Why study space?
"I think that there's a reason humanity has always asked those questions..." @spaceaccordingtoskylar
On Lab Coat Optional, we go beyond the science to explore the deeper “why” behind researching something as far away as space.
Studying space reveals patterns that shape our world and invites us to reflect on our place in it. It’s also a shared curiosity that connects people across cultures.
Listen to the full conversation at the link in our bio.
Learn more at labcoatoptional.asu.edu
Tag your sunscreen accountability buddy. ☀️
Almost everyone knows someone whose life has been impacted by cancer. Rates of the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, are 40% higher in Arizona than the national average!
That’s why cancer is a big research area in the Biodesign Institute. We’re studying more than two dozen cancers, including skin cancer.
Learn more at biodesign.asu.edu!
“What kind of milk would you like with that?”🥛
A new ASU study examines the “true cost” of different kinds of plant based milks versus dairy milk. True Cost Accountings factors in things like health, environmental, and social impact, giving a more holistic view of various products.
Many people have strong opinions about their milk choices, believing either that plant-based milks are always better, or that traditional dairy milk is the obvious choice.
The study challenged both stances, with some plant-based milks outperforming dairy milk, and others resulting in a much higher “true cost.”
The takeaway? 🥛🌱
The milk debate isn’t black and white — it’s about trade-offs, balance and what matters most to you.
Watch the video for highlights from the study and learn more in the full write up, “ASU study reveals ‘true cost’ of different milks,” at news.asu.edu!
It eats 💅 pollution.
A team of ASU researchers found that fog isn't just tiny droplets of water in the air, it's a living ecosystem.
Inside of tiny fog droplets, they found bacteria that was living, growing and even breaking down air pollutants like formaldehyde.
The work could influence everything from air pollution research to climate modeling.
Learn more and read about the discovery at news.asu.edu!
How would you describe the sound of a sound?
Airy, bright, vibrational, moody, tinny, crunchy, round.... These are some words that you might use to describe the "timbre" of a sound. Timbre refers to the ways we perceive and experience sound.
It may seem abstract, but when surveyed, people's descriptions are more shared than you might expect.
Check out the most recent episode of Lab Coat Optional to hear Lindsey Reymore, music theorist and assistant professor with @asumusicdancetheatre , explain the science of sound!
LabCoatOptional.asu.edu
Fire damage doesn’t stop when the flames are out.
Fires leave lasting impacts on the land. With burned-up root systems comes soil erosion, and carbon-rich ashes can be the perfect fuel for invasive plants. These factors can lead to additional damage like landslides and through entire ecosystems out of balance.
But there’s hope thanks to two undergraduate researchers taking on the challenge.
Henry Nakaana and Lune Martin are exploring how mycelium, the underground root systems of fungi, can help land recover faster from fires. These root systems can grow quickly and function as scaffolding for soil, while attracting nutrients that native plant species need to thrive.
Now, they’re working with Arizona fire officials to test how the mycelium grows in soil from areas impacted by fire.
This natural, safe and cost-effective solution could transform wildfire-recovery efforts. Way to go Henry and Lune!
Read more about the breakthrough at the link in our bio @asuresearch 🍄🟫
Every scroll, stream and login runs through a data center.
As demand grows, Arizona is facing a bigger question:
How do we scale this infrastructure without straining water, energy and communities?
At the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, researchers are exploring what it takes to get data center growth right.
It starts with four questions:
How many. When. Where. Who decides.
Swipe to break it down.
What does sound... sound like?
In the latest episode of Lab Coat Optional, we explore “timbre”— the term used to describe how we perceive and experience sound. For something we engage with every day, there’s surprisingly little research or established vocabulary around sound quality.
That’s where Lindsey Reymore, a music theorist and assistant professor with @asumusicdancetheatre , comes in.
Lindsey studies timbre— the “color” of sound— and why the way we describe music may be more shared than subjective.
Check out the full episode to learn, and hear, more!
The coral needs help waking up!
From a distance, coral may look like rock, but really it’s a living animal that forms a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae. The hard rocky formations are essentially its skeleton.
@sms.asu ASU researchers in the @asu_globalfutures laboratory are studying coral to learn what characteristics make them resilient to future environmental conditions. 🪸
The future of semiconductors depends on both innovation and talent. ASU is delivering on both.
Through major industry partnerships, the university is expanding research capacity, building advanced facilities and preparing students for high-demand careers.
The result: stronger workforce pipelines and a growing semiconductor ecosystem in Arizona.
Follow the link in bio and check out our 2025 highlights to learn more!
Water solutions start with research.
The Arizona Water Innovation Initiative is a statewide project led by @asu_globalfutures in collaboration with @asuengineering .
Through this imitative, ASU works with industrial, municipal, agricultural, tribal and international partners to rapidly accelerate and deploy new approaches and technology for water conservation, augmentation, desalination, efficiency, infrastructure and reuse.
Learn more and see what this initiative has accomplished by visiting AZWaterInnovation.asu.edu!
What happens to your data collected on campus and who gets to use it?
In SCAI, Assistant Professor Rakibul Hasan is working to make sure student data is used to support you, not monitor you. His research shows how everyday data can reveal more than you might expect and how we can protect it.
Through hands-on projects, cybersecurity students in his classrooms and lab are also getting the chance to explore real-world privacy challenges and help design better solutions.
Because data should help you succeed while sensitive information remains yours. 🔐✨
Read more:
https://news.engineering.asu.edu/2026/05/the-fight-to-protect-student-data-in-the-age-of-ai/
