Research News

Michigan State University researchers are developing precision irrigation tools that help farmers make informed decisions, improve crop production and conserve water and energy.

July 2026 was among the driest on record across many parts of Michigan, according to National Weather Service data. When rainfall falls short, growers rely on irrigation to support their crops, making precise water use critical.

Faculty and students from Michigan State University’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering brought research, leadership and student innovation to the 2026 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting.

More than 70 Spartans attended the July 12-15 meeting in Indianapolis, delivering more than 60 technical presentations, serving on technical and leadership committees, councils and boards, and competing in research, design and robotics competitions.

More than 200 researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and government partners gathered in East Lansing on Aug. 11 for the 2026 Mobility Summit, themed “Michigan Moves: Building the Next Mobility Economy.”

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that neurons in a locust’s brain can distinguish among multiple PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the world’s most common “forever chemicals,” at environmentally relevant concentrations.

As AI models evolve, we’ve seen how they harness the power of immense volumes of data. However, sometimes they tap into data they shouldn’t. When this happens, the system owner may be ordered by a regulatory agency or court to remove the data. Traditionally, when AI models needed to stop using data, the only reliable option was to rebuild the entire model from scratch. A new learning paradigm contributed by MSU researcher Sijia Liu allows AI models to selectively forget, or “unlearn,” specific data sets without the need to scrap the whole model.

John Albrecht has been named interim associate dean for research for the College of Engineering at Michigan State University. His appointment begins Sept.1, 2026. Albrecht has been a professor in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science since 2012. He has served as the executive director of the University Research Organization (URO) in the MSU Office of Research and Innovation since 2022 and will continue in the leadership role while serving as interim with the college.

“I am among those who think that science has great beauty.” That sentiment from Nobel Prize–winning scientist and trailblazer Marie Curie comes to life every day in the work of Michigan State University researchers who develop breakthroughs and technologies that create a better world.

For decades, silicon has been the foundation of modern electronics because it is abundant, relatively affordable and well suited to the precise control of electrical current that makes computer chips possible. But today’s most advanced systems, from AI hardware to high-power and quantum technologies, are pushing silicon harder than ever, demanding more speed, more power and operation in hotter, harsher environments. As those demands grow, heat has become a major bottleneck: silicon remains essential, but it does not move heat nearly as well as diamond, making it harder to keep next-generation devices cool, compact and reliable.

Michael Hickner is creating new materials at Michigan State University to improve energy and water technologies. As the Craig A. Rogerson Endowed Professor in Chemical Engineering, he uses polymer science and materials to solve engineering problems by applying the tools of chemistry and chemical engineering.

Are we alone in the universe? Consider mysterious ”extraterrestrial” radio signals. Unexplained gases on other planets. Things mistaken for UFOs.