MSU College of Natural Science

The foundation of the original, 145-year-old campus observatory that was demolished in the 1920s, was discovered In 2023 by the Campus Archaeology Program at Michigan State University.

Now, the team is back at the excavation site hoping to uncover more information about the history of the building and the people who once utilized it.

See and read more: https://statenews.com/article/2026/06/campus-archaeology-team-heads-back-to-1880-msu-observatory-site

Michigan stands alone as the only state in the country without a comprehensive statewide code regulating onsite wastewater treatment systems, more commonly known as septic systems. The state currently relies on a patchwork of county and local regulations, but many experts have argued it falls short of protecting public health and water quality.

Roughly 1.3 million septic systems serve half of the state's population, and environmental models estimate that 20% to 30% of them are currently failing.

Because these systems are buried underground, their failure is completely invisible until the damage is already done.

Researchers at Michigan State University led by water resource scientist Anthony Kendall, have been tracking watershed health using advanced microbiological tools. By isolating a specific DNA marker from a bacterium exclusive to the human gut, scientists can show that f***l contamination in Michigan's rivers is coming from failing human infrastructure, not wildlife or agriculture.

When these outdated or broken systems leak billions of gallons of untreated wastewater, the consequences cascade:

🟢Public Health Risks: Pathogens trigger beach closures, swimming advisories, and waterborne illnesses.

🟢Ecological Damage: Nitrogen and phosphorus pour into lakes, acting as artificial fertilizers that fuel harmful algal blooms (HABs) and choke out native fish populations.

🟢The Geography Trap: People naturally love building homes near beautiful lakes and rivers. But these low-lying waterfront environments lack the deep, dry sediment layers that traditional septic systems require to properly filter waste before it hits the water table.

Fixing this problem is a matter of structural engineering and proactive environmental risk management. Read more: https://msunatsci.info/msu-water-policy

MSU Water Alliance
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

What’s the physics behind soccer’s greatest plays?

Physics is everywhere in soccer. Every pass, shot, sprint and save relies on fundamental principles that govern motion.

Players may not be thinking about physics during a match, but they are constantly applying it. Running, changing direction, striking the ball and controlling it all depend on forces acting between the player, the ball and the friction with the playing surface — and frictional forces play a huge role!

The next time you watch a curling free kick or a powerful shot into the top corner, remember that physics is helping make it happen.

From the friction between a cleat and the turf to the aerodynamics of a spinning ball, the beautiful game is also a remarkable demonstration of science in motion.

Read more to learn how players make the ball curve?
https://msunatsci.info/Soccer

Please welcome Michelle Mazei-Robison as the new Associate Dean of Research and Infrastructure in the MSU College of Natural Science!

Mazei-Robison will continue her research while spending the rest of her time diving deep into her new role. While she knows she has plenty of listening and learning ahead, she plans to use her years of experience at MSU to hit the ground running.

“I want to work as hard as I can to make sure we have the resources we need to continue the excellent research being done in the College of Natural Science,” Mazei-Robison said. “That could mean making sure our faculty that are here have the equipment and space to continue their work, as well as ensuring that we can push to draw new researchers to MSU.”

Michigan State University Department of Physiology

Housed on Michigan State University campus, the Rosenberg Center will serve as the MSU Research Foundation headquarters while providing space for startups, corporate partners and MSU-affiliated organizations.

Read more ⬇️

msutoday.msu.edu

From the Red Cedar River to a 120,000-gallon aquarium, alum Lauren Grauer (right) turned a hands-on education at MSU into her dream career.

Lauren Grauer has been at Sea Life Michigan nearly since the aquarium first opened in 2015. Fresh out of Michigan State University with a degree in zoology, she started as a part-time husbandry assistant, moving to a full-time aquarist, then senior aquarist, and now curator since late 2022.

SEA LIFE Aquarium in Auburn Hills is the largest aquarium in the state. The main attraction is the tropical ocean exhibit, home to over 500 creatures — everything from Benson and Carr, the two sea turtles, to nurse sharks, stingrays and more.

“I never thought I would get to stay in Michigan,” says Grauer. “There wasn’t a lot of work for me here. I assumed I would have to move, but Sea Life opened the same year I graduated, so it was perfect.”

Read the full story: https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2026/06/spartans-care-sea-life-largest-aquarium-michigan

Campus will host its annual MSU Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration from June 15 to 19
https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2026/05/msu-hosts-juneteenth-celebration

Ask biochemist Maksymilian Chruszcz about understanding allergies and he’ll tell you this — we can do better. “Instead of treating the symptoms, we’d like to treat the disease.”

At Michigan State University Chruszcz leads one of the few labs in the country studying allergies through the unique proteins that provoke them.

By revealing the molecular structures of specific allergens found in everything from pollen to kiwis to dust mites, his team is achieving breakthroughs that could mean better diagnoses and first-ever medical treatments.

Read about the research and watch the video: https://natsci.msu.edu/news/2026/2026-06-allergy-chruszcz.aspx

Thousands of Michigan high school seniors decide where they’ll go to college each spring, but which destination is the most popular? That's Michigan State.

We're proud to be Michigan's state university.

Nine incoming 1st-year College of Natural Science students have been awarded full merit scholarships by Michigan State University.

Congratulations and Welcome to:
Violet McKay
Nolan Booth
Sw****ka Prakash Srivastava
Giovanni Bickel
Maria Khan
Katie Foley
Jeff Soukhojak
Greta Lyons
Fatima Hammoud

The scholarships are considered some of the most competitive awards in the nation. They cover full tuition, room and board, and a stipend for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study.

Each awardee also receives a spot in the MSU Honors College's Professorial Assistantship program, which provides a two-year paid research placement with a faculty mentor.

Read about the scholarships here: https://honorscollege.msu.edu/news/52-incoming-msu-students-earn-full-merit-scholarships/