Category: Research

St. Augustine visitors will have a delicious new tourist option, thanks to UF researchers

UF professors are researching and building an exhibit based on a classic staple from St. Augustine: chocolate.

Humans infecting animals infecting humans: Preventing pandemics requires protecting all species

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, humans had been the only species with reported cases of the disease. Less than two weeks later, a report from Belgium marked the first infection in a domestic cat – presumably by its owner.

Researchers have documented this phenomenon of human-to-animal transmission, colloquially referred to as spillback or reverse zoonotic transmission, in both domestic and wild animals. This stepping-stone effect provides new opportunities for pathogens to evolve and can radically change how they spread.

Social media influencers can be key to getting the word out during health crisis

A recent study shows partnerships with social media influencers could improve crisis communication for governments and non-profits.

The deadly cost of workplace rudeness

Teams from UF and other universities across the U.S. and Israel recently conducted five eye-opening studies about rudeness and employee performance.

UF scientist’s Parkinson’s work selected for innovative drug development effort

Matthew Disney, Ph.D., was one of five scientists selected for an ambitious two-year effort to move promising Parkinson’s disease discoveries to patients.

Watch UF scientist rocket to space at the Reitz Union Aug. 29

Take part in history on Thursday, Aug. 29, as the University of Florida’s own Rob Ferl, Ph.D., becomes the first NASA-funded academic to conduct an experiment in space as part of the Blue Origin New Shepard mission.

Join a watch party starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Reitz Union to track the countdown to launch at 9 a.m. and follow the dramatic 11-minute journey to space and back. Free popcorn and “astronaut food” will be available as the official Blue Origin webcast plays. The event is hosted by the Reitz Union and the UF Astraeus Space Institute.

Building digital twin tools to investigate environmental threats to health

A new NIH-funded research project aims to create a digital dictionary and playbook to help technology replicate the way humans experience disease.

New grant to propel search for drugs for rare brain disorder

A team from the UF Scripps Institute has been awarded a five-year, $7.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to work toward a treatment.

Newly-discovered star could provide new insights into the evolution of stars

A new study challenges astronomers’ understanding of star evolution and formation of chemical elements, and could suggest a new stage in their growth cycle.

Beer in space: Microgravity’s effect on fermentation

A recent study from UF/IFAS researchers provides insight into how beer yeast might behave when fermented in outer space.