News Archive
Tuesday, October 15 2019
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Iowa State releases results from national campus climate survey
Sexual assault and misconduct continue to be significant issues on college campuses across the nation, but awareness and bystander intervention are improving, according to the Association of American Universities AAU Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct. An estimated 11.3% of respondents at Iowa State experienced an assault during their college careers. While lower than the average for all participating universities, it is an increase of 1.6% since the 2015 survey.
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Iowa State artist wants to find ‘what’s good’ in a divided world
Jennifer Drinkwater is interviewing people in Iowa and Mississippi for stories about “what’s good” in their communities. These interviews – and the artwork inspired by the interviewees’ words – are the “What’s Good Project,” which documents people’s perspectives on the positives in their communities.
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Engineers solve 50-year-old puzzle in signal processing
Iowa State's Alexander Stoytchev and Vladimir Sukhoy have solved a 50-year-old puzzle in signal processing. They've formulated the "inverse chirp z-transform," an algorithm related to one that's running on your cell phone right now. It took some computing power and some math expertise to do it.
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Bad behavior between moms driven by stereotypes, judgment
Mothers are often their own toughest critics, but new research shows they judge other mothers just as harshly. According to the results, ideal and lazy mothers drew the most contempt from both working and stay-at-home mothers. The overworked stay-at-home mom also was near the top of the list.
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Ambitious strategies to combat pests and disease in organic agriculture
Iowa State University researchers have received a grant to look at innovative ways that allow organic fruit and vegetable growers to combat pests, weeds and disease. Much of the research centers on mestotunnels, or material used to create a physical barrier to protect plants from certain pests. The practices to be analyzed could help organic growers with management challenges without the use of conventional pesticides.
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Agronomists detail the benefits of updating agricultural drainage infrastructure in new study
The massive underground infrastructure that allows farmers to cultivate crops on much of the world’s most productive land has outlived its design life and should be updated, according to a new study. Installing higher-capacity pipes and conservation practices would yield a wide range of production and environmental benefits.
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Corn and soybean rotation could pose long-term tradeoffs for soil health
A new study examines the mechanisms that drive the decomposition of organic matter in soils that undergo long-term corn and soybean crop rotations. The study shows how corn and soybean rotations can provide important environmental and management benefits for farmers, but the practice also comes with tradeoffs that some farmers may wish to address by adjusting their management practices.
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No evidence that power posing works
Striking a power pose before an important meeting or interview is not going to boost your confidence or make you feel more powerful, says an Iowa State University researcher. Marcus Credé, an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State, reviewed nearly 40 studies on the topic and found not a single one supports the claims that power posing works.
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Iowa State students’ voter turnout higher than national average
Young voters are expected to make a difference in the 2020 election, and if a new report is any indication, Iowa State University students will be engaged in the process. Iowa State’s voting rate for the 2018 midterm elections was 40.6%, according the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement. That’s higher than the national average and a significant jump from the university’s 2014 voting rate.
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Engineers study icing/de-icing of wind turbine blades to improve winter power production
A research group led by Iowa State's Hui Hu will use the university's Icing Research Tunnel to study icing of wind turbine blades. Studies have shown that ice accumulation on turbine blades can reduce power production by up to 50%. The team will also study ways to prevent or delay ice formation on the blades. A grant from the Iowa Energy Center is supporting the project.
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Brewed coffee grounds offer sustainable alternative for clothing dye
Iowa State University researchers have found a natural way to add color to clothing using the leftover grounds from your daily cup of coffee. The textile industry uses more than 2 million tons of chemicals and synthetic dyes annually, which is why researchers are interested in finding sustainable alternatives.
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Nearly a third of likely caucus-goers do not want Biden, poll finds
A new Iowa State University/Civiqs poll finds Sen. Elizabeth Warren leading the Democratic field among likely Iowa caucus-goers. The poll also asked voters which candidate they do not want to win the nomination. Nearly a third said they do not want former Vice President Joe Biden, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders.