Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter

Rylie is a neuroscience and journalism double major from New Braunfels, Texas. Currently, she covers the research beat as a senior reporter. She was previously a general reporter during Summer 2022. In her free time, she likes going to hear live music.
All content by Rylie Lillibridge
The best bands The Daily Texan saw during SXSW

The best bands The Daily Texan saw during SXSW

Rylie Lillibridge, General Life&Arts Reporter March 19, 2024

Across an array of unofficial showcases, bands from Austin and beyond captivated audiences throughout the week. The Daily Texan compiled a list of some of the best acts to grace Austin’s stages over...

Melotheory members Austin Pedersen (left) and Patrick Insull (right) perform Breathe in their Austin apartment on Wednesday. Gearing up for an album release, the duo cited early Coldplay and Cage the Elephants Cigarette Daydreams as musical inspiration for the single.  Insull said that Melotheory intially began as a fun distraction from his engineering schoolwork, but now the duo plan to pursue music full-time.

Indie-pop band melotheory set to release new single ‘Breathe’

Rylie Lillibridge, General Life&Arts Reporter March 1, 2024

Music has long been a form of therapy for Patrick Insull, who often wrote songs in the stairwell of Andrews Residence Hall. He said he found that his now-bandmate Austin McGinnis felt the same. In one...

American Spirit director Christopher Yates and producer Sabrina Zahir stand in front of West Campus Market, a filming location on Feb. 17, 2024.

New scene from movie set in West Campus evokes nostalgia in Longhorns

Rylie Lillibridge, General Life&Arts Reporter February 21, 2024

Scrolling through X, Brenda Alvarez didn’t expect to see a clip of a movie set in West Campus on Film Updates, a popular account with over 800,000 followers. “It just popped up on my feed … I...

Renters’ rights: How to navigate unfinished building contracts

Renters’ rights: How to navigate unfinished building contracts

Rylie Lillibridge, Projects Reporter November 1, 2023

When psychology junior Adrienne Wood signed a lease for the Union on San Antonio in mid-October, she was primarily motivated by her need to secure SMART Housing, which are apartment units with adjusted,...

National Science Foundation investment will help fund UT research into adaptive, ultra-thin materials

National Science Foundation investment will help fund UT research into adaptive, ultra-thin materials

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter August 6, 2023

Awarded at the beginning of the summer, the National Science Foundation gave $18 million in funding to the Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials at UT, one of 20 Materials Research Science and Engineering...

Starbucks local todavía carece de los beneficios proporcionados a las tiendas no sindicalizadas

Starbucks local todavía carece de los beneficios proporcionados a las tiendas no sindicalizadas

Rylie Lillibridge and Amy DonJuan August 2, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 27 de julio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Amy DonJuan. El Starbucks de la calle 24 se sindicalizó hace más...

New study reveals insight into relationship between bird size and temperature

New study reveals insight into relationship between bird size and temperature

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 31, 2023

A recent study involving UT researchers revealed new insights into the relationship between different factors impacting how birds evolve in the face of warming temperatures.  Traditionally, biologists...

UT researchers awarded funding from new UT Austin-Amazon Science Hub

UT researchers awarded funding from new UT Austin-Amazon Science Hub

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 31, 2023

Six UT faculty and students received inaugural funding from the UT Austin-Amazon Science Hub for their research on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Created in April, the Science Hub is...

Local Starbucks still lacks benefits provided to non-union stores

Local Starbucks still lacks benefits provided to non-union stores

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 27, 2023

The Starbucks on 24th Street unionized over a year ago, but workers say they are still fighting for equal treatment by the company amidst fears of retaliation. Last month, the location did not participate...

Investigadores de UT encuentran evidencia del agujero negro más distante

Investigadores de UT encuentran evidencia del agujero negro más distante

Rylie Lillibridge and Amy DonJuan July 26, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 20 de julio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Amy DonJuan. Investigadores de UT encontraron evidencia del agujero...

El Museo Memorial de Texas cambia su nombre a Museo de Ciencias e Historia Natural de Texas antes de la reapertura del otoño.

El Museo Memorial de Texas cambia su nombre a Museo de Ciencias e Historia Natural de Texas antes de la reapertura del otoño.

Rylie Lillibridge and Jessica Nino July 23, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 17 de julio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Jessica Nino. Después de extensas renovaciones, el Museo Memorial...

