science wire

U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants
Jim Erickson, U-M News Service, (734) 647-1842, ericksn [a] umich (p) edu, Jennifer Read, U-M Water Center, (734) 769-8898, jenread [a] umichg (p) edu ANN ARBOR-The new University of Michiga

UCLA Health System takes steps in anticipation of strike
UCLA Health System has taken numerous steps to protect patient safety in anticipation of a strike expected to begin at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21.

Penn Medicine Study Raises Questions About Added Costs and Physician Resources
With little evidence to guide them, many hospital intensive care units (ICUs) have been employing critical care physicians at night with the notion it would improve patients' outcomes.

Fowler Museum celebrates 50th anniversary with year of special exhibitions, programs
The Fowler Museum at UCLA will honor its 50th anniversary with a series of special exhibitions and programs beginning in fall 2013 and running through fall 2014.

Salil Vadhan named Simons Investigator
Award offers computer scientist a 5-year appointment with $100,000 of research support per year The Simons Foundation has appointed Salil Vadhan , Vicky Joseph Professor of Computer Science an

Vigorous athletic activity is safe with implanted arrhythmia devices
There has long been concern that people with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) should not participate in any kind of strenuous sports activity for fear that their devices could fail.

No-treatment approach may be best choice for older prostate cancer patients
Older prostate cancer patients with other underlying health conditions should think twice before committing to surgery or radiation therapy for their cancer, according to a multi-center study led by researchers from the UCLA Department of Urology. The study reports 14-year survival outcomes for 3,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994 and 1995.

Amazon River exhales virtually all carbon taken up by rain forest
The Amazon rain forest, popularly known as the lungs of the planet, inhales carbon dioxide as it exudes oxygen. Plants use carbon dioxide from the air to grow parts that eventually fall to the ground to decompose or get washed away by the region's plentiful rainfall. Until recently people believed much of the rain forest's carbon floated down the Amazon River and ended up deep in the ocean.

Stanford physicists develop revolutionary low-power polariton laser
Stanford physicists have created a new method of producing coherent matter beams. The new laser system would use a hundredth the power of conventional lasers and could one day be used in many places from consumer goods to quantum computers. Lasers are an unseen backbone of modern society. They're integral to technologies ranging from high-speed Internet services to Blu-ray players.

The Golden Gate returns to Stanford May 30
Stanford celebrates a remarkable collaboration: Vikram Seth's sonnets become sound in Conrad Cummings' opera, which has been called one of the best of the new century.

Studying the unseen activity in bacteria chatter and a nation's bereavement
  Princeton University senior Sofia Quinodoz took on two theses that in essence pertain to unseen and not fully understood actions nonetheless felt by those they afflict.

New Doctor of Physical Therapy Learned Benefits of Program Long Before Graduation
Nashwa Khalil knew the benefits of physical therapy long before she enrolled in the doctor of physical therapy program at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Scholar’s heart is in Aboriginal communities

Third Century Initiative funds its first Global Challenge projects
ANN ARBOR-Nadine Naber was in Egypt last year researching the country's revolution when she observed that women's groups spent most of their time dealing with emergencies-sexual violence, protests, blackouts, food shortages.

Gov. Jerry Brown to address 2013 political science graduates

Latest news on planned strike by patient-care workers unions at UC, UCLA
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, which represents more than 12,500 University of California patient care employees, has asked its members to strike at UC medical centers May 21–22.

Getting to the bottom of how oceans breathe
UAlberta researcher receives $5M to study how carbon dioxide moves from the surface to the floor of the Labrador Sea.

Faculty Senate explores the future of the doctoral degree

Engineers’ new nanoscavenger purifies water, gets retrieved by magnet
A new nanoparticle developed by Stanford engineers offers promising advancement in the way water is purified.

Stanford adds two new freshman living, learning programs
ITALIC, which will focus on the arts, and SIMILE, which will concentrate on science, will open in the fall, offering freshmen a new way to combine living and learning in a thematic, residence-based educational program while meeting undergraduate requirements.

