This study used the concept of reinforcement learning to explain the navigation of chemotactic cells toward sparsely distributed targets, showing how decentralized information processing through environmental interaction can lead to highly intelligent behavior. Simulations showed that groups of simple agents could navigate mazes more robustly than a more intelligent single agent. This demonstrates that decentralized teams of simple agents can efficiently process information as a group, with potential applications in medicine, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

SAN ANTONIO — October 15, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and 8 Rivers have patented a system that leverages fluctuations in energy demand by using liquid oxygen storage (LOX) to make power plants more cost-effective and efficient. To accomplish this, the Institute modified a recently developed power cycle, the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle, which combusts fuel, like natural gas, using an oxygen and carbon dioxide mixture to allow complete carbon capture, producing minimal greenhouse gas emissions.

University of Tennessee AgResearch hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center highlighting new on-site facilities, precision agriculture equipment and laboratory renovations funded through the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

A study of elephants, giraffes and other wildlife in Namibia’s Etosha National Park underscores the ways in which the environment, biological sex, and anatomical distinctions can drive variation in the gut microbiomes across plant-eating species. Because the gut microbiome plays a critical role in animal health, the work can be used to inform conservation efforts.

Organoids are three-dimensional, self-organizing structures derived from stem cells that faithfully mimic the complexity of human organs. This review explores the innovations in organoid technology, covering their construction, applications, and future challenges. By replicating in vivo conditions, organoids have become indispensable tools for disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized medicine, with growing significance in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research.

A Harvard team has demonstrated that robots can be designed to react to their environment and perform tasks by programming intelligence into their structure. 

Loneliness can be seen in a physical workplace, but remote work often hides the signs. To visualize communication and identify employees at risk in increasingly diverse work environments, researchers at Kyushu University analyzed workplace chat logs from platforms like Slack, and developed two new indicators—contribution to communication and strength of relationships between users. The team is now partnering with companies to explore wider practical applications.