Clay weekly context brief for the University category (ISO week 2026-W40). Clay tracks publications from the University feed list. Below are recent items from this category, each with its source and a short description of what the publication covers when one is available in the source feed. Recent publications: 1. Taming the Duck, for starters Source: Harvard Gazette Link: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/09/taming-the-duck-for-starters/ David Malan says CS50s AI tutor is a net positive and getting better 2. A new technique could accelerate the development of RNA therapies Source: MIT News Link: https://news.mit.edu/2026/new-technique-could-accelerate-development-rna-therapies-0925 MIT researchers have developed a new way to produce lipid nanoparticles, using a strategy that gives them more precise control over the particles' size and shape. 3. Trade tensions, high prices and interest rates drive slip in consumers outlook Source: University of Michigan News Link: https://news.umich.edu/trade-tensions-high-prices-and-interest-rates-drive-slip-in-consumers-outlook/ Consumer sentiment ticked down less than four index points in September, reaching the lowest reading in four months and down 15% from January 2026, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. 4. The Pentagon wants $30 million to build an AI-powered lie detector Source: MIT Technology Link: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/09/25/1145144/pentagon-ai-lie-detector/ The US government wants to spend $30.3 million over the next five years on an improved form of lie detector, according to a Department of Defense budget request. 5. AI in Teaching and Learning at Stanford: Thought Leadership Open Track Source: Stanford News Link: https://ctl.stanford.edu/aimes/seed-grants/thought-leadership-open Faculty, instructors, staff, and students are invited to submit a thought piece on a question or challenge at the intersection of AI and education. 6. How to speak freely examined in eCornell event Oct. 6 Source: Cornell Arts and Humanities Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/how-speak-freely-examined-ecornell-event-oct-6 Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff and classics professor Mike Fontaine will discuss free speech and leadership Oct. 6 opening the Program on Freedom and Free Societies series. 7. First known case of Marfan syndrome discovered in feline siblings Source: Cornell Life Science Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/first-known-case-marfan-syndrome-discovered-feline-siblings Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Baker Institute of Animal Health have documented the first molecular characterization of Marfan syndrome, a rare inherited disorder that weakens connective tissues, in domestic cats. 8. A patient's experience with the evolution of sickle cell disease treatment Source: Johns Hopkins University News Link: https://hub.jhu.edu/2026/09/24/sickle-cell-disease-research-treatment-mbonya-bate/ From taking hydroxyurea as a child to participating in clinical studies as an adult, longtime Johns Hopkins Medicine patient and advocate Aldoris Mbonya-Bate has seen decades of progress in sickle cell treatment firsthand 9. NUS, Applied Materials and Micron join forces to grow Singapores next-generation semiconductor talent Source: National University of Singapore News Link: https://news.nus.edu.sg/nus-applied-materials-micron-scholarship/ NUS is partnering with industry leaders Applied Materials and Micron to strengthen the pipeline of industry-ready talent for Singapores semiconductor sector. 10. Past emissions from top polluters will continue warming the planet for decades to come Source: University of Washington News Link: https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/09/23/past-emissions-from-top-polluters-will-continue-warming-the-planet-for-decades-to-come/ A new University of Washington study shows that past emissions from the top 178 oil, gas, coal and cement producers will prolong warming and increase the odds of extreme weather events occurring years into the future. 11. New mosaic in the Princeton University Chapel honors Native and Indigenous stories Source: Princeton University News Link: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/09/23/new-mosaic-princeton-university-chapel-honors-native-and-indigenous-stories The mosaic adds to the rich tapestry of art and imagery that has been thoughtfully woven into the space throughout its history. 12. Global Hubs seed grant proposals due Oct. 14 Source: Cornell Global Reach Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/global-hubs-seed-grant-proposals-due-oct-14 Cornell faculty are invited to apply forGlobal Hubs Research Seed Grants by Oct. 14 to launch new international collaborations with researchers atGlobal Hubspartner universities. 13. Palette versus palate: Wine drinkers embrace a spectrum of wine colors Source: Cornell Business Economics Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/palette-versus-palate-wine-drinkers-embrace-spectrum-wine-colors A Cornell-led study finds that wines made from disease-resistant grape varieties, long dismissed by traditionalists, appeal to consumers as much as those made from classic European grapes. 14. Barbara Finlay, psychology professor emerita, dies at age 75 Source: Cornell Social Behavioural Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/barbara-finlay-psychology-professor-emerita-dies-age-75 Barbara Finlay, the W.R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Psychology Emerita and an award-winning scholar who challenged traditional thinking regarding psychology and brain function, died Sept. 12. 15. Bryan Isacks, geophysicist who helped shape theory of plate tectonics, dies at 90 Source: Cornell Physical Science Engineering Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/bryan-isacks-geophysicist-who-helped-shape-theory-plate-tectonics-dies-90 Bryan L. Isacks, the William and Katherine Snee Professor of Geological Sciences Emeritus in the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering who transformed the understanding of Earths surface, died Sept. 9 in Ithaca. He was 90. 16. Beasley and Jean-Pierre named 2026-27 Brooks Distinguished Policy Fellows Source: Cornell Law Government Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/beasley-and-jean-pierre-named-2026-27-brooks-distinguished-policy-fellows Karine Jean-Pierre, 35th White House Press Secretary and former senior advisor to President Joe Biden, and Gov. 17. Good vibes: Phones promote shared space, not silos, in Arts Quad installation Source: Cornell Architecture Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/good-vibes-phones-promote-shared-space-not-silos-arts-quad-installation Vibe Coating integrates green-screen technology and AI to visualize participants' prompts as an immersive, continuously changing environment. 