Michigan State University’s W.J. Beal Botanical Garden is officially internationally recognized. The garden recently earned accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International, or BCGI, a UK-based membership organization representing botanic gardens in more than 100 countries around the world with the goal of linking the gardens together in a global network for plant conservation. With BGCI accreditation, Beal Botanical …
Researchers have revealed a previously unknown way plants shape their growth in response to light — a breakthrough that could better equip crops to handle environmental stress. In a first-of-its-kind finding, the team discovered how a compound that’s involved in plant metabolism can directly “reprogram” an unrelated light-sensing protein. This unexpected interaction, which was reported in the …
New research led by Michigan State University and partners shows that virtual reality, even in its simplest form, can help students with disabilities learn important life skills and apply these skills in real-world settings. Two recent peer-reviewed studies found that non-immersive virtual reality, or VR — screen-based programs on devices like laptops or Chromebooks, rather …
A team of researchers from Michigan State University and community partners has conducted critical research to address gaps in treatment of substance use disorder in Michigan’s St. Clair County and the city of Port Huron. This research, culminating in support resources, comes in time for September: National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. To assess the …
Researchers at Michigan State University have figured out how to use a fast laser to wiggle atoms in a way that temporarily changes the behavior of their host material. Their novel approach could lead to smaller, faster and more efficient electronics — like smartphones — in the future. Tyler Cocker, an associate professor in the College …
In August 2024, Emily Burns noticed something was off with her vision. As her sight became worse over the next week — and was accompanied by omnipresent headaches — she went to the first place one would think to go when having vision issues: the eye doctor. When a field vision test at her ophthalmologist’s …
Fragrant garden staples part of the sprawling mint family like thyme, basil and lavender are hiding some super-sized secrets with big applications, according to Spartan researchers. While unraveling the genetic makeup of a mint relative called ground oak, MSU biochemists discovered it sported a truly massive genome — nearly as large as our own — …
Michigan State University Research Foundation Professor Federica Brandizzi has been named the next director of the MSU-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, or PRL. Brandizzi is a prolific researcher within the plant science community. Her lab has contributed many important pieces to the canon of plant research in organelle biology, biofuel research and space biology. “Becoming the next …
New research from Michigan State University reveals that photorespiration — long considered a wasteful process — is essential for producing a crucial nutrient for preventing birth defects. For the first time, scientists have measured how much carbon flows through photorespiration to make folates, a class of compounds that includes vitamin B9 — known for its …
With cases on the rise, researchers are aiming to develop a “one-two punch” vaccine strategy against pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. This work could ultimately help reduce transmission of the disease and combat the threat of resistant bacteria mutating into stronger, more lethal “superbugs.” The project aims to improve upon current vaccines by …
