During COVID, we all learned the term “supply chain” as we tried to understand why items like toilet paper and disinfectant wipes were suddenly so hard to find.

Years after the pandemic, most of us again take for granted that the products we want will be available whenever we need them. Behind the scenes, however, intricate supply chains make that convenience possible. Multiple Baylor researchers are making an impact on the field — work that eventually helps all of us.

As simple tributes to those who have gone before us, they are easy to miss or take for granted. But 140+ of the red granite lampposts scattered across Baylor’s campus are more than just utilitarian lighting — they are memorials to those who have served our country, including many who gave their lives in action.

These lampposts have now been a part of campus for 80 years. The first were dedicated in a ceremony at Waco Hall on Oct. 25, 1946, just a year after the conclusion of World War II. More than 4,000 Baylor men and women served during WWII, and 125 of them lost their lives doing so. Baylor psychology professor Anna Martin suggested honoring the fallen with lamps.

When the Banana Ball 2027 World Tour was announced earlier this month, there was McLane Stadium — right alongside a host of NFL and MLB stadiums.

Yes, Banana Ball is coming to Baylor and Waco on May 7-8, 2027. Tickets are available only through Banana Ball’s online ticket lottery — and that lottery closes Oct. 31, so sign up now. Standard tickets start at $35, with no hidden fees or taxes.

At Baylor, our Christian faith is not just a thing we do, another box to be checked — it’s a part of everything we do. Even as Baylor has grown over the last 175+ years, our faith remains the “why” behind what we do — from academics to student life and beyond.

Here are seven examples of how Baylor infuses Christian faith into everyday campus life:

Baylor junior Isabelle Morin is on a mission to become the person — the expert, the advocate, the champion — that she needed seven years ago when Crohn’s disease abruptly changed her world.

At Baylor, Morin has found her place. Here, she’s able to contribute to microbiome research in an elite Baylor laboratory, join national student leadership for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and advocate for her cause (both close to home in Texas, and on Capitol Hill in Washington).

For over a decade now, Baylor Traditions Ornaments have helped add a little green and gold to Christmas trees across the Baylor Family. Each year offers a unique design celebrating Baylor spirit, from classics like Sailor Bear (2018) and the interlocking BU (2019) to special offerings like 2023’s Indy and Belle ornament.

This year offers two new ornaments, plus one returning option:

For Dr. Elesha Coffman, election as president of the American Society of Church History (ASCH) marks both a significant professional honor and a reflection of a career devoted to the study of faith and its role in society.

Nominated by fellow scholars and elected by the society’s membership, Coffman — a Baylor history professor since 2016 — now leads one of the nation’s premier organizations for the study of Christianity and religious history. In the role, she will oversee the society’s annual conference, guide council meetings, and help shape decisions related to the organization’s future direction and operations.

Self-driving cars (and other vehicles) are quickly moving from science fiction to present reality. As such technologies leap from research labs to roadways, Baylor’s Dr. Liang Sun is focused on what comes next.

Sun is a leading researcher on autonomous transportation, developing technologies that could power future air taxis, autonomous aircraft, intelligent drone networks and more.