UT researchers find evidence of the most distant black hole

UT researchers find evidence of the most distant black hole

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 20, 2023

UT researchers found evidence of the most distant supermassive black hole to date, revealing new insights into how black holes form.  Discovered by the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey,...

La Biblioteca Pública de Austin lanza un nuevo espacio de creación digital

La Biblioteca Pública de Austin lanza un nuevo espacio de creación digital

Rylie Lillibridge and Alyssa Ramos July 20, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 13 de julio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Alyssa Ramos. La sucursal central de la Biblioteca Pública de Austin...

Texas Memorial Museum changes name to Texas Science and Natural History Museum ahead of fall reopening

Texas Memorial Museum changes name to Texas Science and Natural History Museum ahead of fall reopening

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 17, 2023

After extensive renovations, the Texas Memorial Museum changed its name to the Texas Science and Natural History Museum on July 7 in preparation for its fall reopening. “The building is always...

Austin Public Library launches new digital makerspace

Austin Public Library launches new digital makerspace

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 13, 2023

Austin Public Library’s central branch hosted the grand opening of a new digital makerspace on July 5, unveiling free access to various digital editing and creation programs. “We know that technology...

‘The cosmic symphony of gravitational waves’: UT researchers find gravitational waves shape universe

‘The cosmic symphony of gravitational waves’: UT researchers find gravitational waves shape universe

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 10, 2023

As part of a team of scientists, UT researchers found evidence for gravitational waves that shape the universe. The results were the culmination of 15 years of research. “We basically are in a bath...

UT researchers develop smart fertilizing system to reduce pollution

UT researchers develop smart fertilizing system to reduce pollution

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter July 6, 2023

UT researchers developed a more sustainable farming system that reduces fertilizer pollution and creates higher crop yields.  Current farming systems rely heavily on nitrogen fertilizers. According...

‘Juntos podemos hacer cambios’: Enfermeras del Centro Médico Ascension Seton hacen huelga por cuestiones de seguridad del paciente y dotación de personal

‘Juntos podemos hacer cambios’: Enfermeras del Centro Médico Ascension Seton hacen huelga por cuestiones de seguridad del paciente y dotación de personal

Rylie Lillibridge and Amy DonJuan July 4, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 29 de junio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Amy DonJuan. Cientos de enfermeras se declararon en huelga el 27...

‘Together we can make changes’: Nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center strike over staffing, patient safety concerns

‘Together we can make changes’: Nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center strike over staffing, patient safety concerns

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter June 29, 2023

Hundreds of nurses went on strike on June 27 outside the Ascension Seton Medical Center, marking the largest nurses' strike in Texas history, according to a National Nurses United press release.  “We...

Un estudio encuentra que los vecindarios del este de Austin se ven afectados de manera desigual por la pandemia de COVID-19

Un estudio encuentra que los vecindarios del este de Austin se ven afectados de manera desigual por la pandemia de COVID-19

Rylie Lillibridge and Alyssa Ramos June 27, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 22 de junio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Alyssa Ramos. Un estudio de UT publicado el 1 de junio encontró...

Groundwater drilling alters Earths tilt, new study finds

Groundwater drilling alters Earth’s tilt, new study finds

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter June 26, 2023

A study published on June 15 involving UT researchers found that groundwater depletion contributes to rising sea levels, which is estimated to cause a drift of Earth’s rotational pole. “If you take...

Nobel Prize winner and UT professor John Goodenough dies at 100

Nobel Prize winner and UT professor John Goodenough dies at 100

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter June 26, 2023

John B. Goodenough, UT professor and developer of the lithium-ion battery, died Sunday at the age of 100. “John’s legacy is a shining example of advancing our research and teaching mission, and...

La variedad limitada de tamaños de guantes afecta negativamente a las residentes femeninas de dermatología, según un estudio de UT

La variedad limitada de tamaños de guantes afecta negativamente a las residentes femeninas de dermatología, según un estudio de UT

Rylie Lillibridge and Hannah Garza June 23, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 19 de junio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Hannah Garza. Las clínicas de dermatología frecuentemente no tienen...

Study finds East Austin neighborhoods impacted unequally by COVID-19 pandemic

Study finds East Austin neighborhoods impacted unequally by COVID-19 pandemic

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter June 22, 2023

A UT study published on June 1 found that vulnerable East Austin neighborhoods were more likely to be at risk for COVID-19 hospitalizations despite recording fewer officially reported cases.  “Really...