Youth bullying because of perceived sexual orientation widespread and damaging
Bullying because of perceived sexual orientation is widely prevalent among school-aged youths, according to a study led by Dr. Donald Patrick, professor of health services at the UW School of Public Health.  The study was published online May 16 in the American Journal of Public Health. The research team analyzed responses collected in 2010 from more than 24,000 youths in a Washington state survey conducted in public school grades eight through 12.

New YaleNews website celebrates classroom teaching

Gene modification technology developed at University of Minnesota and Iowa State University receives patents
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (05/17/2013) —The USPTO has issued two patents for technology developed jointly by researchers at the University of Minnesota and Iowa State University that allows scientists to modify genes to create specific traits. The patents (US 8,440,431 and US 8,440,432) were issued on May 14, 2013 and are based on TAL effector nucleases that "read" DNA and make pinpoint cuts in targeted genes.

U-M experts available to discuss Canadian earthquake felt in Michigan today
ANN ARBOR-Earthquakes Canada reported that a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred at 9:43 a.m. ET today northwest of Ottawa, Canada, and was followed 10 minutes later by an aftershock of magnitude 4.1.

Playing doctor in the digital age
Computer game uses real hospital situations to teach medical students the importance of communicating as a team.

Merit E. Janow Appointed Dean of Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs
Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger has appointed Merit E. Janow as the next dean of the University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), effective July 1.

Penn Medicine Study Suggests New Role for ECMO in Treating Patients With Cardiac Arrest
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a procedure traditionally used during cardiac surgeries and in the ICU that functions as an artificial replacement for a patient's heart and lungs, has also been used to resuscitate cardiac arrest victims in Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. Now, a novel study of this technique in the U.S. has been completed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania , indicating a potential role for this intervention to save patients who are unable to be resuscitated through conventional measures.

More Sub-Saharan Africans Living Longer but With Limited Function
The number of adults living beyond age 45 in sub-Saharan Africa is rapidly expanding, yet many of these older men and women experience physical illnesses and disabilities that limit their ability to function, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and in Malawi.

In a bowl of breakfast cereal, principles of attraction on display
Andong He saw a phenomenon at work in his breakfast bowl that he couldn't explain. It prompted this question: How does cereal shape influence the way cereals floating in the milk join?

Strong standards for school snacks increase lunches and revenue
Schools that implement strong nutrition standards for snacks sold at school increase student meal participation and school revenue, according to a study by the Yale Rudd Center and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Mathematicians Analyze Social Divisions Using Cell Phone Data
Differences divide us. Human society fractures along lines defined by politics, religion, ethnicity, and perhaps most fundamentally, language. Although these differences contribute to the great variety of human lives, the partitions they create can lead to conflict and strife, impeding efforts toward social justice and economic development.

Yale Cancer Center carves new path in immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapy is showing promise in treating patients with a variety of advanced, metastatic tumors, as evidenced by two newly unveiled studies from Yale Cancer Center. The research will be formally presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, but abstracts were made public by ASCO in advance of the meeting.

Preventive mastectomy: understanding Angelina Jolie's decision
Actress Angelina Jolie's revelation that she has undergone a preventive mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer is all over the news, drawing attention to mutations in genes BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 that dramatically elevate some women's risk for the disease.

Royal Navy Officer Becomes Journalist
Aboard the frigate HMS Argyll, Christopher Harress (JRN'13) reported on humanitarian efforts in Sierra Leone and two major drug busts in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Kids, especially boys, perceive sadness of depressed parents
ANN ARBOR-Children of depressed parents pick up on their parents' sadness-whether mom or dad realizes their mood or not. A new University of Michigan study indicates that children who have at least one parent suffering from depression are very skilled at picking up on facial cues. Boys living in this environment are highly sensitive to facial expressions of sadness, said Nestor Lopez-Duran, assistant professor of psychology and one the study's authors.

Cracking the code of art’s meaning
Grad student exhibit explores how meaning emerges from the complicated relationship between art, artist and viewer.

Beautiful "flowers" self-assemble in a beaker
: Caroline Perry , (617) 496-1351 These false-color SEM images reveal microscopic flower structures created by manipulating a chemical gradient to control crystalline self-assembly.

Bach to the blues,our emotions match music to colors
Whether we're listening to Bach or the blues, our brains are wired to make music-color connections depending on how the melodies make us feel, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley.

