AUSTIN, Texas — Engineers at The University of Texas at Austin are leading an academic and industry all-star team that aims to revolutionize the production of semiconductor chips with a new 3D printing method. The new approach, which the researchers are calling Holographic Metasurface Nano-Lithography (HMNL), aims for faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly production of advanced electronics.

HMNL has applications ranging from smartphones to robotics to aerospace. It can create designs that were previously impossible, such as 3D printed capacitors, which store energy in electronic devices, or electronic packages that fit into unconventional spaces. For example, it would make it possible to embed artificial intelligence in customized configurations to fit the specifications of robots or rockets.

“Our goal is to fundamentally change how electronics are packaged and manufactured,” said Michael Cullinan, an associate professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, who is leading the team. “With HMNL, we can create complex, multimaterial structures in a single step, reducing production time from months to days.”

The team, comprising researchers at the University of Utah, Applied Materials, Bright Silicon Technologies, Electroninks, Northrop Grumman, NXP Semiconductors and Texas Microsintering, has received a $14.5 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to pursue this work.

Electronics manufacturing today is a complex, time-consuming process that involves layering materials one step at a time. This approach not only limits design flexibility but also generates significant material waste. HMNL offers a faster, more sustainable alternative.

The key to this technical leap lies in metasurfaces, which are ultra-thin optical masks capable of encoding high-density information. When exposed to light, these metasurfaces create holograms that enable the simultaneous patterning of a hybrid resin made of metal and polymer into intricate 3D structures. The process is so precise that it can achieve resolutions smaller than the width of a human hair.

Additionally, by eliminating multiple production steps and reducing material waste, the process minimizes the environmental footprint of industrial activities. The increased speed will make it easier to develop unique prototypes.

The researchers created four prototypes as part of this project for a variety of applications:

• Commercial electronics: A fan-out module for consumer devices, showcasing faster production and improved design flexibility.
• Defense systems: Advanced prototypes for high-frequency communication and reconfigurable electronics.
• Nonplanar designs: Electronics packages that fit into challenging spaces.
• Active packages: Structures that serve mechanical and electrical functions, such as precise beam-pointing systems for optical applications.

“This isn’t just about making electronics faster or cheaper; it’s about unlocking new possibilities,” said Cullinan.

The researchers plan to commercialize the technology through Texas Microsintering Inc., a startup founded by Cullinan.

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Police are continuing to investigate the death of a Texas A&M student in the West Campus area of Austin on Saturday, assuring community members of their commitment to the investigation.

The family of 19-year-old Brianna Aguilera is still fighting for answers tonight. Her mother, Stephanie Rodriguez, told CBS Austin she died after falling from a balcony in the West Campus neighborhood over the weekend.

Rodriguez and her family have suggested foul play may be involved in her daughter’s death, but Austin Police deny that any evidence suggests criminal activity.

“It’s just a confusing time to grieve while also looking for answers as to what happened to our baby Bri,” said Aguilera’s cousin, Amabeli Fernandez.

Police confirmed Tuesday night that the case is still open.

“Multiple detectives continue to interview witnesses, gather evidence, and work carefully through the details of the incident,” Austin Police shared in a statement on Tuesday evening. “This case continues to be treated strictly as a death investigation, and there is no evidence to suggest or support any suspicious or criminal circumstances surrounding Ms. Aguilera’s passing.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE| “She loved life,” mother says of Texas A&M student found dead at West Campus apartment

The Travis County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

According to the Austin Police, officers responded to the scene at 2101 Rio Grande Street at 12:47 a.m. Saturday. Aguilera was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:57 a.m.

“We recognize the deep pain that accompanies the unexpected passing of a loved one, and our thoughts remain with those who are navigating this difficult time,” APD wrote Tuesday. “Our detectives remain committed to investigating the full details surrounding the death of Ms. Aguilera.”

Family members have questions about what led to Aguilera’s death.

Her mother shared that Aguilera “became intoxicated” during a tailgate event on Friday night and returned to a friend’s apartment. She said she did not hear from Aguilera for hours.

“No one really that was really around Bri has come forward and given us definitive answers,” Fernandez said.

We asked the police on Tuesday who was with Brianna at the time of her death. They said that is part of the active investigation.

Safehorns, a public safety group of UT Austin parents and students, said these types of incidents have unfortunately happened in the past on West Campus. President Joell McNew asks people to share what they know.

“If anyone was there, if anyone witnessed something, something that they think may not be important but are now reflecting on it, we want them to reach out to APD,” she said.

McNew suggested resources like the Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) at UT Austin and Tell Somebody at Texas A&M as resources for those with concerns.

