One of 21 researchers selected nationwide for the 2026 cohort, Fullerton will receive $1.35 million over five years with additional funding available for specialized equipment. 

How do bacteria adapt when resources run low? ISTA researchers have found that, under starvation stress, E. coli can use bacteriophages and CRISPR-Cas immunity to transfer and incorporate DNA, accelerating genetic reshuffling. The process resembles a primitive form of sexual reproduction and may help bacterial populations adapt to changing conditions. The findings were published in Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Researchers at University College London have developed a new computational model of human color vision that accounts for individual physiological differences, explaining why wide-gamut modern displays often appear inconsistent to different viewers. Published in Optics Express, the study demonstrates how adjusting a display's red, green, and blue primary light spectra can help manufacturers build screens that deliver more consistent, accurate colors across a broader audience.

The Peninsula Innovation District, a collaboration between the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and UT Medical, has received the 2026 Emerging Community of Innovation award from the Association of University Research Parks. Building on the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, the district is growing into a place where researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry can connect with university expertise and with one another around a shared vision for innovation. The award recognizes the momentum behind that transformation and the district’s potential for continued growth. 

JMIR Publications invites submissions to a new section in JMIR Cardio titled “Generative and Multimodal AI in Digital Cardiovascular Medicine.” 

FAU and Blue Ops, a maritime division of Red Cat Holdings, have established a strategic partnership to bring Blue Ops’ uncrewed maritime systems operations to FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce. The partnership will create a hub for research, development, testing, training and collaboration in ocean technology, autonomous systems and national defense, while providing opportunities for joint research, student internships and scholarships, workforce development, and real-world testing of emerging maritime technologies.

Garbage left outside starts smelling unpleasant very quickly, especially in warm, humid climates that accelerate food decay. In ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, researchers report a solar-powered lid insert that fits onto standard wheeled trash bins and helps combat the stench. In tests with real food, the lid insert efficiently breaks down acetic acid, the main culprit released from rotting waste that’s responsible for its odors, and continues working for more than a month.