Research

Adapted from an article by Andy Flick Aditya Kurre When you think of a sloth, an image of a slow, cuddly, furry creature hanging out in trees may come to mind—the picture of tranquility. But millions of years ago, sloths were around 9 feet tall and weighed anywhere from 400-2,500… Read More

Some people may worry about being bitten by a snake or spider, but have you ever considered what would happen if a small black hole tried to pass through your body? An article by Professor of Physics Robert Scherrer in the International Journal of Modern Physics D… Read More

Political propaganda and artificial intelligence–driven misinformation are infiltrating social media accounts, and Americans need to do something about it. That’s the warning revealed in research from two Vanderbilt professors and discussed on this spe... Read More

On September 14, 2015, at 4:51 a.m. Central Time, scientists witnessed something no human had ever seen before: two black holes colliding. A computer simulation of two black holes colliding created by researchers from LIGO, the California Institute of Technology, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These black holes, which… Read More

Through a collaboration between US and Kenyan researchers and Turkana communities of northern Kenya, scientists have uncovered key genetic adaptations underlying survival in hot and dry environments, revealing how natural selection has enabled this pas... Read More

Atlanta-based artist Susan Ker-Seymer and Robert Barsky For those experiencing writer’s block, or just looking for inspiration, journeying outside and spending time in nature may be the answer. The natural world has a cadence that helps us relax and refocus, allowing creativity to flow. This was the case for Professor… Read More

Vanderbilt University’s Center for Global Democracy is partnering with the University of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies to carry forward one of the world’s leading surveys on democratic governance. Starting in October 2025, the Center for Global Democracy, with support from the Kellogg Institute, will… Read More

A national search is underway for Vanderbilt’s next vice provost for research and innovation. Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver has appointed a committee to identify candidates for the university’s new chief research offi... Read More

When an “unsolvable” problem needs solving, put John Wikswo on the team. As director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education and University Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology an... Read More

The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy recently conducted a national poll to gauge Americans’ opinions on topics related to institutions of higher education, including their confidence in those institutions, their current relevance, fed... Read More

The College of Arts and Science has long been an innovator and leader in the arts—from theater to studio art to cinema to architecture. Faculty and students alike create, build, and explore in visionary ways that affect the way we interpret and live in the world around us. Leah Lowe,… Read More

RESEARCH SPARK: Meet new faculty Maya Singhal and see how their research could help us understand the impact of diverse community dynamics. Read More

After scraping your knee or getting cut by an errant tree branch, you likely slathered your injury with the antibiotic ointment Neosporin. Widely used to prevent infection, one of the active ingredients in Neosporin is neomycin. Discovered in the 1940s, neomycin is an effective topical antibiotic, however, if injected into… Read More

When John Warren is seeking inspiration, he walks and observes. John Warren with his 16mm camera. Wandering the streets of Nashville with a 16mm Bolex film camera, the lecturer in art is constantly on the hunt for his next project. While exploring the city, Warren noticed one… Read More

Hear from Vanderbilt's newest faculty on the positive impact their research could have on society. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers uncovered evidence of a Chinese government-linked AI propaganda campaign, revealing unprecedented scale and precision in influence operations. The work reflects the university’s growing role in addressing urgent global security c... Read More

Article adapted from a press release written by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Over the next four years, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Alex Lupsasca will lead a Vanderbilt team in a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional collaboration funded by an $8 million grant from the Simons Foundation… Read More

Tracy Sharpley-Whiting's research explores the interior lives of historical figures whose artistic influence shaped their worlds. Her impressive accomplishments led to her recent election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’... Read More

Five Vanderbilt researchers have received Seeding Success grants for early-stage projects that have strong potential for external funding. The program, managed by Research Development and Support, reflects the university’s commitment to advancing high-... Read More

Yueming Yan A new breakthrough in the field of physics led by doctoral student Yueming Yan could allow for the creation of small, thin, low-power optical devices to be used in both medical imaging and environmental sensing. In a study published in ScienceAdvances, Yan and his colleagues,… Read More