The Arctic Ocean’s Shrinking Ice Cover
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Arctic sea ice, a key player in the global climate system, is undergoing major changes that impact ecosystems and people above and below the Arctic Circle.
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Internationally Recognized Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute to Hold Court at Home
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People living in the Beehive State might easily pair the words “Utah” and “ski” in a word association game, but not so much for “Utah” and “SCI.” –something organizers of the new open house called SCIx hope to change. SCIx will take place on November 4th. For a list of presentations and full schedule, visit http://www.sci.utah.edu/scix.
Read MoreUnique Mobility Products from University of Utah Program Enhance Lives of the Physically Disabled
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For those who do not have the use of their legs or arms, the feeling of flying through the air can be a liberating experience, to say the least. Now, the Ergonomics and Safety Program at the University of Utah has partnered with the organization Able Pilot to provide disabled persons with just such a feeling of mobility. The partnership has produced the Phoenix, a paraglider that enables paraplegics to take flight by piloting their own craft with minimal assistance. The first flight lifted-off this summer.
Read MoreLand Animals and Ecosystems Walloped in Wake of End-Permian Mass Extinction
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Natural History Museum of Utah’s Paleontology Curator Randall Irmis, along with a researcher at Brown University, have evidence that mass extinction that ended the Permian Period was disastrous for land-based animals. In a specimen-by-specimen analysis, the scientists say species were reduced to a handful of forms, called disaster taxa. The low diversity of vertebrates meant that terrestrial ecosystems endured boom-and-bust cycles for up to 8 million years before finally stabilizing. Results appear in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Irmis is also an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah.
Read MorePresident Obama to Give Medal to U Chemist
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President Barack Obama will present a National Medal of Science to University of Utah chemist Peter Stang during a White House ceremony at noon MDT Friday that will be aired via webcast and available to local TV stations via a live satellite feed.
Read MoreTiny Technologies Taking Aim at Big Markets
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The study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale doesn’t bring to mind Broadway productions or pop ballads, but a little showbiz has been added to this year’s nanoUtah 2011, the statewide conference focused on research, development and commercialization of nanotechnology.
Read MoreFaster, Cheaper Mercury Test Could Provide Answers for China
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Mercury pollution is a big problem, and it’s only getting bigger. It is most pronounced in developing countries like China and India, where coal-burning still remains a major resource of power generation. Worldwide, about 1,000 tons of mercury is produced per year. The resulting pollution makes water and soil unusable, and poses substantial health risks to people nearby.
Read MoreCosmic Ray Visitor Center Opens
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Oct. 3, 2011 – The University of Utah’s Department of Physics and Astronomy will hold an open house at 1 p.m. MDT Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the new Millard County Cosmic Ray Visitor Center in Delta, Utah. The center – which normally will be open 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays – holds displays […]
Read MoreBuilding Better Catalysts
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University of Utah chemists developed a method to design and test new catalysts, which are substances that speed chemical reactions and are crucial for producing energy, chemicals and industrial products. By using the new method, the chemists also made a discovery that will make it easier to design future catalysts.
Read MoreNational Medal of Science for U Chemist
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University of Utah organic chemist Peter J Stang has won a National Medal of Science – the highest US honor for a scientist or engineer – and is tentatively scheduled to be honored by President Barack Obama at the White House later this year.
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