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University of Florida Research

@ufresearch.bsky.social
321 followers 209 following 142 posts

Explore how University of Florida researchers' contributions are changing the world.

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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Can CRISPR help save Florida citrus? A @wsj.com feature highlights how Soilcea, a University of Florida biotechnology startup, based on microbiologist Nian Wang's research, is giving orange growers new hope against citrus greening.
wsj.com
The Race to Save Florida Orange Industry From Total Collapse
After groves were ravaged for decades by a disease, new EPA-approved genetic technologies are giving citrus growers a chance to rebuild.
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Scientist Spotted 🦜 Our ornithologist Glaucia Del-Rio talked to the 'Okay, But Birds' podcast about Amazonian antbirds and her research in their newest episode: Okay, but griffins, and ligers, and birds, oh my! www.okaybutbirds.com/episodes/e41 🦜
okaybutbirds.com
E41: Okay, but griffins, and ligers, and birds, oh my! — Okay, But... Birds
Griffins and ligers are myths. Bird hybrids are real, and two Amazonian antbirds show where one species ends.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Could your smartphone help transform aging research? UF’s Sanjay Ranka and Todd Manini are building G-CARE, a remote research platform designed to gather real-world health data from older adults.
news.ufl.edu
Researchers launch smartphone platform to monitor senior safety
A new project uses technology to gather multi-faceted and useful wellness data, ultimately to improve the quality of life for elderly citizens and their caregivers.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
More than 80% of breast cancer cases in Ghana are diagnosed at advanced stages. A team of researchers are studying how traditional and orthodox healthcare providers can work together to improve early detection, treatment and outcomes while supporting patients’ cultural and spiritual needs.
ufhealth.org
Researchers seek a role for Ghana’s traditional healers in breast cancer care - UF Health
In Ghana and many African countries, traditional medicine practitioners and faith healers play a prominent role in patient care. These practitioners use herbal…
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Eleven undergrad students at @ufl.edu are the first to assemble the pignut hickory tree genome. The work was part of a hands-on research course open to all majors and taught by instructors here at the Florida Museum: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/it-t... Study: academic.oup.com/g3journal/ar...
there are four large yellow-green fruits on a branch covered with thick clusters of long, pointed leaves
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University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications @ufjschool.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A new study has found empirical evidence that video passthrough alters group behavior across cognitive and affective dimensions. Video passthrough features recorded subjects blended with actual physical surroundings. Read more about the findings here: bit.ly/4cJAo5O
jou.ufl.edu
New study reviews how video passthrough alters group behavior
A new study has found empirical evidence that video passthrough alters group behavior across cognitive and affective dimensions. Video passthrough
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UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences @uf-clas.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
UF chemist Fan Hong, Ph.D., has received a $2.1 million NIH MIRA award to develop faster technology for imaging thousands of RNA molecules inside 3D tissue. Read more: news.clas.ufl.edu/uf-chemist-r...
3D stock photo
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🦷 What can a few grooves in ancient teeth tell us? In this @us.theconversation.com article UF Health's Roger Papke, suggests people in Indonesia were using betel nut for its psychoactive effects up to 25,000 years ago, long before the rise of agriculture. theconversation.com/ancient-teet...
theconversation.com
Ancient teeth reveal the Ice Age origins of the world’s 4th most common addictive drug
Betel nut is the fourth most-used psychoactive drug in the world – and new evidence suggests it was being used in Indonesia as long as 25,000 years ago.
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Planes on a snake? Sea snakes are known to have a variety of marine hitchhikers living on them. Biologists expected to find oceanic rafting crabs in the genus Planes in the mix, but found the wrong species instead. Story + study: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/plan...
Three clear vials of fluid each have a very tiny nearly transparent crab in them and an information label on the side
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
What secrets can a cup of river water reveal about human health, pollution and biodiversity?
