science wire

Latest UT/Texas Tribune Poll: Tax Pledge Issue Reveals Conservative Divide
AUSTIN, Texas — Although a plurality of Texans say candidates should not take an anti-tax pledge before the primary elections, such a pledge has strong support among voters who identify with the tea party movement, according to a University of Texas at Austin/Texas Tribune poll. Forty-seven percent of those polled said candidates should not make pledges before the fiscal situation is clear, while 36 percent believe candidates should make pledges not to increase taxes before the primary elections.

Exposure to Environmental Contaminants Today Can Influence Behavior Generations Later
AUSTIN, Texas — Exposure to chemicals has the ability to influence behavior of offspring several generations after the initial exposure, according to a new study published by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Washington State University. The findings , published in the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , put a new twist on the notions of nature and nurture, with broad implications for how certain behavioral tendencies, including responses to stress, might be inherited.

Imaging Research Center Opens, Bringing New Level of Neuroscience Research to The University of Texas at Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin's Imaging Research Center (IRC) opened last week, ushering in a new set of research capacities for neuroscience and cancer research at the university.

More Than 50 Research Fellowships Awarded by the Harry Ransom Center
AUSTIN, Texas — The Harry Ransom Center , a humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin, has awarded more than 50 research fellowships for 2012-13.

Concerns About Certified Juveniles in Texas County Jails Raised by LBJ School Report
AUSTIN, Texas — A new report on conditions facing juveniles being held in adult jails in Texas, released by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Au

TACC Provides Multi-Petabyte Data Repository to Enable Research at University of Texas System Institutions
AUSTIN, Texas — The much-anticipated University of Texas Data Repository (UTDR) named "Corral" is available to researchers at all 15 University of Texas System institutions, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin announced today.

Eye Size Determined by Maximum Running Speed in Mammals
AUSTIN, Texas — Maximum running speed is the most important variable influencing mammalian eye size other than body size, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin. Species with larger eyes usually have higher visual acuity, says Chris Kirk , associate professor in the Department of Anthropology.

Papers of Lawyer and Civil Liberties Advocate Morris L. Ernst Now Cataloged
AUSTIN, Texas — The papers of lawyer Morris Leopold Ernst (1888-1976) are now cataloged and open for research at the Harry Ransom Center , a humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin.

University of Texas at Austin Energy Poll Shows Strong Support for More Domestic Energy Production
AUSTIN, Texas — Consumers strongly support increased production of energy from domestic sources, particularly natural gas and renewables, according to the University of Texas at Austin Energy Poll that was released today.

Teachers Think White Females Lag Behind in Math, University of Texas at Austin Study Finds
AUSTIN, Texas — High school math teachers tend to rate white female students' math abilities lower than those of their white male peers, even when their grades and test scores are comparable, according to a University of Texas at Austin study. Catherine Riegle-Crumb and sociology doctoral student Melissa Humphries conducted the study using nationally representative data from the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS) of 2002.

Chair in Latin American Art History and Criticism Established with Longhorn Network Earnings and Private Gift
AUSTIN, Texas — Professor Andrea Giunta has been appointed to the newly established Endowed Chair in Latin American Art History and Criticism in the College of Fine Arts' Department of Art and Art History at The University of Texas at Austin.

“Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” Visual Effects Producer Thomas Smith Donates Collection to Harry Ransom Center
“Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” Visual Effects Producer Thomas Smith Donates Collection to Harry Ransom Center AUSTIN, Texas — Thomas Smith (b&poi

West Antarctic Ice Shelves Tearing Apart at the Seams
AUSTIN, Texas — A new study examining nearly 40 years of satellite imagery has revealed that the floating ice shelves of a critical portion of West Antarctica are steadily losing their grip on adjacent bay walls, potentially amplifying an already accelerating loss of ice to the sea. Rifts along the northern shear margin of Pine Island Glacier (upper right of image).

The University of Texas at Austin Initiative to Help Bring Best Practices to Shale Development
AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas at Austin will join the Colorado School of Mines and Penn State University to launch a new educational training initiative that supports the rapidly growing shale natural gas and oil development sector.

$2.5 Million Awarded to Develop Better Heart Valve Treatment
AUSTIN, Texas — A University of Texas at Austin professor and his research collaborators have been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the Nationa

Author T.C. Boyle’s Papers Acquired by Harry Ransom Center
AUSTIN, Texas — The Harry Ransom Center , a humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin, has acquired the archive of novelist and short-story writer Tom Coraghes

Mapping Tool Analyzes How Climate Change, Conflict and Aid Intersect in Africa
AUSTIN, Texas — Researchers have developed a new dynamic mapping tool that will help policymakers and other groups determine a country's vulnerabilities to climate change and conflicts and show how these two issues intersect in Africa.

Latest UT/Texas Tribune Poll Finds Plurality of Texans Support Redistricting Reform and are Concerned About National Economy
AUSTIN, Texas — A plurality of Texans would favor taking the authority to draw new congressional and legislative maps away from the Legislature and governor and giving it to an independent, appointed commission, according to a University of Texas at Austin/Texas Tribune poll. The Feb. 8-15 statewide poll of 800 registered Texas voters showed that 42 percent favored redistricting reform, with 27 percent opposing and 30 percent expressing no opinion.

