CSE in the news–2016 archive

December 2016

Include nature in infrastructure to make America great
History Of Science and Technology assistant professor Robert Gardner wrote that including natural processes in infrastructure projects would improve air quality, water quality and general quality of life. Dec. 30: The Hill

January starwatch
Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics offers public viewings of the night sky. Dec. 30: MessAge Media

Career Guide: The jobs are out there
Director of the Career Center in the College of Science and Engineering Angie Froistad claims economic recovery and aging baby boomers, have combined to create something of a job-seeker's market. Dec. 29: Star Tribune

Did a supernova give birth to our solar system?
Astronomy professor Yong-Zhong Qian and his colleagues suggest that the explosive death of a small star could have kicked off the collapse that formed the sun and a surrounding disk of matter, where the planets were born. Dec. 28: Space

Minnesota becoming first state to ban common germ-killer triclosan in soap
A University of Minnesota study led by CEGE Professor William Arnold found that triclosan can break down into potentially harmful dioxins in lakes and rivers. Dec. 25: The Washington Post; Inquisitr; Dec. 26: CBS News; WIZM; Dec. 31: WCCO

Heacket, ‘World’s most durable heated jacket,’ readies for launch
CSE Alumnus Owen Zhang joined Heacket and with launch their durable heated jackets through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. Dec. 23: WWD; ForexTV.com

TaskRabbit’s stalled revolution
Transportation Studies Senior Research Associate Saif Benjaafar credits TaskRabbit with helping create a movement, but said it tried to give its users too much freedom over the type of services and the prices it charged. Dec. 22: Bloomberg Technology

What a balloon’s pop tells us about the end of the world
Physics professor James Kakalios explains why balloons pop and how that relates to existential risk. Dec. 19: FiveThirtyEight

Eden Prairie student to address global hunger
Mechanical engineering student Audrey Sebastian will be one of 11 students who will create a project related to food insecurity solution. Dec. 17: Eden Prairie News

University of Minnesota research shows people can control a robotic arm with only their minds
Biomedical engineering professor Bin He is the lead researcher of a team whose technology allows people to control a robotic arm using only their minds. Dec. 14: Newswise; EurekAlert; Medical Xpress; UPI.com; Star Tribune; Breitbart News; Medgadget; Twin Cities Business Magazine; KARE 11; R & D Magazine; I-Connect007; Daily Mail; SUV System Ltd.; TECHdotMN; Talk 92.1; MaxRedline; Science Blog; NeuroScientistNews (Canada); Medical Xpress (Great Britain); Scienmag (Great Britain); ScienceDaily; Deans' Stroke Musing; KurzweilAI.net; Lucianne.com; oandp.com; Yahoo! News; Dec. 15: FOX 9; Economic Times (India); FOX News; Business Standard (India); KSTP; Science 360; Technobahn (Japan); ScinceNewsline; The Science Explorer; Engineering 360; Eureka (Great Britain); DPA Magazine (Great Britain); Qmed; Millennium Post (India); IndiaToday.in (India); 1010 WC SI; News Radio WGMD 92.7; University Herald; Nature World News; The Economic Times (India); iTechPost; States Chronicle; Daily Star (Great Britain); Health Take; Innovation Toronto; Yahoo! Finance; Yahoo! Finance (Canada); The Free Press Journal (India); Electronics 360; The Indian Express (India); The Engineer (Great Britain); Viveremilano.biz (Italy); Fars News Agency (Iran); Digital Trends; Dec. 16: Tech Times; WDAY; Belarus News (Belarus); Mirror (Great Britain); The Siasat Daily (India); Domain-b.com; Nature World News; People's Daily Online (China); FPS (Belarus); Sina English (China); Xinhua News (China); Medindia (India); Latest Technology; The Register-Guard; PCMag.com; PCMag (Great Britain); New Atlas (Canada); BioSpace; Dec. 17: PCMag (India); Before It's News; True Viral News; Dec. 19: Big Ten Network; Clinical Innovation + Technology; Publicnow (Canada); PC Mag Middle East (United Arab Emirates); GopherCental.com Archives; Dec. 22: The Wall Street Journal; Dec. 25: AMICOR 19 (Brazil);  Dec. 26: Medical Design & Outsourcing; Dec. 30: Medical Design & Outsourcing

University of Minnesota students make problem-solving robots for final exam
Mechanical engineering students made robots that do something interesting and useful for their final project. Dec. 12: Fox 9; KARE 11

Trump puts Alabama aerospace executive on NASA transition team
Aerospace engineering and mechanics alumnus Steve Cook has been named to President-elect Donald Trump's NASA transition team. Dec. 12:  AL.com

From teen rebel to astronaut: Columbia Space Shuttle Pilot Digger Carey talks to youngsters in Mahnomen
Aerospace engineering and mechanics alumnus Duane "Digger" Carey served as the pilot of space shuttle Columbia on STS-109, logging over 10 days in space. Dec. 11: DL-Online

Good questions: Blowing on hot food, weather watcher jingle & christmas cars
Physics professor James Kakalios explains how blowing on hot food and drinks cool them down. Dec. 9: WCCO

HR Green’s Bridget Osborn honored as “2016 Professional of the Year” and “2016 New Face of Engineering”
Geological engineering alumna Bridget Osborn was honored for her work creating innovative solutions for storm water and runoff management. Dec. 8: HR Green; Money (Canada); WFMJ TV-21; WDRB 41 Louisville; WAFB.com; TulsaCW.com; KTRE ABC-9; ITBusinessNet.com; News9.com; DMN Newswire!; KLTV 7 News; NewsOn6.com; WAVE 3 News; Dallas Morning News; NBC-2.com; WTOL.com; WDAM - Channel 7; KXXV-TV ABC; 14 News; WMBF News; WandTV.com; Mississippi News Now; KAIT ABC-8; WWBT-TV; 9&10 News; KUSI News; Hawaii News Now; KSLA News 12; WTOC.com; WALB.com; KMOV.com; CBS 58 News; WSFA 12 News; The CW Richmond WUPV; Live5News.com; ABC-7.com; ABC Fox Montana; NewsWest 9; WLOX-TV; PR Newswire; ABC 57; KFMB-TV CBS-8; WBRC FOX6 News; WBOY-TV; NBC Right Now KNDO-TV; KTVN Channel 2; KCBD NewsChannel 11; WRCBtv.com; KTBS.com; KRGV.com; WOWK-TV; Tucson News Now; KFVS 12; KLKNTV ABC-8; KPLC 7 News; Yahoo! Finance; WeAreWVproud; News 12 Mankato; The CW GA-BAMA; ABC 40 KRHD-TV; KFBB.com; FOX19-WXIX TV; WMC Action News 5; FOX Wilmington; FOX5Vegas.com;  WTVM.com; WSFX-FOX Wilmington; KTEN.com; Kuam News; KSWO-TV 7; KHQ Right Now; Hometownstations.com; FOX 14 TV; Spoke; AZFamily.com; YourOhioValley; Fox 21 Delmarva; WVUE New Orleans; KWWL.com; Cleveland 19 News; KTIV News Channel 4; WBTV 3 News; KFVE The Home Team; WAFF 48 News; WFLX Fox 29-TV; KULR-8; KOAM-TV; WBOC.com; NewsChannel 10; NBC29; Telemundo Amarillo; KAUZ-TV: News Channel 6 Now; WFXG FOX 54; Telemundo Midland/Odessa; FOX29 Lake Charles; WDRB 41 Louisville; Erie News Now; WECT TV6; KPTV FOX 12; WIS News 10; WNKY.com; NewsCenter 1; Ticker Technologies; PublicityInsider.com; Denton Record-Chronicle; Trade Show Marketing; Apparel Search, Northwest cable News; StreetInsider.com;

Brown named Rotary student of the month
Future CSE student Maggie Brown was named the Student of the Month in November by the Chesterton-Porter Rotary. Dec. 8: The Times of Northwest Indiana

Veteran Medtech player seeks to commercialize U of M blood ‘washing’ device
Mechanical engineering professor Allison Hubel invented a device that can that can wash greater volumes of blood via automation, done more safely and at a lower cost. Dec. 7: TwinCities Business

CSE winter light show
College of Science and Engineering students will host their CSE Winter Light Show December 3rd, 8th, 9th, and 10th. Dec. 7: USAgNet; Minnesota Ag Connection; KSTP; Kare11

Healthier blueberries, thanks to a blast of purple plasma
Mechanical engineering associate professor Peter Bruggeman claims the new process for sterilizing blueberries is very promising. Dec. 5: Science Mag

St. Olaf student plays role in discovering new dwarf planet
Colin Scheibner participated in the University of Minnesota Materials Research Science and Engineering Center REU, earned the Rossing Physics Scholarship, and discovered a new dwarf planet. Dec. 2: St. Olaf News

An emerging leader
Bioproducts and biosystems engineering student Elizabeth Alonzi's desire for a career focused on sustainable solutions has been reinforced by her participation in the Land O'Lakes Global Food Challenge. Dec. 2: Minnesota Ag Connection; USAgNet

Researchers propose low-mass supernova triggered formation of our solar system
A research team led by University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy Professor Yong-Zhong Qian uses new models and evidence from meteorites to show that a low-mass supernova triggered the formation of our solar system. Dec. 1: Monash University (Australia): Dec. 2: Scienmag (Great Britain); Science Media Exchange (Australia); Health Medicine Network; Technobahn (Japan); ScienceNewsline; Dec. 5: The Science Explorer; SUV System Ltd; Science World Report; Dec. 6: Before It's News; Dec. 7: Prensa Latina (Cuba)

Researchers explore new 2D materials that could make devices faster, smaller, and efficient
A new study by an international team of researchers led by University of Minnesota Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Tony Low highlights how manipulation of 2D materials could make our modern day devices faster, smaller, and better. Dec. 1: Gadgets Now; Minnesota Ag Connection; USAgNet; Dec. 9: Materials Today (Great Britain)

November 2016

Minnesota Starwatch Dec. 2016: Full moon to drown out this year's Geminid meteor shower Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics offers public viewings of the night sky. Nov. 30: Brainerd Dispatch; Mille Lacs Messenger

