News: Research

UT News

Power of DNA to Store Information Gets an Upgrade

Researchers stored a copy of the Wizard of Oz - in Esperanto - in DNA using a revolutionary new technique.

Artists image of DNA helix in purple, yellow and green with letters GTAC and 01 binary in the background

UT News

COVID-19 Drug Development Could Benefit from Approach Used Against Flu

A new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has found that some antivirals are useful for more than helping sick people get better — they also can prevent thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of virus cases if used in the early stages of infection.

Artist rendition of COVID-19 virus and pills

UT News

For Each Day’s Delay in Social Distancing, a COVID-19 Outbreak Lasts Days Longer

Every day a city delayed social distancing increased an outbreak by 2.4 days.

Calendar showing LOCKDOWN written in bold orange letters

Research

Model Predicts Which Coral Reefs Will Better Adapt to Global Warming

​Climate change is causing coral reefs around the world to decline.

Underwater photo of a large coral reef

Research

Long-Living Tropical Trees Play Outsized Role in Carbon Storage

A group of trees that grow fast, live long lives and reproduce slowly account for the bulk of the biomass.

Irene del Carmen Torres Dominguez measures the diameter of a tree on Barro Colorado Island in Panama.

UT News

Pandemic Model Shows Importance of Social Distancing in 22 Texas Cities

A new pandemic model of COVID-19 shows the positive role social distancing can play in preventing the spread of the illness in areas across Texas.

A map of texas with counties shaded in different colors

UT News

Coronavirus Spreads Quickly and Sometimes Before People Have Symptoms, Study Finds

Measures including isolation, quarantine, school closures, travel restrictions and cancellation of mass gatherings may be warranted.

Artist rendering of a magnified coronavirus

UT News

Demographics Linked to Choice Not to Vaccinate Children in Texas, Study Finds

The findings could help public health officials identify pockets of low vaccination rates where communities within the state are at higher risk for an outbreak.

A young boy on the left receives a vaccination in his arm from a woman in a lab coat on the right

The Texas Scientist

20/20 Foresight

So what will the next 50 years bring? Absent a crystal ball, your best bet would be to ask a scientist.

Illustration by David Steadman.

UT News

Researchers Say Spread of Coronavirus Extends Far Beyond China’s Quarantine Zone

Virus likely spread beyond Wuhan before quarantines and lockdowns.

The last metro train prepares to leave a station in Wuhan, China before the city was placed under quarantine. Courtesy of Chinese News Service.