News Archive
Monday, August 31 2015
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Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof will speak at ISU Sept. 14
The New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof has some ideas about how individuals can change the world. He will share them in a talk, "Why We Should Care About the World and Want to Change It" at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, Stephens Auditorium.Tickets are not required. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. His talk is free and open to the public. It is part of the university's World Affairs Series: Redefining Global Security.
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Are you a nomophobe?
Smartphones are a great way to stay connected with family and friends. But what if you suddenly lost that connection? A new Iowa State University study identifies the dimensions of nomophobia to help you determine if you suffer from it.
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New ISU professor helps Iowa towns build community, identity and economy through art
This summer, Jennifer Drinkwater was named assistant professor of art and visual culture and community art extension specialist. The outreach-oriented position was created under the ISU president's high-impact hire initiative and is one of only a handful nationwide. It places Drinkwater on a mission to help Iowa communities apply art in ways that "improve the fabric" of their towns.
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Trace heavy metals in plastics pose no immediate food safety threat but may lead to long-term environmental problems, according to ISU food science researcher
The trace amounts of toxic substances used to make plastics don’t contaminate the food or beverage products they contain at a significant level and pose no immediate threat to consumers, according to recent Iowa State University research. But the plastics may create environmental problems years after they’ve been used.
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Iowa State, Argo Genesis Chemical to dedicate new, $5.3 million bio-polymer pilot plant
Iowa State and industry partner Argo Genesis Chemical LLC will dedicate a new, $5.3 million Bio-Polymer Processing Facility on Aug. 26. The plant will allow Iowa State engineers to research and develop their process for producing bio-polymers from soybean oil. It will also "de-risk" the technology for companies that could be interested in producing tons of bio-polymers every year.
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Activity trackers not as accurate for some activities, ISU study finds
Activity trackers can provide a good overall estimate of calories burned, but an Iowa State University study finds they’re less accurate when measuring certain activities, such as strength training. In this latest round of testing, a team of researchers in ISU’s Department of Kinesiology tested four consumer fitness trackers – Fitbit Flex, Nike+ FuelBand SE, Jawbone UP 24 and Misfit Shine – to see how well they measured sedentary, aerobic and resistance activity.
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Mothers give more than they receive when family struck by major illness
Mothers are often the caregiver when a child is sick, and that motherly instinct doesn’t go away when the child is an adult. In fact, mothers provide more support to adult children with a serious health condition than to their other children, according to new research from Iowa State University. It’s a situation that can put older mothers in a vulnerable position.
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ISU researchers aim to boost science education with summertime pest
It may be hard to imagine how a mosquito could inspire students to develop an interest in science. Iowa State University researchers believe it’s not only possible, but say that generating student interest in the pesky insect will improve science learning and public health.
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Aphids are striking soybeans earlier than expected, according to Iowa State University entomologist
Soybean producers are dealing with a range of challenges this growing season, from perennial pests to new threats to environmental stress. ISU experts are urging producers to emphasize vigilance and early diagnosis of problems.
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Iowa State professor weighs pros and cons of mergers for business and consumers
Investment in research and development is dwarfed by the money corporations spend to acquire other firms. And the return on that investment is not always beneficial for business or consumers, said David King, an associate professor of management in Iowa State University’s College of Business.
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Iowa State, astronaut Clayton Anderson ready to teach undergrads about spaceflight ops
Twelve undergraduates will learn lessons in operational thinking during the second Spaceflight Operations Workshop to be offered by Iowa State's Department of Aerospace Engineering. The students will learn from Clayton Anderson, a workshop coordinator who retired from NASA’s astronaut corps in 2013. Anderson said the workshop's goal isn't to train the next generation of astronauts. It's to help students think in new ways.
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Team PrISUm dominates Formula Sun Grand Prix, earns first overall victory
Team PrISUm raced to its first overall solar car victory at this week's Formula Sun Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. It was a dominating performance: No other competitor was within 30 laps after three days and 24 hours of hot racing.
Postcard from Campus: A New Semester
After a quiet summer, students are back in classes. And the daily carillon concert greeted them as they started a new semester.
Iowa State nuclear physicists use Titan supercomputer
An Iowa State team of nuclear physicists led by James Vary is studying neutrons with the help of the Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The machine has a peak performance of 27 quadrillion calculations per second.
In the news
This week in Iowa
Catt Center Director Dianne Bystrom discusses women in politics and media coverage of female vs. male candidates in the context of the current presidential race.
A test to tell if you're too attached to your phone
Is your smartphone interferring with your school, work, relationships, etc.? Iowa State University researchers have a developed a questionnaire to help determine if you suffer from nomophobia.
An Iowa State student's encounters with the GOP presidential candidates
Kelsi Wolever, an Iowa State junior from Bettendorf, has had more success than most in getting close to six presidential candidates. She asked them questions about sustainability, renewable energy and natural resources.
Iowa: America's quirky but crucial campaign test
Why does Iowa remain such an important presidential campaign ground? Simple, grassroots honesty, says University Professor and "Dr. Politics" Steffen Schmidt: "Iowa has delivered."
ISU students give back to Ames
More than 2,500 new Iowa State students spent the weekend completing various service projects on campus and in the community. The effort was part of Destination Iowa State, a program designed to welcome and help new students prepare for a successful academic year.
Workshop trains students to think like astronauts
Clayton Anderson, Iowa State alum, senior lecturer and retired astronaut, is teaching students to think in new ways. "If they're not going to be an astronaut someday, they will be a more effective person wherever they go, with whatever they do," Anderson says of the participants in Iowa State's spaceflight operations workshop.
Helpful tips for nuking an asteroid
Bong Wie, the founding director of the Asteroid Deflection Research Center at Iowa State University, helped do a three-year study on the feasibility of rapidly intercepting and nuking an incoming asteroid.
President Leath: Prioritize agricultural research
Iowa State University President Steven Leath says the United States must elevate agricultural research as a national priority to ensure a safe and plentiful food supply.