CSE in the News — February 2024 archive
February 2024
New study is first step in predicting carbon emissions in agriculture
The study by scholars from the UMN-led National Artificial Intelligence Institute for Climate-Land Interactions, Mitigation, Adaptation, Tradeoffs and Economy (AI-CLIMATE) and UIUC-led Agroecosystem Sustainability Center was recently published in Nature Communications, a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal. Feb. 28: Today News 24; Feb. 29: News Leaflets (2 as Feb. 29 at 8:42 a.m.)
How dwarf galaxies lit up the Universe after the Big Bang
Massive galaxies would have absorbed much of their own UV light, says Claudia Scarlata, an astrophysicist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. And there might have been too few quasars to orchestrate the whole process. Feb. 28: Euro Es Euro; Nature; Feb. 29: Scientific American (3 as March 1 at 8:25 a.m.)
New Perspective on the Expansion Rate of the Universe
An international team including Tom Broadhurst, Ikerbasque research professor at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and associate of the DIPC (Donostia International Physics Center), and Patrick L. Kelly, from the Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics, dependent from the University of Minnesota in the United States, has performed a new calculation of the Hubble constant by analyzing the light from multiple appearances of a supernova. Feb. 26: Time News
New study is first step in predicting carbon emissions in agriculture
For the first time, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMN) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have demonstrated that it is possible to provide accurate, high-resolution predictions of carbon cycles in agroecosystems, which could help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Feb. 22: Science Daily; PHYS; Feb. 28: Environmental News Network
Spotlight on Excellence: Minnesota's Own Columnists Shine at Newspaper Contest
Balancing his role as a guest columnist since April 2023 with his studies in aerospace engineering at the University of Minnesota, Janagan Ramanathan has successfully honed his craft, securing third place in the "Best Columns" category. Feb. 22: BNN; Newsleaders (2 as of Feb. 22 at 8:39 a.m.)
The Northern Lights Are Nearing a Peak
When it comes to the science, Cynthia Cattell, who studied auroral particle acceleration for her doctorate thesis and taught at the University of Minnesota, wants to set the record straight. “[Other media outlets] will say the aurora is caused when particles from the sun come streaming down, and they hit the poles and cause the aurora. Feb. 21: MN Monthly
29 Chinese Scientists Awarded $75,000 In Scientific Research Bonuses As 2024 Sloan Fellows
One of the winners is Zhen Liu, an assistant professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota.His current research focuses on theoretical particle physics, particularly phenomenology at high energy colliders. Feb. 21: Gaming Deputy
Magnet Startup Niron Attracts More Big-Name Investors
That inspired University of Minnesota electrical engineering professor Jian-Ping Wang and his team to develop a new magnet material that doesn’t contain rare earth metals. Feb. 20: Twin Cities Business
Snowflakes Swirl According to Surprisingly Simple Math
Further research is needed to assess the mathematical pattern's universality, says University of Minnesota mechanical engineer Jiarong Hong. “We will look into the applicability of [this result] to our data sets of snowflakes captured under different conditions.” Feb. 20: Scientific American; March 1: Knews Media; March 2: Owatek (3 as of March 4 at 9:01 a.m.)
‘Losing our language, traditions’: Growth in Somali culture programs aims to address second-generation language loss
Sana Mohammed, a junior in computer science and a Somali language student at the University of Minnesota, said she was born and raised in Minnesota, and she can only understand some Somali words but struggles to fully understand, speak, read and write. Feb. 19: Hiiraan; Sahan Journal (2 as of Feb. 20 at 8:25 a.m.)
Minnesota United Presents 2024 'Starry Night Kit'
Additionally, from 7 - 9 p.m. CT, a light show and stargazing with experts from the University of Minnesota Institute of Astrophysics will take place just outside of Allianz Field. Feb. 16: Our Sports Central; CBS News (2 as of Feb. 19 at 8:43 a.m.)