Researchers propose low-mass supernova triggered formation of our solar system
A research team led by University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy Professor Yong-Zhong Qian uses new models and evidence from meteorites to show that a low-mass supernova triggered the formation of our solar system. Nov. 28: Phys.org; (e) Science News; SpaceRef; TVN; Science Newsline; Scienmag; Press Release Point; EurekAlert; Newswise; Science Daily; Topix; Nov. 29: Science 360; SciNews; Health Medicine Network; Space Daily; Sci Fi Generation; Wired; Astronomy Now; The Huffington Post (Great Britain); iTechPost; Business Standard (India); CanIndia News (Canada); Deccan Chronicle; Deccan Herald; Economic Times (India); Free Press Journal; Gephardt Daily; IANS (India); India Live Today (India); India Today (India); International Business Times; Knowridge Science Report; News Nation (India); Satellite PR News; ScienceBlog.com; Tech Times; The Indian Express (India); UPI.com; Wired (United Kingdom); Yahoo Sports; News.com; Topix; Electronics360; Before It's News; Nov. 30: The Archaeology News Network (Greece); I4U News; SoloNews (Italy); Nature World News; Science World Report

Good Question: How Do Chip Cards Work?
Technological Leadership Institute director Massoud Amin explains how magnetic stripe's on credit cards are more prone to counterfeit fraud than chips. Nov. 28: WCCO

Goodbye, Car2Go; what's next for car-sharing?+
Transportation analyst and professor David Levinson gives an overview of how the Twin Cities Car2Go went wrong. Nov. 28: Star Tribune

U grad student designs bike sensors to stop collisions
Mechanical engineering student Woongsun Jeon and Professor Rajesh Rajamani created a system to detect cars in a bicyclist’s blind spot. Nov. 28: Minnesota Daily

Neil deGrasse Tyson wants to talk to you about ' Star Wars' (and teach you some science)
Physics and astronomy professor Jim Kakalios's Physics of Superheroes book is referred to for linking pop culture to science. Nov. 28: Philly.com

Creating a cleaner Long Lake
Professor emeritus in the department of civil, environmental and geo-engineering Patrick Brezonik will present on the impact of human activity on water quality at Long Lake. Nov. 28: Lakeshore Weekly News

He pushed early on for a new Stillwater bridge. Now he’s building it.
University of Minnesota civil engineering alumnus Terry Zoller, the bridge construction manager for the St. Croix River bridge, is leaving his mark in his hometown. Nov. 28: Post Bulletin

Should pregnant women be concerned about BPA?
CSE alumnus Steve Hentges concludes from a recent study from French government researchers that not only are the actual French exposure levels of BPA safe, but they’re safe with a wide margin of safety. Nov. 28: Science 2.0

MARCO to continue support for DARPA's multi-university research network devt program
The center for spintronic material, interfaces and novel architectures will be one of the STARnet University Focus Centers conducting research on the fundamental physical limits that impact the growth of the microelectronics industry. Nov. 28: ExecutiveBiz

Readers write (Nov. 26): Pipelines, federal land policies, President-elect Donald Trump, Democratic Party
Professor emeritus in bioproducts and biosystems engineering Jim Bowyer points out that if we do not get raw materials from our own land, we will get them from another country. Nov. 23: Star Tribune

Dynamic tolling could be the key to ease congestion while raising money
Transportation analyst and professor David Levinson explains how tolling can be phased in. Nov. 25: The Globe and Mail

Researchers explore new 2D materials that could make devices faster, smaller, and efficient
A new study by an international team of researchers led by University of Minnesota Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Tony Low highlights how manipulation of 2D materials could make our modern day devices faster, smaller, and better. Nov. 22: Compound Semiconductor; Controlled Environments Magazine; Nov. 27: The Gazette 24; Press Release Point (India); Nov. 28: Science News; Phys.org; Nanowerk; Science Daily; Press Release Point; Newswise; Nov. 29: Production Electronic News (Great Britain); Dotemirates (United Arab Emirates); Indiatoday.in (India); Business Standard (India); SiliconIndia (India); Deccan Chronicle (India); The Hans India (India); Connect007; Technobahn (Japan); ScienceNewsline; Scienmag (Great Britain); Health Medicine Network; Nov. 30: Deccan Chronicle (India); Electronic Product Design & Test (Great Britain); Guru Mavin; The Indian Express (India); SpaceDaily.com

Tips for driving in winter weather
Center for Transportation Studies researcher Nichole Morris discusses driving in winter weather. Nov. 22: KARE11

Ken Konrad: A Driven Innovator
University of Minnesota mechanical engineering alumus Ken Konrad, founder of the Konrad Marine in Hudson, Wisc., is an innovator and engineer who looks at problems and sees solutions. Nov. 22: MarineLink, Nov. 22: Maritime Journal

How robots are changing Minnesota's workforce
Computer science and engineering professor Maria Gini commented that the use of robots in agriculture has increased production but also contributed to the decline of the agricultural workforce. Nov. 22: MinnPost

Captivity makes monkey microbiomes more human-like
CBS Biotechnology Institute assistant professor Dan Knights and team of researchers show that monkeys in captivity lose much of their native gut bacteria diversity and their gut bacteria ends up resembling those of humans. Nov. 21: UBlog (China)

Bluff Creek Elementary hosts 2nd STEM Fest
CSE's chemistry and physics and astronomy departments participated in the Bluff Creek STEM Fest. Nov. 21: Chanhassen Villager

Longtime faculty member selected as provost
CSE alumnus Tom Christensen was selected as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. Nov. 17: Communique

Riders skipping out on train fares doubles in spots, Metro Transit says
Industrial and systems engineering professor Diwakar Gupta thinks more affordable public transit could increase ridership and reduce fare evasion. Nov. 17: Twin Cities Pioneer Press

Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are falling for infrastructure propaganda
Civil engineering professor David Levinson presumes the American Society of Civil Engineers report card is inflated due to 'motivated reasoning.' Nov. 17: StreetsBlog NYC; StreetsBlog USA

Ayres Associates names transportation VP
CSE alumnus Eric Sorensen has been named vice president of Midwest transportation operations at Eau Claire-based Ayres Associates. Nov. 16: BizTimes

Evidence of climate change explained at UW-BC
CSE Alumnus Jim Phillip will present on the production of greenhouse gasses emitted by human activity at the UW-Eau Claire. Nov. 16: The Chronotype

Donald Trump's infrastructure plan wouldn't actually fix America's infrastructure problems
Transportation analyst and professor David Levinson voices concerns he has about Trumps infrastructure plan. Nov. 16: VOX

Ken Konrad: A driven innovator
Mechanical engineering alumnus Ken Konrad has grown his company to 50 employees and has evolved to manufacture a rugged line of stern drives for commercial and military maritime markets around the globe. Nov. 15: Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

Solar-Powered Revolution
The University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project is one of many teams competing to harness the power of the sun to drive wheels, with the premise that efficiency is critical in all aspects of a solar-powered car. Nov. 15: ANSYS Advantage Magazine

Minneapolis: CSE winter light show premiere
College of Science and Engineering students will host their CSE Winter Light Show December 3rd, 8th, 9th, and 10th. Nov. 15: Best Events; Nov. 28: Press Release Point

Look - cougars! Dangit, did bobcats fool us again?
Earth sciences research associate Michelle LaRue discusses the size difference in bobcats and cougars. Nov. 15: Twin Cities Pioneer Press; Duluth News Tribune

Synthetic blood vessel breakthrough could transform children’s heart surgery
A team of researchers, led by Biomedical Engineering Professor Robert Tranquillo, have created artificial blood vessels that grow with recipient. Nov. 14: BYUradio

Synthetic cells can isolate genetic circuits Associate professor of physics Vincent Noireaux comments on the application of MIT research that can isolate circuits withing individual synthetic "cells." Nov. 14: EurekAlert!; Phys.org; MyScience.org; Nanowerk; Public Now (Canada); Science Daily; Nov. 15: Electronic Specifier; Bioscience Technology; Technology Networks (Great Britain); Health Canal; Nov. 16: Chemeurope.com; Nov. 17 SciTech Daily

The future of electricity is going to be hybrid
Technological Leadership Institute director Massoud Amin said said we are in the midst of a transition, not a revolution. Nov. 11: Power Engineering International

Mother of all super moons is on the horizon
Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics professor Lawrence Rudnick explains what a super moon is and how to best enjoy it. Nov. 10: Star Tribune

How the dearly departed could come back to life
Computer science research scientist Muhammad Ahmad published an article about Oculus Rift, a technology that digital recreates loved ones making experiences of them possible after death. Nov. 9: aeon; Nov. 11: Motherboard; Nov. 15: Express

Mass transit won big on election day. But it could still lose.
CSE Professor David Levinson isn't worried about Trump defunding transportation due to his campaign message about infrastructure funding. Nov. 9: The Atlantic City Lab; Nov. 14: Daily Mail

120 grams of graphene running shoes
CSE Professor Mo Li led a research team showing that the 2D material black phosphorus could be even better than graphene for photoelectric detectors. Nov. 8: Great Article Six Network (Chinese); Nov. 17: Great Article Six Network (Chinese)

Notes: Drawing connections
The American Institute of Physics has awarded University of Minnesota Physics Professor James Kakalios the 2016 Andrew Gemant Award, an annual prize recognizing contributions to the cultural, artistic, or humanistic side of physics. Nov. 7: University of Chicago Magazine

Solar and Hawai'i: Centralized versus decentralized energy
Technological Leadership Institute director Massoud Amin discusses how issues can arise with a growing solar market. Nov. 7: Planetsave; Nov. 14: Clean Technica

An innovator at the intersection of the sciences
CSE alumna Rebekah Feist is featured for her work on the DowTM POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle System. Nov. 7: Dow

Technology conference in San Francisco bring together international researchers
Biomedical engineering professor Bin He will present at a conference focusing on artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, security, IoT, and robotics. Nov. 4: Info Tech News; Telemundo Midland/Odessa; KOAM-TV; ITBusinessNet.com; Digital Producer; FreshNews.com; InfoTECH Spotlight; IoT Connectivity Solutions; NewsOn6.com; DMN Newswire!; WebsiteGear; AEC Newsroom; KXXV-TV; Presentation Master; News9.com; KTRE; TulsaCW.com; The CW Richmond WUPV; KTEN.com; KHQ Right Now; FOX19-WXIX TV; 14 News; WBOY-TV; WFMJ TV-21; Hawaii News Now; KCBD News Channel 11; WTVM.com; KSLA News 12; KTVN Channel 2; WWBT-TV; KLTV 7 News; WAFF 48 News; IT News Online; WDRB 41 Louisville; WTOC.com; WBRC FOX6 News; KFVS 12; 9 & 10 News; Live5News.com; KAIT ABC-8; WFXG FOX 54; NBC Right Now KNDO-TV; WECT TV6; WRCBtv.com; KUSI News; NBC-2.com; KULR-8; WAVE 3 News; Mississippi News Now; FOX5Vegas.com; KSWO-TV 7; WALB.com; WBTV 3 News; WBOC.com; KAUZ-TV: News Channel 6 Now; WFLX Fox 29-TV; KFVE The Home Team; ABC6 News; WSFA 12 News; KTIV News Channel 4; Cleveland 19 News; KLKNTV ABC-8; WandTV.com; WMBF News; WIS News 10; NBC29; NewsWest9; CBS 58 News; NewsCenter 1; WLOX-TV; KCTV 5; KWWL.com; NewsChannel 10; Tuscon News Now; AZFamily.com; YourOhioValley; WLTZ 38; WDAM - Channel 7; KFMB-TV CBS-8; News 12 Mankato; The CW GA-BAMA; WOWK-TV; WNKY.com; KFBB.com; Telemundo Amarillo; Erie News Now; Fox29 Lake Charles; KPLC 7 News; WMC Action News 5; ABC 40 KRHD-TV; KRGV.com; WSFX-FOX Wilmington; ABC57; WeAreWVproud; Kuam News; WVUE New Orleans; KPTV FOX 12; KMIR News; KMOV.com; Hometownstation.com; ABC FOX Montana; WTOL.com; Spoke; Dallas Morning News; PublicityInsider.com; PR Newswire; Ticker Technologies; Yahoo! Finance; Denton Record-Chronicle; Virtual Press Office and PR Newswire; Northwest Cable News; Apparel Search; Trade Show Marketing; TMCnet.com; ITbriefing.net; PR Newswire; CNBC;  WAFB.com

Researchers invent 'perfect' soap molecule that is better for the environment
Chemical engineering and materials science associate professor Paul Dauenhauer co-authored a study that created a new soap molecule that could reduce the number of chemicals in cleaning products and their impact on the environment. Nov. 3: The Humanitarian Biochemist; Nov. 8: Minnesota Daily; Nov. 10: 13 WTHR; NBC News; ArkLaTex; Nov. 20: Trussty-Jasmine; Nov. 23: The end of the internet (Great Britain); Nov. 30: Impact Lab

MN company transforming pig organs for people
Twin cities based Miromatrix has developed a type of medical therapy for transplanting pig organs into humans without them being rejected. A number of U of M BME alumni are researchers and executives at Miromatrix, the company responsible for this break through. Nov. 2: KARE 11

November starwatch
Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics offers public viewings of the night sky. Nov. 2: Mille Lacs Messenger; Nov. 4: Lake County News Chronicle; Nov. 10: The Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch

This electrically engineered spinach can detect explosives
Mechanical engineering associate professor Michael McAlpine comments on research that transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and wirelessly relay that information. Nov. 1: Laboratory Equipment;  Nov. 2: World Economic Forum; Latest Technology; Nov. 3: domain-b.com; Safe to Work; Nov. 4: Bio-based News; Nov. 16 SingularityHub; Nov. 25: Engineering News & Analysis

Our evolving relationship with microbes
BioTechnology Institute members Dan Knights, Michael Sadowsky, and Cara Santelli talk about what we know, and what we don't know, about the microbial world and the role it plays in our health and our environment. Nov. 1: MPR News

Speedy drivers be warned: Experts say speed cameras could curb speeding
Center for transportation studies research associate Nichole Morris found with speed cameras present, drivers reduce speed and are less likely to reach for phone and other distracting devices. Nov. 1: Minnesota Daily New discovery could help oral medicines work better University of Minnesota and The Dow Chemical Company researchers have discovered a new method that helps oral medications work faster and more efficiently. Nov. 1: Phys.org; Science Daily; (e) Science News; Parallel State; NewsWise; EurekAlert!; Laboratory Equipment; UPI; News Medical; R&D Magazine; Nov. 2: I4U News; News Readers (Iran); Health Medicine Network; Science Magazine; KARE 11; Nov. 3: World of Chemicals; Nov. 6: Latest Technology; Nov. 9: Twin Cities Business; Nov. 10: Daily RX News; Nov. 14: Minnesota Daily; Nov. 18: Pharmacy Choice
 

October 2016

ORNL and students 3D print excavator parts
U of M student group will design the heat exchange for a 3D printed excavator prototype. Oct. 31: Design News

This electrically engineered spinach can detect explosives
Mechanical engineering associate professor Michael McAlpine comments on research that transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and wirelessly relay that information. Oct. 31: Forbes; MIT News

Lessons in rocket science and 3D printing Aerospace engineering student David Deng is a member of LPRD Rocketry which plans to launch a rocket with a 3D-printed rocket donated by Proto Labs. Oct. 31: Make Parts Fast

The process is the product: How cryopreservation protocols impact simple quality
Mechanical engineering professor Allison Hubel gave a presentation at a scientific symposium at Genentech. Oct. 31: BioStorage Technologies

November brings close, bright moon
Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics offers public viewings of the night sky. Oct. 27: International Falls Journal

Zutic named fellor of American Physical Society
CSE Alumnus Igor Zutic has been named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), one of the world’s most prominent organizations focused on diffusing the knowledge of physics. Oct. 27: UBNow

Catlin joins Rally Cycling in 2017
Mathematics student Kelly Catlin has joined the 2017 Rally Cycling team. Oct. 27: Cycling News; PEZ Cycling News

Researchers invent 'perfect' soap molecule that is better for the environment
Chemical engineering and materials science associate professor Paul Dauenhauer co-authored a study that created a new soap molecule that could reduce the number of chemicals in cleaning products and their impact on the environment. Oct. 26: Phys.org; Engineering.com; KSTP; New Atlas; eMaxHealth; R&D Magazine; News Wise; Electronic Specifier Production; YubaNet; Good News Network; The Science Explorer; ScienceBlog.com; Nanowerk; EurekAlert; ENGINEERING.com; Laboratory Equipment; UD Daily; Science Daily; KAALtv.com; Technobahn (Japan); Production Electronics News; Scienmag (Great Britain); Oct. 27: KARE11; Digital Trends; Controlled Environment Magazine; Yahoo! (Canada); Lab Manager (Canada); Lifeboat Foundation; China Topix; Household and Personal Products Industry; Domain-b.com (India); Ohio Ag Connection; USAgNet; Minnesota Ag Connection; Oct. 28: Mother Nature Network; Sustainability Matters (Australia); Innovation Toronto; Oct. 29: Before it's News; Oct. 30: Materialsgate; TerraDaily; Latest Technology; Oct. 31: MaterialsgateNEWS; Infection Control Today

3-D printed guide devised to regrow nerve fibers
Mechanical engineering professor Michael McAlpine and his team developed a technique combining three-dimensional printing with tissue regeneration to grow new peripheral nerves. Oct. 25: The Operating Theatre Journal

University of Minnesota researchers win breast cancer challenge award
Computer science and engineering associate professor Chad Myers and his team will apply the award to innovative work in exploring genetic connections in breast cancer research. Oct. 25: News Wise

Clinton calls for expansion of energy grid across borders -- Is it feasible?
Director of the Technological Leadership Institute Massoud Amin discusses Hillary Clinton's "open border' electric grid comment. Oct. 20: Forbes

Wayzata schools' young scientist roundtable Oct. 24
Mathematics professor Peter Olver will present "Systems, Invariants, Puzzles and Cancer" at the roundtable series. Oct. 20: Sun Sailor

U of M seeks $23.5M to expand MnDRIVE research aligned with economic growth goals
The Board of Regents will request additional funding for MnDRIVE this budget season to expand beyond the four current research areas. Oct. 19: Twin Cities Business

These mini robots help grunts identify and kill the enemy
Computer science alumnus Andrew Drenner was part of an engineering team from the University of Minnesota that designed technology that helps troops. Oct. 17: Task & Purpose

Landmark genetic interaction map reveals the networks of cellular life
Computer science and engineering associate professor Chad Myers is looking at genes as a network interacting in groups and may change our understanding of the genetic roots of diseases. Oct. 12.: Twin Cities Business

3 inducted into BHS Distinguished Achievement Hall of Fame
CSE alumnus Keith Keller was honored for his distinguished achievements and careers in the Air Force and NATO. Oct. 9.: Brainerd Dispatch

Hurricane power outages: Why is the grid so vulnerable?
Technological Leadership Institute director Massoud Amin explains how unprecedented weather and aging infrastructure are causing major outages. Oct. 7: WVTF

SAHS grad interns with NASA in Houston
Aerospace engineering student Holly Newton is interning with the flight operations directors at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  Oct. 6: Stillwater Gazette

Vipin Kumar honored with 2016 IEEE Computer Society Sidney Fernbach Award
Computer science and engineering professor Vipin Kumar was recognized for foundational work on understanding scalability, and highly scalable algorithms for graph partitioning, sparse linear systems, and data mining. Oct. 4: India West; Oct. 18: HPC Wire

Seattle Genetics announces executive promotions and leadership appointment
University of Minnesota chemical engineering alumnus Vaughn Himes, has been promoted to Chief Technical Officer at Seattle Genetics, Inc. Oct. 4: BusinessWire

Brian Isle named Private Sector Visionary Leader of the Year by Cyber Security Summit 2016
Technological Leadership Institute senior fellow Brian Isle was selected for mentoring numerous technology leaders, contributing to the development of safety and security technologies, and advancing regional and national security strategies. Oct. 3: PR Rocket; Times Union

