News Archive
Saturday, May 31 2008
News
ISU lecturer aids tornado-torn hometown
Erin Wilgenbusch, a senior lecturer in ISU's Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, has spent several days in her hometown of Parkersburg, helping with tornado relief.
Carver grants will support cancer research
Iowa State scientists have received two cancer research grants from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The trust, based in Muscatine, Iowa, awarded grants totaling $603,816 to support two research projects on cancer metastasis and cellular response to infection by a unique group of viruses.
Cyclone Power Pullers boost horsepower, aim for big tractor pulls
The Cyclone Power Pullers will test their mini pulling tractor during the 2008 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition sponsored by the Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Iowa State's student-designed and student-built tractor features five engines and 80 horsepower this year.
Mice mothers devote energies to offspring when life is threatened
Deer mice offspring of infected mothers were bigger, meaning they are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Iowa State education technology professor offers ways to plug kids into summer learning
Through his award-winning blog, "Dangerously Irrelevant," ISU Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Scott McLeod asked K-12 educators to suggest ways that parents could use technology to facilitate active learning for their kids this summer. He has ranked what he considers to be the top 10 ideas for parents.
Iowa State researchers use fungus to improve corn-to-ethanol process
A team of researchers from Iowa State University and the University of Hawai'i are developing a process that cleans up and improves the dry-grind ethanol production process. The process uses fungus to reduce energy costs, allow more water recycling and improve a co-product that's used as livestock feed. The American Academy of Environmental Engineers recently awarded the project its 2008 Grand Prize for University Research.
Researchers will study ways to deflect asteroids
A new Iowa State Center will bring researchers from around the world together to develop technologies to deflect asteroids.
Iowa State students engineer Baja racer to handle off-road tests, four-hour race
Iowa State's Mini Baja Team is preparing its student-designed and student-built off-road racer for a May 28-31 competition sponsored by SAE, the Society of Automotive Engineers.
College of Human Sciences research projects are expanding human potential
Faculty continue their work on research projects that relate directly to the College of Human Science's mission to expand human potential. Three such projects are expanding independent living options for for older and disabled residents, providing a template for a program to try and improve conditions for black male students in predominantly white universities, and improving performance by Olympic athletes.
Flood updates
Veenker golf course were partially flooded and portions of Stange Road closed on May 30
Rare butterfly
A rare butterfly in the Reiman Gardens Butterfly Wing exhibits the male wing pattern on one side and the female pattern on the other. Butterflies with this genetic quirk are called gynandromorphs. The butterfly is a Leopard Lacewing (Cethosia cyane).
In the news
Balance all three: food, biofuels, conservation
The Des Moines Register
ISU Agronomy Professor Matt Liebman writes that balance is the key to a world with more food and feed, a substantial amount of biofuel, and a better environment. Liebman is the Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture.
What's bugging Iowans?
Cedar Rapids Gazette
It's too early in the season to predict the summer insect outlook, but ISU Extension Entomologist Donald Lewis says people headed outdoors should protect themselves against mosquitoes and ticks.
