1 in 3 Florida third graders have untreated cavities – how parents can protect their children’s teeth

Florida is one of the worst states in the US when it comes to access to affordable dental care – and children are suffering as a result.

Olga Ensz, Clinical Assistant Professor of Community Dentistry, University of Florida • conversation
June 30, 2025 ~9 min

How the US can mine its own critical minerals − without digging new holes

Rare earth elements are tiny yet essential parts of many of the technologies you use every day. New techniques are making their recovery from US sources increasingly viable.

Scott McWhorter, Distinguished Fellow in the Strategic Energy Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
May 6, 2025 ~9 min


Florida panthers and black bears need a literal path for survival – here’s how the Florida Wildlife Corridor provides it in one of the fastest-growing US states

The Florida Wildlife Corridor, which turns 15 this year, connects habitats across the state for panthers, bears, sparrows and other species.

Reed Frederick Noss, Conservation Science Coordinator, University of Florida • conversation
April 29, 2025 ~11 min

Miami researchers are testing a textured seawall designed to hold back water and create a home for marine organisms

BIOCAP tiles reimagine seawalls as dynamic, ecologically active systems that have the potential to enhance coastal resilience.

Shahin Vassigh, Professor of Architecture, Florida International University • conversation
April 16, 2025 ~7 min

25 years of Everglades restoration has improved drinking water for millions in Florida, but a new risk is rising

Changes to the landscape and pollution have harmed this vital ecosystem known as the ‘river of grass.’

John Kominoski, Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University • conversation
April 15, 2025 ~10 min

Vitamin D builds your bones and keeps your gut sealed, among many other essential functions − but many children are deficient

Because vitamin D plays a crucial role in many aspects of health and growth, inadequate levels can put children at risk of developing chronic disease early on.

Cristina Palacios, Professor and Chair of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University • conversation
April 3, 2025 ~8 min

Amid a tropical paradise known as ‘Lizard Island,’ researchers are cracking open evolution’s black box – scientist at work

A decade of fieldwork is revealing how one of biology’s fundamental principles works in real time.

James T. Stroud, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
March 25, 2025 ~11 min

Fossil shark teeth are abundant and can date the past in a unique way

Sharks have ruled the Earth’s oceans for 400 million years. Recent research on fossil shark teeth has discovered an innovative method for dating ancient sediments.

Bruce J. MacFadden, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Florida • conversation
Feb. 3, 2025 ~6 min


Plants that evolved in Florida over millennia now face extinction and lack protection

The future of scrub mints could be in jeopardy because of climate change, development and misclassification.

Andre A. Naranjo, Botanical Curator, Florida International University • conversation
Jan. 6, 2025 ~7 min

Untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff threaten the Florida manatee’s main food source, contributing to malnutrition

Manatees along Florida’s coast are eating less seagrass and more algae than they did a few decades ago. This dietary shift could pose a new threat to the survival of the beloved species.

Aarin-Conrad Allen, Ph.D. Candidate in Marine Sciences, Florida International University • conversation
Nov. 14, 2024 ~9 min

/

6