A new method of mapping aquifers using remote sensing data and statistical models has been developed to improve groundwater management. The study used publicly available InSAR satellite data and a Bayesian inference algorithm to create a 3D model of how water flows and spreads in the aquifer.
Researchers found that people with a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s who volunteered or helped others showed slower cognitive decline. The study, which analyzed 22 years of data, found that even modest amounts of helping others provided significant cognitive benefits.
Desalination technology is a strong candidate to treat salty water for data centers' cooling needs, reducing pressure on local water supplies. Researchers found that using brackish groundwater and clean it using two-stage reverse osmosis achieves high levels of freshwater recovery at low cost and relatively low energy use.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have redated a meteor impact site in Oklahoma, shifting its age from 467.5 million years ago to 370 million years ago. This discovery has significant implications for understanding ancient life and mass extinctions.
The study investigates the effect of different storage buffers on the internal structure, stability, and delivery efficiency of mRNA-LNPs. Citrate buffer improved mRNA delivery in refrigerated storage, while Tris buffer protected potency after freezing and thawing. Optimizing storage buffers can lead to more robust mRNA vaccines and tr...
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Sandia National Laboratories has developed a simple method for breaking down durable plastics that currently have no practical recycling method. The approach uses less energy and produces less waste than incineration, while allowing for the full recovery of valuable fibers.
A new theory maps a common playbook to prevent stakeholder activism from gaining momentum, identifying three phases of corporate strategies that can prevent or discourage stakeholder movements. The researchers propose a systematic approach to understanding organizational repression, which can be effective but also risks backfiring.
Researchers developed SOT-MRAM, a fast and energy-efficient memory tech, to address AI's increasing energy needs. The technology can reduce energy consumption by up to 5x, making it suitable for edge devices and applications where power is limited.
A new study found that online review platforms can be vulnerable to cyberattacks, which can be triggered by analyzing users' review lengths and social connections. The researchers suggest adding noise to the data to reduce the risk of identity theft and phishing attacks.
Researchers develop a hybrid path-finding model for drones, finding that 2-3 rounds of adaptive planning are sufficient for optimal results. This approach balances speed and efficiency, making it practical for various applications, including search-and-rescue operations and commercial agriculture.
The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin has announced the renaming of its Master of Science in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence program to emphasize the central role of emerging technologies in the curriculum. The new name highlights the technical rigor and AI integration that distinguish these...
A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that Moody's new rating policy led companies to borrow an average 22% more, increasing their investments despite no change in financial health. The shift from counting preferred stock as debt to equity reduced a company's perceived risk and improved its credit rating.
New research finds that investment opportunities, financial constraints, and operating profiles are key drivers of company tax rates. Factors such as CEO management styles also play a significant role in determining effective tax rates.
Researchers have developed an experimental drug that tricks cancer cells into consuming more sugar than usual, then blocks their backup fuel source – fat. This approach puts cancer cells under so much stress that many die, demonstrating effectiveness in treating aggressive melanoma in mice.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new approach to stress testing, which simulates multiple financial risks simultaneously to predict bank resilience. This method outperformed existing stress tests in identifying worst-case losses and captured more severe losses.
A new type of 3D-printable material mimics human tissue's ability to sort and filter, allowing certain molecules to pass through while keeping others out. This broad function means the material can be used in various applications across medicine, water, and robotics.
The program combines technical innovation and strategic business thinking, offering four specialized tracks: business analytics, finance, marketing, and IT management. Students will earn both a Bachelor of Science in engineering and a Master of Science in business.
A recent study by Annabelle Roberts found that consumers tend to distrust others after a negative experience, and this distrust can be difficult to overcome. The researchers conducted 21 studies involving nearly 12,000 people and discovered that people learn attitudes from a single trust interaction, whether positive or negative.
A new theory proposes that Little Red Dots are early forms of globular clusters. These mysterious objects, detected by JWST in 2022, shine with distinctive red and ultraviolet light. The study suggests a connection between their formation and the creation of supermassive stars at the centers of globular clusters.
A simple outdoor flood alarm is being developed by a UT Hydrology professor to detect life-threatening floods as water rises on individual properties. The low-tech alarm triggers a loud warning and light when water reaches a preset height, making it reliable during emergencies.
A recent study published in PLOS Water revealed evidence of contamination in the tap water of Austin's Colony neighborhood, with some samples exceeding state regulatory standards for lead, arsenic, and other contaminants. The contamination appears to happen after the water is mixed together in the neighborhood's plumbing system.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a comprehensive database for underground natural gas storage sites across the US. The study provides insights into geological assessments, reservoir engineering, and operational data to inform future expansion and optimization of existing storage facilities.
Researchers found that the Andes of west-central Argentina formed in four distinct and rapid pulses of activity, each lasting about 5 to 8 million years. This growth rate is faster and more punctuated than previously thought, outpacing the steady timeline expected from subduction.
Research from the University of Texas at Austin finds that foreign investment drove up US housing costs, outpacing supply growth. Cities with lax regulations on foreign investors saw prices rise more quickly than in areas with stricter controls.
Research Scientists Edward Vizy and Professor Kerry Cook analyzed a storm that caused catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. They found that warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures weakened the Great Plains low-level jet, resulting in weaker storms and less intense rainfall.
New research by Muhammad Jawad finds that matching review formats to shopping stages improves outcomes. Participants who saw text for choice reduction and video for choice selection showed better results compared to those with mismatched formats.