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
The University of Florida faculty conducted a record $1.34 billion in research in fiscal year 2026, advancing discoveries in medicine, agriculture, engineering, space and many other fields. Read more: heyor.ca/MRNdMc
heyor.ca
University of Florida research spending reaches record $1.34 billion in fiscal year 2026
University of Florida faculty conducted a record $1.34
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
After devastating Florida’s citrus industry, citrus greening may have met its match: EPA approval of UF-developed CarriCea T1 clears the way for Soilcea to supply more than 300,000 HLB-resistant citrus trees, giving growers a promising new tool to help protect groves and rebuild citrus production.
news.ufl.edu
EPA approves HLB-resistant citrus rootstock based on UF research
The EPA approval marks a significant milestone in delivering research-driven solutions to growers who have spent years searching for effective ways to combat the disease.
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Scientists are tracking monarch butterflies with small, solar-powered radio transmitters—about the size and weight of a grain of rice. Florida Museum and Xerces Society researchers want to understand exactly where they go and how they get there. 🦋 Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/tiny...
Two men in blue shirts stand in a wooded area with Spanish moss, each holding a large sampling net.A man uses a digital caliper to measure the wing of a butterfly held in his hand.Hands holding a smartphone to take a close-up photo of a monarch butterfly being held carefully between two fingers.A monarch butterfly flies above a person's hands holding an open white mesh butterfly net.
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Vince Vatter @vatter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Published today! Our article in Math Horizons about how Robert and I lied to players for three years in our game Digit Party, and how we used integer linear programming to stop.
First page of "Digit.party: Three years of lying about high scores" by Robert Brignall and Vincent Vatter, published in Math Horizons.
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Scientist Spotted 🦣 Rachel Narducci, our vertebrate paleontology collection manager, talked with WEDU | PBS about fossil collecting, the Peace River and Florida's natural history—both above and below sea level. Watch: video.wedu.org/video/greate...
video.wedu.org
Greater | Greater Wauchula | Fossils | Season 2026
Join fossil hunters on the Peace River to unearth Florida’s ancient hidden beasts!
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University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications @ufjschool.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Roxane Coche, UF CJC MPMT associate professor and department chair, and Nathan Carpenter, UF CJC Atlas Social Media Listening Lab director, were 2 of nearly 100 contributors to “World Cup Analysis 2026.”⚽ Read more here: bit.ly/45qnPZ6
bit.ly
Roxane Coche and Nathan Carpenter author an analysis of World Cup 2026 social media conversations
Roxane Coche, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Media Production, Management, and Technology associate professor and
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
An international team of scientists collected and carbon-dated more than 7,500 marine fossils to understand time averaging—in which organisms from different time periods are preserved together in the same fossil bed. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/pale... Study: doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
close up of an oblong of sedimentary stone with many small shells embedded in it as well as several larger shells and an ancient sand dollar
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University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications @ufjschool.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
A new study systematically examined trends and patterns in human-machine communication from 2000 to 2024 to map the discipline’s intellectual trajectory. 📊 Learn more about the findings here: bit.ly/3S3gcVq
bit.ly
New study reviews 25 years of research to map the intellectual trajectory of human-machine communication
A new study systematically examined trends and patterns in human-machine communication from 2000 to 2024 to map the discipline’s intellectual trajectory.
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AAU @aau.edu · 19/08/2026
With funding from NSF, researchers at the University of Florida are studying airports to help make your travel experience smoother. #NationalAviationDay
aau.edu
Researchers use AI, digital twin tech to make air travel more…
Using digital twin technology and artificial intelligence to simulate conditions at a real-life airport, University of Florida researchers are conducting…
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 19/08/2026
Living things shed DNA all the time, and these discarded bits of genetic material can offer researchers clues to our health.  These are called eDNA (environmental DNA), and by measuring these genetic footprints in water, soil or air, scientists can detect spreading diseases. #science #healthysky
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Can #datacenters pay their fair share? Theodore Kury, Director of Energy Studies at University of Florida’s Public Utility Research Center explains why it may be almost impossible.