A GoFundMe for Brianna’s family is also capturing national attention, with over $36,000 donated as of Tuesday evening.

“I wish that we had a definitive timeline. That’s not going to happen if people do not come forward out of fear for whatever reason. They need to understand that this is a person, someone who was full of life,” Fernandez said.

The Texas Longhorns have had a whiplash-educing season in 2025.

With a 9–3 record, it’s easy to immediately dismiss the Longhorns from any discussion about inclusion in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

But Texas closed out its regular season with a bang, taking down the previously undefeated and No. 3–ranked Texas A&M Aggies.

After that win, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian made his case for his team’s inclusion in the big dance.

“We’ve got a really good football team,” Sarkisian said. “It would be a disservice to our sport if this team’s not a playoff team when we went and scheduled that non-conference game [Ohio State]. Because if we’re a 10–2 team, that’s not a question.”

READ MORE: Longhorns dominate in 2nd half to upset Aggies, 27-17

The Case for Texas

Texas finished the regular season with three wins against teams ranked in the top ten in the AP poll. They went 2–0 with double-digit victories against their biggest rivals — both of whom are locks to make the playoffs. They also beat a Vanderbilt team that finished 10–2 and will likely have a Heisman finalist in fan-favorite quarterback Diego Pavia.

The Longhorns have shown real progression throughout the season. After dropping their first SEC game to fall to 3–2, Texas went 6–1 the rest of the way, churning through a slate in the nation’s toughest conference.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning came crashing down to earth in September after entering the year with Heisman Trophy hopes, but he has come into his own in the months since that slow start. When you can finish a “let-down year” completing 61.4% of your passes with 32 total touchdowns, you’re doing something right.

And finally, let’s piggyback on Sark’s pitch: Texas’ 9–3 record includes the best loss in all of college football this season. With every passing week of Ohio State’s 12–0 dominance, Texas’ 14–7 loss in Columbus to open the season has looked better and better. Not only is Texas the only team to stay within a possession of Ohio State — they’re the only team to lose to the Buckeyes by fewer than 18 points.

If the goal of the CFP committee is to rank the “best teams in the country” — as it states in the “voting process” section on its website — Texas certainly seems to fit that criteria.

The Case Against Texas

Texas fans (and coaches) have been quick to remind everyone that they would be a no-brainer selection for an at-large bid if they had scheduled a lowly FCS or Group-of-Five program to open the season instead of choosing to play Ohio State.

And if you’re willing to grant Texas an assumed win in a game they would’ve surely entered as 40-point favorites, then this statement is true. But be careful — don’t let hypotheticals distract you from the reality of this team.

The Ohio State loss is not what’s going to stamp the Longhorns’ ticket to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl — far from it, in fact. The 11 games after that will.

Texas had arguably the worst loss of any team still making a playoff argument, losing 29–21 to a Florida team that went on to fire its coach and finish 4–8. Remarkably, the Longhorns accounted for half of Florida’s conference wins.

The aforementioned 6–1 record they compiled after that loss looks good on paper, but it didn’t come with many style points. The Longhorns escaped Kentucky with a 16–13 overtime win (the Wildcats finished 5–7 and fired their coach) and had to overcome a 38–21 fourth-quarter deficit to get past Mississippi State (who also finished 5–7, though their head coach survived the season).

After the Longhorns finally got a respectable win at home against Vanderbilt, they had a chance to make a statement on the road against a stout Georgia team late in the year. That didn’t happen, as they were walloped 35–10.

They ended the year on a high note, picking apart A&M for their biggest victory of the season, but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who watched the campaign as a whole and came away satisfied. Their talent is evident — and at times overwhelming — but the flashes of brilliance reveal just how much meat the preseason No. 1 Longhorns left on the bone.

My Final Verdict

I don’t think Texas gets in.

They certainly had a path after Friday night’s statement, but they needed some games to go their way in rivalry week. Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama, Miami, Vanderbilt, Utah, and Virginia all entered the weekend with 9–2 records.

Without question, Texas has the best 9–3 record in college football. If any of those seven teams lost, Texas would’ve almost certainly surpassed them, especially with their wins over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt.

All seven of them won.

15 Power Four teams now have 10 or more wins. Even with a 9–3 record, Texas will likely be ranked ahead of the Virginias and the Utahs of the world, but still, there just aren’t enough seats left at the table for nine-win Texas.

Being the best team on paper gives the Longhorns some weight, sure. But at some point, wins have to matter when you’re deciding who is “most deserving.” Some years, nine wins will be enough for an SEC team.

2025 is simply not one of those years.