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Ask Texas A&M University chemist Hong-Cai “Joe” Zhou to describe his research in simple terms, and more often than not, he’ll draw on a favorite analogy from childhood: playing with LEGOs. But if you’re tempted to view his work as child’s play, you might want to think again. The building blocks he and his group specialize in actually are a recently developed, increasingly versatile class of materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOF).

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Coming to an area near you: snakes, and plenty of them. With unusually warm temperatures and plenty of rainfall this spring, experts say this could be a bumper crop year for snakes. While Texas has never been short on the snake commodities list, people and pets should be aware that they are out and about, says a Texas A&M University expert.

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Members of the Texas Aggie Storm Chasers, a group of about 60 Texas A&M University students, are prepped and ready to jump in their cars and spot some severe storms — and with recent record-high temperatures as the trigger, they may get their wish.

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Unlike their colorful wings, the future of Monarch butterflies may not be too bright and their numbers are expected to be alarmingly down again this year, says a Texas A&M University researcher.

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A decade ago, Houston businessman and philanthropist George P. Mitchell was so certain there were big discoveries to be made in physics and astronomy and that they should come out of Texas A&M University, he put money on it, endowing the George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy to bring the world’s most eminent minds in physics and astronomy to Aggieland.

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Discoveries made in some underwater caves by Texas &M University at Galveston researchers in the Bahamas could provide clues about how ocean life formed on Earth millions of years ago, and perhaps give hints of what types of marine life could be found on distant planets and moons.

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Did climate change or humans cause the extinctions of the large-bodied Ice Age mammals (commonly called megafauna) such as the woolly rhinoceros and woolly mammoth? Scientists have for years debated the reasons behind the Ice Age mass extinctions.

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The tip of a bone point fragment found embedded in a mastodon rib from an archaeological site in Washington state shows that hunters were present in North America at least 800 years before Clovis, confirming that the first inhabitants arrived earlier to North America than previously thought, says a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University archaeologist.

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Clouds only amplify climate change, says a Texas A&M University professor in a study that rebuts recent claims that clouds are actually the root cause of climate change.

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It sounds like a 1950s B-horror movie — Attack of the Invasive Species — but the battle of invading plants and animals could be coming to your front door and is costing you millions of dollars. Two Texas A&M University at Galveston researchers are on the forefront of the fight.

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Rocks from the fossil Permian Reef in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas reveal secrets about changes in sea level and marine life 265 million years ago, according to two Texas A&M University researchers.

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Researchers from Texas A&M University have returned from a trip to examine the scope and size of this year’s “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico and have measured it currently to be about 3,300 square miles, or roughly the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined, but some researchers anticipate it becoming much larger.

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The so-called “bad cholesterol” – low-density lipoprotein commonly called LDL – may not be so bad after all, shows a Texas A&M University study that casts new light on the cholesterol debate, particularly among adults who exercise.

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Changing global climate due to on-going and projected warming have great potential to impact U.S. naval forces worldwide, according to a panel report issued today that includes a Texas A&M University researcher.

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Despite recent cold snaps that brought record-setting low temperatures over much of Texas, the outlook for the annual Monarch butterfly invasion to the state looks promising “and better than expected,” says a Texas A&M University researcher.

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Using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, a Texas A&M University-led team of astronomers has uncovered what may be the earliest, most distant cluster of galaxies ever detected.

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A timely commencement is always cause for celebration, and for the Thompson family from Stephenville, Texas, that celebration is four-fold. Kayla, Patrick, Reagan and Daniel Thompson are graduating May 14 from Texas A&M University in sync and on time - within the traditional four years.

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As the Gulf Coast oil spill continues to be a major problem, we have expanded our list of faculty and staff who can speak authoritatively on various aspects, including assessments of ocean currents that could be key factors in determining what land areas will be most affected by the spill. The updated list follows and will be posted — and perhaps periodically updated — in the “hot topics” section of our news page at tamunews.tamu.edu.

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As the spring crop of college graduates enters the workforce, seasoned workers can do several things to ratchet to up their value in the job market, says a professor at Texas A&M University who teaches and conducts research in the area of human resource management.

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Forget billboards, direct mail, even newspaper and radio ads. If you really want to reach people and win a 21st-century election, the Internet is a must "“ and you can thank a wrestler-turned-politician for the idea.

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It's the Chinese Year of the Rat, and if there's ever been an animal that needed a total image makeover, it's the rat. Many people loathe rats and associate them with disease and filth "“ hardly a four-star recommendation for the furry creatures. But the truth is, they are highly intelligent animals, have been amazingly beneficial in medicine and can be very affectionate pets, says a Texas A&M University veterinarian and rat expert.

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1) Surprise "“ Cholesterol May Actually Pose Benefits; 2) Candy Is Dandy - For Gaining Weight, Says Professor; 3) Popular Valentine's Day Flower Blooms From Backyard to Genetics Lab; 4) Don't Snicker: Death By Chocolate Could Happen To Your Dog.