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University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications @ufjschool.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Andrew Selepak, UF CJC MPMT associate instructional professor, is the author of “How Facebook and other social media killed the class reunion – and why we are worse off for it” published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Aug. 3.📲 Read more here: bit.ly/4bJ17z0
jou.ufl.edu
Andrew Selepak authors opinion piece on the importance of class reunion attendance
Andrew Selepak, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Media Production, Management, and Technology associate instructional
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Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance @wutsaialliance.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A study in mice by @kaesser.bsky.social and team at the @ufresearch.bsky.social suggests that exercising on a consistent daily schedule teaches the molecular clocks inside your muscles when to expect a workout and primes them to perform their best. humanperformancealliance.org/news/when-yo...
humanperformancealliance.org
When you train may be as important as how hard you train
June 08, 2026
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American Brain Foundation @abfbrain.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
@ufresearch.bsky.social researchers have found that the popular supplement #glucosamine, which many older adults take for joint pain, is linked to faster #dementia progression. It seems to cause too many sugar molecules to get tagged onto proteins in cells.
Research Discovery: Glucosamine, a popular supplement for joint pain, could be linked to faster Alzheimer’s progression.Diseases Affected: Alzheimer’s disease.Key Findings: For patients with mild cognitive impairment, glucosamine use was associated with a 25% greater risk for dementia. For patients with dementia, it was associated with a 25% greater mortality risk. Glucosamine increases the attachment of sugar molecules to proteins in cells, contributing to Alzheimer’s progression.What’s Next? This analysis only shows an association between glucosamine use and dementia risk, not proof of causation. However, future studies could build on these findings and lead to new treatments that target protein and sugar-tagging in cells.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
As space debris grows, rescuing broken satellites is becoming more important and challenging. In this @us.theconversation.com article, University of Florida Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. Candidate, Wanjiku Kanjumba highlights the need to design satellites for easier servicing, repair, and deorbiting.
theconversation.com
Rescuing satellites is harder than it looks – a growing space junk problem will make doing so more important
A new mission to save NASA’s Swift observatory shows why catching a satellite that was never designed for rescue is one of the hardest jobs in spaceflight.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
“We discovered a new function of one protein in promoting the growth of acute myeloid leukemia cells." @ufhealthcancer.bsky.social researchers have created a drug that effectively kills aggressive leukemia cells by targeting two proteins that promote the cancer’s growth.
cancer.ufl.edu
Researchers develop new drug for aggressive leukemias » Cancer Institute » UF Health Cancer Institute » University of Florida
Researchers created a drug that effectively kills aggressive leukemia cells by targeting two proteins that promote the cancer’s growth.
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UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences @uf-clas.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Big questions. Real research. Student-driven discovery. 🐊 🔗 news.clas.ufl.edu/uf-political...
(From left to right) Juliana Mucci, Jacob Kaplan and Riley Shahin stand together at the 2026 Election Science, Reform, & Administration Conference at Arizona State University on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Scientists have developed a model to predict the age of zebra sharks - an epigenetic clock - a useful tool for protecting endangered sharks and restoring wild populations. 🦈 Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie... Study: doi.org/10.1111/mec.... 📸: @aquariumpacific.bsky.social
Zebra shark swimming in an aquarium, displaying distinctive dark spots and stripes on a light-colored body.
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UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences @uf-clas.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
A rocky planet discovered by a UF astronomer may have an atmosphere. The new findings on LHS 1140b are a major milestone in the search for Earth-like worlds beyond our solar system. news.clas.ufl.edu/new-study-re...
In this artist’s concept, the exoplanet LHS 1140b is shown in the foreground, surrounded by a helium-rich atmosphere. Another nearby rocky planet orbits the same cool red dwarf star in the distance. A new study provides the strongest evidence yet that LHS 1140b has retained an atmosphere, representing a milestone step toward the discovery of Earth-like rocky planets beyond our solar system.

