- Dec 1, 2025
- by Tom Fleischman, Cornell Chronicle
- Sustainability + Society, Technology + Human Thriving, Student Life
Bird-of-paradise inspires darkest fabric ever made
The color “ultrablack” has a variety of uses, including in cameras, solar panels and telescopes, but it’s difficult to produce and can appear less black when viewed at an angle. A Cornell lab has devised a simple method for making the elusive color.
- May 4, 2026
- Holistic Human Health, Social Impact + Justice
5 ways leaders can use purpose to improve well-being and performance
The Cornell University Contribution Project found that when people act in prosocial ways, they experience greater wellbeing, purpose, and belonging. The Contribution Project is led by Anthony Burrow, the Ferris Family Associate Professor of Life Course Studies in the Psychology Department.
- May 18, 2026
- Holistic Human Health
What is love? Even a meeting on the subject can't find the answer
Robert Sternberg, professor in the Department of Psychology, presented his triangular theory of love at the meeting "Love, Actually and in Theory," organized by the Royal Society, in Edinburgh, UK. The theory frames love as a combination of intimacy, passion, and commitment.
Read the full article in New Scientist. A subscription may be required.
Kenjin Chang
Kenjin is a doctoral candidate interested in the design of food environments and its role in promoting transitions to healthier, more sustainable diets. In addition to his position within the Department of Human-Centered Design, he also serves as the Co-Chair of Research and Education for the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC).
Kenjin received his master's degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and, prior to joining the College of Human
- Mar 25, 2026
- Holistic Human Health, Technology + Human Thriving
Social media’s legal reckoning has begun: ‘We are in a new world’
Adam Hoffman, assistant professor in the Psychology Department, told The Wrap that he expected a “major overhaul” in social media design.
Nathalie Celestin
Nathalie Celestin, MPH, CHES, is a Ph.D. student in Community Nutrition working with Dr. Angela Odoms-Young at Cornell University. Her research interests center on the social and structural determinants of nutrition equity, with a focus on belonging and food access. Prior to joining Dr. Odoms-Young’s lab, she served as the SNAP-Ed Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Public Health and as the Food and Nutrition Security Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Jingjie Du
Jingjie joined the Ph.D. program in Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in January 2023. She works in Dr. Xin-Gen Lei’s group, where she studies phytases as both animal feed additives and soil fertilizers using computational biology and enzyme engineering. Her work focuses on uncovering the evolutionary diversity and catalytic mechanisms of phosphorus-mobilizing enzymes and developing soil-compatible biocatalysts to reduce fertilizer dependence and environmental impact. Motivated by the potential of biotechnology to address global challenges in