Winter 2026 Content

Using Genetics to Understand Decision-Making in Monkeys

Jocelyn C Anderson — January 28, 2026 - 12:32pm

Abigail Morris first visited the Peruvian Amazon when she was 6 years old. Now, as a Ph.D. candidate in the Animal Behavior Graduate Group, she has returned to study how seasonal flooding affects the behavior, diet and population genetics of two species of monkey: monk sakis (Pithecia monachus) and large-headed capuchins (Sapajus apella macrocephalus).

�鶹��ý Alum Leads Safety Efforts for Roblox’s Global Community

Jocelyn C Anderson — January 28, 2026 - 12:31pm

When Matt Kaufman ’94 thinks about childhood meetups with friends, he remembers bike rides, trips to the beach, going to the movies and afternoons spent at the park.

Today’s children? They meet up in virtual worlds, and Kaufman is helping to make sure their online playgrounds are safe.

Is Wine Really Healthy? Experts Summarize the Research

Jocelyn C Anderson — January 28, 2026 - 12:30pm

Wine ranks as a popular beverage that has stood the test of time, lending an effortless elegance to any occasion.

But is wine good for your health?

Alumni Books of 2025

Jocelyn C Anderson — December 16, 2025 - 9:02am

Aggies have you covered for the holiday gift-giving season, tackling myriad topics this year.

Check out �鶹��ý Magazine’s full list of new books by alumni in 2025.

FICTION

Greg Sweatt ’73 takes readers back to the Civil War, when some battles were fought in little-known locations, for By the Hands of Parties Unknown (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2025).

Risks of AI Mirror Social Media

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 17, 2025 - 10:41am

Artificial intelligence is already blurring how we think about what is real, even when we know the truth.

A recent study at �鶹��ý had AI chatbots send messages to people’s phones to remind them to get their steps in. Those messages were interactive. Sometimes the chatbot would tell a joke based on this example provided by the research team:

Do you know what a sloth's favorite exercise is?

Running late!

Ph.D. Alum Wins ‘Genius’ MacArthur Grant

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 17, 2025 - 10:40am

For evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers, Ph.D. ’05, winning a 2025 MacArthur fellowship — “genius grant” — came as a total shock.

“I was stunned,” said Kiers, a professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “I think it’s the mystery of the process that makes winning the fellowship so exciting because there’s no application, no forms, you have no idea who nominated you. It’s magic.”

Why Is Federally Funded Research So Important?

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 17, 2025 - 10:35am

America’s lucrative, long-running investment in basic science and research is under threat, and the consequences could be far-reaching for local and national economies and for the United States’ leadership in innovation and technology.

Meet 5 �鶹��ý Student Leaders

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 17, 2025 - 9:40am

The presidencies of �鶹��ý student governments and hired advisors to the chancellor and the dean of Graduate Studies are among the most high-profile student positions on campus. Let’s meet five students who’ve taken on the roles this year.

�鶹��ý Engineering Faculty Find Harmony on and Off Stage

Jocelyn C Anderson — November 17, 2025 - 9:34am

At �鶹��ý, the College of Engineering is known for innovation, academic excellence and now, for rocking out. A band comprised entirely of faculty and staff members, The Technically Hip, is striking a chord not just with music lovers on campus, but also with those who value community, creativity and a healthy work-life balance.