Credit: Melissa Weiss/Center for Astrophysics |Harvard & Smithsonian
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UF Geography @ufgeog.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The annual number of mosquito disease days has increased in nearly all U.S. cities analyzed by Climate Central. Dr. @sjryan3.bsky.social contributed to this new report which analyzes mosquito-borne diseases in 293 cities from 1970-2025 www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Track-playing baseball players outperform specialists, yet @mlb.com teams ignore track experience—highlighting a scouting gap that undermines early specialization.
news.ufl.edu
Study finds high school track experience gives baseball players an edge MLB teams overlook
New study suggest multi-sport participation can provide a competitive edge and challenge the belief that early specialization is the best path to athletic success.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
After AI opponents were added to PUBG: Battlegrounds, players spent ~50% more time in-game and played with friends ~28% more; researchers including University of Florida's Liangfei Qiu link this to increased self-efficacy, suggesting AI can boost learning, engagement, and social play.
news.ufl.edu
Video game AI opponents boost play time, gaming with friends
AI opponents helped players spend about 50% more time in PUBG: Battlegrounds after they were introduced.
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UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences @ufifas-ffgs.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Much of the research into 16th Century goings-on in the South sheds light on Native residents first through the eyes of Europeans. An effort in the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park in Georgia seeks to broaden the current narrative. blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ffgs/2026/07...
blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
Modern tech intersects with Native history in Ocumulgee Mounds study - School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
Much of the research into 16th Century goings-on in the South sheds light on Native residents first through the eyes of the Europeans that encountered them, instead of Native peoples themselves.  An e...
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UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences @uf-clas.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Do leatherback sea turtles really stop eating during nesting season? UF doctoral student Ariadna Arnau is studying their feeding behavior to uncover new insights that could help protect these incredible animals. Read more: news.clas.ufl.edu/uf-doctoral-...
The leatherback turtle makes its way back to the ocean as a UF researcher assists.
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Florida Museum of Natural History @floridamuseum.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Rice fueled many of the earliest civilizations and remains an indispensable source of food in the modern world. That might be about to change. Scientists warn that after 9,000 years of cultivation, rice has reached its thermal limit: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/afte... Photo: Jialiang Gao
Terraced rice paddies cascade down a steep hillside. The paddies are filled with water, creating a layered, reflective pattern. Some paddies are green with growing rice, while others are brown or reddish-brown. Sparse trees dot the landscape both along the terraces and at the base of the hill.
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 07/07/2026
Why can’t data centers just be charged more for their massive electricity usage? An energy studies scholar explains why It may be almost impossible to just do that under current regulations and laws:
theconversation.com
It may be almost impossible to make data centers pay their ‘fair share’ of electricity costs
Setting a price for power might seem straightforward, but in reality it’s extremely complicated – and residential customers have very little influence in the decision.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
A team of researchers are building a soft, AI-powered robotic “eye” that cleans itself and improves surgical visibility, inspired by how humans blink. The same design could tackle dust and debris in extreme environments like lunar construction.
news.ufl.edu
A clear vision: Researchers develop robotic surgical cameras that mimic the human eye
Researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Tennessee are developing an AI-powered, nature-inspired robotic device that mimics the human eye.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
"Research consistently shows that people remember people more than places,"-Rachel J.C. Fu, chair of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management and director of the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute at the University of Florida, told ABC News.
abcnews.com
World Cup visitors are going viral for their reactions to everyday American life
Across TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms, FIFA fans from around the world are sharing their reactions to uniquely American experiences
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
A common joint-health supplement may worsen Alzheimer’s outcomes, supporting UF neuroscientist Ramon Sun’s warning that millions may be unknowingly taking a supplement that could worsen disease progression.
theconversation.com
Glucosamine supplements may speed memory loss from Alzheimer’s, new research shows
Animal experiments and analysis of patient records suggest that taking glucosamine is safe for a healthy brain but is associated with further decline in diseased brains.