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Researchers at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, in collaboration with scientists representing institutions around the world, have discovered the closest living relative to primates.

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Story ideas about holiday traditions, folklore, gifts, and retail.

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Bats are the most vocal mammals other than humans, and understanding how they communicate during their nocturnal outings could lead to better treatments for human speech disorders, say researchers at Texas A&M University.

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The 2007 George Bush China-U.S. Relations Conference: Development, Energy and Security is the third in a series of forums bringing together prominent governmental, business, and academic leaders from the two nations to promote, strengthen and expand academic and business collaborations between the two countries.

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Researchers at Texas A&M University are participating in developing a medicine that is worth sneezing about: a treatment for influenza that forms a jelly when sprayed into the nose.

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One of the big issues for most parents as they prepare for school in the fall is how to pay for what their kids want and need for the new school year. Cheryl H. Bridges, director of the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M University's Mays Business School, can address some of the issues listed below.

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Texas A&M University and Princeton University physicists have joined forces to perfect a powerful new weapon in the war on terrorism "“ a laser technique to identify deadly anthrax spores.

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Researchers at Texas A&M University are shedding light on a rare form of early blindness, identifying the cells involved and paving the way for possible therapies to treat or even prevent what is currently an incurable disease.

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Severe pollution from the Far East is almost certainly affecting the weather near you, says a Texas A&M University researcher who has studied the problem and has published a landmark paper on the topic in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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It's the Chinese Year of the Pig, and if any animal ever needed a good PR campaign, it might be the pig. Many animal experts think pigs get a bad rap. They are often viewed as dirty creatures that are not smart and show little affection.

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More than 5,300 Texas A&M University students will be receiving their degrees Friday and Saturday (May 12-13), each with his or her own success story-but for at least four of those Aggies and their families the occasion marks major milestones.

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College students often have trouble getting to class, and those at Texas A&M University are no exception, as they face parking and other issues "“ but for wheelchair-bound Aggie Susan Holle getting to class can be a monumental struggle, even though the university has won national recognition for campus accessibility.

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A team from Texas A&M University's College of Architecture is developing computerized mapping techniques to help police track locations and estimate risk-levels for registered sex offenders.

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A study by a Texas A&M University microbiologist shows that whirlpool bathtubs can literally be a breeding ground for dozens of types of bacteria, many of them potential pathogens, and such water can be a ground zero for infectious diseases.

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With a factory full of cantankerous contraptions and a team of oompa-loompas dedicated to producing the stuff, Willy Wonka knew it to be true: Chocolate conjures a magical spell over most people, and research is shedding light on the emotional experience that the highly addictive treat offers for chocolate addicts.

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Effective neonatal intensive care units provide more than just services -- they're designed in a way that contributes to the health of the infants being treated, says a Texas A&M University authority on health care facility design and environmental psychology.

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A baby's understanding of language may begin with its own name, which a baby uses to break sentences into smaller parts so it can learn other words, according to new research by Texas A&M University psychologist Heather Bortfeld, who studies language development in infants and children.

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Laughter might be the best medicine for transforming the faintest of glimmers of hope into an eternal spring, reveals research at Texas A&M University that shows humor may significantly increase a person's level of hope.

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Hospitals are unnecessarily risky and stressful places, but a number of improvements to the design of hospital facilities could reduce stress and risk for patients and staff, reveals research by Texas A&M University Professor of Architecture Roger Ulrich.

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Your memory can be improved, but it needs a daily workout and motivation to do so, says a Texas A&M researcher who has written a book after studying memory - and lack of it - for almost 40 years.

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Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can really hurt - hurt the economy, that is - especially if those words are coming from the president of the United States, says Texas A&M University political scientist B. Dan Wood, who studies the presidency, public policy and economic policymaking.

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The public and industry analysts alike agree: recent business events call into question accounting practices that had stood the test of at least a century. Mays Business School at Texas A&M University is aiming to provide just such an opportunity to look closely at accounting and its future with semester-long continuing education series.

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Are corporate directors from outside the company the answer to stricter and more ethical control of the country's major businesses? That's the trend, as American corporations seek to avert scandals by strengthening the power of diversified boards.

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With a new song at the top of Britain's singles pop chart some 25 years after his death, Elvis Presley is showing he's still the "King." Unfortunately, crowning Elvis Presley the King may have been the equivalent of a death sentence, says a Texas A&M University professor.

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Sure, it's a fast and convenient form of communication and even a method for proliferating corny jokes and outrageous hoaxes, but email, according to a new Texas A&M University study, may actually benefit a person's health when used properly.

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Many of the measurement tools researchers use in studies relating nutrition and disease just don't cut the mustard, says a professor of statistics at Texas A&M University.

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Victims of debilitating spinal cord injuries may in the future have greater chances for recovery of some locomotive functions, thanks to pioneering spinal cord research by a Texas A&M University neuroscientist.

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For anyone facing cancer, effective treatment is usually the patient's foremost concern. But a host of non-treatment problems can present as much worry as the disease itself.