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KU recognizes 13 students with 2025 University Awards
The University of Kansas has awarded 13 students with honors that recognize community engagement, leadership and academics. The University Awards, among the most prestigious awards presented at KU, were established to recognize students who embody service excellence, dedication or whose academic achievements are stellar.
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Thu, 04/24/2025
Study of ‘spatial synchrony’ using long-term data exposes ecological trends and could boost conservation, farming
New research from the University of Kansas in Ecology Letters reveals study of spatial synchrony over a long enough timescale leads to better testing of ideas, improved statistical results and new conceptual realms for understanding ecology, conserving species and farming more profitably.
Tue, 04/22/2025
Galaxies at ‘cosmic noon’: Research gives deep dive into universe’s wild growth spurt
A new University of Kansas survey of distant galaxies using the James Webb Space Telescope reveals never-before-seen star formation and black hole growth at “cosmic noon,” a mysterious epoch 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang when galaxies like the Milky Way underwent an intense growth spurt.
Wed, 04/16/2025
52 KU-affiliated scientists recognized for Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Fifty-two physicists affiliated with the University of Kansas — both currently and formerly — are on the teams that recently were awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their papers analyzing data from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The prize recognizes outstanding research papers published between 2015-2024.
Fri, 04/04/2025
KU professor of engineering wins NSF CAREER Award for research into high-performance computing
Hongyang Sun, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, is the recipient of an NSF Early Career Development award for his efforts to strengthen high-performance computing systems by allowing them to do more work as they continue to expand.
Thu, 03/27/2025
Four KU professors in chemistry and engineering named AAAS fellows
“These four researchers have demonstrated excellence in their fields and have done so in a way that reflects well on our entire university. As one of the nation’s leading research institutions, KU strives to make discoveries that change the world — and these four scholars are helping us fulfill that mission every day," said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod.
Tue, 03/25/2025
KU environmental law expert part of research team working to place solar arrays over thousands of miles of California canals
Robin Kundis Craig of KU Law is part of the California Solar Canal Initiative, which is working to place solar arrays over thousands of miles of water canals in California. The project aims to produce clean energy, reduce water loss and land waste, all while creating local jobs and reducing pollution.
Wed, 03/05/2025
Program will train high schoolers to write code and develop microelectronics for artificial intelligence
Researchers at the University of Kansas, along with the University of Florida and the University of North Texas, will partner with regional high schools to engage about 500 students and 25 teachers in real-world projects to build interest in artificial intelligence technology as a career path.
Fri, 02/14/2025
Groundwater levels fall across western, south-central Kansas
Preliminary groundwater level measurements compiled by the Kansas Geological Survey show an overall decline of almost a foot across the High Plains aquifer region in western Kansas in 2024. All areas in western and south-central Kansas experienced declines in water levels.
Tue, 02/11/2025
Research yields eco-friendly way to separate, recycle refrigerants tied to climate crisis
Investigators based at the University of Kansas report using membranes — amorphous fluorinated polymers — that efficiently isolate complex refrigerant mixtures. Solutions for dealing responsibly with complex gases in existing equipment destined for landfills around the world are badly needed, according to researchers.
Mon, 02/03/2025
Researcher co-edits special issue highlighting how just energy transition can happen globally
Ensuring clean energy transition without exploiting vulnerable communities or leaving people and communities behind is the focus of a new special journal issue co-edited by a University of Kansas researcher.
Fri, 01/31/2025
Two KU researchers chosen for prestigious early-career presidential award
Two KU professors — Anthony Fehr, associate professor of molecular biosciences, and Gibum Kwon, associate professor of mechanical engineering — were recently chosen for the PECASE Award, the highest honor given by the U.S. government to early-career researchers who show great potential for leading scientific advancements in the 21st century.
Tue, 01/07/2025
$2.5M grant will support nature-based study of pathogen resistance in perennial crop systems
A new five-year, $2.5 million grant will support a KU-led project exploring alternative routes to pathogen resistance in a potential perennial oilseed crop, silflower (Silphium integrifolium). The project is funded through the federal program on Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases.
Fri, 12/20/2024
Research points the way to lifesaving antiparasitic drugs while unlocking a scientific mystery
A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that inflicts about 1 million people and kills about 30,000 people around the world every year.
Mon, 12/16/2024
Anthropologists call for tracking and preservation of human artifacts on Mars
University of Kansas researcher Justin Holcomb argues physical artifacts of human Martian exploration deserve cataloging, preservation and care.
Tue, 12/10/2024
Aerospace engineer Ron Barrett-Gonzalez named National Academy of Inventors Fellow
For the second year in a row, the National Academy of Inventors has added a Jayhawk engineer among its Fellows. Ron Barrett-Gonzalez, professor of aerospace engineering, was named among the 170 academic inventors in the 2024 class.
