Boston University

One of the biggest modern American medical stories has been the rise of vaccine hesitancy.

From the decline in childhood vaccinations for measles to apprehension about the COVID-19 vaccines, this trend has real consequences—including lives lost. Consider measles, the highly contagious childhood disease health officials declared eradicated in 2000 thanks to widespread vaccination. But as vaccinations for measles fell below the 95 percent threshold needed to prevent transmission of the virus, cases exploded, according to Johns Hopkins University’s US measles tracker. In 2025, 2,206 reported measles cases resulted in three deaths. Individuals who were vaccinated against measles made up just 6 percent of those cases.

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Every Shakespeare fan dreams of stepping inside the Bard’s world. 🎭

This spring, four Boston University College of Fine Arts students did exactly that, traveling to England and Romania to design sets, costumes, props, and interactive experiences for productions at the world’s largest Shakespeare festival. Working under tight deadlines and real-world constraints, they gained hands-on international theatre experience while bringing classic stories to life for global audiences.

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Boston University is joining a major National Science Foundation initiative that brings together researchers from BU, MIT, Harvard, Northeastern, and Tufts to explore how artificial intelligence can drive new discoveries in physics.

Led at BU by computing and data sciences professor Siddharth Mishra-Sharma, the partnership will advance research at the intersection of AI, cosmology, astronomy, and fundamental science while helping train the next generation of researchers. The collaboration also aims to use insights from physics to improve AI itself, positioning BU at the forefront of one of science’s fastest-growing fields.

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What happens when future journalists and public health professionals team up?

Boston University’s Global Health Storytelling course brings students from COM and SPH together to tell powerful multimedia stories about climate change, environmental justice, and public health. By combining data, reporting, and human experiences, students are helping make complex issues more accessible while highlighting the resilience of communities across Greater Boston.

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We can predict space weather. What if we could also stop it?

A Boston University researcher has proposed a system called StormWall that could help shield Earth from damaging solar storms by temporarily strengthening the planet’s magnetic defenses. While still theoretical, early simulations suggest the technology could significantly reduce the impact of geomagnetic storms that threaten satellites, GPS systems, power grids, and other critical infrastructure. ☄️🌌

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From calling the play-by-play on the field to having a blast calling the shots at New York Knicks games for the MSG Network, Tyler Murray (COM’11) has had quite the career.

He worked his way up the career ladder just like the pro athletes: step by step. He began his career with the single-A Daytona (Fla.) Cubs in 2011 as an unpaid broadcast intern who earned $50 a game to clean the park. Stops with Florida’s Dunedin Blue Jays and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats followed. In winter, he called college basketball, football, and hockey games, and in 2022, the Worcester Red Sox hired Murray (COM’11) to lead their television broadcasts.

Flash forward four years, and he's now broadcasting a nail-biting NBA Finals tournament.

Read about Tyler's career and time at the Boston University College of Communication at the link in the comments.

📸 credit: Steve Freeman

The World Cup is coming to Boston, and Terriers from around the globe are ready for kickoff. ⚽

With seven matches set to be played in Massachusetts and billions tuning in around the world, Boston University is celebrating the tournament through the stories of students, faculty, and staff representing 24 different countries. This special photo essay highlights the pride, passion, and international spirit that make BU a truly global campus.

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What if improving public health isn't just the job of doctors, researchers, or policymakers?

In her new book, The Collective Cure, Boston University public health researcher Monica Wang argues that healthier communities start with all of us. Drawing on research, personal experience, and stories from communities across the country, Wang explores how factors like housing, transportation, food access, and social connection shape health long before someone walks into a doctor's office.

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Moon and Back Bookstore in West Medford, opened by Michelle Smith (SHA’11), flips the traditional bookstore model by organizing books the way kids actually think—by themes like trucks, dinosaurs, and magical stories. 📚

Built as a welcoming, child-first space inspired by her own kids’ reading habits, the shop focuses on making discovery intuitive and fun while creating a calm, family-friendly environment. A little over a year in, it’s seeing steady success as Smith grows it thoughtfully around her family and vision.

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