From cyborg jellyfish to weed labels: 10 research stories you may have missed in 2025
From testing atomic clocks at 14,000 feet to developing robotic jellyfish to survey the ocean, CU Boulder researchers continued to shed light on the world around us in 2025. They also developed new ways to heal wounds, track where our food comes from and communicate with the dead. Check out a little bit of what they learned this year.
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14er science: Quantum physicists measure whether time moves faster on a mountaintop
This summer, physicists from Colorado traveled to the summit of Mount Blue Sky, one of the state’s famous “14ers.” Their work in this rugged terrain may lead to new technologies that could help people navigate without GPS or even predict when a volcano is about to erupt.
Image: Laura Sinclair, a scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), works on a specialized type of laser on the top of Mount Blue Sky. (Credit: Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder)
A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care
When you get a burn or another wound, nearby immune cells go into overdrive, often causing severe inflammation that can lead to lasting damage. A team of engineers are fast-tracking a new approach to treating wounds that suspends this natural response—giving the body time to heal.
Image: Professor Christopher Bowman, left, and members of his research team demonstrate how light is used to activate a novel treatment for frostbite, severe burns, battlefield wounds and more. (Credit: Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder)
‘Cyborg jellyfish’ could aid in deep-sea research, inspire next-gen underwater vehicles
From her lab in Colorado, far from any ocean, engineer Nicole Xu fits moon jellyfish with microelectronic devices that enhance the animals’ natural swimming ability. These jellies may one day help scientists collect important data on hard-to-read ocean environments.
Image: Nicole Xu stands behind the main jellyfish tank in her lab. (Credit: Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder)
As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions
AI data centers, like the ones that power ChatGPT and other popular AI tools, use a lot of electricity. But engineers Kyri Baker and Bri-Mathias Hodge say that putting these centers in the right locations across the country, among other strategies, can make them more sustainable.
Image: Kyri Baker and Bri-Mathias Hodge. (Credit: Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder)
How to save a satellite: Student team races the clock to study a hazardous region of space
A team of undergraduate students led an effort to regain control of a small spacecraft that was tumbling wildly through space—with months to go before the satellite burned up in Earth’s atmosphere. Their work sheds light on a region of space called Very Low Earth Orbit.
Image: Members of the small satellites operation team at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder monitor a spacecraft in orbit. (Credit: LASP)
Where does your food come from? First-of-a-kind map tracks journey across thousands of miles
A new, interactive map allows users to explore how drought, heatwaves and other extreme conditions around the world could threaten critical food supplies. This map, called the Global Food Twin, gives people “a window into a world they haven’t seen before,” says data scientist Zia Mehrabi.
Image: Global Food Twin
CUriosity: What makes Colorado so windy—and will it stay that way?
Colorado’s Front Range is no stranger to windy weather—with gusts that can knock you off your bike or cause serious property damage. A team of meteorologists break down how the Rocky Mountains “squeeze” winds coming from the west, leading to blustery conditions in Boulder and surrounding areas.
Image: Winds swoop over Colorado's Rocky Mountains. (Credit: by Zach Dischner via )
Can weed labels be trusted? Study shows it depends on what you're buying
Researchers analyzed 277 products from 52 dispensaries in 19 Colorado counties. They discovered that high-potency concentrates like oils and waxes tend to be labeled accurately, but flower products often overstate their THC content. The potency of cannabis products overall has also increased across the state.
Loose flower cannabis in jars at a retail store. (Credit: Adobe Stock)
Study reveals widespread underinsurance among homeowners, exposing risk in the wake of devastating wildfires
Many Colorado homeowners may not have enough insurance to rebuild their homes after a wildfire, according to a study from the Leeds School of Business. The researchers analyzed more than 5,000 policyholders who filed claims after the Marshall Fire in 2021 and found that 74% were underinsured.
Image: A neighborhood in Superior, Colorado, in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire. (Credit: Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder)
AI ghosts are coming: Is that comforting or creepy?
In the not-so-distant future, it may become common for humans to interact with digital versions of their deceased loved ones. Will these AI tools help people grieve, or could they lead to unhealthy behaviors? Information scientist Jed Brubaker digs into the promises and perils of “generative ghosts.”
South Korean mother Jang Ji-Sun embraces an AI simulation of her late daughter, Na Yeon. (Credit: MBC Media/YouTube)