News


More news

Thu, 07/09/2026

Dinosaurs probably dined upon a variety of fruits and seeds

Recent research appearing in the journal Science overturns a long-held idea that flowering plants didn’t evolve large fruits and seeds until after the mass extinction of dinosaurs about 66 million years ago, when Earth was smacked by a giant asteroid.
Wed, 07/08/2026

KU autism AI tool launched to provide resources to Kansas families

With a new artificial intelligence chatbot tool developed at the University of Kansas, families can receive vetted information about autism that is specific to their needs in Kansas.
Wed, 07/08/2026

KU Theatre & Dance unveils 2026-27 season

With its message of community and optimism, “The SpongeBob Musical” will conclude a highly inventive season that celebrates contemporary theatre and dance. A reimagined Greek tragedy and a Restoration comedy are also highlights of KU Theatre & Dance's season.
Wed, 07/08/2026

20 KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for summer and fall 2026

The KU Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships gave out $1,000 awards to 20 Jayhawks pursuing mentored research and creative projects across all disciplines.
Wed, 07/08/2026

KU School of Education & Human Sciences dean delivers address at UN World Cup Diplomacy Summit

Joshua Newman, dean of the KU School of Education & Human Sciences, delivered an address and led a panel on sport, policy and artificial intelligence at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York. Newman also met with UNITAR leaders to explore future partnerships with the school.
Tue, 07/07/2026

University of Kansas announces spring 2026 honor roll

More than 9,000 Jayhawks were named to the dean's lists for their respective schools for academic excellence in the spring 2026 semester.
Mon, 07/06/2026

Entrepreneurs need partners unless solo founder has broad and deep experience, study finds

In a new scholarly article published in the Strategic Management Journal, a University of Kansas business scholar explored whether entrepreneurs need co-founders, finding disadvantages partially diminished when a solo founder has broad and/or deep experience.
Thu, 07/02/2026

KU student from Lawrence named Astronaut Scholar

Arthur Benson, a Lawrence native and School of Engineering student, has been named a 2026-2027 Astronaut Scholar. The program awards approximately 60 scholarships annually to sophomores and juniors in STEM who demonstrate exceptional academic performance, significant research experience and a commitment to pursuing a career in research.
Wed, 07/01/2026

Audio-Reader receives 3 awards, honorable mention from the International Association of Audio Information Services

Audio-Reader, based at the University of Kansas, was recently honored at the 2026 Annual IAAIS Program Awards presentation. Awarded categories include Newspapers, Magazines, Books/Short Story Programs and the Now Hear This category for short works.
Tue, 06/30/2026

Study reveals what people really see when they read lips

New research from the University of Kansas uses network science to determine why people make mistakes when lip reading. The research could improve lip-reading training as well as help the advancement of automatic transcription. The results appear in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.
Tue, 06/30/2026

KU scholar can comment on president’s planned July 4 remarks about nation’s 250th anniversary

Robert Rowland, a communication studies scholar and presidential rhetoric expert at the University of Kansas, can discuss President Donald Trump’s planned July 4 remarks at the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration and how the president’s remarks are a radical departure from traditional presidential rhetoric.
Mon, 06/29/2026

Official newspaper of China has reduced foreign news coverage during President Xi Jinping’s administration, study finds

In a new article, Jack Zhang, associate professor of political science at the University of Kansas, finds that the People’s Daily newspaper has reduced foreign news coverage during President Xi Jinping’s administration, suggesting such coverage is influenced more by domestic politics than by China’s growing international interests.
Mon, 06/29/2026

Jayhawks compete in 2025-2026 math events

University of Kansas students recently competed at math events at the local, state and national level. KU undergraduate students took fourth and eighth place in the team competition at the 2026 Kansas Collegiate Math Competition.
Fri, 06/26/2026

Tickets go on sale for Day on the Hill concert featuring Turnstile

Turnstile, which made history this year by winning Grammy Awards in both the metal and rock categories in the same year, will be joined by artists Slayyyter and Die Spitz for the Oct. 6 event at the University of Kansas.
Fri, 06/26/2026

KU School of Music Chamber Choir takes high prize at international competition

The University of Kansas School of Music has announced that the KU Chamber Choir has won top honors at an international choir competition in Slovakia.
Tue, 06/23/2026

Research shows AI advertising can deliver relevant content without spying on users' internet behaviors

Four experiments conducted by a University of Kansas researcher have shown that AI-derived ads can deliver effective, relevant advertising for users without tracking their internet behavior. The findings counter prevailing attitudes that online surveillance is necessary for effective advertising at a time when the future of online privacy is at stake, according to the study author.
Tue, 06/23/2026

