Big Ten Academic Alliance BigScience Newswire

Husker-led team discovers 'extraordinary' Roman mosaic in Turkey

November 12, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

An archaeological team led by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Michael Hoff recently unearthed a rare, second-century figural floor mosaic in the ancient Roman city of Antiochia ad Cragum on the southern coast of Turkey. Read more about: Husker-led team discovers 'extraordinary' Roman mosaic in Turkey

Contact: Michael Hoff, 402-472-5342, mhoff1@unl.edu

Study: Earth's earliest animals formed semi-complex ecosystems

October 22, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska's Peter Wagner and colleagues have concluded that ecosystems over 500 million years old featured more diversity and specialization than once thought. Read more about: Study: Earth's earliest animals formed semi-complex ecosystems

Contact: Peter Wagner, 402-472-2663, peterjwagner@unl.edu

Sealy, world-class 3D printers set to create dissolvable medical implants

October 5, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska's Michael Sealy has two screws in his left elbow — and a plan to make permanent medical implants like his a remnant of the past. Read more about: Sealy, world-class 3D printers set to create dissolvable medical implants

Contact: Michael Sealy, 402-472-1659, sealy@unl.edu

University of Nebraska to create Space Law Network

September 24, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska has received a $250,000 NASA Space Law pilot-program grant to create a nationwide network of students, faculty and practitioners interested in space law and policy. Read more about: University of Nebraska to create Space Law Network

Contact: Elsbeth Magilton, 402-472-1662, elsbeth@unl.edu

Technique expands circuitry to curved, textured surfaces

September 24, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

With the help of some microscopic canals, squishy materials and chemistry, Nebraska’s Stephen Morin is throwing a curve into the normally flat landscape of circuitry. Read more about: Technique expands circuitry to curved, textured surfaces

Contact: Stephen Morin, 402-472-4608, smorin2@unl.edu

Nebraska researchers eye link between cognitive abilities, weight

September 20, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Timothy Nelson, associate professor of psychology at Nebraska, is studying how certain cognitive processes that develop throughout childhood affect health behaviors during adolescence and beyond. His research could lead to novel interventions to prevent and treat obesity. Read more about: Nebraska researchers eye link between cognitive abilities, weight

Contact: Timothy Nelson, 402-472-7707, tnelson3@unl.edu

'Optical rocket' created with intense laser light

September 14, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A research team led by Nebraska's Donald Umstadter has confirmed a theory that plasma electrons within the path of intense laser light pulses are almost instantly accelerated to almost the speed of light. Read more about: 'Optical rocket' created with intense laser light

Contact: Donald Umstadter, 402-472-8115, donald.umstadter@unl.edu

Written in pollen: Study reveals deathbed detail of 17th-century duchess

September 12, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Pollen grains and an electron microscope helped Husker researchers identify what Vittoria della Rovere took to ease her discomfort in her dying hours. Read more about: Written in pollen: Study reveals deathbed detail of 17th-century duchess

Contact: Karl Reinhard, 402-875-2863, kreinhard1@unl.edu

Researchers at Nebraska to lead largest drone-based study of storms

September 6, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been named leader of the TORUS project, the most ambitious investigation of severe storms and tornadoes using drones ever conducted. Read more about: Researchers at Nebraska to lead largest drone-based study of storms

Contact: Adam Houston, 402-472-2416, ahouston2@unl.edu

Research shows drug access the same in urban, rural areas

July 30, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Popular media often depict illicit drug use as an urban problem, but new University of Nebraska–Lincoln research shows access to illegal drugs is the same, no matter where a person lives. Read more about: Research shows drug access the same in urban, rural areas

Contact: Patrick Habecker, 402-472-8320, phabecker2@unl.edu

Team shatters theoretical limit on bio-hydrogen production

July 25, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Husker researchers have engineered a bacterium that produces more hydrogen than any before it — a breakthrough in the effort to scale up production of the clean-burning fuel. Read more about: Team shatters theoretical limit on bio-hydrogen production

Contact: Raghuveer Singh, 352-214-9540, raghuveer@huskers.unl.edu

'Molecular movie' captures chemical reaction on atomic scale

July 5, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska's Martin Centurion and colleagues have captured the clearest glimpse yet of a photochemical reaction – the type of light-fueled molecular transformations responsible for photosynthesis, vision and the ozone layer. Read more about: 'Molecular movie' captures chemical reaction on atomic scale

Contact: Martin Centurion, 402-472-5810, martin.centurion@unl.edu

115 years of data reveal longer U.S. growing season, temp trends

June 29, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The past century of climate change has extended the average U.S. growing season by nearly two weeks but driven annual buildups of yield-stifling heat in the West and Northeast, says new research from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Read more about: 115 years of data reveal longer U.S. growing season, temp trends