Limited range of glove sizes negatively impacts female dermatology residents, UT study finds

Limited range of glove sizes negatively impacts female dermatology residents, UT study finds

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter June 19, 2023

Dermatology clinics frequently do not have smaller glove sizes available to trainees, making it difficult for female residents to wear properly fitting gloves, according to a study published on June...

UT se une a una alianza de investigación para eliminar el dióxido de carbono de la fabricación

UT se une a una alianza de investigación para eliminar el dióxido de carbono de la fabricación

Rylie Lillibridge and Esteban Elias June 18, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 15 de junio por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Esteban Elias. Esta primavera, UT ayudó a formar una alianza de...

UT joins research alliance to cut out carbon dioxide from manufacturing

UT joins research alliance to cut out carbon dioxide from manufacturing

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter June 15, 2023

UT helped form a nine-university alliance this spring that aims to cut out carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing processes by switching to clean energy sources.  “It's a great opportunity...

The Texan looks back, forward at news this semester

The Texan looks back, forward at news this semester

Politics and Protests Looking Back: UT students got involved with the state legislative session by testifying to committees and interning with congressional offices. UT’s student advocacy program,...

Food legislation recognizes sesame as major allergen, results in unintended consequences

Food legislation recognizes sesame as major allergen, results in unintended consequences

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter April 17, 2023

At the onset of 2023, the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education and Research Act officially recognized sesame as the ninth most common food allergen in the United States. Currently, around 0.5% of...

DEA proposes stricter guidance on prescribing medications via telehealth

DEA proposes stricter guidance on prescribing medications via telehealth

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter March 30, 2023

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s recent proposal to limit what prescriptions medical practitioners can issue during telehealth appointments may prevent students from receiving necessary medication,...

A student walks past Hole In The Wall on March 20, 2023. A car recently crashed into the bar, causing damage to the front of the building.

La comunidad se une para apoyar a un empleado lesionado durante un incidente en Hole in the Wall

Rylie Lillibridge and Amy DonJuan March 28, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 20 de marzo por Rylie Lillibridge y fue traducido al español por Amy DonJuan. La comunidad musical de Austin se unió para apoyar...

UT researchers develop smart stormwater basin to prevent flooding, protect water quality

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter March 27, 2023

UT researchers carried out a model-based study published in March that will help develop smart stormwater infrastructure designed to prevent flooding and protect water from contamination. “You've...

A student walks past Hole In The Wall on March 20, 2023. A car recently crashed into the bar, causing damage to the front of the building.

Community comes together to support employee injured during incident at Hole in the Wall

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter March 20, 2023

The Austin music community came together to support Troy Pruitt, a long-time door attendant at the local West Campus bar Hole in the Wall, after he was seriously injured when hit by a car as he was...

UT study finds human land use contributes to increased parasitic infection in bumblebees

UT study finds human land use contributes to increased parasitic infection in bumblebees

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior Life&Arts Reporter March 8, 2023

A recently published study by UT researchers found that increased amounts of parasites in bumblebees are linked to changes in human land use. Lead author Nick Ivers said previous research of shrinking...

UT researchers study cause of slow slip earthquakes, shakes that cannot be seen or felt

UT researchers study cause of slow slip earthquakes, shakes that cannot be seen or felt

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter March 8, 2023

A new study by UT researchers found the short-term strengthening of fault lines contributes to slow slip earthquakes, a type of earthquake that is not as destructive but occurs more frequently. An earthquake...

UT study highlights role of key nutrients in food for malnourished children

UT study highlights role of key nutrients in food for malnourished children

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter February 22, 2023

A UT study published Jan. 9 highlights the role of key nutrients in food that can help malnourished children's development. University researchers found that adding a crucial nutrient in food fed to...

The best time to get vaccinated is when you’re asleep, UT researcher finds

The best time to get vaccinated is when you’re asleep, UT researcher finds

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter February 17, 2023

Vaccinations are more beneficial when delivered during the resting phase of the circadian rhythm — as opposed to during waking hours — a UT researcher found in a Jan. 30 study. Louise Ince, a research...

UT lab selected by NASA for planetary science research initiative

UT lab selected by NASA for planetary science research initiative

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter February 15, 2023

NASA selected a UT lab as an inaugural facility for planetary science research, providing funding to the lab and promoting collaboration between scientists across the United States. The UT High-Resolution...