Synthetic blood vessel breakthrough could transform children's heart surgery
A team of researchers, led by Biomedical Engineering Professor Robert Tranquillo, have created artificial blood vessels that grow with recipient. Oct. 3: Global News Connect; Latest Technology; Oct. 4: Minnesota Daily; Oct. 6: Speaking of Research; NDTV.com; BioTecNika; Oct. 7: KSTP; Oct. 11: BTN; Oct. 13: WDAZ; Oct. 18: National Institutes of Health

Meet Teddy Segore, Rwanda's first certified drone pilot
University of Minnesota electrical engineering alumnus Muziga Rutayisire is the founder and CEO of a company that employs Rwanda's first certified drone pilot. Oct. 2: The New Times

He pushed early on for a new Stillwater bridge. Now he’s building it.
University of Minnesota civil engineering alumnus Terry Zoller, the bridge construction manager for the St. Croix River bridge, is leaving his mark in his hometown. Oct. 2: Voice of Alexandria; Watertown Public Opinion; Oct. 3: Aberdeen News; Washington Times

September 2016

Donations help woman 'Tackle Cancer'
Physics and astronomy professor Cynthia Cattell was cured from cancer by fellow U of M employee Dr. Dan Vallera. Sept. 29: KARE 11

United States Hosts First-Ever Arctic Science Ministerial to Advance International Research Efforts
A two-meter resolution Arctic Digital Elevation Model is to be created during the next 12 months and will be an important baseline for assessing future land surface changes. The effort is being led by the University of Minnesota Polar Geospatial Center. Sept. 28: Whitehouse.gov; Sept. 29; Eos

'Decoding the Civil War': Tech unlocks Union telegrams
Physics and astronomy associate professor Lucy Fortson helps build crowdsourcing platform for decoding Civil War telegrams. Sept. 28: Fox News

Synthetic blood vessel breakthrough could transform children's heart surgery
A team of researchers, led by Biomedical Engineering Professor Robert Tranquillo, have created artificial blood vessels that grow with recipient.  Sept. 27: The Guardian; ScienceDaily; Live Science; Popular Science; Daily Mail; Bangkok Post; KSTP; Newswise; Star Tribune; Medical.net; eNCA; Medical Xpress; MENAFN.com; News24; Health Medicine Network; Yahoo!; Sept. 28: The Science Explorer; Nature World News; The Times of India; ET HealthWorld; UPI; WDAZ; The Health Site; wochit News; The Indian Express; Business Standard; Daijiworld.com; Oneindia; Tasnim News Agency; The Hans India; Zee News; Daily Pioneer; Deccan Herald; Free Press Journal; India Live Today; India Today; Smart Cooky - NDTV; New Kerala; The Endoc; Med Media (Russia); Technology Media Network (China); Sept. 29: The Hindu; Science World Report; Medindia; Futurism; Xtalks; NU.nl (Netherlands)

Could ORNL's AME, world's first 3D printed excavator be used to construct Mars colony? 
U of M experts worked with the team that submitted the winning design for an aesthetic and functional excavator cab to create a fully functional 3D printed excavator. Sept. 27: 3ders; Sept. 30: Technical Review Middle East

Photons do the twist, and scientists can now measure it
Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professor Mo Li has measured the twisting force, or torque, generated by light on a silicon chip. Sept. 26: Science Daily; Phys.org;

Landmark genetic interaction map reveals the networks of cellular life
Computer science and engineering associate professor Chad Myers is looking at genes as a network interacting in groups and may change our understanding of the genetic roots of diseases. Sept. 23: ScienceDaily; News Medical; Sept. 26: BioscienceTechnology

$1 million donation from Weinels to fund scholarships at RHS
Civil engineering alumnus  and CSE donor Jim Weinel along with his wife Sharon set up a scholarship fund for Randolph High School graduates who are interested in pursuing studies in engineering. Sept. 23: The Cannon Falls Beacon

Fundamental researchers offer new ways to sort molecules for clean energy
Nanoporous Materials Genome Center researchers are answering fundamental questions that could improve separating impurities from complex mixes. Sept.23: Phys.org

He pushed early on for a new Stillwater bridge. Now he’s building it.
University of Minnesota civil engineering alumnus Terry Zoller, the bridge construction manager for the St. Croix River bridge, is leaving his mark in his hometown. Sept. 23: Twin Cities Pioneer Press; Sept. 26: Prairie Business; Sept. 27: Brainerd Dispatch

University research sheds light on banned antibacterial soap compound
University of Minnesota civil, enviornmental and geo- engineering professors William Arnold and Timothy LaPara found that a harmful antibacterial soap compound accumulated in waterways. Sept. 22: Minnesota Daily

Popular geosciences free mobile app adds 53 new field trip guides with 400 stops
Flyover Country, a mobile app created by University geologists for geoscience outreach and data discovery, now includes 53 new field trip guides for Colorado and surrounding states, including almost 400 field trip stops. Sept. 21: Phys.org

'Tectonic shifts' reshape energy landscape
Director of the Technological Leadership Institute Massoud Amin spoke at an international electrical engineering conference about renewable energy systems. Sept. 19: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Renewable Energy Leader
CSE Alumnus Dionisios G. Vlachos has been named the inaugural Allan and Myra Ferguson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware. He also has been appointed director of the UD Energy Institute. Sept. 19: UDaily

Does it matter that Pokemon knows where you go - and much more about you?
Technology Leadership Institutes Mike Johnson states identity theft by hackers is a possible risk. Sept. 17: Star Tribune

Bloomington man still works full-time, exercises at 92
CSE alumnus Ed Bather Jr. is featured for his work and continued dedication to the College of Science and Engineering. Sept. 17: The Sun Current

MU's Engineering Building West renamed after renowned scientist
University of Missouri honored CSE alumnus Robert Naka and his wife by renaming one of their buildings  F. Robert and Patricia Naka Hall. Sept. 16: Missourian; Columbia Daily Tribune; Sept. 27: The Maneater

Bill of Fare: Tapping into Capitol-area taprooms
Three CSE electrical engineering alumni established Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., an engineering themed brewery. Sept. 15: Politics in Minnesota

UC Berkeley and University of Minnesota professors recognized at annual Semiconductor Research Corporation TECHCON conference
ECE professor Chris Kim was awarded the SRC Technical Excellence Award for his respective SRC-supported research and contributions to the industry in VLSI circuit design. Sept. 13: Business Wire

The Connected City: Trends and developments driving smart city innovation
University of Minnesota electrical and computer engineering professor Massoud Amin explains how  smart cities improve the human condition and advance civilization. Sept. 13: MIT Technology Review

Minnesota's biodegradable bags make grocery shopping more green
Center for Sustainable Polymers Director Marc Hillmyer describes alternative materials being used to design materials that are not harmful and don't accumulate in the environment. Sept. 10: Big Ten Network

In 1938, the University of Minnesota tried to 'smash' apart atoms
Theoretical nuclear physics researcher Benjamin Bayman and biophysics professor John Broadhurst discuss the rise and demise of the Van de Graaff. Sept. 9: Minnesota Daily

NREIP interns impact navy technologies, return to college
Materials science and engineering student Erik Hippchen asserts the Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program is the ultimate learning experience for an up and coming engineer in both the technical and professional sense. Sept. 7: Armed with Science

New elevation map details Alaska like never before
UMN Polar Geospatial Center released digital elevation maps of Alaska to help communities understand and manage threats posed by climate change. Sept. 1: Medium - The White House; NSF; NGA; HPC Wire; Daily Mail; KTOO Public Media; National Geographic; National Science Foundation; GISuser.com; Newswise; Sept. 2: Directions Magazine; Engadget; Executive Gov; Inside HPC; Live Science; Scientific Computing World; Travel and Leisure; Kansas City infoZine; Sept. 3: Alaska Dispatch News; Pulse Headlines; I4U News; Sept. 4: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner; Alaska Dispatch News; Sept. 5: Capital Berg; Phys.org; Sept. 6: Austrian Tribune; The Daily Illini; Smithsonian; Washington Post; Eos; Sept. 7: FedScoop; Sept. 14: Minnesota Daily

University of Minnesota awarded multimillion-dollar grant for physics-based approach to cancer
Biomedical engineering professor David Odde explains how cell migration simulator being developed could help personalize cancer treatments. Sept. 1: News Wise; Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal; Sept. 8: Minnesota Daily

More landslides possible in Twin Cities
Geology professor Carrie Jennings asserts that the potential for landslides in our region should be studied thoroughly. Sept. 1: MPR News

Captivity makes monkey microbiomes more human-like
CBS Biotechnology Institute assistant professor Dan Knights and team of researchers show that monkeys in captivity lose much of their native gut bacteria diversity and their gut bacteria ends up resembling those of humans. Sept. 1: Popular Science; Sept. 7: MinnPost; Sept. 19: Minnesota Daily

August 2016

Captivity makes monkey microbiomes more human-like
CBS Biotechnology Institute assistant professor Dan Knights and team of researchers show that monkeys in captivity lose much of their native gut bacteria diversity and their gut bacteria ends up resembling those of humans. Aug. 29: The Atlantic; Aug. 30: News Wise; Science Daily; UPI

Citing health concerns, Prem Paul leaving UNL leadership position
CSE alumnus Steve Goddard named University of Nebraska-Lincoln interim vice chancellor for research and economic development, pending approval by the Board of Regents. Aug. 29: Lincoln Journal Star

New assignment this fall in Minnesota schools: deal with 'Pokémon Go'
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Lana Yarosh applauds schools that teach students to manage the distraction of "Pokémon Go." Aug. 26: MPR News

NREIP interns impact navy technologies, return to college, plan Department of Defense careers
Materials science and engineering student Erik Hippchen asserts the Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program is the ultimate learning experience for an up and coming engineer in both the technical and professional sense. Aug. 26: South Potomac Pilot

