News
Brian and Beth Ellyn McClendon make $4 million gift to KU Engineering to boost recruitment and retention
Google Earth co-founder Brian McClendon and his wife, Beth Ellyn, have made a $4 million gift to his alma mater to support professorships and a program that helps ensure collegiate preparedness and success for aspiring Jayhawk engineers.
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Tue, 11/11/2025
Research shows human gene PARP14 could be novel target for viral diseases or immune-mediated disorders
Researchers at the University of Kansas have discovered a human gene, the protein PARP14, plays a role in regulating interferon, part of the body’s innate immune system. Their study, appearing in journal mBio, could guide development of antiviral therapies for several groups of viral infection.
Mon, 11/03/2025
KU researcher’s new work focuses on Indigenous fire sovereignty
University of Kansas scholar Melinda Adams has found evidence from far-flung global regions about benefits of Indigenous fire sovereignty, ranging from Arizona to Australia. She is the co-author of new work published in PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Fri, 10/31/2025
Detailed map of US air-conditioning usage shows who can beat the heat — and who can’t
A researcher at the University of Kansas has produced the most comprehensive and detailed map of air-conditioning usage in the United States. The data could inform energy efficiency decisions and help policymakers identify regions that lack adequate cooling.
Thu, 10/30/2025
New study explores ‘legacy effects’ of soil microbes on plants across Kansas
Findings from the University of Kansas could offer important context for farmers who want to use beneficial microbes to improve yields. Today, microbial commercialization in agriculture represents an expanding multibillion dollar sector.
Wed, 10/08/2025
KU engineering professor wins Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists
Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering and KU Engineering associate dean for impact & belonging, is the laureate of the 2025 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category. She is KU’s first-ever laureate.
Tue, 09/30/2025
KU research-trained employees fuel economy, meet critical workforce demands in Kansas and beyond, report shows
A recent report from the Institute for Research on Innovation & Science shows more than 7,000 KU research-funded employees leveraged their experience to build careers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2011 to 2023 — and nearly 40% found employment in Kansas.
Wed, 09/17/2025
Researchers will develop spectrum technologies for safer, more reliable communication for drones and air taxis
With a $760,000 research grant from the National Science Foundation, investigators at the University of Kansas will develop “intelligent spectrum management frameworks” to enable reliable communication for drones as they become more ubiquitous.
Wed, 09/17/2025
NSF grant will support new research for pharmaceutical drug discoveries
Zarko Boskovic, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry in the KU School of Pharmacy, has been awarded a $575,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant will be used in the Boskovic Lab to shed light on the process of efficiently and selectively creating new molecules that hold potential for drug discovery.
Tue, 09/02/2025
Study: Cellophane bees are built for chill temperatures, more so than honeybees
Scholarship from the University of Kansas shows the cellophane bee is specialized by evolution to handle the harsh shocks and cold temperatures of early spring.
Tue, 08/26/2025
Expert on catfishes publishes updated volume on catfish biology and evolution
Researcher Gloria Arratia serves as editor and contributor to the just published first volume of “Catfishes: A Highly Diversified Group,” a two-volume reference.
Fri, 08/22/2025
AI can imitate morality without actually possessing it, new philosophy study finds
In a new paper, a philosophy scholar at the University of Kansas addresses the moral agency of artificial intelligence. Although AI does not currently have practical judgment, the researcher shows it has a functionally equivalent mechanism, transformer models, which can allow it to form maxims that consider morally salient facts.
Tue, 08/19/2025
6 KU innovations selected for Rock Chalk Ready commercialization program
The University of Kansas Center for Technology Commercialization (KUCTC) has selected six promising research projects for its inaugural Rock Chalk Ready program, a universitywide initiative designed to mature early-stage innovations and position them for commercialization success.
Wed, 07/30/2025
Techniques honed by Kansas nuclear physicists helped detect creation of gold in Large Hadron Collider collisions
Nuclear physicists working at the Large Hadron Collider recently made headlines by achieving the centuries-old dream of alchemists: They transformed lead into gold, at least for a fraction of a second.
Mon, 07/28/2025
KU chemistry professor receives NSF CAREER Award for research on synthetic polymers
Aaron Teator, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Kansas, has been chosen for a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation. The five-year grant totaling more than $687,000 will enable Teator to further his research, which seeks to develop new reactions leading to unique synthetic polymers that have the potential to impact a variety of products.
Wed, 07/23/2025
Study of now-submerged migration routes redraws map of how humans settled beyond Africa
An improved simulation of ancient sea levels can reveal how melting glaciers continuing long after the Last Glacial Maximum may have transformed migration pathways and shaped the rise of civilizations in Afrlca.
Wed, 07/23/2025
Researchers unveil evolutionary effects on mammalian species due to extreme environments
New research from the University of Kansas reveals an unexpected way animals adapted to high-altitude environments.
Tue, 07/22/2025
Paleontologists will convene in Kansas to boost sharing and crediting of scholarly data
A conclave of about 20 prominent paleontologists, data scientists and editors from academic journals will gather Aug. 4-5 at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum to improve how data is shared among professionals in the field — and beyond.
Wed, 07/16/2025
Research shows freshwater fish like complicated shoreline environments, just as saltwater species do
A University of Kansas associate professor is co-author of new research seeking to ascertain how fish react to waterfront edges using a variety of underwater seawall panels made to resemble plant roots. The intent is to attract wildlife — both plant and animal — improving species diversity and water quality.
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.