UT study finds communication, infrastructure improvement are key to winter storm recovery

UT study finds communication, infrastructure improvement are key to winter storm recovery

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter January 31, 2023

UT researchers studied the winter storm responses of central Texas utility companies to identify their strengths and weaknesses in anticipation of future winter weather, concluding the state must focus...

New autonomous car company Cruise adapts to bicycle riders, city policy

New autonomous car company Cruise adapts to bicycle riders, city policy

Rylie Lillibridge and Kylee Howard January 30, 2023

As the autonomous rideshare service Cruise expands its services into Austin, company officials say they are committed to safety amid concerns around the city’s increase in bicycle transportation and...

UT researchers build molecule library to identify potential antibiotics

UT researchers build molecule library to identify potential antibiotics

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter January 26, 2023

Using an advanced screening system, UT researchers compiled a library of peptide macrocycles, a type of therapeutic that may hold the key to combating antibiotic resistance. Peptide macrocycles are...

UT study finds new fossil records, provides insight into dinosaur diversity of late Cretaceous period

UT study finds new fossil records, provides insight into dinosaur diversity of late Cretaceous period

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter January 25, 2023

UT researchers led a study identifying dinosaur fossils found in Patagonia, a region spanning southern Argentina and Chile, providing new insights into the period of time right before the mass extinction. The...

DIY air purifier fights indoor air pollutants

DIY air purifier fights indoor air pollutants

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter January 19, 2023

Using a do-it-yourself air purifying device, a UT professor emeritus created an efficient yet cost-effective way to clean air in compact environments like dorms, apartments and lecture halls. The Corsi-Rosenthal...

UT-Austin researchers discover oldest known Mayan calendar

UT-Austin researchers discover oldest known Mayan calendar

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter January 16, 2023

A global research team partly consisting of UT-Austin scholars discovered direct evidence of the oldest known Maya calendar dating back to 300 B.C, much older than previously discovered fragments dating...

UT researchers create AI system to improve nutrition

UT researchers create AI system to improve nutrition

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter January 15, 2023

UT researchers developed an artificial intelligence system called Nutri to help healthcare providers discuss nutritional goals with their patients.  Marissa Burgermaster, who developed the idea for...

UT researchers gain new insights into indicators of alcohol use disorder

UT researchers gain new insights into indicators of alcohol use disorder

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter November 29, 2022

Developments in the field of identifying RNA characteristics could be used to diagnose alcohol use disorder, according to UT researchers. In a recently published review, scientists looked into developments...

UT researchers gain new insights into century-old multiple sclerosis modeling technique

UT researchers gain new insights into century-old multiple sclerosis modeling technique

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter November 15, 2022

UT researchers reexamined a long-standing model of multiple sclerosis in mice through a recently published study. The study compared multiple sclerosis itself with the model researchers use to understand...

National Science Foundation grants money for pandemic preparedness research

National Science Foundation grants money for pandemic preparedness research

Tisha Shrestha and Rylie Lillibridge November 9, 2022

A $1 million pilot grant awarded to UT from the National Science Foundation allowed for the creation of the UT Center for Pandemic Decision Science, where researchers will attempt to resolve challenges...

Faculty demonstrates augmented reality to observers at Anna Hiss Gymnasium, Nov. 4, 2022.

UT researchers discuss advances in medical robotics at 2022 Texas Robotics Symposium

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter November 7, 2022

Texas Robotics showcased new advances in medical robot technology at this year’s Texas Robotics Symposium on Nov. 3 and 4. At a panel on Friday morning, many core faculty members of Texas Robotics...

New research into COVID-19 antibodies could increase efficacy of treatments

New research into COVID-19 antibodies could increase efficacy of treatments

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter October 31, 2022

UT researchers took part in a study published Oct. 3 that combined different types of antibodies in order to increase the efficacy of COVID-19 treatments. Antibodies are naturally occuring proteins...

New UT-Austin research initiative to advance development of biologic therapies

New UT-Austin research initiative to advance development of biologic therapies

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter October 17, 2022

A new UT Austin research initiative will provide funding and support for research into vaccinations and treatments for a wide range of diseases. Texas Biologics is a research effort from the College...