Research team develops data-driven methods to refine climate predictions, analyze climatic changes
Computer science professor Vipin Kumar uses innovative approaches to understanding the complex nature of the Earth system and the adverse consequences of climate change. Aug. 24: Phys.org

Using data to better understand climate change
Computer Science professor Vipin Kumar discusses his project Understanding Climate Change: A Data Driven Approach. Aug. 23: National Science Foundation

The plastics revolution: How chemists are pushing polymers to new limits
Chemistry professor Tim Lodge and director of the Center for Sustainable Polymers Marc Hillmyer discuss next-generation forms of polymers that have infiltrated almost every aspect of modern life. Aug. 21: Scientific American

Sumanta Acharya appointed as chair
CSE alumnus Sumanta Acharya has been appointed as Illinois Institute of Technology Armour College of Engineering Department Chair and Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering. Aug. 16: Illinois Tech Today

Breaking the laws of science
Electrical and computer engineering associate professor Mo Li is part of a team studying ways in which light waves can propagate in next-generation technologies. Aug. 15: The Source

Minnesota is re-animating dead pig hearts for science
All undergraduate biomedical engineering students get to experience reanimated animal hearts as a way to closely study the organ in operation. Aug. 11: BTN; Aug. 16: City Pages

Delta outage shows how our dependency on technology can ruin our day
Director of the Technological Leadership Institute Dr. Massoud Amin explains how digitization makes us vulnerable. Aug. 10: Fox 9

Nolan visits Ash River NOvA project
Physics and astronomy professor Marvin Marshak was in attendance when U.S. Representative Rick Nolan learned how neutrinos may show us how the universe evolved. Aug. 9: International Falls Journal

NOvA shines new light on how neutrinos behave
Scientists from the NOvA collaboration, including University of Minnesota researchers, have announced an exciting new result that could improve our understanding of the behavior of neutrinos. Aug. 8: Phys.org; Sci News; Science Daily; NewsWise; Physics; EurekaAlert!; Interactions; Aug. 9: EurekAlert!; (e) Science News; Science Codex

Deadly crash highlights danger of left turns
University of Minnesota civil, environmental and geo- engineering professor John Hourdos director of the Minnesota Traffic Observatory, explains why left turns on busy highways are so dangerous and why more isn't being done about the problem. Aug. 3: St. Cloud Times

Good question: why do we have retaining ponds?
University of Minnesota civil, environmental, and geo- engineering professor John Gulliver explains how retaining ponds keep our lakes and rivers cleaner. Aug. 3: WCCO-TV

Is a harmful chemical lurking in mustard?
CSE alumnus Steve Hentges shares new concerns about chemicals in mustard. Aug. 3: Science 2.0

First step for Minnesotan's bid for cycling medal: embrace the pain
CSE biomedical engineering student Kelly Catlin is vying for a medal in cycling at this year's Summer Olympics in Rio. Aug. 2: Fox Sports; Aug. 5: Valley News Live; Aug. 11: Kare11; Aug. 21: Kare11

U of M researchers work to make environmentally-friendly plastic bags
Director of the Center for Sustainable Polymers Marc Hillmyer highlights their research innovations in biodegradable plastics for making plastic shopping bags environmentally friendly. Aug. 2: KSTP

Interlink Electronics, Inc. announces the hire of vice president of sales and marketing
CSE Alumnus Mark Litecky has joined Interlink Electronics, Inc. as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Aug. 2: Business Wire

Meatless burger made possible with local effort
CSE alumnus Nick Halla is the Chief Strategy Officer of Impossible Foods, which recently released a plant-based burger that looks, cooks, smells, and most importantly, tastes like meat. Aug. 1: Owatona Peoples Press

More power to you
University of Minnesota chemical engineering and materials science assistant professor Bharat Jalan is part of a team of researchers that has discovered that interfacing two particular oxide-based materials makes them highly conductive, a boon for future electronics that could result in much more power-efficient laptops, electric cars and home appliances. Aug. 1: EE Times; Aug. 3: Materials Today

Count seals in Antarctica from the comfort of your couch
Earth sciences research associate Michelle LaRue indicates it would take years for her research team to count all the Weddell seals without help from citizen scientists. Aug. 2: Quartz; Aug. 20: BTN

TKDA adds mechanical engineer
CSE mechanical engineering alumnus David Mickelson joins the Duluth office of St. Paul-based TKDA. Aug. 1: Business North; Aug. 8: Duluth News Tribune
 

July 2016

First step for Minnesotan's bid for cycling medal: embrace the pain
CSE biomedical engineering student Kelly Catlin is vying for a medal in cycling at this year's Summer Olympics in Rio. July 31: Star Tribune; Star Tribune

August starwatch
August brings the "green corn moon," meteors, and much more for star watchers. July 30: MilleLacs Messenger

Solar car rally takes competitors from Cuyahoga Valley National Park to South Dakota
CSE student, Spencer Berglund, discusses the preformance of his team's solar vehicle. July 29: Ohio.com

IEEE expert interview: successful implementation of the smart city is inseparable from the smart grid
University of Minnesota Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Massoud Amin, talks about how it is essential that "smart" cities have "smart" grids. July 28: Important Industry Information Index (China)

STEM: unlocking future potential
If the the United States wants to remain competitive in  the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), we need to take action. A University of Minnesota aerospace engineering Ph.D. student is quoted. July 27: Minnesota Monthly

Can MN biotech tap into the booming regenerative medicine market?
MSP Corp., founded by mechanical engineering professor emeritus Benjamin Y.H. Liu, has received a Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (RMM) grant to bolster the state's efforts in the regenerative medicine industry. July 27: Twin Cities Business

TKDA adds mechanical engineer
CSE mechanical engineering alumnus, David Mickelson, joins the Duluth office of St. Paul-based TKDA. July 27: Finance & Commerce

More power to you
University of Minnesota chemical engineering and materials science assistant professor, Bharat Jalan, is part of a team of researchers that has discovered that interfacing two particular oxide-based materials makes them highly conductive, a boon for future electronics that could result in much more power-efficient laptops, electric cars and home appliances. July 26: EurekAlert!; Science Daily; Nanowerk; e! Science News; Phys.org; Science Codex; RF Globalnet; July 27: ScienceNewsline; Technobahn; I-Connect 007; Solid State Technology; Green Car Congress; Solid State Technology; New Electronics; July 28: R&D; IEEE Spectrum; Innovation Toronto; July 29: PowerPulse.net; Utah Business

Count seals in Antarctica from the comfort of your couch
Earth sciences research associate, Michelle LaRue, indicates it would take years for her research team to count all the Weddell seals without help from citizen scientists. July 26: Phys.org; Military Technologies; Satellite PR News; EurekAlert!; July 27: Science 360 News; Science 360 News; MPR News; KSTP; Steam Register

James Kakalios wins 2016 Gemant Award from the American Institute of Physics
Physics and astronomy professor, James Kakalios, awarded an annual prize recognizing significant contributions to the cultural, artistic or humanistic dimension of physics. July 22: EurekAlert!; Phys.org

What promising U of M biotech research is nearing commercialization?
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Dan Knights created an algorithm that can predict whether cancer patients will be susceptible to bloodstream infections due to chemotherapy. July 20: Twin Cities Business

University study suggests reintroducing mountain lions to maintain deer populations
Earth sciences research associate, Michelle LaRue, commented that mountain lions may be moving east on their own. July 20: Outdoorhub; The Washington Post

Heat wave could set all-time record for electricity demand
Technological Leadership Institute director Massoud Amin notes that the heat wave can put pressure on the electric grid. July 20: MPR

Businessman reinvents rollerskates
The College of Science and Engineering and the Carlson School have collaborated with a businessman, through a graduate course called New Product Design and Business Development, to invent and build a new kind of in-line roller skate. July 20: Minnesota Daily

A 3D approach to nerve damage
University of Minnesota mechanical engineering professor, Michael McAlpine, is developing a new approach for treating nerve damage using 3D imaging and 3D printing. July 18: American Society of Mechanical Engineering; July 28: 3D MedNet

Available: Cutting-edge U of M physics lab. No windows.
Physics professor, Marvin Marshak, who spurred the Soudan Mine's lab creation in the early 1980's discusses the loss of a key research project. July 17: AP; Star Tribune; July 18: Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

Thomas Lamb joins AET's Duluth office
CSE civil engineering alumnus, Thomas Lamb, joins American Engineering Testing, Inc. as principal engineer and engineering manager. July 15: Finance & Commerce

Molekule air purifier uses UV light to help you breathe easier
Mechanical engineering research scientist Bernard Olson calls an air purifier that uses UV light a “significant breakthrough.” July 15: Bloomberg

DOE awards 1.7 billion core-hours on Argonne supercomputers
Chemistry professor J. Ilja Siepmann received 117,000,000 core-hours for his project. July 15: Inside HPC

Caltech professor assumes role as one of institute’s two vice provosts CSE alumnus Kaushik Bhattacharya becomes one of Caltech’s two vice provosts. July 14: Pasadena Now

MicroNet, Inc. welcomes summer interns
CSE student Anders Zetterlund will work on mobile, website, database, and server-side coding projects while interning at MicroNet, Inc. July 13: Pineandlakes Echo Journal

University of Minnesota secures US DOE grant for offshore wind energy computational research
Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory director Fotis Sotiropoulos and civil engineering professor James Record say $1.2m grant will expand their research into offshore wind. July 12: Energy Business Review

Cutting-edge technology company calls University Ave. home
CSE alumnus Robert Jorgenson, CEO of Lightwave Photonics, Inc., aims to double the efficiency of LED light bulbs. July 11: Monitor

Article on desalination passes citation milestone
CSE alumnus William A. Phillip wrote a paper which passed the 1,000 citation mark, a milestone in academic circles. July 8: Public.