Engineers at University of Texas at Austin developed a jacket that collects moisture and funnels it to detachable harvesting units, producing 400-900ml of drinkable water per day. The fabric shows a three- to 10-fold improvement at scale, making it a significant advancement in atmospheric water harvesting.
Researchers found that analysts from countries with a strong emphasis on long-term planning are better at predicting long-term earnings and making more profitable stock picks. These analysts also prompted managers to disclose more long-term information during earnings calls, providing a valuable perspective for investors.
Researchers identified tens of millions of small wetlands globally and found they produce a significant impact on methane emissions. Small wetlands have been difficult to detect due to their size, but high-resolution satellite imagery has revealed their substantial contribution to the world's total non-forested wetland emissions.
The HETDEX project has released its comprehensive dataset, containing over 600 million spectra from the early universe. This dataset will enable scientists to study how galaxies formed and evolved, map large-scale cosmic structures, and investigate rare objects. AI is expected to play a key role in analyzing this vast dataset.
Research from the University of Texas at Austin found that pandemic loan fraud explained 22.5% of average housing price increases in 2020-2021. This type of fraud hurt individuals who bought houses at inflated prices, and had secondary effects on auto title registrations and other economic indicators.
A new framework, SUVA, enables organizations to measure and adjust AI chatbots' social preferences, improving their performance in customer complaints and other human-AI interactions. By understanding an LLM's existing tendencies, organizations can decide whether an available model already fits its values and usage scenarios.
Researchers developed a table-top EUV lithography device to speed up production of semiconductors, overcoming high entry costs and long processing times. The new device uses volumetric 3D patterning, allowing for faster printing of 3D nanostructures in minutes, not days.
Researchers reconstructed the most detailed map of molecular machines that carried out life's functions in an ancient ancestor, revealing hundreds of new genes associated with human diseases. The study confirmed links between three rare disorders and identified potential targets for treating other diseases.
New research suggests that overly aggressive whistleblower incentives can cut down internal communication, allowing problems to go unresolved. Regulators should consider a more calibrated approach to encourage reporting without discouraging internal information-sharing.
A new leader's style must align with teachers' appetite for change to improve organizational performance and school-level standardized test scores. Successors have a window of opportunity to create change, but their style must be matched with employees' existing attitudes.
New research from the University of Texas at Austin finds that regulators with ties to Big Four accounting firms are less likely to detect financial statement errors and ask for amendments. A cooling-off period might increase confidence in regulatory oversight, but its implementation could be challenging due to staff limitations.
The new fiber probe can track three key biomarkers - glucose, lactate, and ethanol - simultaneously, providing a more complete picture of metabolic health. This innovation offers faster, real-time sensing technologies for clinicians to respond rapidly to evolving metabolic crises.
Research from the University of Texas at Austin finds that consumers pay up to $170 extra per vehicle when buying a used car with nearly identical mileage but one digit off, due to left-digit bias. This phenomenon can result in higher prices for cars just below round numbers like 20,000 or 50,000.
New findings render antibiotic-resistant bacteria vulnerable by disabling individual resistance and cross-protection. This approach offers new possibilities for treating resistant infections associated with cystic fibrosis and may inform the treatment of a broad range of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Astronomers used TACC supercomputers to develop models of Little Red Dot formation, finding better agreement with Direct Collapse Black Hole theories. Researchers also analyzed JWST data using a 'genetic technique' to understand the history of these enigmatic cosmic objects.
A new AI model helps measure business complexity by breaking it down into 29 categories, including debt, equity, and financial structures. The tool can identify areas of complexity that require closer analysis for investors and provide insights for standard setters and regulators to simplify reporting standards.
Researchers have discovered a smaller CRISPR enzyme, Al3Cas12f, that can efficiently edit genes in human cells. The enzyme's unique structure allows it to form a stable connection with DNA, making it a promising candidate for therapeutic genome editing.
A study from the University of Texas at Austin found that internal firewalls can reduce the quality of innovations and hinder a company's ability to build on its discoveries. However, companies with stronger bargaining power can minimize these restrictions by structuring alliances that don't overlap with competitors' knowledge bases.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin observe permanent fission in wild chimpanzees, resulting in sustained intergroup violence. The findings suggest that relational dynamics can drive polarization and lethal conflict in chimps without language, ethnicity, or ideology.
Researchers found that watching an online performance in real time boosts several aspects of the viewing experience, including a common factor of heightened sense of presence. The liveness effect weakens when viewers cannot see a performer's face, but going live can benefit streamers by motivating audience engagement.
A new study using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment has discovered over 33,000 hydrogen gas halos surrounding galaxies 10-12 billion years ago. The team's observations have provided a more representative sample for studying the origin and evolution of the first galaxies.
Researchers used supercomputer simulations to study how red blood cells deform under stress, shedding light on hemolysis risks in blood pump conditions. The study offers new insights that could lead to safer and more effective blood pump designs.
A new study reveals traditional TV ads deliver less than expected impact, with promotions, recency, programming, and habits playing a crucial role in ad effectiveness. The research uses smart TV data to measure causal impact on consumer purchases, providing insights for advertisers and improving TV networks' measurement capabilities.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed an electronic tattoo to track moisture levels in plant leaves with greater accuracy. The technology uses graphene and can measure hydration levels directly from live leaves, providing more information on plant ecosystem health.