Ran Wang introduced drones into his spatial science courses this semester, and he and the students found a new use for them, taking a selfie from the sky.

Rural Nebraskans are familiar with the need to protect the health of their land, food and communities. According to the 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll, most are familiar with the idea of biosecurity, and many are concerned about threats from contaminated water and invasive species, cyberattacks and natural disasters. The new report highlights Nebraskans’ opinions on these risks, whom they trust for information and how they see the state’s bioeconomy shaping the future.

New research from a team including the University of Nebraska State Museum’s Ashley Poust further moves a decades-long scientific debate toward a conclusion — the Nanotyrannus, a teacup variation of the T. rex, did exist.

Previous research set off alarm bells by showing that mountain lion populations across California are more different genetically than normal for a wide-roaming predator. New findings published Dec. 3 in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment have provided an explanation. A team of researchers has found that young mountain lions avoid highly developed areas and crossing busy roads as they navigate between populations seeking breeding territories in the Golden State.

A student’s ability to read is a key predictor of academic and lifelong success. In Nebraska, the COVID-19 pandemic hit students with reading difficulties especially hard, particularly students attending rural schools.

Since then, Nebraska WORDS project — Workshops on Reading Development Strategies — has been a valuable resource for teachers by promoting effective strategies to deliver high-quality reading instruction and assessment. The research-based professional development program supports Nebraska’s targeted efforts to boost early literacy among K-3 students across the state.

Two annual publications from the Office of Research and Innovation are available online.