Science

As Voters Head to the Polls, Cornell Research Shows AI Chatbots Can Change Minds

By Ashley Kim · Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

As voters across the country head to the polls for Tuesday’s midterm elections, some may turn to a newer source for information: artificial intelligence. A voter unsure about a candidate’s election promise or a ballot measure can now simply type a question and get an immediate answer from an AI chatbot, and research led by Cornell faculty suggests those conversations can matter.

Science Grant Rule Changes May Have a ‘Chilling’ Effect on University Research

By Dalton Mullins and Lila Davis · Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

From Curiosity to CAREER: Behind Four NSF Award Recipients

By Niyantha Kaushik · Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

Halloween Is Here: Will Ithaca’s Halloween Weather Be a Trick or a Treat?

By Alfredo Vazquez and Aren Wang · Friday, Oct. 30, 2026

Four Cornellians and Their Mission to Unravel Breast Cancer

By Gabby Coleman · Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, The Sun spoke with researchers and clinicians at Cornell and Weill Cornell who are working to answer questions that could change how the disease is treated.

Level Complete: Three Cornell Video Games Debut at Boston Festival of Indie Games

By Mei Knight · Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

Three student-made digital games from CS 3152: “Introduction to Computer Game Architecture” were selected as finalists for the 2026 Boston Festival of Indie Games.

Insectapalooza: Inside the Wacky World of Insects

By Aarya Balakrishnan · Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Stocking Hall was filled with chattering children, excited entomologists and six-foot-tall balloon insects this Saturday as the Department of Entomology hosted its 23rd annual insect festival: Insectapalooza.

Seeing What’s Missing: A Cornell-Built Detector Reveals More About Materials

By Gabby Coleman · Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

A new electron microscope developed by Cornell researchers can identify missing atoms and study defects in materials used in technologies such as batteries, semiconductors, and quantum devices.

Wine Tour Season is Here!

By Val Kim · Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

As summer turns into fall, grapes are coming off the vine in vineyards throughout the Finger Lakes, to the delight of an annual wave of tourists in the area. Every year, the wine tour season brings around 2 million tourists to the area to observe the harvest and enjoy wine.

First Snowflakes of Season Could Fly at Coldest Homecoming Since 1993

By Jihan Bhuiyan · Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

Homecoming this year may bring Cornell an early taste of winter weather. Temperatures are forecasted to top out in the low 40s, and snow showers will be possible Saturday morning leading up to the 2 p.m. kickoff against Lehigh at Schoellkopf Field. This will be the coldest Homecoming since 1993.

Cornell Unplugged: Students and Faculty Weigh in on Screentime Use

By Chloe Yu · Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

Cornell Unplugged, which took place from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20, explored how mindful technology use supports personal well-being and meaningful face-to-face connections by examining different ways in which students can limit their own screen time.

‘Be a vet, then you can be anything you want to be’: College of Veterinary Medicine’s First Female Full Prof. Katherine Houpt on Her Journey as a Veterinary Behaviorist

By Elsa Huelsbergen · Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026

The undergraduate Animal Behavior Club at Cornell hosted an interactive talk with Katherine Houpt, the James Law Professor of Behavior Medicine, Emeritus, on Sept. 30.

Dogs, Radar and Babies: Seniors Begin Work on Honors Theses

By Farrah Scott · Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

As students settle into the new academic year, some Cornell seniors are exploring the rigorous world of research through a unique milestone: the senior honors thesis.

OpenAI Claims It Solved the Navier-Stokes Problem. We Asked Cornell Professors What This Means for the Future of Research.

By Sofia Romero · Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

OpenAI claimed in September that one of its models had solved a math problem worth one million dollars. The Sun spoke with four Cornell professors across engineering, computer science and mathematics, who reflected on the implications for the future of math and humanity.

‘An Invisible Issue’: Tompkins County Faces High Risk for Radioactive Radon

By Tania Hao · Monday, Oct. 5, 2026

Tompkins County is at high risk for exposure to radon, a colorless radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Health experts and housing professionals say that persisting financial, legislative and awareness barriers pose public health concerns.

Science and Policy in Action: How BME 4440 Brings Research Beyond the Classroom

By Rakib Foysal · Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026

Students seek to develop policy solutions for real-world issues and make a difference for their communities in BME 4440: “Science Policy Bootcamp: Concept to Conclusion."

Improving Disability Wellness Through Research: Human Ecology Students Reflect on TCFD Summer Internship

Improving Disability Wellness With Nutrition Research and Adaptive Apparel at The Center For Discovery

By Danbi Lee · Friday, Sept. 25, 2026

Three interns at The Center for Discovery made a difference for individuals with disabilities through research and applied projects this past summer.

From Community to Career: How The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Supports Students in STEM

By Gabby Coleman · Friday, Sept. 25, 2026

Through community building, professional development and academic support, the Cornell Chapter of The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers works to create a space that Hispanic and underrepresented students in engineering can call home.

The ‘Death’ of Physics Auto-tutorial

By Ashley Kim · Friday, Sept. 18, 2026

PHYS 1101: “General Physics I” and PHYS 1102: “General Physics II,” the self-paced two-semester auto-tutorial physics sequence, has been discontinued starting this semester after a four-year evaluation found low student retainment and lack of collaboration in the courses.

Racing Their Way Around the U.S. and the Globe: Summer Adventures of Cornell’s Engineering Project Teams

By Brooke Anacleto · Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026

Despite a break from classes, Cornell engineering students did not slow down this summer. Cornell’s Formula SAE Racing, Baja SAE Racing and Engineers in Action took on summer adventures that brought them across the country and the globe.