UF Research

10/05/2026

Who knew some fish grow teeth on their foreheads?

Research from professor of biology at the University of Florida, Gareth Fraser and his collaborators revealed that male "ghost sharks" use a tooth-covered forehead appendage during mating, marking the first clear example of true teeth growing outside the jaw.

10/02/2026

What if the biggest stories in sports today have less to do with what happens on the field or court and more to do with billion-dollar investments, gambling markets and political influence?

UF College of Journalism and Communications Ph.D. student Alex Volonté argues in The Conversation US that as private equity firms, prediction markets and powerful investors reshape professional sports, traditional sports journalism must evolve beyond game coverage and take on a stronger watchdog role.

Volonté highlights independent journalist Pablo Torre’s reporting on the Los Angeles Clippers salary-cap scandal as evidence that investigative journalism is increasingly essential for uncovering misconduct and holding sports organizations accountable.

Sports journalism has sometimes been called the ‘toy department,’ since it was known for less serious reporting. But the sports page has an opportunity to take on a real watchdog role.

09/23/2026

What if your smartphone could help researchers spot health changes before they become serious?

University of Florida researchers Sanjay Ranka and Todd Manini are developing G-CARE, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded platform that uses smartphones and wearables to study older adults remotely and gather real-world wellness data to help improve quality of life as we age. https://heyor.ca/zMuMqC

A new project uses technology to gather multi-faceted and useful wellness data, ultimately to improve the quality of life for elderly citizens and their caregivers.

09/22/2026

Traditional medicine plays a vital role in healthcare across Ghana, but Beth Virnig, Dean and Robert G. Frank Endowed Professor at the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions and a team of researchers from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology suggests it may also contribute to delays in breast cancer diagnosis.

With more than 80% of cases detected at advanced stages, the team is exploring ways traditional and orthodox healthcare providers can work together to improve early detection, treatment and outcomes while respecting patients’ cultural and spiritual needs. https://heyor.ca/OyZ55L

In Ghana and many African countries, traditional medicine practitioners and faith healers play a prominent role in patient care. These practitioners use herbal…

09/16/2026

What can ancient teeth tell us about humanity’s earliest drug use?

A study co-authored by UF Health neuroscientist Roger Papke, found evidence that people in Sulawesi, Indonesia, were using betel nut as a psychoactive substance up to 25,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest known drug-use traditions. The findings suggest psychoactive plant use began long before agriculture and came with health consequences that are still familiar today.

09/14/2026

Did you know? Global Food Systems Institute UF IFAS is helping solve some of the world's toughest challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary research.

From turning invasive cactus in Kenya into livestock feed and clean cooking fuel to improving child nutrition and developing new approaches to Parkinson's treatment, University of Florida researchers are creating solutions that strengthen food security, health and livelihoods around the globe.

Learn more about how UF is harvesting solutions in the upcoming issue of Explore magazine.

09/08/2026

What secrets can a cup of river water reveal about human health, pollution and biodiversity?

09/03/2026

The University of Florida faculty conducted a record $1.34 billion in research expenditures in fiscal year 2026, advancing discoveries across medicine, agriculture, engineering, space and many other fields while moving discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace and creating new companies, products and economic opportunities.

“UF researchers continue to receive funding to tackle challenges that matter to Florida, the nation and the world,” said David Norton, Ph.D., UF’s vice president for research. “While the research funding landscape continues to evolve, growth in state support and industry partnerships helped sustain another record year of research activity.”

08/27/2026

08/24/2026

Join fossil hunters on the Peace River to unearth Florida’s ancient hidden beasts!