Track your flight with GPS and discover geological points of interest below
Flyover Country, a new offline mobile app created by University geologists for geoscience outreach and data discovery, lets you track your flight with GPS and discover the world below with geological maps and points of interest. July 8: Science Friday

10 obvious superhero weaknesses (that supervillains hardly ever exploit)
Physics professor Jim Kakalios vets superspeed's vulnerability. July 7: Gizmodo Australia

Experts say money, tech could ease storm power outages Electrical and computer engineering professor Massoud Amin explains how smart grid technology is less vulnerable to widespread power outages. July 6: MPR News; July 7: Austin Daily Herald; July 11: Post-Bulletin

Palmer receives byway association memorial scholarship Future CSE student Levi Palmer was awarded the Linda Ulland Memorial Scholarship which goes to a student with a strong interest in community service and environmental issues. July 6: Pequot Lake Echo Journal

Two volunteers discover rare galaxy cluster with help of U of M astronomer
Physics and astronomy professor, Lawrence Rudnick, assisted two volunteer citizen scientists in discovering a rare galaxy cluster. July 6: Minnesota Daily; July 14: Big Ten Network

Tracking the night sky
Universe in the Park, an outreach program organized by the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, leads stargazing sessions throughout the summer. July 6: Minnesota Daily

Why Juno mission is a big deal
Physics professor Bob Lysak will use the data from Juno to study the auroras of Jupiter. July 5: KARE 11

Crop spies
CSE alumnus, Todd Golly, is using unmanned aerial vehicles to quickly pinpoint problem areas of large crop fields. July 5: Connect Business Magazine

There are better ways to kill traffic than lying to waze
Civil, environmental, and geo engineering professor, David Levinson, explains the best, but most drastic, way to reduce cut-through traffic. July 5: Wired

Titanic NASA balloon reaches milestone
Physics and astronomy professor Shaul Hanany explains the limitations of stratospheric balloon observations. July 3: Science

Parking a truck is a pain in the butt. Tech to the rescue!
Computer science and engineering professor Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos leads a team that is helping long-haul truckers find spaces to spend the night by using cameras and image processing software. July 1: Fleet Owner; July 6: American Trucker
 

June 2016

Two volunteers discover rare galaxy cluster with help of U of M astronomer
Physics and astronomy professor Lawrence Rudnick assisted two volunteer citizen scientists in discovering a rare galaxy cluster. June 29: 5 Eyewitness News

You can help decipher Civil War telegrams
CSE researcher helps build crowdsourcing platform for decoding Civil War telegrams. June 26: The State Journal-Register

Sanjay Mittal honored with scientific research award
CSE alumnus Sanjay Mittal was awarded India's prestigious G D Birla Award for Scientific Research for 2016. June 23: Business Standard

Study finds interpretation of emojis can vary widely
University researchers in the GroupLens Lab look at how this smartphone dialect muddies our conversations. June 21: Fortune

UCT announces new senior vice president of engineering
Michael Henderson, a CSE alumnus, announced as Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. Senior Vice President of Engineering June 21: PR Newswire

Frank Werner was a prolific inventor who designed sensors for moon missions
Frank Werner, a CSE alumnus, is remembered as a tinkerer and inventor who believed science and technology could make life better. June 20: The Wall Street Journal

Simulations of hydrogen ingestion flashes in giant stars
Paul Woodward, Fellow of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute and director of the Laboratory for Computational Science & Engineering, presented Simulations of Hydrogen Ingestion Flashes in Giant Stars at the PASC16 conference. June 16: Inside HPC

All men have limits: Batman's superpowers questioned by scientists
Physics professor James Kakalios points out a major aspect of Batman’s strength. June 16: The Guardian

U appoints Samuel Mukasa as dean of the College of Science and Engineering
The University of Minnesota announced that Samuel B. Mukasa has been selected dean of the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering, effective August 31, 2016. June 15: Minnesota Daily

U rocket team ready to blast off in Utah
CSE students and alumni comprise part of a team that will compete in the largest collegiate rocket competition in the world. June 15: Minnesota Daily

How to navigate the development and innovation process with Dr. Art Erdman
Mechanical engineering professor Arthur Erdman discusses his engineering background, 3D printing and the development and innovation process. June 14: ImuaServices

The case against big oil
Former Exxon CEO Lee Raymond, a CSE alumnus, questioned the scientific basis for reducing emissions as a way to combat global warming. June 11: Houston Chronicle

Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation names six to board
Nels Ojard, a civil engineering and structural engineering alumnus, was named to Duluth Superior board. June 9: Business North

Engineer seeks to optimize equipment weight, save soldiers
Andrew Gaynor, civil engineering alumnus, is helping develop technology that will positively impact the safety and effectiveness of soldiers. June 9: Armed with Science

Research projects study automated orchard management
Computer science and engineering associate professor, Ibrahim Volkan Isler, is developing technology to count and measure the diameter of apples in orchards. June 8: Fruit Growers News

This lab is making the plastics of the future–from bacteria
At the Center for Sustainable Polymers, researchers are working to bring an oxymoron to life: environmentally friendly plastics. June 7: Bloomberg Technology

Start your engines: building fuel-efficient, low-emitting vehicles is no easy task
William F. Northrop, a mechanical engineer at the University of Minnesota, and his colleagues are testing filters and working to better understand particle emissions from lean-burn GDI engines. June 6: Chemical & Engineering News

Excavator cab of the future design contest
U of M experts will work with the team that submitted the winning design for an aesthetic and functional excavator cab to create a fully functional 3D printed excavator. June 6: Manufacturing Tomorrow; June 12: 3ders

Parking a truck is a pain in the butt. Tech to the rescue!
Computer science and engineering professor Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos leads a team that is helping long-haul truckers find spaces to spend the night by using cameras and image processing software. June 6: WIRED

NSF awards $50K to help female engineering professors meet each other
University of Minnesota hosted a networking workshop to enhance the professional skills and network of junior women faculty in engineering departments in the Big 10. June 3: MCRTV

High school students receive National Merit Scholarships from University
Future CSE students are among 3,000 nationwide to receive a four-year scholarship. June 1: Prior Lake American; Alabama Real-Time News; Chicago Tribune

May 2016

Shielding homeowners from energy loss with highly efficient windowpanes
Mechanical engineering lecturer Chris Hogan and his research team are developing window coatings and windowpanes with increased thermal efficiency. May 27: ASU News

Engineering and physics professors weigh in on Brady appeal
Mechanical engineering professor Lian Shen is a cosigner in support of the petition for a rehearing in quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension. May 24: The Washington Post; NESN; U.S. News & World Report; CBS Boston; Bangor Daily News; The Salt Lake Tribune

U of M students use their brains and hearts to make hands
CSE students, members of Engineering World Health, bring medical technology to the developing world. May 19: KSTP

Superheroes should probably ditch capes for science
Physics and astronomy professor James Kakalios discusses the relationship between heroes and capes, from a physics standpoint, capes don’t really hold up. May 19: Inverse

U houses the nation's largest collection of core samples
Core samples at the Limnological Research Center can reveal the natural history of an area and help protect our future environment. May 16: Star Tribune

Refugee family with long line of U grads adds another degree
Civil, environmental, and geo- engineering undergradaute student Murid Amini just graduated with an MBA from Carlson School of Management and delivered the commencement address. May 16: Star Tribune

White House to launch microbiome initiative
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Dan Knights studies the microbiome in the human gut. May 13: Minnesota Public Radio; KUOW

Gut bacteria may predict risk of life-threatening infections following chemotherapy
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Dan Knights co-led research that shows the bacteria in people’s gut may predict their risk of life-threatening blood infections following high-dose chemotherapy. May 12: Oncology Nurse Advisor

Hyperloop test just a first step in deployment
Civil, environmental, and geo- engineering professor David Levinson discusses the future of the Hyperloop as it completes its first test. May 11: CNBC; Yahoo! Finance
 

U employee scholarship under review
Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan noted that the Regents Scholarship benefit allows employees to take classes and explore interests that can lead to a variety of benefits, and isn’t just about professional development and career skills. May 3: Minnesota Daily; May 9: PR Newswire

Adblock Plus now wants you to pay to browse the internet
Mathematics professor Andrew Odlyzko says that even if you are willing to donate to your favorite places, the amount of money that any single place will receive will likely be minimal. May 3: Wired

U researchers design scheduling algorithm
Industrial and systems engineering professor Diwakar Gupta is part of a team of researchers who are working to create an algorithm to solve scheduling issues for public transit. May 3: Minnesota Daily

New discovery may help engineers design quieter jet airplanes
Aerospace engineering and mechanics assistant professor Joseph Nichols is involved in research developing a new approach to study turbulence which could lead to almost silent jet engines. May 3: Space Daily

Engineering student group lends a 3D-printed helping hand
CSE students, members of Engineering World Health, hosted an event at which attendees built prosthetic hands for children in Honduras and Tanzania.  May 2: Minnesota Daily

Track your flight with GPS and discover geological points of interest below
A new offline mobile app created by University geologists, called Flyover Country, for geoscience outreach and data discovery, lets you track your flight with GPS and discover the world below with geological maps and points of interest. May 2: Frosch; May 3: TWiT; May 4: The Red Ferret Journal; Ant Spider Bee; May 5: Vanity Fair Italy (Italian); The Architect's Newspaper; May 9: WMUR Tech Talk; May 23: Vulcan Post; May 25: AGU GeoSpace blog

April 2016

Video games serious work for CSE group
In the last five years, the members of the University of Minnesota Video Game Development Club have cranked out more than 40 games. April 28: Minnesota Daily

Gut bacteria may predict risk of life-threatening infections following chemotherapy
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Dan Knights co-led research that shows the bacteria in people’s gut may predict their risk of life-threatening blood infections following high-dose chemotherapy. April 28: Newswise; Science Blog; Science Codex; Medical XPress; Science Daily; EurekAlert!; Biomedical Central; Infection Control Today; April 29: Lab Manager; April 30: HealthCanal

Admins eye dean reviews
Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan said a dean’s success is measured by individual managerial strengths as well as accomplishments of the college as a whole. April 28: Minnesota Daily

New discovery may help engineers design quieter jet airplanes
Aerospace engineering and mechanics assistant professor Joseph Nichols is involved in research developing a new approach to study turbulence which could lead to almost silent jet engines. April 26: EurekAlert!; Daily Mail; April 27: R&D

Crouch to step down as dean of College of Science and Engineering
Steve Crouch, a 1961 graduate of Sleepy Eye High School, has served as dean of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota for the past ten years. He will step down at the end of August. April 25: Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch

Ready, set, think! Mind-controlled drones race to the future
Biomedical engineering professor Bin He first demonstrated a mind-controlled drone in public in 2013, and notes that the progress of the BCI field has been faster than he'd thought ten years ago. April 22: Tampa Tribune; Portland Press Herald; April 23: CT Post; April 24: Fayetteville Observer; April 25: TechTimes; April 26: Christian Science Monitor

Automated cars could be the new norm
Civil, environmental, and geo- engineering professor David Levinson released research that found autonomous vehicles are safer as they don’t tire the way human drivers can and increase mobility for children and people with disabilities. April 21: Minnesota Daily

Faculty hear Boynton presentation about health and food insecurity
Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan said that the school needs to balance between ensuring students are fed and equipping them with skills to make healthy meals. April 20: Minnesota Daily

Bridging heritage and STEM
Students in American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), a professional group for Native Americans in STEM fields, participated in a national leadership summit. April 18: Minnesota Daily

For busy people, 'Bizzy Coffee'
Mechanical engineering graduate is co-owner of Bizzy Coffee, a company that delivers organic, cold brew coffee. April 18: Minnesota Daily

First-ever videos show how heat moves through materials at the nanoscale and speed of sound
Researchers have recorded the first-ever videos showing how heat moves through materials at the nanoscale traveling at the speed of sound, using a state-of-the-art ultrafast electron microscope. April 15: UPI; Science Daily; Newswise; Science 360; Science Codex; EurekAlert!; KSTP; KAAL; Nanowerk; April 16: India Today; Business Standard; Big News Network; Gadgets; New Kerala; Gephardt Daily; Marshalltown; The Statesman; April 17: The Hindu; April 18: Nanotech Now; WDAZ; ChemEurope; Analytica-world; WDAY; Crazy Engineers; Lab Manager; News Nation; Daily Mail; Minnesota Daily; April 19: Tech Times

Caving feeds deep curiosity of U geologist
Earth sciences research Nick Seaton, one of the most experienced cavers in Minnesota notes that caving has a lot more public service and scientific applications than most hobbies, including mapping and exploration, groundwater protection, cave rescues and biological studies. April 14: Star Tribune

Recommendation equation wins U team global honor
Computer science and engineering research team has garnered recognition for creating a formula responsible for curating the perfect Netflix marathon. April 13: Minnesota Daily

Transport groups using more drones
Aerospace engineering and mechanics assistant professor Pete Seiler is a participating faculty member of the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Laboratory discusses aircraft registration with the FAA. April 12: Minnesota Daily

Design of Medical Devices conference
The University hosts an annual medical devices conference. April 11: Newswise; April 12: Qmed; April 13: KARE; Qmed; April 14: Qmed

Study finds interpretation of emojis can vary widely
University researchers in the GroupLens Lab look at how this smartphone dialect muddies our conversations. April 9: PC World; April 10: Engadget (German); April 11: Teen Vogue; TeenVogue; Refinery29; Gizmodo; The Verge; Daily Dot; Boing Boing; April 12: Bring Me The News; Pixels (French); La Vanguardia (Spanish); Cosmpolitan; BuzzFeed; Independent; LifeHacker; Minnesota Public Radio; Washington Post; NY Mag; ABC; Fastco Design; April 13: Vox; April 14: Fortune; Quartz; April 15: City Pages; Marketplace Tech; Science Friday; April 16: Star Tribune; April 28: Minnesota Daily

Friday Roundtable: 'Six things I wish I'd known before starting college'
Chemistry associate professor Erin Carlson joins in a discussion with people who work on a college campus, exploring things freshmen should know. April 8: Minnesota Public Radio

U lab fuses its research approaches
Computer science assistant professor Dan Knights leads one of a unique new lab space that centers on computational biology yet still maintains traditional research space. April 7: Minnesota Daily

'Smart' fabrics could charge electronics, monitor health
The University of Minnesota is part of a $317 million public-private partnership to develop the next generation of “smart” fabrics and fibers that incorporate technology in new ways to improve (and even save) lives. April 4: KSTP; April 5: KAAL; April 7: WDAZ; April 11: Minnesota Daily

Track your flight with GPS and discover geological points of interest below
A new offline mobile app created by University geologists, called Flyover Country, for geoscience outreach and data discovery, lets you track your flight with GPS and discover the world below with geological maps and points of interest. April 1: Daily Mail; Fly News Online; Flowing Data; April 2: The Next Web; Digital Spy; Ireland's Technology Blog; April 3: Tek.No (Norwegian); April 4: Travel + Leisure; Fastcodesign; Frommer's; Geonova Geobuzz; April 5: Adventure Journal; The Telegraph; Laughing Squid;Mix 108; Wonderful Engineering; Data Doctors; TrueViralNews; Frugal Travel Guy;  GOOD; Melty Discovery (French); MetaFilter; Wrecky Rat Bird; The Cyber Advocate; Ethical Hacker; April 6: SouthAfrican; Anniston Star; Canaltech (Portuguese); Stuff; 2 Oceans Vibe; April 7: Lonely Planet; Inquistr;  PSFK; GENK (Vietnamese); Omni Ghana; Feber (Swedish); Tecnologia (Portuguese); April 8: Springwise; KMSP; Cayman Compass; April 9: AWOL; April 10: Geek Fence ; When in Manila; April 11: Easy Voyage; April 12: Phinemo (Indonesian); National Geographic Traveler Netherlands (Dutch); SmallBusiness.com; Curbed; Johnny Jet; April 13: 24 Horas (Spanish); El Comercio (Spanish); Frisk; April 14:  20 Minuten (German); Medium; April 15: Core 77; reviewbestapps; Radio NZ; April 17: Brigada; Refinery29; April 18: App 1n1 (Vietnamese); Boing Boing; Consumer Affairs; April 22: Lake County News Telegraph; April 24: Duluth News Tribune; April 25: Viajestic (Spanish); Telia (Swedish); St. Paul Pioneer Press; April 28: Techly; Vapor (Spanish); April 29: The Christian Science Monitor

This is how much you could save if you got rid of one of your cars
Civil, environmental, and geo- engineering professor David Levinson said that if you double up on vehicle use only a few times a week, you are a strong candidate for downsizing. April 1: Time

Medical devices are a big deal in Minnesota
The Medical Devices Center provide researchers with opportunities to form interdisciplinary collaborations, work with industry leaders and develop cutting-edge medical technology. April issue: Site Selection Magazine

March 2016

New test targets infections
Chemistry associate professor Valerie Pierre is working on a test that would detect infections in just under 10 minutes. March 28: Minnesota Daily

Duo creates epi-pen alternative that fits in a wallet
CSE alumnus Christopher Kuehn and Carlson School alumnus Tyler Ebert launched a business, AdrenaCard, and developed a credit card-sized epinephrine injector that can be carried in a wallet. March 25: Pioneer Press

Faculty worry about unionization efforts
Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan discussed a governance structure with a union would essentially need to be built from scratch. March 24: Minnesota Daily

Physics Force brings fun to KMS
Physics Force presented visual examples of projectile motion, collisions, mass, inertia and air pressure at Kerkhoven-Murdock-High School. March 23: West Central Tribune

New education standards advance in Oklahoma legislature
Mathematics professor Larry Gray reviewed math standards in proposed curriculum changes for Oklahoma public schools. March 22: KOCO

Mpls. YWCA hopes STEM summer camps will make girls shout Eureka!
CSE is partnering for a second year with the YWCA to run a STEM-themed summer camp for girls, full of lab experiments and field trips. March 22: WCCO

Minnesotan in Brussels talks about terror attacks Electrical and computer engineering professor David Lilja is in Belgium doing research in Ghent, west of Brussels. Lilja comments on the attack. March 22: WCCO

Innovative University chemist garners national award Chemistry associate professor Erin Carlson was awarded a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her research, which catalogues how old antibiotics work and identifies new antibacterial agents. March 21: Minnesota Daily

University researchers develop new drone remote
Aerospace engineering and mechanics researchers are collaborating with Sentera, a sensor, software, and drone company based in Minneapolis, to develop a high-precision autopilot toolkit for UAS use. March 21: KARE

Teenage drivers? Be very afraid
Mechanical engineering research Nichole Morris discusses death rates of teens between 16 and 17 in motor vehicle accidents. March 19: New York Times

Cube Critics: Is divergent the new Hunger Games?
Physics and astronomy professor James Kakalios discusses the realistic physics behind superheroes. March 18: Minnesota Public Radio

Union dues raise concern with faculty
Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan said some faculty members are worried that the union would push for more state money for the University. March 9: Minnesota Daily

U probes bacteria in the gut
Computer science and engineering assistant professor Dan Knights developed a method that predicts the function of a bacterium based on its genome. March 7: Minnesota Daily

U experiments at Duluth mine winding down
Physics professor Marvin Marshak comments on the uncertain future the U's underground lab at the old Soudan mine site is facing. March 2: Minnesota Daily

Track your flight with GPS and discover geological points of interest below
A new offline mobile app created by University geologists, called Flyover Country, for geoscience outreach and data discovery, lets you track your flight with GPS and discover the world below with geological maps and points of interest. March 1: Science News 360; March 10: Smithsonian; Apex; March 11: Ubique; Mental Floss; American Geographical Society; March 12: Trend Hunter; March 13: Aleteia; March 14: NZ Herald; Inflight-online; Flyer Talk; HMG Aerospace; March 22: Minnesota Daily; March 15: HoneDescargas (Spanish); March 16: Technobiophilia; March 20: Android Central; March 21: Free Apps; March 22: Minnesota Daily; March 23: Gadgette; March 24: The Next Web; Lifehacker; OpenConnection; March 25: GreenBot; CityLab; WIRED (German); March 26: iTopnews (German); March 27: AIS Journal; March 29: WIRED (French); Wired Italy (Italian); March 30: ze.tt (German); March 31: Blouin Art Info; Daily Caviar; Tech Buzz Ireland; Indivisible; Far Out City