Study highlights importance of Waller Creek watershed

Study highlights importance of Waller Creek watershed

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter September 20, 2022

A new study written in part by UT researchers found that the green spaces near Waller Creek have a variety of functions that benefit both humans and wildlife. A watershed is any area of land that drains...

UHS begins roll out of updated COVID-19 booster vaccination on campus

UHS begins roll out of updated COVID-19 booster vaccination on campus

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter September 16, 2022

UT students, faculty and staff can receive the new bivalent COVID-19 booster on campus as of  Wednesday, the result of a partnership between University Health Services and the School of Nursing. The...

$1.5M grant awarded to UT researchers for synthetic cell development

$1.5M grant awarded to UT researchers for synthetic cell development

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter September 9, 2022

A $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation will fund the formation of a team of UT researchers to further the development of synthetic cells. The grant, which was awarded over the summer,...

UT-Austin research into Antarctic ice provides insights into Jupiter’s moon Europa

UT-Austin research into Antarctic ice provides insights into Jupiter’s moon Europa

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter September 8, 2022

A new study from UT researchers analyzed categories of ice found in Antarctica in order to make predictions for the makeup of Jupiter’s moon Europa’s icy shell. Published in Astrobiology at NASA,...

Delays in COVID-19 contact tracing decreased effectiveness, according to new study from UT researchers

Delays in COVID-19 contact tracing decreased effectiveness, according to new study from UT researchers

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior news reporter September 4, 2022

A new study from UT researchers found that delays in COVID-19 contact tracing undermined the effectiveness of preventing further spread of the virus in Austin. The study describes contact tracing as...

UT-Austin study provides more insight into how aging affects episodic memory

UT-Austin study provides more insight into how aging affects episodic memory

Rylie Lillibridge, Senior News Reporter August 30, 2022

A study published by UT researchers in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience used brain imaging techniques to find that memory fidelity in older adults is lower, despite both younger and older adults being...

UT-Austin researchers find the answer to how stars form

UT-Austin researchers find the answer to how stars form

Rylie Lillibridge, Research Senior Reporter August 25, 2022

UT researchers uncovered that stars form through a self-regulatory process, an answer to the mystery scientists have been studying for decades. The STARFORGE project is a multi-institutional collaborative...

UT researchers find how autonomous car features can offset road safety

UT researchers find how autonomous car features can offset road safety

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter August 20, 2022

The growing prevalence of autonomous features in cars has the potential to reduce the number of risk factors associated with driving, but a study from UT researchers found that an increase in time spent...

$1 million investment allows for ethical AI research at UT

$1 million investment allows for ethical AI research at UT

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter August 7, 2022

A recent $1 million investment to UT from a nonprofit has sparked a new partnership that ensures more developments can be made in ethical applications of artificial intelligence.  The MITRE Corporation...

UT researchers help find new methodology linking melting glaciers to climate change

UT researchers help find new methodology linking melting glaciers to climate change

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter August 1, 2022

UT researchers helped develop a new methodology to visualize the effects of human-caused climate change on glacial retreat.  Researchers at UT’s Institute for Geophysics and at Georgia Tech’s School...

It’s hot. Austin’s growing urbanization makes it worse.

It’s hot. Austin’s growing urbanization makes it worse.

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter July 21, 2022

May and June were the hottest months on record, according to the National Weather Service. And it hasn’t stopped, with the hottest seven days in a row on record taking place from July 7-13.  Along...

Incoming Longhorns to attend Camp Texas in person for first time in two years

Incoming Longhorns to attend Camp Texas in person for first time in two years

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter July 21, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the July 19, 2022 flipbook. Camp Texas is set to re-open its doors for incoming UT students this summer, finally returning to an in-person experience...

Local health experts urge COVID-19 precautions amid potential surge in cases

Local health experts urge COVID-19 precautions amid potential surge in cases

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter July 7, 2022

Immunity from COVID-19 variants may wane in the coming weeks due to decreasing antibody levels and loss of vaccine protection over time. Local experts said consistent testing and staying up to date with...

34-year-long bacterial experiment comes to UT-Austin

34-year-long bacterial experiment comes to UT-Austin

Rylie Lillibridge, News Reporter June 27, 2022

A 34-year-long experiment on E. Coli to understand how bacteria grow, reproduce and develop new traits found a new home at UT on June 21.  Originally founded by Richard Lenski at the University of...

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