Robin Ann Smith

Taking a larger view of the universe. Duke Today, Oct. 18, 2023. NASA’s next space telescope will offer an expanded view of the cosmos and generate colossal amounts of data. Duke scientists are part of $31M in grants to help prepare for the mission, which will help demystify the universe’s “dark side.”

The virus hunters. Duke Today, Oct. 16, 2023. Climate change isn’t just making the planet hotter. It’s also increasing the risk of viruses jumping species. Researchers working in a biodiversity hotspot in Madagascar are trying to figure out how to stop them.

Philip Benfey, plant biologist who studied roots as a window to development, dies. Duke Today, Oct. 2, 2023. Biology professor Philip Benfey, a plant geneticist and entrepreneur who advanced our understanding of the way cells develop and differentiate, died Tuesday, September 26, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 70.

Unzipping mRNA rallies plant cells to fight infection. Duke Today, Sept. 20, 2023. Scientists have discovered hairpin-like mRNA structures that, by zipping and unzipping, help cells change the mix of proteins they produce when under stress.

Mysterious family of microbial proteins hijack crops’ cellular plumbing. Duke Today, Sept. 13, 2023. Researchers have identified the molecular weapons bacteria use to waterlog plant tissues and spread infection, costing $220 billion in crop losses each year. What’s more, they may have come up with a way to disarm them

Creating new quantum materials, atom by atom. Sept. 5, 2023. Physicist Divine Kumah is designing the next generation of electronic materials.

Blink and you’ll miss these plants shooting their seeds. Duke Today, Aug. 23, 2023. Members of the witch hazel family can fling heavier seeds just as fast as lighter ones, thanks to their spring-loaded fruits. Picked up by Popular Science, Ars Technica, Earth.com, New Atlas and Futurity.

Summer camp meets AI. Duke Today, Aug. 22, 2023. As the first days of school approached, many teens spent their last precious days of summer sleeping in, or hanging out at the pool. But one group of Durham middle schoolers spent it playing around with artificial intelligence chatbots.

This fish doesn’t just see with its eyes. It also sees with its skin. Duke Today, Aug. 22, 2023. Without a mirror, it can be hard to tell if you’re blushing, or have spinach in your teeth. But one color-changing fish has evolved a clever way to keep watch on the parts of itself that lie outside its field of view — by sensing light with its skin. Picked up by The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Scientific American, UPI, Inverse, Popular Science, ZME Science, The Guardian and Salon.

Smart Devices: Putting a Premium on Peace of Mind. Duke Today, Aug. 7, 2023. Cybersecurity labels for smart gadgets are coming. Are consumers willing to pay to know their risks before they buy?

Helping people and wildlife coexist in ways that benefit both, using math. Duke Research Blog, July 13, 2023. Duke team wins top prize in mathematical modeling contest.

Making rubbery materials that can take a beating without losing their bounce. Duke Today, June 22, 2023. Research could pave the way to flexible-yet-durable materials that help cut down on microplastic pollution from things like the wear and tear of car tires. The secret to their toughness: Weak bonds that actually make them stronger. Picked up by Science News and ZME Science.

Could biological clocks be the next weapon against malaria? Duke Today, June 6, 2023. Research could pave the way to new anti-malarials that work by “jet-lagging” the parasites that cause the disease.

Little-known microbes could help predict climate tipping points. Duke Today, June 1, 2023. Rising temperatures could push ocean plankton and other single-celled creatures toward a carbon tipping point that fuels more warming. But new research shows it’s also possible to detect early distress signals before they get there. Picked up by Eos, Grist, Oceanographic Magazine, Earth.com and Mirage News.

Adult friendships can triumph over childhood trauma, even in baboons. Duke Today, May 17, 2023. New study of baboons shows that a stressful upbringing can shorten life, but strong social bonds can help get those years back. Picked up by Forbes, Barron’s, Popular Science, France 24, Yahoo News and Earth.com.

Creating a ‘parts list’ for cancer’s spread, with help from a worm. Duke Today, May 4, 2023. As most textbooks tell it, cells are the basic building blocks of the body. But to one research team at Duke University, cells are a jailbreak waiting to happen. Now, in a study of C. elegans worms, they’ve created a “parts list” for a cell caught in the act of making an escape — a key step in the spread of cancer.

‘Smart’ tech is coming to a city near you. Duke Today, April 25, 2023. Proponents say real-time sensors, data will improve the everyday lives of citizens. But some worry smart city tech could exacerbate existing inequalities. Picked up by National Public Radio affiliate WFDD.

If it pays to be a jerk, why isn’t everyone that way? Duke Today, April 24, 2023. Long-term research on chimpanzees offers new clues to the puzzle of personality. Picked up by Earth.com, The Times and Popular Science.

The secret to more resilient tomatoes? No seeds. Duke Research 1100 Words. April 10, 2023. High temperatures can interfere with the fertilization of crops, but researchers say there may be another way to ensure a bountiful harvest: seedless fruits. 

How fire helps a forest stand the test of time. Duke Today, March 23, 2023. In some southern forests, the problem facing trees isn’t fire. It’s the absence of it.

Dying plant cells alert healthy cells to save themselves from disease. Duke Today, Feb. 20, 2023. Can the deathbed rally of a few dying cells save the rest of the body? New evidence from plants.

Think you’re not a math person? Duke Today, Jan. 30, 2023. These Durham kids are learning otherwise.

Even preschoolers can spot a cop-out. Duke Today, Jan. 16, 2023. When it comes to broken promises, children as young as 3 to 5 recognize that some excuses are better than others. Picked up by Big Think, CNBC, Cosmos Magazine and Futurity.

Modeling the COVID-19 roller coaster. Duke Research blog, Jan. 3, 2023. A student team looks at the math behind COVID’s waves as new coronavirus variants continue to emerge.

For weary scholars, a moment to regroup, reconnect…and write. Duke Research blog, Jan. 3, 2023. Most scholars know all too well the burnout faculty and students face at the end of the semester. But for a few precious hours, they hit pause on the onslaught of meetings and other duties to work alongside fellow writers.