In the News
Trump to sign orders to boost beef imports, grow herds to try to reduce record prices
Reuters • May 11, 2026Most imports are lean beef trimmings that are mixed with U.S. supplies to make ground beef, said David Anderson, agricultural economist at Texas A&M University. He said more imports could help hamburger restaurants reduce their ingredient costs, but he did not expect prices to fall significantly for consumers. "We were already importing a record amount. How much more does this get on top of what we were already importing?" Anderson said. "I'm hard-pressed to see this is going to be a huge effect on prices. It would be tough to have this be a huge influx of supply."
The world’s largest explosion lab is ready for big booms. And yes, it’s in Texas.
Popular Science • May 6, 2026Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes its controlled detonations. Texas A&M University recently revealed what they say is the world’s largest controlled explosion lab, where researchers can fill a nearly 500-foot metal tube with gas and ignite it in the name of science. They are calling it The Detonation Research Test Facility (DRTF).
Gulf states will have ‘mixed feelings’ about the US at the end of the Iran war, warns Middle East expert
CNN • May 5, 2026F. Gregory Gause III, Professor Emeritus, Bush School, Texas A&M University, speaks to Bianna Golodryga about the growing rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia and the impact of the Iran war on the Persian Gulf monarchies.
Augmented reality tool lets farmers walk in their livestock’s hooves
NPR/National Public Radio • May 4, 2026In order to reduce the stress on animals for better qualities of milk and meat, some farmers and producers are using an Augmented reality tool to help them see what cows actually see.
New research from Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences identifies a specific biological pathway that could help explain coffee’s health effects. The study, published in Nutrients, found that compounds in coffee activate a receptor in the body known as NR4A1, a protein linked to aging, stress response, and disease protection.
The Gift of Getting Weirder With Age
The New York Times • May 1, 2026Rebecca Schlegel, a professor of psychology and brain sciences at Texas A&M University who studies the “true self,” told me people can feel that they become more authentic over time. In her research, participants aged 19 to 67 were asked to think about life as if it were a book and rate each “chapter” using an authenticity scale.
USA TodayIn the study, published in the journal Nutrients in March 2026, researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences found coffee can activate NR4A1, a receptor in the body recognized for its role in aging, stress response and disease.
Feral hogs are invading Texas suburbs
WBUR-FM • May 1, 2026Here & Now's Scott Tong speaks with Jay Long, a pig researcher at the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, about why feral hogs are such a difficult invasive species to control and what strategies exist to combat them.
On Monday, students from Texas A&M-Galveston's Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies departments, in collaboration with island-based archaeological nonprofit LX Heritage, will begin collecting soil core samples from La Maison Rouge's grounds, followed by a two-week excavation of the property later in the month.
The current threat to the AMOC isn't volcanoes, but excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from human-caused climate change. According to the lead author of the new study, Lucien Nana Yobo of Texas A&M, his research "shows how sensitive the AMOC is to climate disturbances."