Larry Yore to receive U of M's Outstanding Achievement Award

U-M anthropologist named 2013 National Geographic Emerging Explorer
Vivianne Schnitzer, U-M News Service, (734) 763-0368, vsh [a] umich (p) edu or Caroline Braun, National Geographic, (202) 862-8281, cbraun [a] ngs (p) org ANN ARBOR-Jason De León, assistant

Artificial Forest for Solar Water-Splitting
In the wake of the sobering news that atmospheric carbon dioxide is now at its highest level in at least three million years, an important advance in the race to develop carbon-neutral renewable energy sources has been achieved.

Nanotechnology could help fight diabetes
Injectable nanogel can monitor blood-sugar levels and secrete insulin when needed. Injectable nanoparticles developed at MIT may someday eliminate the need for patients with Type 1 diabetes to constantly monitor their blood-sugar levels and inject themselves with insulin. The nanoparticles were designed to sense glucose levels in the body and respond by secreting the appropriate amount of insulin, thereby replacing the function of pancreatic islet cells, which are destroyed in patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Invasive Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants, Researchers Find
AUSTIN, Texas — Invasive "crazy ants" are displacing fire ants in areas across the southeastern United States, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

Penn Medicine Reveals New Potential Therapy for Advanced Cancers
In the largest clinical trial to date to examine the efficacy of PARP inhibitor therapy in BRCA 1/2 carriers with diseases other than breast and ovarian cancer, the oral drug olaparib was found to be effective against advanced pancreatic and prostate cancers. Results of the study, led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Israel, will be presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago in early June (Abstract #11024).

Cuatro Corridos: New Chamber Opera Takes Look at Issue of Sex Trafficking Along Border
"Cuatro Corridos," the new chamber opera by UC San Diego soprano Susan Narucki and Mexican author Jorge Volpi, earned rave reviews for its May 8 premiere on campus.

UC San Diego Creates Center for Brain Activity Mapping
Responding to President Barack Obama's "grand challenge" to chart the function of the human brain in unprecedented detail, the University of California, San Diego has established the Center for Brain Activity Mapping (CBAM).

Socrates Fellow Brings Coral Research to Local High School
Coral reef health is the scientific specialty of Aaron Hartmann, a sixth year Ph.D. student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Larson Institute hosts international friction workshop
Josh Jones of Oklahoma-based Blastrac showed off a machine designed to remove tire rubber, residue and surface contamination from asphalt surfaces to improve skid resistance, micro textures and macro textures.

Newly Described Type of Immune Cell and’T cells Share Similar Path to Maturity, According to New Penn Study
Labs around the world, and a core group at Penn, have been studying recently described populations of immune cells called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs).

New Penn Medicine Research Identifies Infection and Sepsis-Related Mortality Hotspots Across the U.S
In the past, researchers have sought to determine the geographic distribution of many life-threatening conditions, including stroke and cardiac arrest.

A new laser paradigm: An electrically injected polariton laser
ANN ARBOR-Engineering researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated a paradigm-shifting "polariton" laser that's fueled not by light, but by electricity.

U-M conference: Future of liberal arts at research universities
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: May 22-24, 2013 EVENT: At a time when the value of the liberal arts is under much debate, more than 50 deans at large research universities around the country wil

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover
When the brain's primary "learning center" is damaged, complex new neural circuits arise to compensate for the lost function, say life scientists from UCLA and Australia who have pinpointed the regions of the brain involved in creating those alternate pathways — often far from the damaged site.

The music of the Arab Spring finds a home on the Stanford campus
Stanford scholars broadcast Middle Eastern music and culture on two KZSU radio shows, Arabology and Mediterraneans: Music of the Middle East, North Africa, and Beyond.

Q&A: Steven Chu on returning to Stanford, his time as U.S. Energy Secretary
After six years as the secretary of energy, Nobel laureate Steven Chu is returning to Stanford University as a professor of physics and molecular and cellular physiology.

Turning Up the Heat on Biofuels
The production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass would benefit on several levels if carried out at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius.

Secrets of life on Earth, Mars bubbling in 2.7 billion-year-old water
A team of scientists from the University of Toronto and Manchester University in the United Kingdom have gone three kilometres beneath the surface of the Canadian Shield to find some of the oldest fluids in our planet's history. The waters are rich in clues about lives lived without sunlight on Earth and possibly on Mars.

Tropical air circulation drives fall warming on Antarctic Peninsula
The eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, a finger of the southern polar continent that juts toward South America, has experienced summer warming of perhaps a half-degree per decade - a greater rate than possibly anywhere else on Earth - in the last 50 years, and that warming is largely attributed to human causes.

Documents that Changed the World: ‘What is the Third Estate?’ 1789
Joe Janes reached back two centuries to a self-published pamphlet in pre-revolutionary France for the latest installment of his podcast series, “ Documents that Changed the World.” In

Lights, Action, Camera, Roll-em: the Silent Films of the La Jolla Cinema League
San Diego-with its spectacular coastal vistas, wide sandy beaches, and perpetually balmy weather-has long been a draw as a filming location for Hollywood motion picture studios.

Cultivating research for better canola
UAlberta's canola breeding program receives $3.1 million to support research into improving Canada's top revenue crop.

Dr. Roy Herbst has new post as the Ensign Professor of Medical Oncology
Dr. Roy S. Herbst, recently designated as the Ensign Professor of Medical Oncology, is nationally recognized for his leadership and expertise in lung cancer treatment and research.

Making frequency-hopping radios practical
New hardware could lead to wireless devices that identify and exploit unused transmission frequencies, using radio spectrum much more efficiently.

Guide adds new voices to history of Gettysburg battle
This Confederate artillery location on Benner's Hill played a key role on day-one at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Twin epidemics: HIV and Hepatitis C in the urban Northeast
A new Yale study looks at the scope and consequences of a burgeoning health problem in the cities of the U.S. Northeast: concurrent infection with both HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV). The study appears online in the May 14 issue of the Public Library of Science (PLoS One). HIV and HCV are the two most prevalent chronic viral infections in the United States.

Los Alamos National Laboratory selects three small businesses for environmental work

Engineering Tissue to Rebuild Damaged Bones and Organs
From the chimera in Greek mythology to the sphinx in ancient Egypt, humans have imagined making creatures from pieces of different organisms for millennia. Tissue engineering, the innovative field that uses engineering principles to develop biological substitutes for cells or even major organs, is just the latest version, says Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic , the Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Sciences.

Wireless signals could transform brain trauma diagnostics
New technology developed at the University of California, Berkeley, is using wireless signals to provide real-time, non-invasive diagnoses of brain swelling or bleeding.

Stanford professor and former NASA official on the Kepler space telescope
Scott Hubbard, a consulting professor of aeronautics and astronautics, helped guide the Kepler mission when he served as director of NASA Ames Research Center.

Engineers monitor heart with paper-thin flexible ’skin’
Engineers combine layers of flexible materials into pressure sensors to create a wearable heart monitor thinner than a dollar bill.

Renowned U of’T Alzheimer’s researcher wins prestigious international health award
World-renowned molecular geneticist Professor Peter St George-Hyslop , director of the University of Toronto's Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases , has won one of Europe's top health awards for his pioneering work on the roots of neurodegenerative diseases.

UCLA Architecture and Urban Design launches ’Extreme IDEAS’ series
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (A.UD) will carry the narrative of modern architecture in Los Angeles forward from its influential past to the future with " Extreme IDEAS: Architecture at the Int

Warming in central China greater than most climate models indicated
Temperatures in central China are 10 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit hotter today than they were 20,000 years ago, during the last ice age, UCLA researchers report — an increase two to four times greater than many scientists previously thought.

Research Helps Paint Finer Picture of Massive 1700 Earthquake
In 1700, a massive earthquake struck the west coast of North America. Though it was powerful enough to cause a tsunami as far as Japan, a lack of local documentation has made studying this historic event challenging.

New PhD program in molecular engineering marks historic first for UChicago
The University of Chicago will offer an engineering PhD for the first time, emphasizing the development of solutions to technological problems of society based on molecular-level science.

Symposia feature undergraduate research

Alba Holgado, ’a rare workplace treasure,’ wins Amy J. Blue Award
Alba Holgado, digital course management at Robert Crown Law Library, is one of three recipients of the 2013 Amy J. Blue Award.