Study finds estrogen-based hormone therapies could protect brain health in older women

Researchers from the University of Kansas discovered older women who had used hormonal birth control in young adulthood were more likely to have larger volumes in brain regions vital to memory, cognition and information processing.
Tue, 06/23/2026

Audio-Reader to host donation drive at Fairlawn Plaza in Topeka to support benefit audio sale

The Audio-Reader Network, based at the University of Kansas, seeks donations of stereo equipment, speakers, vinyl records, cassette tapes and musical instruments. Audio-Reader will collect items from the public from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 30 at Fairlawn Plaza in Topeka.
Mon, 06/22/2026

Christian nationalists’ views on punishing lawbreakers contingent on identity of victim and offender, study finds

In a new scholarly article, Kevin Mullinix, associate professor of political science, finds Christian nationalism shapes beliefs about who is most deserving of punishment in society in ways that are contingent on the identity of the offender and victim — and the extent to which the crime violates particular norms.
Mon, 06/22/2026

Whayne Scholars to highlight research projects, KU’s African American Experience Collections during public talks July 9

The University of Kansas Libraries will host a public presentation featuring the 2026 recipients of the Alyce Hunley Whayne Visiting Researchers Travel Awards at 3 p.m. July 9.
Wed, 06/17/2026

Keeler Professorship fuels KU collaboration on Mars simulant research

Steve Gurysh, associate professor of visual art, will further his exploration of Mars Global Simulant through sculpture and by contributing to evolutionary biology scholarship at KU.
Tue, 06/16/2026

Researchers unveil method for safeguarding privacy of electrocardiograms

Researchers from the University of Kansas have developed a privacy-preserving AI model called (PP-VAE) to protect personally sensitive data about a patient’s sex, age, race and even exact identity derived from electrocardiogram signals.
Tue, 06/16/2026

Study finds landback returns of Indigenous lands happening across country, can lead public planning

KU researchers launched a project to document instances of “landback,” in which land is returned to Indigenous communities, tribes and owners. Analysis of the data shows the returns are happening and increasing in frequency across the country. That could be the impetus for public planning as a discipline to rethink how it approaches working with such lands and move beyond simple land acknowledgements, the authors said.
Mon, 06/15/2026

New Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Graduate from KLETC

HUTCHINSON — Cheers and applause filled Integrity Auditorium as the 358th Basic Training Class graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on June 12. ...

Mon, 06/15/2026

KU recognizes 2025-26 faculty and staff retirees

The University of Kansas has recognized the more than 100 faculty and academic, support and unclassified professional staff affiliated with the Lawrence and Edwards campuses who retired during the 2025-26 academic year.
Fri, 06/12/2026

KU Law graduates named Academic All-American Advocates by the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators

Logan Brtek and Alex Nelson, both KU School of Law graduates, have been honored by the National Association of Legal Advocacy Educators, becoming the first KU Law students to receive the national honors. The awards recognize excellence in competition performance, academic achievement, leadership and service.
Thu, 06/11/2026

Annual summer solstice tour of KU native plants garden will take place June 21

The public is invited to the summer semiannual tour of the University of Kansas Native Medicinal Plant Garden at 7 p.m. June 21, the day of the summer solstice. The garden is situated just east of the Lawrence Municipal Airport, next to Prairie Moon Waldorf School at 1865 East 1600 Road in Douglas County.
Thu, 06/11/2026

KU announces first Beinecke Scholar

Levi O’Connor, a senior in psychology from Louisburg, has been selected to receive the Beinecke Scholarship Program award for the 2026-2027 academic year. Each year, 20 students from across the nation receive $30,000 to be used for graduate study and $5,000 in their senior year. O’Connor is the first Jayhawk to receive the scholarship.
Thu, 06/11/2026

KU Department of Mathematics announces 2026 spring awards

The KU Department of Mathematics recently recognized its undergraduate and graduate students and faculty for outstanding academic and teaching achievements. Graduate summer scholarships and research assistantships were awarded to 25 graduate students. Academic year 2026-27 scholarships were awarded to 77 undergraduates.
Wed, 06/10/2026

KU and community partners publish postcards celebrating the life of Langston Hughes in Lawrence

The University of Kansas and community organizations, along with KU faculty members Tim Hossler and Elise Kirk, have published a set of 10 postcards about the experiences of Langston Hughes while he lived in Lawrence. Community members can pick up postcards for free at locations on the Lawrence campus and around town.

Media Contacts

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson

KU News Service

785-864-8858