Rutgers scientists have identified natural repellents against an invasive blueberry pest, a scientific breakthrough that was accidentally discovered when fruit flies invaded their laboratory. The accident, more than a decade in the making, could one day transform how commercial crops are protected. “As a kid, this is what I thought science was – you stumble […]
Research
Rutgers Researcher Is Awarded a Federal Grant to Help Win the War on Bugs
Bugs are formidable foes, spreading disease and destroying billions of dollars in crops annually. Conventional controls, such as insecticides, are losing their effectiveness amid growing resistance and environmental concerns. Novel controls are needed – and a Rutgers-New Brunswick researcher has been awarded $2.1 million in federal funding to find them. Jennifer Sun, assistant professor in the Department of […]
Mosquito Waste Reveals Viruses Hiding in Plain Sight
A new approach to capture waste from mosquitoes could strengthen early warning systems for emerging health threats When public health researchers want to know whether diseases such as COVID-19 or polio are circulating in a community, they can look for genetic evidence in wastewater. Entomologist Dana Price wondered whether the same principle could be applied to […]
From the Classroom to the Laboratory: Experiential Learning Shapes Food Science Student’s Future
Two semesters of experiential learning in Rutgers’ food packaging laboratory helped Daniel Burd transform classroom knowledge into award-winning research with real-world applications for the food industry. When Daniel Burd first arrived at Rutgers after earning an associate degree from Brookdale Community College, he knew he loved food science because it brought chemistry and biology to […]
Shellfish Geneticist Ximing Guo Among Two Rutgers Research Teams to Receive 2026 Edison Patent Awards
New varieties of oysters that have become an important part of the global aquaculture industry have earned Rutgers researcher Ximing Guo a 2026 Edison Patent Award from the Research & Development Council of New Jersey (RDNJ). Guo’s invention is one of two Rutgers innovations recognized this year with the state’s highest honor for inventors and […]
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days Showcase Innovation and Industry Collaboration
Turf professionals from across the United States and abroad gathered this summer for the 2026 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days, where they explored the latest advances in turfgrass science and management while engaging directly with Rutgers researchers, faculty, staff, and students. The annual educational outreach events highlighted cutting-edge research and practical solutions for golf courses, […]
In Tests of Athletic Performance, Plant-Based Diets Hold Their Own
A Rutgers Director of Behavioral Nutrition and other researchers find no significant differences in recreational athletes’ endurance or strength Could athletes trade meat for plants and maintain their performance? In a multi-university study, researchers found that recreational runners and resistance trainers did just that. The study, published in Nutrition Journal and coauthored by Rutgers Director of Behavioral Nutrition and […]
How We Study China and the Environment Matters — And Scale Is the Key
When it comes to understanding China’s relationship with the environment, the way we frame the question can change everything. A new editorial published in the Chinese Journal of Sociology argues that researchers need to think more carefully about “scale” — meaning the size, level, and reach of the environmental processes and systems— in order to […]
How Ancient Red Algae Power Extreme Ecosystems and Offer Clues to Life’s Evolution
Rutgers researchers reveal how ancient organisms drive microbial communities and may yield tools for biotechnology Ancient single-celled red algae that thrive in scalding, acidic waters are emerging as far more than specialized survivors. Research by Rutgers evolutionary biologist Debashish Bhattacharya and his collaborators show that the organisms, known as Cyanidiophyceae, form the foundation of entire microbial ecosystems, […]
Asian Mountain Rivers Are Changing and Better Climate Data Can Help Us Prepare
Billions of people across Asia depend on rivers fed by glaciers and snowpack high in the mountains. But as the climate warms, those rivers are changing — and predicting exactly how, is harder than it sounds. A new study takes a closer look at how we can improve those predictions, and why it matters for […]