Stanford adds walkers, bikers to incentive-based study to relieve traffic congestion
Stanford research offering cash incentives to drivers for avoiding rush hour has helped the university fulfill an agreement with Santa Clara County.

Engineer John Hutchinson elected to the Royal Society
Honor recognizes his expertise in solid mechanics and materials engineering, especially buckling and cracking John W. Hutchinson , Abbott and James Lawrence Professor of Engineering and

U-M launches new center to transform mobility
Francine Romine, (734) 763-4668, fromine [a] umich (p) edu or David Lampe, (734) 647-7768, drlampe [a] umich (p) edu or Bernie DeGroat (734) 647-1847, bernied [a] umich (p) edu ANN ARBOR-The

UAlberta awards first BSc north of 60 in Canada

Investing in a strong Canada-China relationship

UChicago to evaluate effects of increased math tutoring in Chicago Public Schools
Up to 1,000 adolescent boys in 12 Chicago Public Schools will receive individualized, daily math tutoring in their regular school day beginning next fall, as part of a new UChicago-supported program designed to boost school performance and reduce violent crimes.

Car wars: Advanced vehicles show range of technologies
The 21st Century Automotive Challenge will give visitors a chance to check out vehicles powered by a number of alternative energy sources, including electricity, compressed natural gas and biodiesel.

Brian Mulhall, From the Navy to the Law
Brian C. Mulhall, who is graduating from the Law School , learned a lesson in a middle school summer wrestling program that became central to the way he approaches life.

Software Developer Combines Technology Skills With Journalism in New Dual-Degree Program
Over the course of a six-year career designing online banking software for the British financial firm HSBC, Rashmi Raman would often find herself trolling the Columbia Journalism School website and dreaming of the possibilities.

College Graduate Starts Volunteer Program to Comfort Elderly
The aging and frail nun, a resident at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center on Fifth Avenue, was quickly declining.

Documentary film portrays UW–Madison mindfulness research
MADISON – Groundbreaking research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is the focus of the new documentary film, “Free the Mind,” which debuts in Madison tomorrow, May 15.

Nursing Graduate Well Schooled in Cancer Care
Alfredo Axtmayer II will have a unique perspective to share with his patients when he becomes a nurse practitioner with a specialty in oncology.

After 60 Years of Public Service, Diplomat Finally Earns His Ph.D
Most scholars earn a Ph.D. then go on to a career in their chosen field and publish some books.

Two Engineers Harness Solar Power to Help Sandy Victims
Back in 2010, when graduation still seemed remote and intangible, Rob van Haaren and Garrett Fitzgerald agreed to celebrate their Ph.Ds—whenever they might finish—by piloting a pair of motorcycles from New York City to California.

Columbia to House El Diario Photo Archive
So much of New York's history has been lived, sung and reported in Spanish. With the great migration of the 1950s, what had long been a relatively small Latino community in New York became a thriving center of Puerto Rican life and culture.

Faculty Q&A With Martin Chalfie
When he received his A.B. from Harvard in 1969, Martin Chalfie wasn't sure what he would do next. His worst grades had been in physics and chemistry, and a summer research project had failed, so science seemed out of reach. He had a series of short-term jobs and then spent two years teaching high school algebra, chemistry and social science in Connecticut.

Alexander Vardy Named First Jack Keil Wolf Chair in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering Professor Alexander Vardy, a renowned researcher in information and coding theory, has been appointed as the first Jack Keil Wolf Endowed Chair in Electrical Engineering at the University of California, San Diego.

Survivor Beach to ’SUP-port’ Quest to Conquer Cancer June 2
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center will host the 7th annual Survivor Beach on Sunday, June 2. The event, which has become a La Jolla tradition, will feature a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) competition, beach festival with food trucks and more.

Yale science outreach: Inspiring the next generation of scientists
At age 14, Michael Wilner knew he wanted a career in forensic science. In addition to his studies at New Haven's Hill Regional Career High School, he wanted a rigorous, hands-on experience to help him determine if working in a lab was truly right for him.

New report released on health impacts of Duwamish River cleanup
Posted under: Environment , Health and Medicine , Research , UW and the Community A new report released today, May 13, examines the potential health impacts of the Duwamish River cleanup on Native American tribes and other people who use the river or live or work nearby.

