GRIZZLED: Love Letters to 50 of North America’s Least Understood Animals spotlights the quirky, often-misunderstood inhabitants of our backyards and beyond. It hits bookstores this week, and Mercedes Burns, associate professor of biological sciences, is featured in an essay that dives into the world of harvesters—better known as daddy longlegs. 

The essay debunks the common myth that harvesters are the most venomous spiders in the world, but only harmless because their mouthparts are too small to bite a human. In fact, rather than being spiders at all, Burns shares that they are intriguing arachnid relatives. She unpacks their survival tactics, like shedding legs to escape predators, and other eccentric behaviors that make these gangly denizens more endearing than eerie.

“I’ve studied arachnids for over a decade, and learning about them has opened my eyes to the diversity of less-appreciated and absolutely fascinating species that occur in North America,” Burns shares. “I am excited to join the league of researchers who contributed to this book, and I hope that readers find a new local species to love.”

Burns’ passion for arachnids isn’t new—and it’s been weaving its way into public consciousness for years. In a 2020 New York Times piece, she demystified the fuzzy clusters of daddy longlegs that sometimes “grow” on buildings, turning a gross-out moment into a lesson on their harmless, communal nature. She’s also weighed in on arachnid feats, such as spiders devouring snakes up to 30 times their size, as featured in a 2021 Smithsonian article.

At UMBC, Burns’ impact extends beyond the page. Her 2023 NSF CAREER Award funds research on arachnid evolution in Japan, blending fieldwork with student mentorship to nurture the next generation of scientists and champion arachnid appreciation. There is even a trapdoor spider species named Ummidia mercedesburnsae in her honor.

Burns’ work reminds us that even tiny creatures deserve our attention and care. Dive into science journalist Jason Bittel’s GRIZZLED to discover your own “local species to love.” 

Zhibo Zhang, professor of physics, has been named director of the Goddard Planetary Heliophysics Institute (GPHI), UMBC’s arm of the Partnership for Heliophysics and Space Environment Research (PHaSER). PHaSER, a multi-institution consortium led by Catholic University of America, contributes to NASA’s Heliophysics Science Division at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) through research on the Sun, its processes, and space weather, which can affect planet Earth and human technologies. 

NASA allocated $10 million to UMBC in 2021 under its $64.1 million PHaSER award, underscoring the university’s contributions to heliophysics research and building on more than thirty years of successful collaboration between UMBC and GSFC, located in Greenbelt, Maryland. 

“My first priority is to support GPHI faculty and help enable the outstanding science and engineering they carry out at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,” Zhang says. “At the same time, I hope GPHI can serve as a stronger bridge between NASA and UMBC by connecting GPHI faculty with UMBC research resources, collaboration and funding opportunities, and with students and faculty who can expand our collective capacity and open doors to bigger, cross-cutting ideas.”

Zhang follows Jan Merka, who has served as the inaugural GPHI director since 2011. As director, Zhang will continue in his faculty role at UMBC, advancing his team’s research on atmospheric dust’s influence on climate and remaining deeply committed to teaching and mentoring. His guidance of undergraduate and graduate students has helped multiple students secure the prestigious NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship and other awards, including the 2025 Elsevier/JQSRT Richard M. Goody Award, fostering the next generation of scientists.

“We are very proud of the fact that UMBC is currently ranked as the #11 institution in the nation in NASA expenditures,” say Karl V. Steiner, vice president for research and creative achievement. “Zhibo Zhang is an outstanding colleague with a broad set of relevant expertise and experiences who will provide important leadership to GPHI and to our partnership with Catholic University under PHaSER. I know that he is the right leader to strengthen our relationship with NASA, building on over three decades of successful cooperative partnership between UMBC and NASA Goddard.”

Two student-led UMBC start-ups have been selected to receive 2026 Pava LePere Innovation Awards, granting them $50,000 each from the state of Maryland to support their business, as well as access to mentorship, training, and strategic support from the Maryland Student Venture Core Advisory Board and representatives from a network of entrepreneur support organizations across the local tech ecosystem.

The first start-up, called iBraid, was founded by Velma Funebe, a junior studying public health. She is building an augmented reality braiding app to help users part faster, see more clearly, and confidently braid their own hair.

The second start-up, called Strike Sense, is led by Charles Nerad, a sophomore studying media and communications and financial economics, and Aidan Fleischer,and Abhinav Patel, both sophomores studying mechanical engineering. The team is developing cost-effective attachments to transform any existing martial arts chest protector into an electronic, gamified system with sound effects and a “health bar.”

The teams were recognized at the Maryland Student Venture Showcase, held February 18 in Baltimore. 

Aspiring entrepreneurs can tap a wealth of resources at UMBC. The Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, led by director Kevin Fulmer, supports the entrepreneurial mindset with courses, speaker series featuring business leaders, start-up accelerator programs, and assistance with business ideas and networking with experts.

