Science and Technology

Where the Germs Are: Office Kitchens, Break Rooms

Jeff Harrison — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The place where U.S. workers eat and prepare their lunches topped the list of office germ hot spots, with the sink and microwave door handles found to be the dirtiest surfaces touched by office workers on a daily basis. UA microbiologist Charles Gerba advised the study.

UA Climate Conference to Welcome World-Renowned Scientists

Jennifer Fitzenberger — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

More than 750 researchers and policymakers from around the world are expected to attend a conference at the UA on climate adaptation from May 29-31. The UA provides an ideal venue for the event because it is located in the Southwestern U.S., a hot spot for climate change.

UA Engineering Club Earns Raytheon Award

Rebecca Ruiz-McGill — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, a club at the UA committed to community outreach and recruitment, has been recognized with Raytheon's Eagle Award. The award pays tribute to the armed forces for the club's dedication to core values including discipline and courage.

Best Arizona High Schools Offer UA Engineering Course

Jennifer Fitzenberger — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Eight of the top 15 high schools in Arizona ranked by U.S. News & World Report offer ENGR 102 HS, the engineering introduction course from the UA College of Engineering. For fall 2012, 25 Arizona high schools are scheduled to offer the course in cities ranging from Yuma to Phoenix.

A Century of Stargazing

jfitzen — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:29:08 -0700

A.E. Douglass started the astronomy department and Steward Observatory at the UA. This led to the building of multiple observatories on Southern Arizona mountaintops and thrust the UA into the position of being the preeminent school for the study of astronomy.

The Popular Science of Public Observatories

jfitzen — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:05:30 -0700

Night viewing programs at Kitt Peak and the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter northeast of Tucson are growing in popularity, often booking months in advance. For many participants, it's their first experience with a large telescope. As they line up to peer through the eyepiece, their excitement is palpable.

Tree Rings Tell Ancient Tales

jfitzen — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:01:48 -0700

Dendrochronology is the science of interpreting more than 9,000 years worth of environmental conditions through tree-ring samples. The field of study got its start at the UA in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, and it's still finding answers today.

UA Flandrau, SkyCenter to Host Solar Eclipse Viewing Events

Jennifer Fitzenberger — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Flandrau Science Center will hold its "A 'Crescent Sun' Over Tucson" viewing party for the annular solar eclipse on May 20. UA astronomy experts will be on hand to answer questions. A viewing event also will take place at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, which will stream images live over the Web.

New Project Dedicated at Tech Park Solar Zone

jfitzen — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:50:11 -0700

A 38.5-acre photovoltaic array is the latest addition to the Solar Zone technology demonstration area at the UA Science and Technology Park. The 6.1-megawatt system was built by AstroSol, which expects the project to displace more than 7,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide and provide power for about 1,000 homes.

Largest Meteorite Hunt in History Yields Treasure for UA

Daniel Stolte — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Thanks to the generosity of three professional meteorite hunters, the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory will own three samples of a rare kind of meteorite. The donated material is especially important in light of the upcoming OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, which is led by the UA.

UA Climate Action Plan Sets Goals to Cut Emissions

Daniel Stolte — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The UA Office of Sustainability has completed a climate action plan to track the University's greenhouse gas emissions and provide concrete solutions to reduce them. Many efforts already are under way, with some involving faculty and students using the campus as a living lab for sustainability.

Nobel Laureate, UA Alumnus Urges Grads to Chase Dreams

Rebecca Ruiz-McGill — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Brian Schmidt, who won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics and is a 1989 graduate of the UA, shared words of wisdom during his speech May 11 at the UA Graduate Commencement Ceremony. Schmidt urged the graduates chase their dreams, find balance in life and be happy.

The Flowing Sands of Mars

Daniel Stolte — Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Sand dunes on Mars move not unlike those on Earth, despite a much thinner atmosphere and weaker winds, new images taken with the UA-led HiRISE camera have revealed. The study ends a long-standing debate as to whether sand dunes on Mars are relics from the planet's past or part of its ongoing active geology.

UA Student's Path to Space Goes Through Seattle Space Needle

jfitzen — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:42:14 -0700

UA law student Gregory Schneider is getting ready for graduation this weekend, for the birth of his third child later this year – and now for a spaceflight. He has won a suborbital trip into space, the first prize in the Space Race 2012 contest marking the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.

Study: Texting Increases Turnout to Campus Blood Drive

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

As part of a class, UA students designed and carried out an experiment to see if sending text message or email reminders to blood-drive volunteers would improve turnout. The reminders increased donor turnout by 11 percent.

UA Students Sweep Prestigious National Awards

La Monica Everett-Haynes — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Dozens of UA students have earned fellowships and awards from the National Science Foundation and Philanthropic Educational Organization. The award recipients represent UA programs that include anthropology, astronomy, geosciences, optical science and planetary sciences.

Documentary is Wake Up Call on Global Water Crisis

jfitzen — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:10:49 -0700

"Last Call at the Oasis," a new documentary, recounts the stories of the most water-stressed regions in the U.S. One of the experts interviewed, the UA's Robert Glennon, frames society's problematic view of water: "We think of it as the air," he said, “infinite and inexhaustible.”

Biosciences Growing Quickly in Arizona

jfitzen — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:17:42 -0700

Southern Arizona is becoming known for its advancements in the field of biosciences. From 2002-10, the number of bioscience establishments grew 27 percent in the state. Said Leslie Tolbert, vice president for research at the UA: “Our goal is to be a thriving, entrepreneurial, high-tech kind of place.”

Report: High Summer Fire Potential for Arizona Mountains

Jennifer Fitzenberger — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Large portions of Arizona and western New Mexico are forecast to have above-normal significant fire potential now through August, according to a new report. Significant fire potential refers to the likelihood that a wildland fire will require additional resources from outside the area in which the fire originated.

Students Awarded NSF Graduate Fellowships

Rebecca Ruiz-McGill — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Five students who participated in federally funded graduate education preparatory programs for low-income, first-generation or underrepresented students at the UA have earned National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships.

Two UA Professors Elected to National Academy of Sciences

Daniel Stolte — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Roy Parker, a Regents’ Professor in the department of molecular and cellular biology, and Marcia J. Rieke, a Regents’ Professor in the department of astronomy, were elected to the National Academy of Sciences on May 1, bringing the UA's membership count to 14.

Water Education Program Teaches Kids About Source of Life

cruzj — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:03:21 -0700

This year, more than 10,000 students from the Phoenix metropolitan area will participate in Arizona Project WET. Since 2000, Arizona Project WET has grown to become the state's leading water education program for teachers and students of all grade levels.

UA Researchers Hunt Bomb-Eating Bugs

Jeff Harrison — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700

UA researchers are investigating bacterial eating habits as part of a $1 million study to determine the environmental fate of newly developed munitions. One important goal is to reduce injuries and fatalities among troops who handle explosives.

Water Filters Put to the Test

leverett — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:13:20 -0700

Are unwanted chemicals making their way into your drinking water, post-filtration? To investigate, UA chemical and environmental engineering professor Shane Snyder's team paired up with Good Housekeeping to test whether the common water filters found in refrigerators and pitchers are actually doing their jobs. The team also has some suggestions for consumers.

UFO Spaceship Orbiting the Sun, or a Camera Glitch?

leverett — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:06:40 -0700

A YouTube video featuring an image of a strange-looking object near the sun is going viral. Scientists like Alfred McEwen, who directs the Planetary Imaging Research Laboratory at UA, are now weighing in about what may be in the image, which was taken by a camera on board NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory.