Beaver Brags and BriefsSpring 2026

Beaver Brags

-million-year-old ice — the oldest ever directly dated — was discovered in East Antarctica by researchers with COLDEX, a collaboration of 15 U.S. institutions led by OSU.

of stewardship of the McDonald Research Forest, north of Corvallis, is what Oregon State’s College of Forestry is celebrating this year.

views is what a viral video about OSU’s O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Lab got across social media in 2025.

in the nation is what the OSU student literary magazine PRISM earned in the College Media Association’s Pinnacle awards.

Briefs

Cosmic Honor

A discovery that opened a new window on the universe has earned Oregon State astrophysicist Xavier Siemens the Bruno Rossi Prize, one of the highest honors in high-energy astrophysics. Siemens led an international team of nearly 200 researchers, including OSU students, that detected low-frequency gravitational waves — ripples in space-time first predicted by Albert Einstein. The discovery revealed a long-theorized, universe-spanning background of gravitational waves produced by pairs of supermassive black holes slowly merging.

Print. Move In.

Oregon State University researchers have developed a fast-curing, low-carbon building material designed to make 3-D printing homes and infrastructure faster and more practical. Unlike traditional concrete, the clay-based material hardens as it is printed, eliminating days-long curing delays and allowing construction across unsupported gaps such as window and door openings. Early tests show that it reaches residential-grade strength in just three days and reduces carbon emissions by replacing conventional cement with soil, hemp fibers and biochar

Skip the Scalpel

OSU College of Pharmacy researchers have developed new nanoparticles that make it possible to destroy melanoma tumors using low-power, skin-safe laser light instead of surgery or high-powered lasers that can damage healthy skin. The particles collect inside tumors and heat up when exposed to the laser, killing cancer cells while sparing surrounding tissue. In early mouse studies, tumors disappeared without invasive procedures.

Science with Spirit

The name of a new medical imaging breakthrough contains a playful nod to Oregon State’s favorite furry mascot. BVR-19 — a newly patented, manganese-based MRI contrast material — could help patients receive clearer diagnostic images while avoiding the health and environmental concerns tied to commonly used agents. Developed by Oregon State researchers, BVR-19 offers an alternative to conventional MRI contrast agents that rely on rarer, more toxic metals.

Top Honor for Military Beav

Oregon State student Nikki Gold is the first openly LGBTQ+ veteran to be named National Student Veteran of the Year by Student Veterans of America. The honor recognizes leadership, service and advocacy among student veterans nationwide. An undergraduate health student and second-generation Naval veteran, Gold was selected from more than 600,000 candidates across the country. Gold has been involved in peer support and suicide prevention initiatives at OSU and plans to attend law school after graduation.

History at Your Fingertips

A new interactive touch table outside the Special Collections and Archives Research Center on the fifth floor of the Valley Library in Corvallis lets visitors explore 150 years of Oregon State University stories in a dynamic, digital format. Drag and open “bubbles” of photos, text and videos that cover historic moments — from early broadcasts and inventions to cultural milestones. The exhibit was first developed for OSU’s 150th anniversary and is now available whenever the library is open.