In the News: Top Stories in 2020

January

Researchers receive grant to enhance solar technology (Jan. 12)

Jerome Schubert, Texas A&M University: Recognition that there’s always more to learn drives passion for research, academics (Jan. 22)

Does the world need doctors with engineering degrees? (Jan. 22)

Texas A&M researchers working to improve prosthetic devices (Jan. 31)

February

Novel hydrogels degrade while stem cells flourish for tissue repair (Feb. 4)

Researchers explore hydrogels that are promising materials for delivering therapeutic cells (Feb. 4)

New hydrogels wither while stem cells flourish for tissue repair (Feb. 5)

Complaining about climate change on Twitter might actually help scientists (Feb. 6)

MAP hydrogel biodegradation enhances stem cell growth (Feb. 10)

The U.S. power grid desperately needs upgrades to handle climate change (Feb. 12)

Tool finds software update bugs in hours, not days (Feb. 13)

Robotic medicine may be the weapon the world needs to combat the coronavirus (Feb. 26)

Utilizing your smart watch to manage your mental health (Feb. 28)

Texas A&M team identifies African dust above Houston (Feb. 28)

New technology could help fatigued offshore workers avoid accidents (Feb. 28)

March

Leading women in engineering and science: Maryam Zahabi, assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering, Texas A&M University (March 1)

Killer treatments (March 2)

Playing on keys (March 3)

Detecting deep fakes (March 6)

Researchers develop flood prediction tool (March 10)

Texas A&M researchers develop flood prediction tool (March 12)

Factories pivot to fight coronavirus, but challenges abound (March 21)

It’s time to invest in infrastructure like the economy depends on it (March 25)

April

Texas A&M researchers create do-it-yourself protective masks for hospitals battling COVID-19 (April 1)

Texas A&M researchers design 3D-printed diffuser to treat COVID-19 patients (April 9)

M. Katherine Banks, Texas A&M’s incoming president, says she’s planning for a campus in 'normal mode' this fall (April 9)

A&M engineering students offering free online tutoring (April 14)

Scientists use a little math to print the strongest kind of steel (April 19)

Texas A&M, TEEX explore robotics applications to protect health workers (April 19)

May

How robots and other tech can make the fight against coronavirus safer (May 4)

Antioxidants from red wine could help cut food waste (May 15)

June

Researchers find new way to detect blood clots (June 5)

How the pandemic impacts US electricity usage (June 18)

Nanosheets regulate cells with light (June 19)

July

Goal is finding tech to ‘deter war,’ says new leader for Texas A&M Army test center (July 3)

Texas A&M researchers are developing a wrist-worn system to monitor blood pressure during sleep (July 8)

6 advances in 3D bioprinting of living tissue (July 8)

New tech keeps photo batteries from going boom (July 15)

Researchers are producing COVID-19 spike proteins to prevent future infections (July 19)

How the world’s smelliest fruit could power your phone (July 26)

A possible weapon against the pandemic: printing human tissue (July 27)

August

Opioid overdoses on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic, despite telemedicine care (Aug. 24)

Hurricanes and wildfires are colliding with the COVID-19 pandemic – and compounding the risks (Aug. 26)

September

Is Houston area prepared for a major hurricane? A status update on projects seeking to mitigate impact (Sept. 8)

Plant-based device could charge cars in minutes (Sept. 9)

Sanitizing face masks and creating reusable N95 options (Sept. 16)

Exceptional Aggies: Engineering students make life-saving alert device for service dogs (Sept. 21)

Thorium-based reactor fuel could support a new wave of nuclear power (Sept. 22)

October

A&M professor, students create COVID-19 spread simulations to aide in university decision making (Oct. 1)

Texas A&M creates new program to prepare students for digital-forward future (Oct. 1)

Memristor breakthrough: First single device to act like a neuron (Oct. 1)

Researchers develop framework to identify health impacts of self-driving vehicles (Oct. 15)

How will self-driving cars affect public health? (Oct. 23)

Texas A&M to lead $100M hypersonic research project (Oct. 26)

DOD awards applied hypersonics contract to Texas A&M University (Oct. 26)

Pentagon establishes new hypersonic weapons consortium, to be led by Texas A&M (Oct. 26)

TEES to manage DoD’s University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (Oct. 27)

Texas A&M to lead $100M research for hypersonic flight  (Oct. 27)

November

Simple retrofit may keep the lights on after an earthquake (Nov. 12)

Texas A&M study links four socioeconomic factors to COVID-19 spread (Nov. 17)

New breathalyzer from Texas A&M, Dallas company might detect COVID-19 in a minute or less (Nov. 19)

Texas A&M team working on all-terrain military robot (Nov. 28)

December

They couldn't say goodbye in person, so ICU patients are using tablets instead (Dec. 6)

Three Texas A&M students create portable air purifier prototype capable of deactivating coronavirus (Dec. 9)

Hydrogels with fine-toothed molecular combs may make enduring glucose-monitoring implants (Dec. 9)

 Texas A&M researchers create new data hub to help show how the pandemic has affected electricity use (Dec. 14)

Salt-tolerant bacteria with an appetite for sludge make biodegradable plastics (Dec. 14)

Treat of the day: A&M GoFly team (Dec. 29)

Drowning salt marshes threaten coastal communities (Dec. 29)