGator supercomputer accelerates diabetes drug discovery - UF Health JUPITER, Fla. — Using a blend of computer modeling, structural and cell-based studies, scientists at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute have designed a group of…

Scientists at @wertheimufscripps.bsky.social have developed potential diabetes drugs that reprogram insulin‑resistant cells using computer modeling and advanced structural and cell-based techniques.

Hear from UF Neurologist Michael Okun discuss what we know about why Parkinson’s starts and how it may be associated with genetic mutations, pollution, and other factors. 🎧

A Cancer Vaccine? University of Florida researchers get promising results using a COVID-19 vaccine on immunotherapy patients.

Could a COVID-19 vaccine help fight cancer?

UF & @mdanderson.bsky.social researchers found mRNA vaccines may boost immunotherapy, improving survival in advanced lung cancer & melanoma. Learn more in the upcoming Spring 2026 Explore magazine. Stay tuned!

Paleontologists find first bee nest fossils made inside fossilized bones Key points  Paleontologists working in a cave on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola have discovered the first known instance of ancient bees nesting inside preexisting fossil cavities. Burrowing ...

“We had to go on a rescue mission and get as many fossils out as possible, and we got a lot of them,” Lazaro said.
Story:
www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/pale...

A friendly competition between colleagues revealed an unusual story about hutias, giant barn owls & burrowing bees in a Caribbean cave.

Florida’s silent storm David Keellings and his research team developed a framework called the Heat Severity and Coverage Index to measure heat waves.

“Heat waves actually kill more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, or any other form of extreme weather,” explains David Keellings in UF's Ytori magazine news.clas.ufl.edu/floridas-sil...

Venezuela’s civil-military alliance is being stretched — if it breaks, numerous armed groups may be drawn into messy split How various factions respond to the Trump administration’s threat to be the de facto ruler of the country could quickly inflame domestic tensions and lead to conflict.

Chavista elites must choose between accommodating U.S. pressure or resisting, both options risking conflict—ranging from guerrilla violence to civil-military rupture. theconversation.com/venezuelas-c...

A photo of Interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez, left, smiles at Venezuelan Defense Minister Padrino Lopez during a commemoration of Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2023.

After Nicolás Maduro’s Jan. 5 removal, Delcy Rodríguez became Venezuela's interim president amid instability. @beccahanson.bsky.social notes in @us.theconversation.com that power is divided between civilian and military factions, while "colectivos", gangs, and guerrilla groups hold major influence.

In echo of Jurassic Park, mosquitoes capture entire ecosystems in their blood meals Within a small area in central Florida, mosquitoes fed on a whopping 86 different species of animals.

University of Florida @ifas.ufl.edu entomologist, Lawrence Reeves shows that analyzing mosquito blood meals can reveal animals from tiny frogs to large mammals, offering an efficient alternative to traditional, labor‑intensive survey methods. news.ufl.edu/2025/12/mosq...

Lawrence Reeves and student Sarah Kroening collecting mosquitos for research at the River Styx Preserve near Micanopy, Florida.

Mosquitoes in central Florida were found to feed on 86 different animal species, capturing almost the full range of local vertebrate biodiversity and demonstrating their value as a tool for wildlife monitoring.

An Interview With Dr. Barry Byrne, Director of the UF Powell Gene Therapy Center Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, is an expert on Pompe disease and chief medical advisor to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Larry Luxner, senior correspondent, interviews Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, an expert on #PompeDisease, director of the @ufresearch.bsky.social Powell Gene Therapy Center, and Chief Medical Advisor to the @mda.org

🎙️ Listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/494CQlK

#RareDisease #MedSky #GeneTherapy

How Deep is Your Lake: FFGS and Measutronics team up to explore the depths of Lake Mize - School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences The project started as many seem to do among curious people — hanging out and discussing unanswered questions. In this circumstance, that meant an opportunity to check out an oft-shared tale that Lake...

What can we expect to find at the bottom of UF's notable sinkhole lake, and how deep does it go? These and other questions are set to be answered.

blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ffgs/2025/12...

The bacteria that won’t wake up: NASA discovers new bacteria “playing dead” The finding could potentially reshape how scientists think about microbial survival on spacecraft

Researchers discovered a clean-room bacterium that survives by entering a spore-free dormant state, raising concerns about microbial persistence on spacecraft during deep-space missions. news.ufl.edu/2025/12/spac...

A photo of Nils Averesch stands with his arms crossed in a laboratory, wearing a blue t-shirt. The background features shelves filled with laboratory glassware and equipment, indicating an active scientific environment. Various containers and tools are organized on the workspace in front of him.

“The fact that this bacterium can intentionally suspend its metabolism makes survival on spacecraft surfaces or during deep-space cruise more plausible than previously assumed.” — Nils Averesch, assistant professor in UF’s Dept. of Microbiology and Cell Science and Astraeus Space Institute member.

The bacteria that won’t wake up: NASA discovers new bacteria “playing dead” The finding could potentially reshape how scientists think about microbial survival on spacecraft

Researchers discovered a clean-room bacterium that survives by entering a spore-free dormant state, raising concerns about microbial persistence on spacecraft during deep-space missions. news.ufl.edu/2025/12/spac...

a person is bending over to measure a large, flat section of fossil bones with a long caliper ruler in a bright room lined with metal cabinets

Scientists used a World War II-era statistical method on hundreds of museum specimens to determine whether extinct species were predominantly aquatic or terrestrial, clearing up some ongoing debates in paleontology.

Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/from...

Study:
doi.org/10.1016/j.cu...