oldentomologybldg.png

News

Berkley Walker analyzing plant under microscope

‘Wasteful’ Plant Process Makes a Key Prenatal Vitamin

New research from Michigan State University reveals that photorespiration — long considered a wasteful process — is essential for producing a crucial nutrient for preventing birth defects.
A field of mint plant

The Mint Blueprint: Unlocking Plant Chemistry to Fight Pests, Microbes and More

While unraveling the genetic makeup of a mint relative called ground oak, MSU biochemists discovered it sported a truly massive genome — nearly as large as our own — as well as an extra-large gene cluster and four sets of chromosomes.
Nexus exhibit

‘Nexus’ Exhibit Features Work by Artists Who Help Shape MSU’s Arts Community

Michigan State University’s Department of Art, Art History and Design, or AAHD, is shining a spotlight on the creative work of its academic staff, offering the public a look into the lives and practices of the artists who help shape MSU’s arts community.
Woman running on track

Study Finds Accessible Wireless Ultrasounds Are Accurate

With the start of both collegiate and professional sports, injuries are inevitable — and when they do happen, getting fast, reliable results can make all the difference. Researchers at Michigan State University found that wireless ultrasound devices, which are smaller and more portable compared to standard machines, can provide athletic trainers and other medical professionals with similar information.
Older woman on a swing

What Obituaries Reveal About a Life Well-Lived

What constitutes a life well-lived? A new Michigan State University-led study is turning to a common cultural artifact to find out: the obituary. This research introduces a new framework for the psychological study of legacy by shifting focus from how individuals wish to be remembered to how they are actually remembered by others.
Close up of hair

Shampoo-Like Gel Could Help Chemo Patients Keep Their Hair

Cancer fighters know that losing their hair is often part of the battle, but Michigan State University researchers have developed a shampoo-like gel that has been studied in animal models and could protect hair from falling out during chemotherapy treatment.
Two researchers working on their discovery of the drug cisplatin

MSU’s Cisplatin Cancer Drug Wins National Golden Goose Award

In 1965, a group of Michigan State University researchers accidentally discovered a new cancer-fighting drug: cisplatin. Since then, cisplatin has become the industry standard for cancer-fighting chemotherapy treatments. MSU will receive a 2025 Golden Goose Award for the scientific success and global impact of cisplatin.
Three metal powders

Automation Alley: Deng leverages 3D Printing with Affordable Powders for Smarter Manufacturing

The Michigan State University (MSU) Nondestructive Evaluation Lab, led by Yiming Deng, is revolutionizing metal 3D printing by combining low-cost powders with real-time AI-driven monitoring, making advanced manufacturing more affordable, sustainable, and Industry 4.0-ready.
Announcements
Jain to Help India Update National ID (Aadhaar) Innovation Roadmap
Anil Jain, University Distinguished Professor and the Douglas E. Zongker Endowed Professor of Engineering at Michigan State University, has joined a panel of experts for a strategic and technological upgrade of India’s digital identity platform.
Belin Joins MSU as the Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Chair in North American Indian and Indigenous Literary Studies
A citizen of the Navajo Nation and an acclaimed poet, artist, and educator, Esther Belin joined Michigan State University this fall as the new Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Chair in North American Indian and Indigenous Literary Studies in the Department of English. She is the second scholar to hold this position, following Gordon Henry, who retired in 2023 after serving as the inaugural Leslie Chair.
Basso Honored With Soil Science Research Award
Bruno Basso, a world-renowned expert in sustainable agriculture and precision agriculture systems, received the award Nov. 10 at the SSSA’s CANVAS conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Khalil Receives National ASME Medal for Lifetime Achievements
Hassan K. Khalil was presented the 2025 ASME Rufus Oldenburger Medal — the highest honor presented by ASME in the field of automatic control — during the ASME Modeling, Estimation and Control Conference in October in Pittsburgh, Penn.
Chavez Named Interim Director of Julian Samora Research Institute
Manuel Chavez, a professor in Michigan State University’s School of Journalism, has been named interim director of the Julian Samora Research Institute, or JSRI, effective early September 2025.