Last spring, Strike Sense competed and won second place in the technology and innovation track at the Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition, established by Greg Cangialosi ’96, English, an entrepreneurial leader in Baltimore. The competition provides UMBC student entrepreneurs with real-world experience, pairing them with mentors and connecting them to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Winners receive valuable support, including free legal and accounting services, a six-month affiliate membership at the bwtech@UMBC incubator, and guidance for fundraising and pitch development.

This year marks the second in a row that UMBC teams have won Pava LePere Innovation Awards, following the success of Elastic Energy, co-founded by mechanical engineering junior Samuel Bendek, at the inaugural awards in 2025.

“We are excited about the continued exposure and opportunities our student ventures are receiving in the broader Baltimore entrepreneurship community. It is validation that the programs we’ve put in place over the past few years are starting to pay dividends,” says Fulmer. “The ideas students are coming up with continue to be very impactful in creating economic and social impact in addition to being a great learning experience.”

This past weekend, the Retrievers cracked open the record books to ink two more milestones in the history of UMBC Athletics. For the first time in university history, the women’s track and field team captured the America East Indoor Championship title. In addition, the men’s swimming and diving team reclaimed their America East title for the first time since 2023. This marks their 15th win in 20 seasons. 

First of many

Despite the looming chilly weather, the women’s track and field team proved to be on a heater at Boston University on Saturday, February 21. With 163 total points, the Retrievers overtook defending champion UAlbany (143 points) and Bryant (116.83 points). 

There was no shortage of team and individual honors for the newly-crowned champs. UMBC was named America East Coaching Staff of the Year, led by David Bobb. 

With a time of 3:44.12, a 4×400 relay team of current student-athletes Lily Bandy, Dalyce Schmidt, political science; Leanne McDonald, psychology; and Anna Creel, computer science, nabbed not only a gold medal, but also set a new meet record time, beating their own record set in 2022. 

Sophomore Katie Schwaner, history, earned both Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet and the America East Coaches Award. First-year student Enazajah Young, political science, continued to add to her remarkable first season, receiving Most Outstanding Rookie and setting a new school record in the 60-meter hurdles to bring home a gold. 

Return to glory

Despite a remarkable legacy of excellence, the America East title has eluded UMBC men’s swimming and diving for the past two years, the longest break in their winning streak since joining the America East Conference in 2004. This year, the Retrievers broke the spell and came out on top to defeat two-time defending champion Binghamton. 

With a final total of 805.5 points, the Retrievers finished 50+ points ahead of Binghamton in second (748 points) and Bryant in third with 572.5 points. Despite the two-year hiatus, the Retrievers proved to still be a force to be reckoned with, racking up individual and team accolades. 

Led by Matt Donovan, UMBC again received Most Outstanding Coaching Staff honors. 

“This was an entire team win in every aspect for our third men’s team championship in five years,” said Donovan. “From the athletes in the water, to all of our supporters back at UMBC, and of course to our women’s team and what they bring to our program every day.” 

Senior Sean Neils, financial economics, earned athletic and academic honors, collecting individual medals and earning the America East Elite 18 Award for being the student-athlete with the highest GPA—a 4.0 in his case. 

First-year student Braden Weise set a meet record time of 43.58 in the 100 free, earning a gold, and was named Most Outstanding Rookie. The rest of his teammates followed suit with Neils grabbing silver, junior Matthew So, computer science, taking home bronze, and sophomore Axel Mori, economics, finishing in fourth, sweeping the 100 free and solidifying the title win for the Retrievers. 

Although women’s swimming and diving fell short of team title, junior Ashley Gutshall, history, set a record across UMBC and the America East with a time of 22.25 in the 50 meter. Gutshall took home a gold and qualified in the event for the NCAA Championship on March 20 in Atlanta. 

“Shortly after the meet was completed, I was asked on deck what my thoughts were and what I said then still rings true now—UMBC is a very special place and we are so proud to represent Retriever Nation,” said Donovan.

Courting a win

While the Retrievers secured their spots in the pool and on the track, UMBC men’s basketball is still in the throes of chasing another America East title. After a hard-fought win against UAlbany (66-62) this past Saturday, the Retrievers clinched a top four seed in America East Conference Tournament play. This was the sixth straight win for UMBC and it cemented hosting rights for a quarterfinal game on March 7. 

The Retrievers are 11-2 in conference play this season and 18-8 overall. They currently sit in first place in the conference. The last game of the regular season is this Thursday, February 26, at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena at 6 p.m. against Bryant. All faculty, staff, and their families are eligible for free tickets to cheer on UMBC. 

Piles of snow and bitter cold didn’t deter U.S. congressional representative Don Beyer from meeting with UMBC’s Carlos Romero Talamás in late January to discuss the hot topic of fusion energy. Fusion reactions, which release massive amounts of energy when multiple light atomic nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus, power the Sun, and it is hoped they will soon deliver clean, reliable, and abundant energy generation on Earth, too. 

Rep. Beyer, of the 8th District of Virginia, founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Fusion Energy Caucus, dedicated to advancing fusion energy technology, while Romero Talamás, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, leads a laboratory exploring a novel fusion energy concept that may offer an easier path to a commercially viable reactor. During the visit on January 29, Romero Talamás gave Beyer a tour of the lab, which is located on the University of Maryland, College Park campus and brings together faculty and students from both UMBC and UMD. 

