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University of Miami


AI’s eye on the tropics

A University of Miami-led study found that AI can provide valuable additional guidance for predicting tropical cyclone development in the Atlantic Ocean. The AI system offered higher probabilities of development at longer lead times and improved location forecasting, but its performance decreased at shorter lead times.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalWeather and Forecasting·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 1, 2026

A sea of opportunity for health and sustainability

A new study from the University of Miami suggests that Brazil can build healthier and more sustainable food systems by encouraging people to eat more seafood. The researchers found that Brazilians could reduce nutritional deficiencies by increasing seafood consumption from six percent to 25 percent of their total protein intake.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalNature Food·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 17, 2026

Novel strategies for coral restoration

Researchers at University of Miami developed a novel strategy to enhance survival rates of lab-grown baby corals by modifying the alkalinity of growth tiles. By increasing sodium carbonate levels, they observed a fourfold improvement in early-stage coral survival, paving the way for potential coral restoration efforts.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 20, 2026

Study finds big crowds hurt live-stream engagement

A study by University of Miami business professor Kevin Hong found that big crowds on synchronous content platforms like Twitch and YouTube Live can inhibit participation due to cognitive bedlam and emotional polarity. AI-powered bots may hold promise in moderating conversations and making them more coherent.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateAug 7, 2025

University of Miami gets a new provost

Joel Hassman Samuels, a tenured professor of law, leads the largest college at the University of South Carolina, transforming its research enterprise and increasing faculty recruitment. At the University of Miami, he aims to expand impact through innovative research, creative achievement, and clinical care.

Research links birth issues to adult health deficits

A study by University of Miami professors establishes a strong correlation between distressed births and experiencing mental and physical problems later in life. The research found that individuals born with distress were more susceptible to chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalMedical Care·DateJul 10, 2025

Unique molecule may lead to smaller, more efficient computers

Physicists at the University of Miami have discovered a unique molecule that can conduct electricity without losing energy, paving the way for smaller and more powerful computing devices. The molecule, composed of chemical elements found in nature, offers unparalleled electrical conductance and stability under everyday conditions.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2025

Illuminating the beginnings of animal development

Researchers discovered that cell motion shows asymmetry before left-right organizer formation in early animal development, contradicting earlier findings on genetics. This study sheds new light on the origin of bilateral symmetry and could apply to human birth defects.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 4, 2025

The benefits of speaking multiple languages

Research from the University of Miami found that bilingualism has a positive impact on children's executive function skills, which are crucial for daily tasks and social interactions. Multilingual children also exhibit improved perspective-taking abilities, indicating enhanced cognitive development.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalAutism Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2025

A window into the future of Amazonia

Researchers mapped tropical plants and trees in Peru's boiling river, finding plant diversity declined with rising temperatures and only species suited for warm climates thrived. The study predicts a less diverse and more homogenous Amazon rainforest as global warming continues.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2025

Turning farm waste into sustainable roads

Researchers led by Xianming Shi are exploring the use of agricultural waste to build roadways, aiming to reduce carbon emissions from asphalt production. Biochar, a CO2-negative material produced through pyrolysis, can sequester carbon in asphalt pavement and potentially extend its lifespan.

The trees of Miami’s future

A new study suggests that Miami's native trees may not survive in the coming decades due to global warming, but tropical species can thrive and provide shade. The research recommends planting trees from the Caribbean region, such as black olive and gumbo-limbo trees, to mitigate the heat island effect and absorb carbon dioxide.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalUrban Forestry & Urban Greening·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 15, 2024

Can soil microbes survive in a changing climate?

A recent study by the University of Miami found that most soil microbes are either multidimensional generalists or specialists, adapting to various environmental conditions. Generalist microbes can withstand a wide range of conditions, while specialist microbes are sensitive to changes and play key roles in community organization.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateAug 18, 2023

Multi-level international study explores anxiety, concerns of families with a child with a neurodevelopmental condition during the COVID-19 pandemic

A global study analyzed data from over 6,600 families with a child with a neurodevelopmental condition to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their anxiety levels. The results show that anxiety increased for parents and children at the beginning of the pandemic, but decreased for children as they returned to pre-pandemic levels.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalJournal of Global Health·DateJul 31, 2023

How we learn from being wrong can lead to anxiety

A new study at the University of Miami investigated how student expectations of exam grades impact individuals' moods and outlooks. Researchers found that optimistic students learn more from positive surprises, while consistently pessimistic students predict lower scores despite slight improvements.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 10, 2023

Study debunks rise of conspiracy theories

A new study published in PLOS One suggests that the number of people believing in conspiracy theories has not increased over time. The research, conducted by University of Miami academics and supported by a U-LINK grant, analyzed data from polls dating back to the 1960s and found no significant increase in belief in these theories. Des...

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateJul 20, 2022

Researchers develop model for treating HIV/AIDS, depression

A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of training nurses to deliver cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people with depression and uncontrolled HIV adhere to their medication regimen. Patients who completed CBT-AD sessions were more than 2.5 times more likely to achieve undetectable viral loads.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalJournal of the International AIDS Society·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 1, 2021

New app tracks human mobility and COVID-19

Researchers developed an interactive web application to analyze connections between human mobility, government policies and COVID-19 cases on a global scale. The app shows the impact of COVID-19 on human movement patterns and informs decision-making for higher-level policies.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalJournal of Geovisualization and Spatial Analysis·DateJun 14, 2021

How does pain experienced in everyday life impact memory?

A new study found that healthy individuals experiencing everyday pain show deficits in working memory due to increased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Pain intensity was directly associated with worse performance on a working memory task, while certain aspects of emotional distress were not linked to impairments.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateFeb 3, 2021

Does your pain feel different in English and Spanish?

A recent study by Morgan Gianola and colleagues found that bilingual Hispanic/Latino participants experienced more intense pain when speaking the language of their stronger cultural identity. Physiological responses to pain also played a larger role in determining pain ratings among more Hispanic-oriented bilinguals.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalAffective Science·DateNov 30, 2020

Hearing test may detect autism in newborns

Researchers analyzed ABR tests of nearly 140,000 newborns in Florida and found slower brain responses to sounds in those later diagnosed with autism. The study presents a promising direction in using ABR testing as a method for precise autism detection at birth.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalAutism Research·DateNov 12, 2020

Chemists create new artificial enzyme

Chemists at the University of Miami have created an artificial enzyme with improved catalytic abilities. The new molecule is designed to tackle chemical reactions in industrial settings and could lead to the development of more efficient biofuel production, drug creation, and other applications.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 10, 2020

Training the mind in resilience

Two studies from University of Miami researchers show that mindfulness training programs tailored for firefighters and soldiers improve attention, mood, and resilience. The Mindfulness-based Attention Training (MBAT) program provides tools to succeed under VUCA circumstances.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalPsychiatry Research·DateFeb 19, 2020