Cornell University

How can scent molecules identify stressed plants and offer clues about human and animal health? In this episode of Research Matters, entomologist Christophe Duplais explains how scent molecules can identify stressed plants, help farmers detect crop problems early and even offer clues about human and animal health. Decoding these airborne messages reveals a hidden communication network that connects ecosystems, agriculture and medicine. Check out news.cornell.edu/podcast-resear… for the full episode. @CornellCALS @CornellAgriTech @CornellRsrch

A very happy first day of spring from Cornell University! It won't be too much longer until campus looks like this again. 🌸 🌷

Appearing in the @ecachockey semifinals for the fourth consecutive season, No. 8 @CornellMHockey will face Princeton at the 1980 Rink — Herb Brooks Arena on Friday at 7 p.m. in Lake Placid, N.Y. What you need to know for the matchup ⬇️ #YellCornell cornellbigred.com/news/2026/3/19…

The researchers identified 45 rocky worlds that may support life in the habitable zone, and another 24 in a narrower zone that makes a more conservative assumption of how much heat a planet can receive before it loses its habitability. The researchers also identified the best planets to observe with different techniques, to give scientists the best odds of finding signs of life if they exist on these worlds.

🧵 Where to find other Earths? New list narrows down the targets New Cornell research – co-authored by an undergraduate and two recent alumni – will help exoplanet scientists pinpoint the most likely places to look for life in the universe out of more than 6,000 exoplanets.

Very few things yell Cornell more than the sound of the Cornell Chimes. 🔔 🐻

Our Canvas Course Spotlight program is back this week! #Cornell students, have you ever thought "I wish all my professor used Canvas like this!"? Tell us what helps you and why by 3/22, and we'll help spread the word @Cornell! bit.ly/CCS_Spring26

What makes a winning apple variety? 🍎 In this clip, Susan Brown explains how @Cornell identifies apples with real market potential — and why SNAPDRAGON® stood out. Watch the full recording: youtu.be/tiEz3ztskec @CornellRsrch @CornellCALS @CornellAgriTech

We are thrilled to announce Emily Bernhardt, Ph.D. ‘01 as the next Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, effective September 1! Welcome back to Cornell, Emily! 🎉 📌 Read more: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0…

Cornell Nuclear is Clean Energy (NiCE) — a newly formed student group — is embracing nuclear technology to fight climate change and create jobs, with support from Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability (@atkinsoncenter) “Nuclear is something that I’m very passionate about because we have such a growing energy demand,” said Diana Michaelson ’27, founding member of NiCE, “and I genuinely think it’s the only way to meet our energy goals.” Nuclear energy is having a moment, according to Shaun Doherty, energy transition and carbon management partnerships lead at Cornell Atkinson. In June 2025, Gov. Kathy Hochul committed to building a new, zero-emission nuclear power plant in Upstate New York, along with other projects designed to catalyze nuclear energy development. The plans are not without controversy, however, and groups like NiCE are working to address public concerns around safety, environmental impact and nuclear waste. Renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal are part of the transition away from fossil fuels, Doherty said, but those sources are intermittently available and not dispatchable any time. “Renewables like wind and solar are essential, but they’re variable,” he said. “Firm, carbon-free power like nuclear can reduce the amount of excess renewable capacity, storage and transmission needed in a clean grid. Many studies show that including nuclear can lower overall system costs while improving reliability.” Learn more about NiCE at news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0….

Very grateful to @RepRileyNY for supporting this critical work, pioneering the the future of agriculture and new innovations for improved crop yields and efficiencies for farmers, where @CornellCALS continues to lead.

Join us at @Cornell on March 24 for a screening of this wonderful new documentary about a summer math camp for high school kids that has had an amazing impact on math in the United States. Details in the article. as.cornell.edu/news/hunting-y… #ithaca #twithaca

Thank you @RepRileyNY for introducing the NSF Plant Biology Act to support critical food systems research. At CALS, NSF funding drives fundamental plant and microbial biology science that benefits food and agriculture producers. congress.gov/bill/119th-con…

📰 Senior Ketki Ketkar (épée), junior Isabela Carvalho (saber), junior Samantha Marsee (saber) and freshman Lana Lee (foil) will represent the Big Red in South Bend at the NCAA National Championships. #YellCornell 🐻 cornellbigred.com/news/2026/3/17…

Researchers at @Cornell discovered that DNA “promoters” and “enhancers” can both control and boost gene activity, working together as a network. This insight could improve gene therapies and help explain complex diseases like cancer. Read more: bit.ly/4193rcF

Foodborne pathogens account for approximately 420,000 deaths and 600 million cases of illness annually, but current food safety regulations are often based on ultra-sensitive tests that focus on detecting pathogens, regardless of the relative threat to consumers. A study led by Cornell researchers suggests that these ultrasensitive tests, with “zero-detection” expectations, may be pushing edible food into the trash, driving up costs with limited public health benefits and causing other consequences that can negatively impact the environment and human health. “Although the public expects food to be completely safe, there will always be some risk of foodborne illness,” said lead author Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D. ’97, the Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety in @CornellCALS. “Just as we don’t limit highway speeds to 10 miles per hour to minimize deaths, we need to take a balanced approach that considers possible negative consequences of extreme food safety measures.” Read more: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0….

A red-eyed dragon veiled in sheer black scales – spikes lining its undulating, 100-foot-long frame – will prowl through campus March 27, celebrating a College of Architecture, Art and Planning tradition born 125 years ago. Dragon Day, as the experience has been known for decades, showcases the creativity and construction chops of first-year architecture students, who will guide a winged serpent they’ve designed and built along a public parade route ending at Sibley Hall on the Arts Quad. There, inviting deeper community participation on the milestone anniversary – the quasquicentennial, to vocabulary buffs – parade-goers will have the opportunity to enter the dragon, strolling through arched torso and tail sections. Starting at 1 p.m., the parade will depart Rand Hall, snake across Feeney Way, down Campus Road and then through Ho Plaza before entering the Arts Quad. The costumed students’ trademark call-and-response chant – “Dragon! Dragon! Dragon! Oi! Oi! Oi!” – will resound throughout, possibly complemented by other performers. Read more: news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/0….