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News

A zoom in of two orange butterflies sitting on a blade of grass together

Study Raises the Possibility of a Country Without Butterflies

Butterflies are disappearing in the United States. All kinds of them. With a speed scientists call alarming. Elise Zipkin, director of MSU’s Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program, and her MSU colleague and co-author Nick Haddad, professor of integrative biology in EEB, have been major figures in assessing the state of U.S. butterflies.
A generated image of Michigan made out of a netowrk of lights, with the Michigan State Spartan logo in the center

How MSU’s Global Reach Benefits Michigan

MSU is one of the most internationally engaged universities in the U.S. With more than 350 partnerships in 60 countries and more than 1,600 faculty and academic staff involved in international research, teaching and outreach, MSU continues to share knowledge and improve lives around the globe and right here in Michigan.
Picture captured of space with clouds of gas and dust swirling around forming stars

MSU Scientists Discover New Sources for ‘The Molecule That Made the Universe’

From helping catalyze interstellar reactions and fueling the birth of stars to its presence in neighborhood gas giants like Saturn and Jupiter, trihydrogen, or H3+, is best known as the “the molecule that made the universe.”
Close-up of a microscope focusing in on a glass slide with a small green leaf underneath

Pestka Seeking to Improve Treatments for Autoimmune Diseases

According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, as many as 50 million Americans may be living with an autoimmune disorder. Many of these remain undiagnosed and, without intervention, can worsen over time. Given current treatment options, however, even those being actively managed can be met with complications.
Monarch butterfly landing on a red flower in nature

MSU Brings New Approach to Stopping the Biodiversity Crisis

What if saving one animal species from extinction at a time isn’t the most effective approach? Michael Belitz, a Michigan State University postdoctoral researcher in the Zipkin Quantitative Ecology Lab, asked himself that question during his graduate work protecting a single butterfly species.
Art of semi-transparent human body with highlighted stomach surrounded by helixes and molecules

More Than a Gut Feeling: How Climate Change Affects GI Health

From heat-related illnesses to the geographic expansion of infectious diseases, the effects of climate change on human health are complex. And indeed, dimensions of this interaction, such as the impact of climate change on gut health, remain overlooked. Emerging research shows this global phenomenon may make you sick to your stomach — literally.
Michigan State University, a pioneer land grant college

MSU Reports $932 Million in Research Expenditures

Michigan State University reported a new record of $932 million in research and development expenditures for the fiscal year 2024, maintaining a positive trajectory with cumulative 30% growth over the past three years.
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Social Media Bridges Connection Gaps for Students with Disabilities

New research from the Michigan State University College of Education shows how social media provides connection and community for college students, particularly those with disabilities. Published in the Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, the study examines the nature of students’ social media use and its relationship to social capital and psychological well-being.

Announcements
MSU Forges Strategic Partnership to Solve the Mystery of How Planets Are Formed
Astronomers have long grappled with the question, “How do planets form?” A new collaboration among Michigan State University, Arizona State University and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will seek to answer this question with the help of a powerful telescope and high-performance computers.
Elliott Awarded Red Cedar Distinguished Professorship
Kevin C. Elliott, professor of philosophy and member of the Lyman Briggs College Science and Society faculty group, was promoted to Red Cedar Distinguished Professor on March 1, 2025.
Neogen Land Grant Prize Applications Due Febraury 27, 2025
The Office of Research and Innovation is seeking applications for the Neogen Land Grant Prize.
Jain Receives the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
Anil K. Jain has received the prestigious BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies for core contributions to machine learning which have unlocked “applications of far-reaching impact on society as a whole.” He shares this award with Michael I. Jordan, University of California, Berkeley, for his contributions to predictive algorithms.
Forger Elected to National Leadership Position
At the 100th annual meeting of the National Association of Schools of Music held in Chicago in November 2024, James Forger, dean of the College of Music at Michigan State University, was elected by the membership as vice president and president-elect of the Association.
Woodruff Receives National Medal of Science
Teresa K. Woodruff joined an elite group of Americans who have received two national medals of honor when President Joe Biden announced the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science on Jan. 3.