Tumor-Activated Protein Promotes Cancer Spread
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center report that cancers physically alter cells in the lymphatic system - a network of vesse

Higher Child Marriage Rates Associated with Higher Maternal and Infant Mortality
Countries in which girls are commonly married before the age of 18 have significantly higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, report researchers in the current online issue of the journal Violence Against Women. The study, by Anita Raj, PhD, a professor in the Department of Medicine in the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Ulrike Boehmer, PhD, an associate professor in the Boston University School of Public Health, is the first published ecological analysis of child marriage and maternal mortality.

UAlberta medical school a $2B economic engine for Alberta
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry also helps create more than 13,500 jobs across the province. The University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry unveiled its first economic impact report, demonstrating an impact of $2 billion on the provincial economy in 2012.

Federico Capasso receives prestigious European Physical Society prize

GridSTAR Net Zero Energy Demonstration Project underway at The Navy Yard
PHILADELPHIA - A powerful collaboration of researchers, manufacturers and economic development officials are embarking on a groundbreaking demonstration project for smart-grid, net zero energy buildings called the GridSTAR Center - a Smart Energy Campus initiative at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia.

Helping doctors know when to screen for depression
UAlberta-led national task force says routine screening for depression not needed in patients with no apparent symptoms. A national task force led by a University of Alberta researcher is encouraging physicians in Canada to stop conducting routine screening for depression because there's no evidence the practice is beneficial.

Using earthquake sensors to track endangered whales
The fin whale is the second-largest animal ever to live on Earth. It is also, paradoxically, one of the least understood. The animal's huge size and global range make its movements and behavior hard to study. A carcass that washed up on a Seattle-area beach this spring provided a reminder that sleek fin whales, nicknamed “greyhounds of the sea,” are vulnerable to collision when they strike fast-moving ships.

Olympian Rosie McLennan talks brain and body symbiosis at U of T
The perfect coordination of mind and body is easy to take for granted. But it can mean the difference between safety and danger, success and failure – or silver and gold.

Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve at 40
In the past 40 years, research conducted at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve has transformed fundamental ecology science.

TEDxStanford highlights breakthroughs in research and creativity, Stanford-style
Saturday's TEDxStanford featured awe-inspiring ideas and displays of creativity. Among them: a presentation about a solar house that "teaches" its inhabitants, a hip-hop dance that smashes Asian stereotypes and a talk about Stanford's model football program.

Tony Gaspar, known for his smile and customer service, wins Amy J. Blue Award

Educating midwives in Canada’s Arctic
UAlberta professor writes book about Inuit birthing traditions, supports midwifery training in far North.

A dozen outstanding individuals to receive honorary degrees at McGill’s Spring Convocation
McGill University will confer honorary degrees upon 12 exceptional individuals during this year's Spring Convocation ceremonies.

A district dedicated to innovation
McGill and ÉTS launch the Quartier de l'innovation, an ecosystem for creativity in the heart of Montreal The École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and McGill University officially launched today th

GridSTAR Net Zero Energy Demonstration Project under way at The Navy Yard
PHILADELPHIA - A powerful collaboration of researchers, manufacturers and economic development officials are embarking on a groundbreaking demonstration project for smart-grid, net zero energy buildings called the GridSTAR Center - a Smart Energy Campus initiative at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia.

Nano-breakthrough: Solving the case of the herringbone crystal
ANN ARBOR-Leading nanoscientists created beautiful, tiled patterns with flat nanocrystals, but they were left with a mystery: Why did some sets of crystals arrange themselves in an alternating, herringbone style? To find out, they turned to experts in computer simulation at the University of Michigan and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Scientists sequence genome of ’sacred lotus,’ which likely holds anti-aging secrets
A team of 70 scientists from the U.S., China, Australia and Japan today reports having sequenced and annotated the genome of the "sacred lotus," which is believed to have a powerful genetic system that repairs genetic defects, and may hold secrets about aging successfully.