Minnesota Orchestra Releases Music and Healing, Concert Broadcast and Digital Initiative
During its 2023 Summer at Orchestra Hall festival, the Minnesota Orchestra premiered a first-of-its-kind program entitled Music and Healing. Each episode includes an intimate conversation between Hicks and a different artist or mental health expert, including University of Minnesota’s Professor of Biomedical Engineering Dr. Hubert Lim. Feb. 15: Minnesota Orchestra; Feb. 16: Broadway World; (2 as of Feb. 16 at 8:55 a.m.)
Theatre in the Round Celebrates Women in STEM with Silent Sky and Art Gallery
This event, immediately following the performance if Silent Sky, will feature a panel of women in various career stages from the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy. Feb. 15: Mill City Times
Scientific team drills into ground in Babbitt, hoping to strike helium reserve
'If you've gone to get an MRI, it's inside and cooling the magnets and all the instruments in hospitals that are doing imaging," Paul Crowell, Chair of the University of Minnesota's School of Physics and Astronomy, told WCCO. "It's really the only practical way for certain large scientific apparatus to keep it that cold continuously." Feb. 14: CBS News
Two University of Minnesota professors elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2024
Catherine French and Timothy Lodge, professors in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). This is among the highest professional distinctions awarded to an engineer. Feb. 14: University of Minnesota TC
Phantom jams: The hidden culprit behind Atlanta's mysterious traffic gridlock
According to Raphael Stern, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota's Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, phantom jams are more than a frustrating inconvenience. They're the result of human behavior within high-density traffic situations. Feb. 13: 11 Alive
Chrome engine devs experiment with automatic browser micropayments
A few years later, in a 2003 paper [PDF], “The Case Against Micropayments,” Andrew Odlyzko, presently a professor in the department of School of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota, wrote, “Micropayments are the technology of the future, and always will be.” Feb. 13: FocusTechnica; i3Investor; Daily UK News; The Register; Mezha Media (5 as of February 14 at 10:50 a.m.)
David Espindola - What AI Means to Us as Human Beings
Espindola is the award-winning author of Soulful You in the Future of Artificial Intelligence and the Exponential Era and an advisory board member of the Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota. Feb. 13: Ivoox
A MOBILE APP TO REPORT DRIVER INTRUSIONS INTO WORK ZONES
“The work zone intrusion app gives workers a way to report how, when and where incidents are happening, and gives MnDOT the capability to analyze the data, identify trends and, ultimately, keep incidents from happening,” said Brian Davis, research fellow, University of Minnesota Department of Mechanical Engineering. Feb. 13: MN Transportation Research
National Academy of Engineering elects 114 members and 21 international members
Catherine E. French, one of CSE's Distinguished Professor of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering; one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Feb. 9: ES Magazine; March 5: India Education Diary; BNN (3 as of Mar. 5 at 8:22 a.m.)
Kraus-Anderson Construction Makes First Acquisition
KA started off in 1897 and quickly began working on some of the Twin Cities’ biggest projects, including the chemistry building on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus. Feb. 5: Twin Cities Business
Who Invented Duct Tape?
For much of his teenage years Drew earned a living as a banjo player for various dance bands, eventually scraping together enough money to pay for an engineering degree at the University of Minnesota. Feb. 4: ReportWire
University of Minnesota Researchers Revolutionize DNA Computing with Cascaded Memristors
Researchers Xingyi Liu and Keshab K Parhi from the University of Minnesota have developed a new approach to molecular and DNA memristors, allowing for cascading. Feb. 2: Quantum Zeitgeist
Revolutionizing Kidney Dialysis: Dr. Valérie Pierre at Red River Valley Chemistry Conference
Dr. Valérie Pierre, a distinguished Chemistry Professor from the University of Minnesota, is set to present her groundbreaking research on kidney disease at Bemidji State University’s Hagg-Sauer Hall 150, on February 2. Feb. 2: BNN