Health & Society

CU Boulder researchers have discovered a new compound capable of pushing past the defenses of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It, and other recent discoveries from the lab, could lead to a new arsenal for combating the rising threat of superbugs.

From diving Neanderthals to saliva-based COVID-19 tests, we remember the year in research at CU Boulder.

A new neuroimaging study offers a first look at what happens in the brain when we try to stop thinking about one thing in order to make room for new ideas. The findings offer clues on how to be more productive when studying and working. They could also lead to new therapies for trauma and anxiety disorders.

A team from the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering recently published results from a pilot impact evaluation of trail bridges in rural Rwanda. They installed sensors to monitor use at 12 bridge sites constructed by Denver-based nonprofit Bridges to Prosperity.

With vaccines beginning to roll out, policymakers face tough decisions on whom to bring to the front of the line. New research shows prioritizing people older than 60 will save the most lives, but prioritizing young adults works best to reduce spread. And some regions may want to ask those who've already had the virus to offer up their place in line.

A new mathematical modeling study by CU Boulder scientists suggests a simple scratch-and-sniff test could play an important role in screening for COVID-19. An alumnus has already invented a 50-cent test that interfaces with a smartphone app, and more research is underway.

Unless urgent action is taken, climate change will increasingly threaten global health, disrupt lives and livelihoods, and overwhelm healthcare systems, according to the 2020 Report of the Lancet Countdown involving CU Boulder.

The AB Nexus Research Collaboration Grant program announced its inaugural round of grants totaling $625,000 for novel research projects integrating expertise from the CU Anschutz and CU Boulder campuses.

New research shows that broad, national dissemination of frequent, rapid COVID-19 tests could turn the tide on the pandemic within weeks, without shutting down schools and businesses. For curbing infection, test turnaround time is more important than test sensitivity.

New research may one day enable soft machines to fully integrate with our bodies to deliver drugs, target tumors, or repair aging or dysfunctional tissue.