Vinit Chaudhary, founder of Elemental Composites and a member of Cohort 2024 in the Innovation Crossroads program, comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has long been interested in business. Supported by Innovation Crossroads — a Department of Energy Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program node at Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Chaudhary is developing natural fiber composites that are strong, lightweight, and biodegradable. This innovative approach is designed to reduce waste, create new markets for farmers and expand the use of alternative materials across industries such as transportation, automotive, marine infrastructure and sporting goods.

Remote and hybrid work became the norm after the COVID-19 pandemic, but more workplaces, like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Disney and even the federal government have mandated that employees return to offices in recent years. But not all employees are returning at the same rate. A recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey reveals that the share of employed people who spent time working at home on days worked was about the same in 2024 (33 percent) as in 2023 (35 percent). However, the share of men who spent  some time working at home decreased from 34 percent in 2023 to 29 percent in 2024, while  the share of women who did so remained the same at 36 percent. In fact, other data suggests that some women have left the workforce altogether due to return-to-office requirements.

Researchers in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Tickle College of Engineering and UT Institute of Agriculture are partnering with technology development firm CFD Research Corporation to create a groundbreaking device that uses biomarkers in the blood to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder and other complex conditions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming widely adopted across multiple industries, including the critical field of grid operations. The integration of AI into grid systems promises enhanced efficiency and reliability, but it also brings a host of new challenges.

How do you strengthen the health of a nation? At the Yale School of Public Health, students and faculty are shaping policy, applying technology, and partnering with communities to protect and improve lives. We’re taking on challenges from lowering health care costs to confronting emerging diseases — all to build a healthier future for everyone. In Innovation That Matters Episode 4, Yale School of Public Health's Dean Megan Ranney and faculty members Zack Cooper, Chantal Vogels, and Ijeoma Opara show how local action can spark national change.

The tart snap of lemonade. The creamy nostalgia of birthday cake frosting. The buttery crumble of pie crust.

Flavor is what pulls us back to childhood kitchens, family dinners or the first bite of something unforgettable. But behind every sip and bite is someone shaping that experience, blending science with storytelling.

For Lauren Muhlberger ’12, that someone is her.

There are 500 certified flavorists in the world, and even fewer of them are senior certified flavorists. Muhlberger has built a career out of designing the flavors people crave. Her lab is stocked not with test tubes or beakers but with tiny bottles that hold the power to trigger memory, joy or even surprise.

What does it take to lead in medicine today? Students and faculty at Yale are answering that call — not just in clinics and labs, but in classrooms and communities across the country. Their work is rooted in a shared commitment: to improve lives through access, innovation, and care. Watch how Yale School of Medicine is helping shape the future of health care in Innovation That Matters: Episode 3.

Scientists have invented a pioneering application designed to alleviate water shortages in the Middle East.