Computer Scientist Developing Intersections of the Future With Fully Autonomous Vehicles
AUSTIN, Texas — Intersections of the future will not need stop lights or stop signs, but will look like a somewhat chaotic flow of driverless, autonomous cars slipping past one another as they are managed by a virtual traffic controller, says computer scientist Peter Stone.

No Evidence of Groundwater Contamination from Hydraulic Fracturing
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas has no direct connection to reports of groundwater contamination, based on evidence reviewed in a study released Thursday by the Energy Institute at The University of Texas at Austin.

Marine Scientists Awarded Grant to Study Ciguatera Fish Poisoning
AUSTIN, Texas — Marine scientist Deana Erdner is part of an international team of researchers awarded an anticipated five-year, $4 million grant to study the causes of ciguatera fish poisoning, the most common form of algal toxin-induced seafood poisoning in the world.

New Molecule Has Potential to Help Treat Genetic Diseases and HIV
AUSTIN, Texas — Chemists at The University of Texas at Austin have created a molecule that's so good at tangling itself inside the double helix of a DNA sequence that it can stay there for up to 16 days before the DNA liberates itself, much longer than any other molecule reported.

New Ability to Regrow Blood Vessels Holds Promise for Treatment of Heart Disease
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas at Austin researchers have demonstrated a new and more effective method for regrowing blood vessels in the heart and limbs — a research advancement that could have major implications for how we treat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the Western world.

Potential Key to Lowering Energy Costs of Cell Phones and Data Centers
AUSTIN, Texas — A systematic analysis of power usage in microprocessors could help lower the energy consumption of both small cellphones and giant data centers, report computer science professors from The University of Texas at Austin and the Australian National University.

Nano-Sized Protein Clusters Address Major Challenge of Drug Delivery
AUSTIN, TX — A new form of proteins discovered by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin could drastically improve treatments for cancer and other diseases, as well as overcome some of the largest challenges in therapeutics: delivering drugs to patients safely, easily and more effectively.

Multitasking Can Be Done Differently, Affect Perceptions of Work Practices
AUSTIN, Texas — In an age in which "multitasking" is often cited as a core competency for employees, organizational communication researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have begun to better understand the nuances of how different individuals accomplish multiple tasks. Such nuances can be important to organizations wanting to hire the right individual for a job and for employees seeking the best organizational and cultural fit.

Adolescents from Unstable Families Lose Ground in Rigorous High Schools
AUSTIN, Texas — The type of school a child attends may exacerbate the negative effect that family instability has on academic performance, according to a new study in the January issue of Sociology of Education .

New Book Explores Union Communication Through Lens of Boeing Labor Unrest
AUSTIN, Texas — Small groups of workers can use communication tactics to agitate for democracy, transparency and fighting spirit within their unions, according to the new book "We ARE the Union

Persistence Pays Off in the Mating Game
AUSTIN, Texas — A new study co-authored by a University of Texas at Austin psychology professor suggests that self-deception may help men succeed in the mating game, while women will benefit more from effective communication.

University of Texas Chemist Receives Major Grant to Improve Detection of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
AUSTIN, Texas — Developing a simple, paper-based test for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is the goal of a University of Texas at Austin chemist, whose project just received a $1.6 million point-of-care diagnostics grant through Grand Challenges in Global Health , an initiative created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Expanded Data Repository at Austin and Arlington Campuses to Improve Research Capacity for Entire UT System
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin today announced that it is working with The University of Texas at Arlington to deploy a data rep

Research Warns Drivers About Most Deadly, Accident-Prone Intersections
AUSTIN, TX — The difference between an intersection controlled by flashing lights and one controlled by a stop sign can play a big role in accident prevention, according to a new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

People More Motivated to Give When They See Others Volunteering Abroad
AUSTIN, Texas — People are more inspired to give when they see others contributing their time and money to a good cause outside their home state, according to a new psychology study from The University of Texas at Austin.

Researchers Receive $300,000 Award to Advance Technology With Potential to Predict Heart Attacks
AUSTIN, TX — A University of Texas at Austin engineering professor and a cardiologist from UT Medicine San Antonio have received a $300,000 award to develop a new imaging technique with the potential to predict, or even prevent, heart attacks. Biomedical engineering Professor Thomas E. Milner of the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, and his longstanding collaborator Marc D. Feldman will serve as investigators for the Houston-based Clayton Foundation for Research and receive its ongoing support.

Make Room for Stampede: TACC Expands Data Center for New Supercomputer
Austin, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin today announced that it is expanding the center's current high performance computing (HPC) data c

New Round of Cancer Research Grants Attracts Rising Young Researcher to The University of Texas at Austin Faculty
AUSTIN, Texas — With a $2 million startup grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), biologist Jason Upton will join the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin in January to continue his efforts to improve existing cancer therapies and develop new ones.

St. David’s Foundation Supports Health Care for the Underserved at the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin
Event : Ceremony and reception honoring the St. David's Foundation's $3 million gift to the Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations (St. David's CHPR) at the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin.

Harrington Fellows Bring World-Changing Ideas to The University of Texas at Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — A biomedical engineer hoping to grow human organs, a psychologist examining why employees sometimes act in ways that destroy economic value, a mathematician exploring the limits

Pair of black holes ‘weigh in’ at 10 billion suns, the most massive yet
AUSTIN, Texas — A team of astronomers including Karl Gebhardt and graduate student Jeremy Murphy of The University of Texas at Austin have discovered the most massive black holes to date - two