Stories

TCU’s Institute of Behavioral Research utilizes its $3.1 million portion of a larger $11.5 million grant to advance its ACTION research project. The project includes the use of a Mobile Health Unit (MHU), which will serve individuals who either have or are at risk for acquiring HIV or a substance use disorder. The project will initially concentrate on historically underserved areas in Tarrant County.

Research scientist and co-founder of TCU’s Eos BioAnalytics Summer Mengelkoch led the study in which 79 women and 80 men were recruited and asked to have their photos taken and their blood tested to discover if there is a link between people’s attractiveness and their immune systems.

TCU geological sciences professor, John Holbrook, discusses how geothermal energy could become the next economically viable source of clean energy. Technology for harnessing heat from the earth’s core is rapidly developing. Holbrook has been an outspoken advocate for greater investment in geothermal production, especially as Texas continues to encounter questions over its dependence on natural gas to produce electricity.

Matt Chumchal, TCU professor of biology, along with eight coauthors, recently had a paper, "Use of Riparian Spiders as Sentinels of Persistent and Bioavailable Chemical Contaminants in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review," published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (ET&C), an international scientific journal. The article reviews the use of riparian spiders as sentinels of environmental pollution, and suggests the development of national-scale programs to monitor chemical contaminants in aquatic ecosystems using spiders.

The dust has barely settled on COP26, the UN’s latest conference on climate change. Heads-of-state, negotiators, climate scientists, government representatives, businesses, and a host of other interested parties, gathered in Glasgow for 12 days to assess the state of the world’s climate and, more importantly, to lay out their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Doug Ingram, senior instructor in TCU’s department of physics and astronomy, answers questions about the reinvigorated fascination with space travel and why he thinks the United States will ultimately win the race to the moon.

Kayla Green, associate professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at TCU, conducts research that could lead to a greater understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s. She answers questions about recent scientific breakthroughs.

According to the USDA’s Economic Research Report, the cost of beef is up nearly 20%, putting a considerable strain on family grocery budgets. Jeff Geider, director of TCU’s Institute of Ranch Management, has an extensive background not only in agriculture, but also in marketing and economics. He breaks down the reasons for the soaring cost of beef and predicts when carnivores can expect relief.

Associate professor of biology, Marlo Jeffries, and co-PI Dalton Allen (M.S. Biology 2021, Ph.D. Biology 2024) were awarded a $10,164 grant from the American Association of Laboratory Animal Sciences (AALAS) to support portions of Allen's dissertation work that aims to determine whether toxicological tests that feature marine fish embryos or invertebrates can replace those that use marine fish larvae.