A natural alternative to pesticides may be hiding in a misunderstood plant compound, but it could come at an environmental cost. New Michigan State University research 40 years in the making now sheds light on how this natural chemical can repel insects — and how some plants that don’t normally make isoprene could activate production in times of stress.

Michigan State University has been named one of the top 40 institutions in the Top 100 U.S. Universities ranking by the National Academy of Inventors, which recognizes universities granted the most utility patents each year.

The MSU Water Alliance is helping faculty connect across disciplines, supporting student and young professional research, and turning scientific expertise into real-world solutions.

A team of researchers at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, at Michigan State University discovered that cobalt-70 isotopes form different nuclear shapes when their energy levels differ only slightly. The findings, published in Nature Communications Physics, shed light on the dynamic, complex nature of exotic nuclear particles.

When it comes to constructing complex buildings that involve architects, engineers and construction professionals, it’s not just engineering that matters, it’s also how people talk to each other. New interdisciplinary research from Michigan State University found that better team communication and collaboration can dramatically improve the performance of large-scale construction projects.

Millions of years ago, nearly all of Earth’s continents were fused together in one giant land mass called Pangea. That is, until tectonic forces split them apart in a phenomenon called continental rifting. Tyrone Rooney has spent his career solving the mystery of how rifting works.

Some of the most impactful technologies often aren’t the ones you see. They seamlessly make their way into our day, making life safer, healthier and more sustainable. At Michigan State University, a top 40 U.S. university for its number of utility patents, Spartan researchers are designing and delivering those very innovations.

Each year, Michigan’s top leaders gather on Mackinac Island for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Policy Conference to address key issues shaping the state’s future. This year, Michigan State University hosted a panel highlighting how federal research funding fuels breakthroughs, from improving pancreatic cancer survival rates to addressing crises like the Flint Water Crisis.

May is a time of celebration and reflection at MSU. As graduation season ends, we honor students’ achievements and recognize women in leadership. From inspiring faculty to student voices and cultural legacies, these stories reflect the resilience and creativity of the Spartan community.

The study, led by doctoral candidate Leonardo Ziccardi with professor Scott C Stark in the MSU Department of Forestry, shows how tropical trees act like giant solar antennas—absorbing vast quantities of light energy that must be carefully managed.

A new study from Michigan State University shows that planting too much genetically modified corn designed to fight off a tough insect — the corn rootworm — especially in the eastern U.S. Corn Belt states may be causing more harm than good.

Nearly 1 in 8 women in the U.S. experience postpartum depression (PPD), which is linked to higher rates of substance abuse, domestic violence, infant mortality, and even suicide. Research shows PPD can be reduced by 50% cost-effectively, but looming NIH funding cuts threaten this progress.