Science and Technology

Students Win $7,000 in Cash Awards During Engineering Design Day

cruzj — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:52:50 -0600

Winning projects included a device that automatically maintains air pressure in vehicle tires, a handheld sensor for detecting harmful bacteria in food, a security robot and other high-tech devices.

Willis E. Lamb Jr., 1955 Nobel Laureate in Physics, Dies at 94

lstiles — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:05:53 -0600

Lamb's legacy is to physics, colleagues and students.

Graduates Leave Devoted to Research

leverett — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:27:28 -0600

Three undergraduate researchers are among those who intend to pursue advanced degrees and move into research-based fields.

Peter Smith Named Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair in Integrative Science

cruzj — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:48:37 -0600

A $2.5 million gift from the Thomas R. Brown Foundation establishes a rotating endowed chair in the UA College of Science.

UA Invites Public to View Stars from Mount Lemmon SkyCenter

lstiles — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:10:12 -0600

The Mount Lemmon summit will become a unique science learning center.

UA-led Phoenix Mars Mission Ready for Landing

cruzj — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:06:58 -0600

The Phoenix Mars Lander is preparing to end its long journey and begin a three-month mission to explore Martian soil and buried ice.

ISPE Director Testifying Before Congress on Wednesday

cruzj — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:09:43 -0600

Jonathan Overpeck will speak to the House Committee on Science and Technology about managing water supplies.

Solar Concentrator Shows Promise for Bringing Electricity to Remote Villages

cruzj — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:33:28 -0600

Student engineers design a robust system that tracks the sun and focuses sunlight on a Stirling engine to provide enough energy for a small building or several homes.

UA Researchers Create a Leaner, Greener Computer Cluster

cruzj — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:20:09 -0600

A new environmentally friendly shared computer cluster is significantly reducing both the environmental impact and costs of campus computing.

Forecast: Wildfire Potential Above Normal in Arizona

leverett — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:42:34 -0600

UA experts helped draft a report that indicates the wildfire season is likely to be busy through August.

Luis Velarde Awarded University of California's Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship

mnjensen — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:24:55 -0600

The prestigious fellowship recognizes Velarde's excellence in doctoral-level research and academic achievement, and his record of mentoring and outreach activities that promote access and opportunity in higher education. Only four such fellowships were awarded this year.

Engineering Students Help in Search for Cost-Effective Solar Energy Systems

cruzj — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:42:35 -0600

Their solar illuminator will help Prof. Raymond Kostuk test systems that combine optical concentrators with conventional solar cells.

Researchers Tackling Unsolved Questions About Protein Structures

cruzj — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:40:03 -0600

Their findings will help people better understand how proteins evolved to carry out the instructions encoded in the genes of every living thing.

Astronomical Society of the Pacific Honors UA Astronomer for Excellent Teaching

lstiles — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:19:58 -0600

Chris Impey is nationally known as a top astronomy teacher.

Nobel-winning Scientist Headlines National Conference on Environmental Conflict Resolution

jeffh — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:36:24 -0600

The ECR2008 National Conference will address ways that various environmental stakeholders can resolve disputes. Jonathan Overpeck, director of the UA Institute for the Study of Planet Earth, will discuss climate change during his plenary address.

UA Mining Engineering Student Wins $3,000 in Michelin Essay Contest

jeffh — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:03:32 -0600

Daniel Marsh, a junior in mining engineering, was the first runner-up in the Michelin Essay Contest. Marsh picked up $3,000 for an essay on mining operations and sustainability.

Couple's Gift Brings Nobel Laureate to UA

leverett — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:15:19 -0600

The $1.1 million donation to the UA's chemistry department will help fund a lecture by Nobel Laureate Elias James Corey, a professor at Harvard University known for his contributions to chemistry.

Model Mars Lander Part of NASA's 50th Anniversary Celebration

leverett — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:23:23 -0600

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and University of Arizona President Robert N. Shelton are among those who will speak during a reception that will be held Thursday.

May 5 Science Cafe Offers Background on Phoenix Mars Mission

jeffh — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:59:03 -0600

This month's Science Café is all about the upcoming Phoenix Mars Mission. Patrick Woida, the mission's senior engineer, and Rigel Woida, principle engineer on the project, will discuss what will happen before and after the landing.

UA Team Ties for Micro Air Vehicle Win at Competition

lstiles — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:55:39 -0600

The UA's Micro Air Vehicle Team tied for first place in the most difficult and complex competition yet presented to the tiny spy planes.

Students Compete for Cash During Engineering Design Day

jeffh — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:13:41 -0600

This year's engineering seniors will offer the results of their research this year, and vie for $6,000 in prizes. Some of the projects reflect the trend toward green technology, with projects ranging from tests to measure solar energy efficiency to using algae to make bio-kerosene.

Engineers Aid Search for Drug Combinations that Fight, Prevent Disease

lstiles — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:22:03 -0600

Engineering optimization strategies help researchers bring order to the chaos inherent in testing thousands of drug combinations.

Scientists and Engineers Use Autonomic Computing to Study the Secret Lives of Plants

lstiles — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:55:51 -0600

Computer intelligence, robotic sensors and experiments in the UA's Biosphere 2 combine to accelerate plant research.

Physicists Ready for Science with World's Most Powerful Accelerator

lstiles — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:47:55 -0600

New experiments might detect particles of dark matter, and even create short-lived, wimpy black holes.

UA Astronomer Xiaohui Fan Wins Guggenheim Fellowship

lstiles — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:32:20 -0600

Fan is using the Large Binocular Telescope to find the oldest quasars.