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Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program @floridamgvs.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Robot lawnmowers have been available, but are they effective on Florida turfgrass? New research from UF/IFAS shows that yes, autonomous mowers use frequent, low-impact mowing that produces denser, healthier turf more resistant to pests and disease. Story at UF/IFAS News: buff.ly/WAD5ggJ
A gray, square robotic lawnmower on a St. Augustine turf field at the UF/IFAS research center in Jay, FL.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Young frogs prioritize rapid growth over immune defense, only shifting energy toward fighting infection when disease becomes severe. The study shows how these energy trade-offs—shaped by environmental conditions and timing—affect survival, development, and broader population health.
news.ufl.edu
Young frogs
New research from the University of Florida shows that young frogs prioritize growing quickly even when infected with a deadly pathogen, shifting energy toward immune defense only when infections beco...
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
As World Cup teams brace for extreme summer heat, a University of Florida scientist, @olaitano.bsky.social is helping Brazil’s national soccer team gain an edge with personalized hydration strategies based on each player’s unique sweat and electrolyte losses.
A person in a white T-shirt holding a soccer ball stands in front of the R. Dizney Stadium sign with bleachers visible in the background.A man with glasses balances a soccer ball on his head at a sports field with an empty bleacher and a brick building in the background.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
From volcanoes to farmland: UF researchers are testing rock dust to improve Florida soils.
news.ufl.edu
Can spreading basaltic volcanic rock dust improve crops and the health of Florida’s soils?
UF researchers are testing volcanic rock dust to improve soil health across the state’s sandy and organic farmlands.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
A new AI tool called AIDD uses specialized MRI scans to distinguish between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies with near‑perfect accuracy. It could reduce misdiagnoses and improve treatment as dementia cases rise.
news.ufl.edu
As dementia cases rise, UF researchers develop a breakthrough AI tool to improve diagnosis accuracy
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are expected to more than double by 2060.
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Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research @accstr.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
UF doctoral student studying turtle movement patterns to decrease boat strikes news.clas.ufl.edu/uf-graduate-...
news.clas.ufl.edu
UF doctoral student studying turtle movement patterns to decrease boat strikes - News
UF graduate student Aileen Lavelle is placing satellite tags on turtles, so she can track their movement and decrease collisions with boats.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
What is AI doing to us—not just for us? New research from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business shows generative AI is reshaping behavior in online communities.
explore.research.ufl.edu
Invisible Hand - Explore Magazine
We know what technology does for us but what is it doing to us?
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Hantaviruses are an underrecognized threat in Africa due to weak diagnostics and surveillance. Scientists, including @cmavian.bsky.social, warn climate and land-use changes are increasing rodent–human contact and spillover risk, raising the potential for larger outbreaks without stronger monitoring.
theconversation.com
Hantavirus in Africa: why climate change, rats and weak surveillance are worrying scientists
Weak surveillance and climate change could allow deadly hantaviruses to spread unnoticed across African countries, raising the risk of future outbreaks.
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UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences @uf-clas.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Nature has spent billions of years solving problems. UF researchers are exploring how those solutions can inspire the next wave of innovation. 🌎 Their work is helping launch a new field called “ecotech.” Read more: news.clas.ufl.edu/ecotech-uf-r...
Sugarloaf Island aerial
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
UF Health’s Craniofacial Center uses early molding and feeding support to stabilize infants with cleft lip or palate before surgery. An interdisciplinary creates personalized plans, uses in‑house NAM fabrication, and helps families navigate long-term care with confidence.
explore.research.ufl.edu
Solving the Cleft-Palate Puzzle - Explore Magazine
Early teamwork at the UF Health Craniofacial Center helps align tiny faces.
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University of Florida Research @ufresearch.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Rachel Fu is leading UF’s Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute into a new era powered by AI, robotics and Big Data. Fu’s work is reshaping how the hospitality industry learns, grows and prepares for the future.
A woman stands confidently at a large conference table in a modern office space. She wears a black blazer over a light blue shirt and has long dark hair. The room features glass walls and is organized with chairs around the table, conveying a professional atmosphere.
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