’Willy Wonka’ program dishes out delicious science
There may have been no fizzy lifting drinks or scrumdiddlyumptious bars at the University of Chicago's “Science on the Screen” showing of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the

Advancing medical science at UAlberta
Federal, provincial funding for high-tech robotic arm and MRI scanners will further research that benefits people from head to toe.

Monica Moore, ’a master problem-solver,’ wins Amy J. Blue Award
Monica Moore, who joined Stanford's staff four decades ago, is one of three recipients of the 2013 Amy J. Blue Awards.

Potential flu pandemic lurks
MIT study identifies influenza viruses circulating in pigs and birds that could pose a risk to humans. In the summer of 1968, a new strain of influenza appeared in Hong Kong. This strain, known as H3N2, spread around the globe and eventually killed an estimated 1 million people. A new study from MIT reveals that there are many strains of H3N2 circulating in birds and pigs that are genetically similar to the 1968 strain and have the potential to generate a pandemic if they leap to humans.

Neutron reactions and climate uncertainties earn Los Alamos scientists DOE Early Career Awards
Marian Jandel and Nathan Urban are among the 61 national recipients of the Energy Department's Early Career Research Program awards for 2013.

Online support a breath of fresh air
UAlberta researcher creates pilot project that helps children with asthma and severe allergies through online support and mentorship.

Chancellor Block comments on Laboratory of Neuro Imaging
UCLA's Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) has been an international pioneer in enhancing the understanding of human brain structure and function, generating numerous breakthroughs with important appl

Vice President Joe Biden, Seven Others to Receive Honorary Degrees at Penn's 257th Commencement May 13

U-M professors win prestigious fellowships in the humanities
ANN ARBOR-Six professors from the University of Michigan's College of Literature. and the Arts are among 88 faculty members nationwide awarded fellowships by the American Council of Learned Societies.

Two faculty members receive Guggenheim Fellowships
This year, two faculty members at the University of Chicago have received John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships: Philip V. Bohlman, the Mary Werkman Distinguished Service Profes

A revolution in three dimensions, maybe four: Penn State explores 3-D printing
David Saint John, an instructor in Penn State's College of Engineering, working with a 3-D printer constructed by engineering students.

A revolution in three dimensions ... maybe four: PSU explores 3-D printing
David Saint John, an instructor in Penn State's College of Engineering, working with a 3-D printer constructed by engineering students.

UC San Diego Named Grand Champion at 8th Annual SDG&E Energy Showcase
The University of California, San Diego was named Grand Champion during the recent San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) 8th Annual Energy Showcase.

Stanford scholar provides glimpse at words behind Martin Luther King’s dream
The key speechwriter and counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. says his training in music and study of historic speeches helped him draft some of the most important speeches of all time.

Stanford musicians bring 21st-century effects to 16th-century vocal music
Musician Jesse Rodin leads student singers through the works of Renaissance composer Josquin des Prez in a historically inspired performance featuring digital enhancements by sonic pioneer Ge Wang.

Three exceptional staff members to receive 2013 Amy J. Blue Awards

Walters Art Museum manuscript collection makes a virtual move to Stanford
A new agreement will ensure the long-term preservation of the Walters Art Museum's digitized collection of medieval manuscripts and provide new apps for studying them.

Flawed Diamonds Promise Sensory Perfection
From brain to heart to stomach, the bodies of humans and animals generate weak magnetic fields that a supersensitive detector could use to pinpoint illnesses, trace drugs - and maybe even read minds.

Two UCLA faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences
Two professors from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA have been elected by their peers to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Robotics Institute Helps Make Stunning Satellite Imagery Easily Accessible
Press Release: Robotics Institute Helps Make Stunning Satellite Imagery Easily Accessible-Carnegie Mellon News - Carnegie Mellon University CREATE Lab Works With Google, USGS and TIME Magazine on

DARPA awards $6 million to develop nanotech therapies for traumatic brain injuries
Led by Professor Michael J. Sailor, Ph.D., from the University of California San Diego, the award brings together a multi-disciplinary team of renowned experts in laboratory research, translati

Mathematics of Popping Bubbles in a Foam
Written By Robert Sanders Bubble baths and soapy dishwater, the refreshing head on a beer and the luscious froth on a cappuccino.

Heady mathematics: Describing popping bubbles in a foam
Bubble baths and soapy dishwater, the refreshing head on a beer and the luscious froth on a cappuccino.

