Millions of Americans live with painful thumb arthritis. Everyday tasks become difficult as your thumb accounts for 60% of the hand’s total function. Now, a hand surgeon at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center offers a solution to relieve painful thumb arthritis and improve hand function – a thumb joint implant.

SAN ANTONIO — October 6, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) will work together to identify new peptide catalysts for medicinal applications. The project is part of the Connecting through Research Partnerships (Connect) program, that started in 2010 to foster more collaborative research between SwRI and UT San Antonio.

As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, it is becoming easier to create convincing fake political videos, images and audio, making it harder for voters to distinguish fact from fiction. Jared Schroeder, a University of Missouri journalism professor and free-press expert, says AI-generated deepfakes, influencers and campaign content are increasingly shaping the information voters encounter online. He encourages voters to approach political content with skepticism, verify claims through trusted news and fact-checking organizations, and consult multiple credible sources before sharing or acting on information.

Indonesia's coral reefs face an ecological crisis. Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, Rector of Hasanuddin University, has spent more than three decades understanding reef decline and turning science into solutions. A marine ecologist and coral-reef restoration pioneer, he bridges fundamental science, conservation policy, and communities reliant on healthy oceans. Today, he’s scaling that work with cutting-edge technologies like AI, molecular genetics (eDNA), and precision engineering, aimed at national resilience and sustainable development. 

PodCAT, hosted by researchers from Rice University, the University of Rochester and Penn State University, is a podcast devoted to the science of catalysis, academic careers and the surprisingly personal stories of the researchers themselves.

Cybersecurity experts co-edited a technical magazine's special issue devoted to cybersecurity of the power grid. The special issue's theme: Use AI security tools against AI attack tools.

SAN ANTONIO — October 5, 2026 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) are collaborating to better understand how solid propellant burns, with the goal of improving current chemical kinetics models to enhance solid rocket motor (SRM) efficiency and performance. The research could support local resource utilization for future missions to Mars and beyond.

Okayama University of Science soccer players are using Google Gemini as a “thinking partner” to reflect on their performance, identify challenges, and improve team operations. What began as a faculty-led generative AI seminar has expanded into student-led learning and the use of AI across activities ranging from data analysis and training to public relations and community engagement.