If humans are ever going to live beyond Earth, they’ll need to construct habitats. But transporting enough industrial material to create livable spaces would be incredibly challenging and expensive. Harvard researchers think there's a better way, through biology. 

An international team of researchers led by Robin Wordsworth have demonstrated that they can grow green algae inside shelters made out of bioplastics in Mars-like conditions. The experiments are a first step toward designing sustainable habitats in space that won’t require bringing materials from Earth.

The use of emojis in text messaging improves perceived responsiveness and thereby enhances closeness and relationship satisfaction, according to a study published July 2, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Eun Huh from The University of Texas at Austin, U.S.

In August 2024, the World Health Organization declared a second “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” for mpox. The current outbreak in Africa is driven mainly by the clade I variant, with multiple countries reporting their first-ever mpox cases of this more severe strain. Nagoya University researchers and their collaborators have found that measuring the amount of virus in the blood when skin lesions first appear can help predict whether patients will experience mild or severe progression of the disease. The study analyzes viral loads during early infection to predict how sick patients will get, potentially improving treatment strategies for future outbreaks. 

A first in 3D food printing, Ali Ubeyitogullari, an assistant professor of food engineering with the food science and biological and agricultural engineering departments at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and postdoctoral fellow Sorour Barekat developed sorghum protein into a 3D food printing gel noted for its hydrophobicity to aid in product cohesion. Known for its drought tolerance, grain sorghum also has multiple health benefits.

Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin used machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop new materials that could keep your house cooler and reduce energy bills.