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Defining Shapes and Spaces Beyond Three Dimensions

During the last century, a branch of geometry known as topology became a major focus of mathematicians and physicists. Topologists study what properties of objects and shapes remain the same even when they are stretched and distorted. For instance, a square can be “squeezed” into a circle, but not into a perfectly straight line or a sphere.

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Birds of a Feather Don’t Always Stick Together

Pigeons display spectacular variations in their feathers, feet, beaks and other physical traits, but a new University of Utah study shows that visible traits don’t always coincide with genetics: A bird from one breed may have huge foot feathers, while a closely related breed does not; yet two unrelated pigeon breeds both may have large foot feathers.

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Students Learn the Art of Invention

Biomedical engineering sophomores Jessica Ashmead and Annicka Carter are getting a first-hand look at what it takes to invent and commercialize a medical device. They developed a surgical retractor with a battery-powered LED in a freshman bioengineering class at the University of Utah. They call it the OptiGuide. So far, they have received national recognition for their efforts and started the patent process with hopes of eventually selling their device to hospitals across the country.

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Study Gives Insight into Most Common Causes, Risks Factors for Stillbirth

The Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network (SCRN) has reported that performing a systematic medical evaluation leads to a probable or possible cause of death in the majority of stillbirths. According to a study published in the Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the most common causes of stillbirth differ across racial and ethnic groups, with resulting implications for monitoring and prevention of this devastating pregnancy outcome.

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U of Utah Repeats as No. 1 University for Startups

The University of Utah is No. 1 in the nation at starting companies based on university research for the second year in a row, according to an annual survey recently released by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM). The survey ranks U.S. universities and institutions on commercialization success, and in recent years, the U of Utah has climbed to the top, overtaking such schools as MIT, Columbia, Cal Tech and Johns Hopkins.

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