An 18-year-old wunderkind named top graduating senior

Eric Holder, Jerry Brown, Steve Wozniak to address UC Berkeley graduates

How black smoke is fuelling the underwater gold rush
Deep in the ocean, hot springs spew plumes of black "smoke" filled with flecks of gold, silver, copper and more.

University of Minnesota and Minnesota Vikings reach agreement on use of TCF Bank Stadium
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (05/09/2013) —The University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a Facility Use Agreement that allows the Vikings to use TCF Bank Stadium for the 2014 and 2015 NFL seasons.

Smoking declines after U-M campus ban
ANN ARBOR-A campus survey reveals a reduction in tobacco use by faculty and staff members roughly a year after the University of Michigan banned smoking on the grounds of its three campuses.

XSEDE13 Conference to Devote Full Day to Biosciences
San Diego, SoCal Biotech Companies Invited to Attend July 24 Event A panel of distinguished experts will discuss the role of computation and data analytics in supporting discovery throughout the b

Bacteria organize according to ’rich-get-richer’ principle
Bacteria on a surface wander around and often organize into highly resilient communities known as biofilms.

Researcher identifies four dinosaur species
Breakthrough resurrects research done more than 70 years ago on armour-plated ankylosaurs. Just when dinosaur researchers thought they had a thorough knowledge of ankylosaurs, a family of squat, armour-plated plant-eaters, along comes University of Alberta graduate student Victoria Arbour. Arbour visited dinosaur fossil collections from Alberta to the U.K., examining skull armour and comparing those head details with other features of the fossilized ankylosaur remains.

Turning toonies into a $2-million retreat for cancer survivors
UAlberta PhD student turns to crowdsourcing to raise funds to create mountain retreat for cancer survivors.

New Advance in Biofuel Production
Advanced biofuels - liquid fuels synthesized from the sugars in cellulosic biomass - offer a clean, green and renewable alternative to gasoline, diesel and jet fuels. Bringing the costs of producing these advanced biofuels down to competitive levels with petrofuels, however, is a major challenge.

Children’s Theatre entertains Waisman Center audiences
Caribbean musicians Afi Lake and Sonia Valle, of the GoonGoo Peas, turn their Waisman Center audience into performers.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute names three new campus investigators
Evolutionary biologist Nicole King has been interested in the natural world since she was a little girl mucking around in the creeks and swamps of Florida.

U-M pioneers hybrid online, on-campus class in survey methods
ANN ARBOR-This June, the University of Michigan Summer Institute in Survey Research Techniques will offer an innovative class combining online education with traditional classroom instruction.

UC San Diego’s Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination Lifts Off with Public Events
When he wrote "2001: A Space Odyssey" 45 years ago, Arthur C. Clarke offered extraordinary visions of the future-including HAL, the artificially intelligent computer-that continue to provide insight into the human condition.

Building the Future for Big Data
Campus expanding network uplink capacity by adding 100 Gbps research connection What does it mean to have 100G connectivity? Just how much data is a 100G connection capable of transmitting? The answer, it turns out, is quite a bit.

Affordability drives Washington housing recovery in first quarter of 2013
Washington state's housing market improved in the first quarter of 2013 - the third quarterly rise in a row - with median prices increasing and affordability improving statewide, according to the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington.

Anti-hypertension drug may improve schizophrenia symptoms
Results of single IV treatment lasted for a month in small pilot study by researchers at UAlberta and collaborators in Brazil. An anti-hypertension drug administered intravenously for a single four-hour treatment resulted in dramatic improvements of symptoms for people living with schizophrenia, according to newly published findings from clinician scientists at the University of Alberta's medical school and their colleagues in Brazil.

The Mexican Children of Immigrants Program: Interpreting the numbers
Deborah Graefe, Nancy Landale, and Jennifer Van Hook (left to right), are key researchers for the Mexican Children of Immigrants Program at Penn State.

Early career award funds study of messenger RNA stability
In an effort to improve microorganisms that can sustainably produce fuels and chemicals, a University of Wisconsin-Madison engineer is using a U.S. Department of Energy award to study what — if anything — gets lost in the translation of genetic information.