A synthetic answer to the squeak in aging joints 

Two Cornell researchers join forces to produce a substance that could keep knees, hips and shoulders gliding smoothly for a lifetime.

McMahon gets Moore Foundation award for programmable photonic chips

A programmable photonic chip that can be reconfigured to perform different tasks could make quantum technologies more flexible – an approach associate professor Peter McMahon will explore as a 2026 Experimental Physics Investigator with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

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Tariffs on Canadian power could raise costs, emissions and grid risks

A new study finds that tariffs on Canadian power could reduce the amount of imported electricity, raise prices, increase carbon emissions and make the power system more vulnerable to extreme weather. 

Mysterious oarfish’s fins inspire large underwater robot design

Oarfish, giant fish rarely spotted by humans, have hundreds of unique dorsal fin rays, which help propel the fish forward.

Microscopic robots inspired by fireflies, cilia sync to reshape surroundings

Cornell physics researchers have made robots that for the first time can sense the temperature of their surroundings and react together to change it.

Faculty to share “What Works” during CTI event on meaningful learning

At the Center for Teaching Innovation’s Sept. 30 “What Works” event, Cornell faculty presenters and attendees will share ideas, inspirations, challenges and experiences about how to build a classroom where students feel connected and empowered.

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Portable test could help distinguish Ebola, Lassa where lab testing is limited

Cornell researchers have developed a portable diagnostic test that can simultaneously detect and distinguish Ebola and Lassa, two serious viruses whose early symptoms can be difficult to tell apart. 

Awards honor Duffield Engineering faculty for teaching, advising

The Cornell Duffield College of Engineering celebrated faculty commitment to education at its 2026 Fall Faculty Reception, honoring this year’s Teaching and Advising Award winners for their contributions to outstanding curriculum design, teaching methods, student mentoring and faculty development.

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Bryan Isacks, geophysicist who helped shape theory of plate tectonics, dies at 90

Bryan L. Isacks, the William and Katherine Snee Professor of Geological Sciences Emeritus in the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering who transformed the understanding of Earth’s surface, died Sept. 9 in Ithaca. He was 90.