18. Cornell Unplugged encourages mindful tech use, social connection Source: Cornell Computing Information Science Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/cornell-unplugged-encourages-mindful-tech-use-social-connection New event asks the community to decrease technology use, increase face-to-face interaction and consider that every AI chat, doomscroll and text message has a water, energy and carbon footprint. 19. The New Era of Lawyerless Contracting Source: Oxford University Link: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/the-new-era-of-lawyerless-contracting/ Contract generators, platforms, and AI are reshaping consumer contracts. Luka Nenadic explains how and highlights the potential pitfalls and policy implications. 20. Many young people are being prescribed multiple psychiatric drugs at once which can be risky Source: University of Pennsylvania News Link: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/penn-in-the-news/many-young-people-are-being-prescribed-multiple-psychiatric-drugs-once-which-can Many young people are being prescribed multiple psychiatric drugs at once which can be risky Sean Hennessy of the Perelman School of Medicine led a study that explored the risks of prescribing multiple medications at once. 21. Robert J. David Source: McGill University News Link: https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/node/22751 Robert David Title: Professeur(e) titulaire Department: Faculté de gestion Desautels Areas of expertise: Émergence de nouvelles industries; transformation des industries matures; évolution des pratiques de gestion; institutions et esprit d'entreprise Email address: robert. 22. Helping us make our way through a world that can feel broken Source: Harvard Gazette Link: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/09/helping-us-make-our-way-through-a-world-that-can-feel-broken/ Maria Tatar has spent her career tracing evolution of folk, fairy tales, explaining why they still matter 23. Scattering neutrinos to probe the fundamental laws of the universe Source: MIT News Link: https://news.mit.edu/2026/probing-fundamental-laws-of-universe-faith-reyes-0925 Reyes has carried an enthusiasm for physics into not only her research but her role as a personal tutor and teaching assistant at MIT, where she works to foster the same love of the subject in first- and second-year undergraduate students. 24. Arts taking center stage at U-M throughout October Source: University of Michigan News Link: https://news.umich.edu/arts-taking-center-stage-at-u-m-throughout-october/ Football season. Back to school. The fall can be a busy time of year. But the arts are planting their flag in the month of October, too. 25. Young organs may not be a fountain of youth for recipients Source: MIT Technology Link: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/09/25/1145083/young-organs-may-not-be-a-fountain-of-youth-for-recipients/ Around this time last year I was attending an aging conference in Manchester, listening to a talk about fly aging, when my phone started pinging. 26. Reimagining Democracy: America at 250 Source: Stanford News Link: https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/reimagining-democracy-2026 Join Debra Satz, Larry Diamond, and Stanford scholars for Reimagining Democracy to explore how Americas founding 250 years ago shapes public life today, and where we go from here in reimagining and strengthening democracy. This free, online series starts Oct. 7. 27. Military historian Barry Strauss receives U.S. Naval War College Hattendorf Prize Source: Cornell Arts and Humanities Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/military-historian-barry-strauss-receives-us-naval-war-college-hattendorf-prize Strauss received the Hattendorf Prize for lifetime achievements in military history research and writing. 28. Fungi nutrient sensing breakthrough may aid green tech, disease control Source: Cornell Life Science Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/fungi-nutrient-sensing-breakthrough-may-aid-green-tech-disease-control Fungal diseases can contribute up to 20% of staple crop losses and drug-resistant fungal infections lead to some 3.8 million human deaths, globally per year. 29. Time-restricted eating boosts weight loss in adults with obesity, prediabetes Source: Johns Hopkins University News Link: https://hub.jhu.edu/2026/09/23/time-restricted-eating-boosts-weight-loss-in-adults-with-obesity-prediabetes/ Study explores whether restricted meal timing while ensuring consistent calorie intake would change factors such as eating behavior, inflammation, and appetite hormones 30. When quantum meets AI: NUS brings together international experts to turn frontier technologies into real-world solutions Source: National University of Singapore News Link: https://news.nus.edu.sg/when-quantum-meets-ai-nus-brings-together-international-experts-to-turn-frontier-technologies-into-real-world-solutions/ The National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Society of Algorithmic Intelligence (SoAI) is hosting IntelligenceX 2026: Global Quantum AI Frontier, from 24 to 26 September 2026 at NUS University Town, focused on advances at the intersection of quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI), and their potential application to real-world challenges. 31. Tiny robot developed at the UW can precisely control its jump height Source: University of Washington News Link: https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/09/23/directhop-hopping-robot/ A new grasshopper-like robot from the UW Autonomous Insect Robotics Lab can hop high enough to clear a standard stair step, vary its jump height, right itself and reload for successive jumps. Sources in this brief: Cornell Architecture; Cornell Arts and Humanities; Cornell Business Economics; Cornell Computing Information Science; Cornell Global Reach; Cornell Law Government; Cornell Life Science; Cornell Physical Science Engineering; Cornell Social Behavioural; Harvard Gazette; Johns Hopkins University News; MIT News; MIT Technology; McGill University News; National University of Singapore News; Oxford University; Princeton University News; Stanford News; University of Michigan News; University of Pennsylvania News; University of Washington News. Selected 31 of 362 available items for this weekly brief.