A simpler fusion machine

The centerpiece of the lab is a large machine where the researchers have been testing a relatively new approach to confining plasma—the unruly soup of particles that forms when gas gets super hot. At high enough temperatures (typically more than 100 million degrees Celsius on Earth) and densities, particles in a plasma can slam into each other with enough energy to fuse together. 

The Maryland group’s confinement approach, called a centrifugal mirror, traps the blazing hot plasma in a linear tube with strong magnetic fields at the ends that push charged particles toward the center (the magnetic mirror), while also whipping them at supersonic speeds around a central conducting rod (the centrifugal part). The rotation creates stabilizing forces that can pull a plasma back together in the face of inherent instabilities that threaten to rip it apart. 

Recent experiments confirm that the physics used to model the confinement approach accurately predicts its real-world behavior, giving the researchers confidence that they could take the approach all the way to a working fusion reactor.

In fact, Romero Talamás has founded a company, called Terra Fusion, to do just that. The company has offices in College Park and is currently looking for laboratory space in Baltimore where it can build a next-generation machine. 

The start-up joins a host of other fusion companies, primarily in the U.S. The entire field has attracted billions of dollars in private investments, including from such big players as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. While Romero Talamás’ company is just getting started, he’s confident Terra Fusion can catch up and overcome competitors because of its relatively compact, inexpensive, and simple machine design.

All the companies still face big engineering hurdles, such as finding materials that can withstand the punishing onslaught of particles and radiation within the reactor. A simpler machine should make the path to overcoming these challenges much easier. 

Public-private partnerships fuel innovation

Fusion research in the U.S. in recent years offers an example of how the public and private sectors can work in tandem to address daunting challenges. The initial experiments on the current centrifugal mirror machine were funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Once those experiments confirmed the promise of the approach, private sector investment jumped in. Romero Talamás says the U.S. government also supports private sector research by offering companies access to the specialized expertise, experimental facilities, and advanced modeling capabilities at the national laboratories. 

U.S. fusion experts hope the jostle of competing commercial ideas will shorten the time it takes to demonstrate a fusion reactor design that could meet a significant portion of humanity’s ever-growing energy demands more cleanly, cheaply, and reliably than alternative energy approaches. Despite the proliferation of groups vying to make the next big fusion breakthrough, a mostly collaborative spirit still prevails within the research community, Romero Talamás says. “If any one of these technologies succeed,” he points out, “it will benefit us all.”

Two Retriever-led video game design teams were selected to present their games at Super MAGFest (short for “Music And Gaming Festival”), one of the largest and most prominent fan-driven festivals in the U.S. dedicated to celebrating the gaming community. The event, which runs 24 hours a day, was held January 8 – 11 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, and attracted tens of thousands of game enthusiasts.

Evan McRae ’25, computer science and individualized studies, was a member of both teams. The first team presented a game called King Scribble, in which the player must help the main character—a doodle from a notebook—find his way back to his kingdom by drawing (or erasing) platforms and objects to traverse sketched landscapes and solve physics puzzles. The second team presented the game Phantom Feline, in which the titular ghost cat character navigates through 32 haunting levels by controlling lights and turning into a shadow to scale illuminated walls.

Both teams found support for their creative and technical endeavors in UMBC’s vibrant game development classes and clubs. Computer science majors can choose to follow the game development track, and any interested student can join the Game Developers Club. In 2025, UMBC was ranked #1 in Maryland and #20 on the East Coast in game design education by Animation Career Review.

The Game Developers Club is advised by computer science associate professor Marc Olano, who pioneered the procedural shading algorithms that are used to generate color, texture, and lighting in real-time on graphics hardware and are now a standard feature on every PC and game platform.

It was in Olano’s Capstone Games Group Project class that King Scribble first took shape. The class includes both student artists in the animation track and programmers in the game development track. McRae pitched the King Scribble idea—which he had first thought up in first grade—to his classmates, who selected it as one of four games to develop. Since the end of the class, the King Scribble team has continued improving the game. They started a limited liability company and have plans to ultimately commercialize the game. People can currently wishlist the game on Steam, a large digital distribution platform for PC gaming.

Phantom Feline was first developed during the Game Developers Club 2025 Spring Game Jam, and is free to play on Windows and Linux.

Creating the games “has been a dream come true,” says McRae. “I owe so much to the teams for coming together to make them a playable reality.” In addition to McRae, the King Scribble team members are Jay Cina ’25, computer science; Brian Lawser ’25, computer science; Colby Frashure ’25, computer science; Sormeh Jaribion ’25, computer science; Justin Gaylord ’25, visual arts; and Ginger Sealy, Halle Onyeador, and Anthony Bonilla Duron, all current visual arts students. The Phantom Feline team includes McRae and Scott Serafin ’25, computer science; Aidan Brown ’25, computer science; Jet Thompson ’25, computer science; and Joshua Epstein, a current student in music technology and music composition.