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University of Texas at Austin


Online reviews risk cyberattacks

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateAug 26, 2026

Charting smarter routes for drones

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalINFORMS Journal on Computing·DateAug 25, 2026

McCombs M.S. programs get new names

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...

Feds can bank on better stress tests

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalManagement Science·DateJul 28, 2026

For consumers, distrust outweighs trust

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateJul 20, 2026

New database for subsurface energy storage could be boon for natural gas industry

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEarth Energy Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 1, 2026

UT climate model of last year’s July 4 storms suggests that sea surface temperatures actually reduced rainfall

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 24, 2026

Cultural backgrounds shape financial forecasts

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalContemporary Accounting Research·DateJun 9, 2026

Easily overlooked small wetlands are a big source of global methane

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeObservational study·DateJun 4, 2026

Pandemic loan fraud pumped housing prices

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Financial Economics·DateMay 28, 2026

Audits help change a chatbot’s bad behavior

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateMay 28, 2026

Revolving doors weaken SEC oversight

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Accounting Review·DateApr 28, 2026

Odometer inattention costs used car buyers

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateApr 22, 2026

AI measures business complexity

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Accounting Review·DateApr 14, 2026

In Alliances, Information Firewalls Can Backfire

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalOrganization Science·DateApr 10, 2026

Online viewers prefer livestreams to recordings

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateApr 9, 2026

Do TV ads work? Ask smart TVs

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalMarketing Science·DateApr 1, 2026

New model shows how behavioral flexibility affects animal evolution

A new model by Carlos Botero suggests that animals with moderate behavioral flexibility can quickly adapt to environmental changes and evolve new forms, challenging the assumption that slow-evolving species are at higher risk from climate change. The model predicts that flexible lineages may fare better than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 31, 2026

Climate action could prevent over 13 million premature deaths, but equity choices matter for global health

A new study found that climate action consistent with the two-degree-Celsius target would avoid more than 13.5 million premature deaths from air pollution between 2020 and 2050, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. However, the distribution of health gains depends on how the global mitigation burden is shared.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 16, 2026

Chemotherapy candidate can marshall attention from the body’s natural defenses

Researchers discover a potential chemotherapy agent that causes cancer cells to release signals similar to those released by infected cells, triggering an immune response. This finding could lead to a new approach in cancer treatment, using lower doses of chemotherapy drugs to recruit the immune system as an ally.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2026

Breaking down the battery problem

UT Austin researcher Arumugam Manthiram is working to advance lithium-ion battery technology by understanding the chemistry of oxide cathodes. His research aims to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly battery materials, addressing supply chain disruptions and high costs.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Energy·DateMar 6, 2026