Tue, 12/10/2024
Research shows feasting fungi could revolutionize carbon-fiber recycling
A specialized fungus developed at the University of Kansas underpins a new method for breaking down and removing the matrix from carbon fiber reinforced polymers.
Mon, 11/18/2024
New idea may crack enigma of the Crab Nebula’s ‘zebra’ pattern
A theoretical astrophysicist from the University of Kansas may have solved a nearly two-decade-old mystery over the origins of an unusual "zebra" pattern seen in high-frequency radio pulses from the Crab Nebula.
Mon, 11/11/2024
Atomically thin memory resistors will optimize semiconductors for neuromorphic computing
A joint project between University of Kansas and University of Houston supported by $1.8 million from the National Science Foundation’s second Future of Semiconductor program (FuSe) will produce atomically tunable memory resistors, dubbed “memristors,” for brain-inspired advanced computing — while training workforce for the nation’s semiconductor industry.
Wed, 10/23/2024
Quantum fluctuations at subnucleon level discovered by KU physicist at Large Hadron Collider
University of Kansas experimental nuclear physicist Daniel Tapia Takaki and his team for the first time report suggestions of gluonic quantum fluctuations at the subnucleon level in heavy nuclei. The findings boost understanding of quantum fields that control interaction of particles at the tiniest scales.
Wed, 10/16/2024
KU astronomer on space probe team that advances to next round of $1B NASA mission selection
Elisabeth Mills is a co-investigator on a proposal for a far-infrared mission that over the next year will receive $5 million to flesh out the plans and prototypes for a new class of astrophysics observatories.
Tue, 10/08/2024
KU researchers build interactive atlas that gathers Kansas wind energy regulations, information for all 105 counties
The Kansas Energy Transition Atlas is a GIS-powered website that gathers wind energy regulations for all of the state's 105 counties and allows users to find information including laws guiding development and the number of turbines and transmission lines in a county. Users can print their own detailed maps.
Tue, 10/08/2024
$1.5M grant will create global macro-network of plant-fungal research
A new project led by the University of Kansas will bring together scientists throughout the world who study the interactions between plants and microscopic fungi. A $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation will support the creation of a global transdisciplinary network to address the grand challenges within the realm of plant-fungal interactions.
Wed, 09/25/2024
Research shows Asia — not Africa — played cradle to snake superfamily that includes cobras, mambas and many common pet species
Based on the fossil record, it’s been assumed that elapoid snakes, found worldwide, had their origins in Africa. But the new University of Kansas study appearing in Royal Society Open Science — which depends on broad genetic sampling as well as fossils — points instead to Asian origins for these snakes.
Mon, 09/23/2024
KGS to explore on-farm integration of solar energy, water management
Kansas Geological Survey scientists have been awarded nearly $900,000 in grants to spearhead the development of an innovative technology system that will leverage underused corners of farm fields to generate energy and collect water.
Mon, 09/09/2024
Species of giant fanged frog went unrecognized in Philippines because it was nearly identical to even larger species
Researchers from the University of Kansas have published findings in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology describing a new species of fanged frog, named Limnonectes cassiopeia, from the Philippine island of Luzon.
Thu, 09/05/2024
Study of mosquito spit could lead to therapies for viruses like West Nile and yellow fever
With a new two-year grant of $250,000 per year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, Anita Saraf currently is analyzing samples of noninfectious mosquito saliva in the fight against “arboviruses” — viruses spread by arthropods like mosquitoes.
Wed, 09/04/2024
New book ‘Macroevolutionaries’ explores intersection of evolution, art and popular culture
University of Kansas paleontologist Bruce Lieberman co-wrote “Macroevolutionaries,” a collection of natural history essays, with fellow paleontologist Niles Eldredge in the tradition of their late Harvard mentor and famed science popularizer, Stephen Jay Gould.
Thu, 08/29/2024
KU researcher Victor Gonzalez receives two NSF grants to advance research on bees
The National Science Foundation has awarded two grants totaling more than $600,000 to a team led by KU scientists studying bees in North America and plant pollinators in tropical regions.
Thu, 08/29/2024
KU researchers to support sustainable manufacturing through joint Schmidt Sciences/Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research grant
University of Kansas scientists are playing leading roles in a real-life waste-to-treasure story poised to create a more sustainable future for humanity.
Wed, 08/21/2024
University of Kansas awarded $26 million for new Engineering Research Center from National Science Foundation
KU is the lead institution for a new National Science Foundation Gen-4 Engineering Research Center — Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) — that will focus on developing sustainable refrigerants to address climate change. EARTH is led by Foundation Distinguished Professor Mark Shiflett in the Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering at the KU School of Engineering.