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News

Colorful line up of lithium batteries

MSU Researchers Develop Wood-Based Material That Improves Safety and Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries

For consumers worried about the risks associated with using lithium-ion batteries — which are used in everything from phones to laptops to electric vehicles — Michigan State University has discovered that a natural material found in wood can improve battery safety while also improving the battery’s life.
A large cargo ship carrying colorful shipping containers

MSU Study Unpacks How 2025 Tariffs Shocked Global Supply Chain

In the wake of the largest series of U.S. tariff hikes since 1930, a new study from Michigan State University explores how this economic shock is reshaping global supply chains and offers a framework to help researchers and policymakers make sense of the chaos. The study was recently published in the Journal of Supply Chain Management.
RFID Scan tag

RFID Isn’t Just for Tracking Inventory: New MSU Research Shows It Secures Drug Supply Chain

New MSU-led research shows how real-time tracking using RFID can fight counterfeit drugs, protect patients, and help pharmaceutical companies meet new federal security standards. The breakthrough pilot, led by the Axia Institute, proves RFID’s potential for total traceability, from production to pharmacy.
Herd of cows on a farm

Researchers Map the Worldwide Threat of Antibiotic Resistance in Livestock Waste

A major international study by Michigan State University and partner researchers has uncovered a hidden danger lurking in animal farms around the world: Livestock manure is packed with antibiotic resistance genes that could threaten human health. This study spanned 14 years and represents the most comprehensive survey of livestock antibiotic resistant genes to date.
Dionne O’Dell leads a rehearsal

O'Dell Publishes Book on Creating Theatre With Neurodiverse Audiences in Mind

MSU Theatre Specialist Dionne O’Dell releases her debut book, The Sense-Ability Ensemble’s Guide to Creating Theatre for Audiences that are Neurodiverse, offering an inside look at building inclusive performances from the ground up. Available July 1, 2025.
Rainout Shelter at MSU's Kellog's Biological Station

Some Studies Might Not Paint Full Picture of How Plants Respond to Climate Change

Scientists may be underestimating how plants will respond to rising global temperatures when they study hot summers but not warming winters, Michigan State University ecologists found.
Researcher in a lab coat using a micropipette in a biomedical laboratory

MSU Researchers Use Nanomedicine and Artificial Intelligence to Diagnose Diseases — A Biology First

Using artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and causal analysis, scientists at Michigan State University have made a biology-first breakthrough in identifying early biomarkers for prostate cancer and heart disease.
Anaerobic digestion facility

Transforming Waste Into a Public Asset: Michigan State University Leads Next-Generation Anaerobic Digestion Innovation

As conversations continue to build among policymakers and industry leaders on how to best address nutrient runoff, energy transition and sustainable waste management in the Great Lakes region, Michigan State University scientists are pioneering solutions that transform organic waste into a public asset.
Person holding a whitefish

Smith Leads Innovative Effort to Protect Lake Whitefish Using Genetic Markers

A Michigan State University researcher is leading a groundbreaking genetic effort to protect Lake Michigan’s dwindling lake whitefish population, an essential species for ecosystems, economies, and tribal communities alike.
Tractor in a field

MSU-Led Research Team Receives $500K Grant to Combat Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Soybeans

A national research team led by Michigan State University has received a $500,000 grant from the United Soybean Board to develop new diagnostic tools for herbicide-resistant weeds in soybeans. The award currently covers one year but can be extended for up to three years.
A farmer driving a tractor to harvest alfalfa beneath solar panels

MSU Researchers to Explore Viability of Agriculture, Solar Power Generation Together in Michigan

Michigan State University researchers and MSU Extension educators are evaluating the potential of agrivoltaics — which combines agricultural operations with solar energy production — in Michigan.
Dr. Maryam Goudarzi speaks with Doug Gage in a meeting

Critical Mass: Core Upgrades Pave Way for Spartan Science

A revamped facility space, installation of advanced instruments, and the vision of a new director are providing Spartan scientists with the tools they need to achieve cutting-edge science at MSU’s Mass Spectrometry and Metabolomics Core.
Announcements
MSU Fulbright Scholars and Students Announced for 2025–26
Eleven faculty and nine students* from Michigan State University were offered Fulbright awards for the 2025-26 academic year.
McCusker Receives Royal Society of Chemistry Prize
James K. McCusker, a University Research Foundation Professor in the College of Natural Science, has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry’s prestigious Mond-Nyholm Prize for Inorganic Chemistry.
Jain Awarded BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
Anil Jain, University Distinguished Professor at MSU, has received the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, alongside Michael I. Jordan of UC Berkeley, for their foundational work in machine learning and its broad societal impact.
10 MSU Faculty Members Earn University Distinguished Professor Designation
Ten Michigan State University faculty have been named University Distinguished Professors in recognition of their outstanding achievements in teaching, research and public service.
Woodruff Receives Highest Award From Society for the Study of Reproduction
Michigan State University Research Foundation Professor Teresa K. Woodruff is the 2025 recipient of the Carl G. Hartman Award from the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Woodruff, an internationally recognized expert in ovarian biology and reproductive science, will receive the award in Washington, D.C. at the society’s annual meeting in late July.
Bringing the Heat: Researchers Convene to Discuss the Impacts of Extreme Heat
Researchers convened on May 14, 2025, at the Wharton Center for the interdisciplinary research forum Heat Stress: Challenges to Human and Animal Health, on the impacts of heat stressors on people, plants, and animals.