News Archive
Tuesday, August 27 2019
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New study suggests U.S. land carbon sink may have been overestimated
A new study could help scientists better understand how changes in land use affect carbon, a critical element in some greenhouse gases. Previous models may have overestimated cropland abandonment and reforestation in the United States, according to the study, which used higher resolution land-use data to drive carbon budget models.
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Midwest schools join forces to promote faculty success for women in STEM fields
Researchers from four Midwestern research universities -- including Iowa State -- are joining forces to promote faculty success in science, technology, engineering and math fields for women of color and women with family responsibilities. Their project is supported by a three-year, $996,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
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In search of the perfect muskmelon
Iowa State University researchers are trying to grow muskmelons of the perfect size. Smaller muskmelons that retain desirable flavor characteristics could result in less waste.
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What’s driving more women to drink?
More women are drinking alcohol and an Iowa State University research team is working to understand why. Not only is the gap shrinking between men and women who drink, but ISU researchers found variations in the amount and frequency women drink based on age, race, education, marital status and other factors.
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Comparing your house to your neighbors’ can lead to dissatisfaction
Satisfaction with your home can depend on its size compared to your neighbors’ homes, according to new Iowa State University research. Daniel Kuhlmann, assistant professor of community and regional planning, found that people are more likely to be dissatisfied with their house if it is smaller than their neighbors’.
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Physicists use light flashes to discover, control new quantum states of matter
Jigang Wang and the members of his research group are developing new tools and techniques to access new states of matter hidden within superconducting and other complex materials. Harnessing these exotic states and their unique properties could lead to better computing, communicating and data storing technologies. Wang's research is supported by the U.S. Army Research Office.
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New link between endocannabinoids and exercise may help in treatment of depression
Researchers know exercise improves mood for people with depression, but there are still questions about exactly how it makes people feel better. The answers may be found in the endocannabinoid system. A new study found a significant boost in endocannabinoids and improvements in mood following prescribed moderate-intensity exercise.
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New study could reset how scientists view sex determination in painted turtle populations
A study that looks at how temperature influences the development of painted turtles may lead biologists to rethink the theoretical frameworks they use when analyzing the topic. The study, led by an Iowa State scientist, found wide variation within local populations, suggesting temperature sensitivity of embryonic development can vary significantly from one turtle nest to another within a single population.
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Species aren’t adapting fast enough to cope with climate change, according to new study
Many species are adapting to climate change, but those adaptations aren’t occurring fast enough to guarantee their long-term survival, according to a recent study that analyzed 10,000 published scientific papers. An Iowa State University biologist contributed to the international research team.
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Researchers develop novel process to study how trees affect building temperatures, air flow in extreme heat
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a model to test how shading and air flow can improve indoor temperatures during the sweltering heat of Midwest summers.
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Report seeks to recognize meaning of Mount Rushmore for Native people
Mount Rushmore is a symbol of freedom for many Americans, but the monument has a more complicated meaning for Native people. Iowa State's Christina Gish Hill is part of a research team working with the National Park Service to document the significance of the Black Hills for Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho people in relationship to Mount Rushmore.
Change Agent: Steven Herrnstadt
Steven Herrnstadt, University Professor of industrial design, begins his 39th year teaching in Iowa State’s College of Design next week. But nearly four decades in, he feels he is “just now ready to begin.”