Clemson University College of Science

10/15/2026

Have you ever wondered the science behind the leaves changing color? 🍂🍁
When the season changes, temperatures drop and trees receive less direct sunlight. Because of this the chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down revealing carotenoids, yellow and orange pigments, already present in the leaves. When leaves turn red, that is a result of a sugars getting trapped in the leaves producing a darker pigment, anthocyanin. This process of the reason we have a colorful fall season!
Happy Wonder Wednesday! 🤔

10/07/2026

Did you know that Clemson is home to a direct descendant of the legendary Newton apple tree?🌳

Bishwambhar Sengupta found genetic material of Newton’s 400-year-old Flower of Kent tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity. It is a great symbol for the College of Science at Clemson. This tree located in the courtyard between Long Hall, Martin Hall and Kinard Laboratory represents local relevancy and global impact.

Happy Wonder Wednesday! 🤔

10/06/2026

Check out Barbara Campbell's research, recently published in the journal Nature Microbiology!

Giant viruses may be important participants in ecosystems ranging from ocean and freshwater systems to soil.

10/01/2026

Kimberly Métris is a geneticist and pilot who studies what's in the air and her findings are fascinating. ✈️

09/30/2026

Have you ever wondered the UV index actually means? ☀️

major, Savannah, explains that while humans are unable to see it or feel it, ultraviolet light radiation can cause painful sunburns and eye damage. The UV index is a tool used to measure the strength of the sun’s UV radiation in order to prevent skin damage and long-term health risks.
Remember to check the UV before you go out! Happy Wonder Wednesday! 🤔🧴

09/28/2026

$6,000,000,000.

That’s how much global crop yield is lost every year when corn stalks bend or break before harvest.

Here is how Clemson University is helping fix it:
•The Grant: $6M total NSF award ($2M to Clemson).
•The Science: Mapping corn DNA, cell structure and physical strength.
•The Tech: Machine learning models analyzing 1,000+ maize varieties.
•The Goal: Delivering ~500 genetic markers to plant breeders.

09/24/2026

Have you ever wondered the science behind fireworks? 🎇
Chemistry major Daniel Keith, explains how different elements in fireworks produce specific colors when heated and excited. He breaks down the roles of oxidizers, fuels, colorants, binders, and acoustics in creating the bright colors, sparks, pops, and loud cracks associated with fireworks. The oxidizer, such as nitrates and chlorates, and fuel, such as charcoal and sulfur, create the reaction and heat. The copper, lithium and barium create the colors while dextrin and red gum acts as a binder, and aluminum and titanium are used as acoustic materials.

Happy Wonder Wednesday! 🤔🎆

09/22/2026

Congratulations Chris Chouinard on the $665k NSF CAREER grant to advance forensic drug analysis! 🏆

09/21/2026

Soap and water won’t get rid of this virus! Check out why certain viruses are harder to get rid of. 🦠

09/14/2026

Congratulations, Sabrina Fernandez and Heidi Sabatini!

Clemson was one of three higher education institutions to win awards in both the undergraduate and graduate categories.