Contact: Suat Irmak, 402-472-4865, suat.irmak@unl.edu

360 degrees, 180 seconds: New technique speeds analysis of crop traits

June 18, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska researchers have devised a more efficient, accurate way to compare the properties of crops. Read more about: 360 degrees, 180 seconds: New technique speeds analysis of crop traits

Contact: Yufeng Ge, 402-472-3435, yge2@unl.edu

Study: Binge drinkers' brains respond differently to risky child's play

June 14, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

New Husker research suggests the same people who get a stronger jolt playing Crocodile Dentist may chase a more dangerous buzz when drinking, thanks to an anticipatory spike in their brains. Read more about: Study: Binge drinkers' brains respond differently to risky child's play

Contact: John Kiat, 402-472-3721, johnemmanuelkiat@gmail.com

Engineering duo invents software to detect structural damage

June 11, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska–Lincoln civil engineers have developed 3-D software that can visually identify damage in a range of structures, from bridges in Nebraska to temples in Nepal. Read more about: Engineering duo invents software to detect structural damage

Contact: Richard Wood, 402-472-1916, rwood@unl.edu

Ocean-migrating trout adapt to freshwater environment in 120 years

May 29, 2018 Purdue University

Steelhead trout, a member of the salmon family that live and grow in the Pacific Ocean, genetically adapted to the freshwater environment of Lake Michigan in less than 120 years. The steelhead introduced into Lake Michigan continue to spawn in small freshwater tributaries and streams, but now treat the entirely freshwater habitat of the Great Lakes as a surrogate ocean. Read more about: Ocean-migrating trout adapt to freshwater environment in 120 years

Contact: Kayla Zacharias, 765-494-9318, kzachar@purdue.edu

Distinguished company: Birds can recognize members of other species

May 25, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Birds of a different feather can flock together when members of one species come to recognize individuals from another, says a pioneering study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Chicago. Read more about: Distinguished company: Birds can recognize members of other species

Contact: Allison Johnson, 402-472-1544, ajohnson165@unl.edu

Rare element to provide better material for high-speed electronics

May 24, 2018 Purdue University

Purdue researchers have discovered a new two-dimensional material, derived from the rare element tellurium, to make transistors that carry a current better throughout a computer chip. Read more about: Rare element to provide better material for high-speed electronics

Contact: Kayla Wiles, 765-494-2432, wiles5@purdue.edu

Simulations show how beta-amyloid may kill neural cells

May 24, 2018 Purdue University

eta-amyloid peptides, protein fragments that form naturally in the brain and clump into plaques in Alzheimer’s disease patients, are thought to be responsible for neuron death, but it hasn’t been clear how the substances kill cells. Now, a Purdue scientist has shown through computer simulations that beta-amyloid may accumulate to kill neural cells by boring holes into them. Read more about: Simulations show how beta-amyloid may kill neural cells

Contact: Brian Wallheimer, 765-532-0233, bwallhei@purdue.edu

Whey protein supplements and exercise help women improve body composition, not leading to bulkiness

May 23, 2018 Purdue University

It’s known that men benefit from whey protein supplements and exercise, and for what is believed to be the first time, the same can be said for women, according to a large study review by Purdue nutrition experts. Read more about: Whey protein supplements and exercise help women improve body composition, not leading to bulkiness

Contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Study finds minority homeless youth more likely to be stopped by police

May 23, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

In one of the first investigations of how homelessness, race and policing intersect among youth, Nebraska researchers have found that homeless youth of color face more frequent police contact and arrest – although all youth who live on the street are more likely to encounter police. Read more about: Study finds minority homeless youth more likely to be stopped by police

Contact: Tara Warner, 402-472-3080, twarner2@unl.edu

Technique doubles conversion of CO2 to plastic component

May 22, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

With atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continuing to rise, Nebraska engineers and their European colleagues have devised a strategy to more efficiently recycle the greenhouse gas. Read more about: Technique doubles conversion of CO2 to plastic component

Contact: Vitaly Alexandrov, 402-472-5323, valexandrov2@unl.edu

Teenage rebellions can incite changes in religious beliefs

May 21, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Higher education has been long portrayed as the enemy of faith, but new University of Nebraska–Lincoln research suggests teenage rebellion is playing a role in losing — or gaining — religion. Read more about: Teenage rebellions can incite changes in religious beliefs

Contact: Philip Schwadel, 402-472-6008, pschwadel2@unl.edu

Team develops equation for designing clean-energy catalysts

May 14, 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

New guidelines laid down by Nebraska's Xiao Cheng Zeng could steer the design of less costly, more efficient catalysts geared toward revving up the production of hydrogen as a renewable fuel. Read more about: Team develops equation for designing clean-energy catalysts

Contact: Xiao Cheng Zeng, 402-472-9894, xzeng1@unl.edu

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