Headlines from Iowa State

Featured

  • Agriculture

‘Lab-on-a-drone’ tests remote farm waterways for nitrate levels

Iowa State researchers have developed a "lab-on-a-drone" that can fly to remote, marshy areas of farm fields and collect real-time measurements of nitrates. The resulting maps of nutrient concentrations could provide "an evaluation critical for both economic and environmental sustainability," according to the researchers.

April 28, 2026

  • Innovation and Research

Research aims to fill critical gaps in telehealth design

April 24, 2026

  • Innovation and Research

Link between pollinators and diverse landscapes is a two-way street

April 13, 2026

Video stories and highlights

  • Students inside Hilton waving a large red flag with the words Hilton Magic in gold

    Stirring the magic in the 'Alley'

    Cyclone Alley is an important part of the magic at Hilton Coliseum. Students say they have a responsibility to set the atmosphere on game day. 

Animated illustration of the Innovate at Iowa State logo.

Innovation at Work

This series highlights the collaboration and creativity that fuel Iowa State faculty and scientists to find solutions to global challenges that strengthen our communities and improve our lives. This collection of words, photos, video and audio showcases Iowa State University's Innovation at Work.

In the news

  • ISU Police bring new K-9 unit on board

    The Iowa State University Police Department’s newest member underwent his first big test while on the job this past weekend — scouting out and monitoring Jack Trice Stadium during country singer Luke Combs’ concert. Zak, a 2-year-old Belgian shepherd, has been on the ISU campus for less than a month but has settled into his work as an explosives detection and tracking dog with ease.

  • What I learned from analyzing 789 ‘Shark Tank’ pitches

    Entrepreneurs displaying narcissistic behavior are better able to convince investors to give them money when their grandiosity comes across as confidence as opposed to defensiveness or arrogance. That’s what we learned from watching 12 seasons of the popular reality TV show “Shark Tank” to better understand how an entrepreneur’s psychological profile affects their ability to secure funding.

  • Iowa State University researchers, global partners create pest identification model

    As machine learning and artificial intelligence programs have advanced over the past decade, Iowa State University researchers — alongside national and international colleagues — have likewise expanded efforts to use those tools in aiding farmers.

  • Iowa State researchers using soybean-based asphalt on Iowa roads

    A little less than 20 years ago, resurfacing I-35 was a struggle due to a shortage of an ingredient used to pave roads. Iowa State University researchers got to work. What they found would create a new potential market for farmers and solve problems in the asphalt industry.