A newly discovered signaling pathway explains how plants delay flowering when phosphorus runs low, opening doors to nutrient-efficient crops. Phosphorus, a key ingredient in fertilizers, is running out. The world’s food systems depend on phosphorus mined from limited reserves, yet much of what is applied to fields washes away, leaving soils increasingly depleted. As phosphorus …
When highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, first appeared in U.S. dairy cattle, it shocked the scientific community. The virus, long associated with birds, had crossed a species barrier no one anticipated. In Michigan, however, the response framework was already underway. In the inner circle of that response was Kimberly Dodd, who now serves as dean …
In California’s Death Valley, where summer temperatures regularly soar above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, life seems almost impossible. Yet among the cracked earth and blinding sunlight, one native plant not only survives — it thrives. That plant, Tidestromia oblongifolia, has helped Michigan State University scientists uncover how life can flourish in extreme heat, revealing a potential …
Evolution is usually too slow to observe in a human lifetime. But in a Michigan State University lab, it plays out in days, years and now decades. Beginning in 1988, MSU Hannah Distinguished Professor Richard Lenski shepherded the rapidly growing model organism Escherichia coli, or E. coli, through 75,000 generations. Lenski and researchers in the Department of Microbiology, …
In a discovery that could shift labor and delivery practices around the world, researchers at Michigan State University have found that the effectiveness of oxytocin — a common medication used to induce or speed up labor — depends on the time of day it’s administered, especially for patients with gestational diabetes. The study, published in Molecular …
The Spark: A Seed in the Stacks Innovation often begins with a single question. For Mammoth Distilling, that question emerged during a routine research session in the Michigan State University (MSU) library: What happened to Michigan’s legendary rye varieties? While researching whiskey heritage in the MSU library, Ari Sussman, an MSU graduate and a Mammoth Distilling team member, stumbled upon a reference to Rosen …
The Breakthrough: Science Meets Urgency In the race to address climate change, the ability to measure and value nature with precision has become a critical need for companies, governments, and communities alike. Michigan State University (MSU) and IORA Nature Tech have forged a partnership that is redefining what’s possible in this space. Their breakthrough: a …
The world faces a growing threat from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, rapidly evolving viruses, and diseases for which traditional vaccines are ineffective or impractical. Existing vaccines often require multiple doses, cold storage, and complex manufacturing barriers that limit global access. At Michigan State University (MSU), Dr. Xuefei Huang, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and …
A wide range of disciplines are adopting artificial intelligence, or AI, at a rapid pace. From science and medicine to the humanities and education, AI is influencing the landscape of how information is accessed and processed. At Michigan State University, the College of Engineering is exploring new ways for AI to improve lives through railway safety, AI security, …
Dear Innovators, Collaborators, and Friends of MSU, Innovation is the driving force that shapes economies, elevates lives, and redefines the future. Thirteen years ago, the vision for the MSU Innovation Center was ambitious: to bring together brilliant minds, dedicated partners, and diverse communities to create an ecosystem where breakthrough ideas blossom into tangible solutions for …