February 2016

Admins revise guidelines for outdoor use
Computer science and engineering professor Joe Konstan said he thought some parts of the policy that are being revised and will affect rules for protesting on campus were overly broad or general. Feb. 29: Minnesota Daily
Deputy director: Esri FedGIS Conference 2016
Esri is partnering with the University of Minnesota’s Polar Geospatial Center to develop digital elevation models of Alaska, and eventually all of the Arctic. Feb. 26: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

K-12 honors access has implications
Physics Professor and founding director of the University Honors Program Serge Rudaz, said the program, as part of the University, has the same diversity goals as the school as a whole. Feb. 25: Minnesota Daily

'Grand challenge': U sees power in unconventional classes
Computer science undergraduate Nick Heller took a grand challenge class last semester and found it to be more of an open discussion than the traditional college course. Feb. 24: Minnesota Public Radio

Messy split at Starkey Hearing is making industry waves
Mechanical engineering professor and Medical Devices Center director Arthur Erdman notes that patent activity is considered a key indicator of a technology company’s competitive status. Feb. 20: Star Tribune

Carlson named by Obama as a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
Associate Professor Erin Carlson (chemistry) has been named by President Barack Obama as a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Feb. 19: RTT News; Feb. 24: Inside Indiana Business

Let's all chill: Antarctica's Adélie penguins are probably fine
University researcher and penguin population researcher Michelle LaRue notes that just because there are a lot fewer birds observed doesn't automatically mean the ones that were there before have perished. Feb. 16: Live Science; Feb. 21: The Daily Beast; Feb. 23: The Guardian

U's new research agenda aimed at improving lives
Chemistry professor Marc Hillmyer discussed grand challenges, part of the U's 10-year-strategic plan. The grand challenges will help secure grants from outside the U. Feb. 16: Pioneer Press

Scientists discover Einstein was right; gravitational waves exist
Physics associate professor Vuk Mandic is involved with research that confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window onto the cosmos by the observation of gravitational waves. Feb. 11: WCCO; KARE; KMSP; WCQS; ETV Radio; WVAS; Delaware Public Media; WAMC; WPSU; KRCU; Public Radio East; WBAA; NHPR; Minnesota Public Radio; Vijesti (Serbian); Feb. 12: Star Tribune; WCCO; KMSP; Bring Me The News; B92 (Serbian); Radio Television of Serbia; Pobjeda (Serbian); CDM (Serbian); Portal Analitika (Croatian); Feb. 13: Telegraf (Serbian); Feb. 14: Vecernje Novosti (Serbian) Pobjeda (Serbian); Feb. 15: Minnesota Public Radio; Black Hills Pioneer; Feb. 16: Deep Thoughts; Telegraf (Serbian); Feb. 18: Minnesota Daily

Underground Soudan science lab going out of favor
Physics professor Marvin Marshak comments on the uncertain future the U's underground lab at the old Soudan mine site is facing. Feb. 11: Minnesota Public Radio: Feb. 12: NNCnow

More driving, more people dying on America's streets
Civil, environmental, and geo- engineering professor David Levinson conjectures that motor deaths increase when gas prices fall, and collisions rise faster because people who don’t ordinarily drive much, like teenagers, start driving more. Feb. 9: StreetsBlog USA

Twisted X-rays unravel the complexity of helical structures
Aerospace engineering and mechanics professor Richard James participated in research that propose a new method for studying helical structures using twisted X-rays. Feb. 9: ScienceDaily; ECN Mag; Phys.org; Nanowerk; IUCr

5 skills hiring managers look for in engineering grads
CSE Career Center director Angela Froistad notes that technical skills are not enough to ensure a successful engineering career. Feb. 9: Engineering.com

University scientists create sustainable way to turn agricultural waste into 'green' products
Researchers have engineered a new synthetic biopathway that can more efficiently and cost-effectively turn agricultural waste into a variety of useful products. Feb. 8: EurekAlert!; KSTP; (e) Science News; NanoWerk; NewsWise; Phys.org; Scicasts; Science Codex; Feb. 9: Australian Network News; AzoCleanTech; ECN Mag; Science World Report; Feb. 10: Lab Manager; Genetic Literacy Project; Poultry Site; Feb. 11: Imperial Valley News; Feb. 12: Biomass; Feb. 16: High Plains Journal; Feb. 18: Minnesota Daily; Feb. 29: Minnesota Daily

20,000 leagues under the cloud
Assistant professor of computer science and engineering, Junaed Sattar,  has observed the difference an ocean plunge can make in terms of drastically reducing the operating temperature for machines such as underwater robots. Feb. 8: IEEE Spectrum

Wait not in vain
Mechanical engineering professor John Bischof is conducting research on heart valves and arteries where tiny particles of magnetite, a form of iron oxide, are added to the cryoprotectant, to ensure uniform rapid warming. Feb. 6: The Economist

Zika virus: Texas and Florida airports at highest risk to receive infected travelers
CSE Master of Science in Security Technologies alumnus Andrew Huff oversees efforts to forecast the spread of infectious diseases. Feb. 5: The Guardian

New elevation map details Alaska like never before
UMN Polar Geospatial Center released digital elevation maps of Alaska to help communities understand and manage threats posed by climate change.February 5: FederalNewsRadio.com

Material in lithium ion batteries has harmful effect on key microorganism
Chemistry professor Christy Haynes participated in research that found that the material at the heart of rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which power portable electronics and electric vehicles, has been shown to impair a key soil bacterium. Feb. 4: KMSP; KSTP; AzoNano; (e) Science News; Scicasts; Nanowerk; Newswise; Science Codex; Phys.org; EurekAlert!; Feb. 5: Grist; Bring Me The News; Feb. 6: Domain B; Feb. 7: Nanotechnology Now; Feb. 8: Controlled Environments; I-Connect 007; Science360; Feb. 9: KARE; Feb. 10: Digital Journal; Feb. 11: Minnesota Daily

Researchers find unseen planet in Earth's solar system
Physics and astronomy professor Terry Jones said the modelling used to find the hypothetical ninth planet, or an unseen planet in our solar system, is good evidence supporting its existence. Feb. 4: Minnesota Daily

A rare glimpse of America's only wild jaguar
University researcher Michelle LaRue notes that jaguar sitings in the United States are quite rare. Feb. 2: Slate

Bob Gilruth, the quiet force behind Apollo
Gilruth, a 1935 U of M graduate in aeronautical engineering, was instrumental in achieving Kennedy's objective to land astronauts on the moon, and is considered by some the "Father of Manned Spaceflight." Feb. Issue: Air & Space

January 2016

What aquariums taught us about how the world works
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine assistant professor Nick Buchanan found that attempts to build artificial environments have actually taught scientists a huge amount about the complexity of the natural world. Jan. 29: Minnesota Public Radio

University teams up with Gyst over fermented foods
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine doctoral candidate Emily Beck discusses a collection of rare books from the mid-1400s through the early 20th century. Jan. 29: Star Tribune

Glaciers shaped the U's campus
Earth sciences professor emeriti Calvin Alexander says the river bluffs define the geological structure of the Minneapolis campus. Jan. 28: Minnesota Daily

How do we stay alive in space?
Experts at the University's Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine discuss the technical aspect of space travel. Jan. 24: Minnesota Public Radio

Is alcohol really medicine?
Experts at the University's Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine discuss the history of fermentation and distillation. Jan. 24: Minnesota Public Radio

Material in lithium ion batteries has harmful effect on key microorganism
Chemistry professor Christy Haynes participated in research that found that the material at the heart of rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which power portable electronics and electric vehicles, has been shown to impair a key soil bacterium. Jan. 22: Chemistry of Materials

Minnesota candidate's 'Planet 9' claim is wrong Physics and astronomy professor Terry Jones said the Minnesota candidate's 'Planet 9' claim
is wrong. Jan. 22: Pioneer Press

Drone agriculture is about to discredit crop circle truthers for good
Computer science and engineering professor Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos wants to develop small, solar-powered drones that will provide farmers with a tool that doesn’t have to come down frequently. Jan. 21: Inverse

U of M researchers work on  heart valve for kids
Robert Tranquillo, biomedical engineering department head, is leading the tissue engineering research that could one day replace a defective heart valve in a young child. Jan. 20: KARE

U Internet security needs work
Brian Isle, a senior fellow at the University’s Technological Leadership Institute, notes that information such as health records, personal information and ongoing research could be a tempting target for cybercriminals. Jan. 18: Minnesota Daily

The next computing frontier: Geography
Shashi Shekhar, computer science and engineering professor, notes that spatial computing is the future and that it is time to make it an interdisciplinary research focus. Jan. 16: Motherboard; Jan.; Communications of the ACM; Jan.; ACM Video

University collaborates to develop UAS software
Aerospace engineering and mechanics researcher is collaborating with Sentera, a sensor, software, and drone company based in Minneapolis, to develop a high-precision autopilot toolkit for UAS use. Jan. 14: UAS Magazine; Jan. 19: KSTP; KAAL; Jan. 25: Minnesota Daily

Dreams defy odds as Powerball pot grows to $1.5 billion
Mathematics professor Doug Arnold says there is little you can do to increase your odds, except maybe choose numbers that others won’t choose so you don’t have to share the winnings. Jan. 12: Star Tribune; Duluth News Tribune

University of Minnesota Physics Force troupe wows with physics tricks
University of Minnesota Physics Force troupe wows with physics tricks. Physics and astronomy professor Shaul Hanany is quoted. Jan. 6: Star Tribune; KARE; Jan. 18: Minnesota Daily

U of M volunteer group looks to kick-start development of medical devices for kids
The U's Department of Biomedical Engineering, led by Bob Tranquillo, is working on kids’ heart valves made of tissue that grows with the body, thus eliminating multiple surgeries. Jan. 5: Star Tribune; Jan. 6: Med City News

Renewal of a pivotal building at the U deserves legislative support
The University is seeking $22 million for the renovation and repurposing of Pillsbury Hall, that houses the Department of Earth Sciences (formerly geology). Jan. 4: Star Tribune

Minnesota cities allege prices of water-quality chemical were inflated
Civil, environmental, and geo- engineering professor Timothy LaPara discusses alum used to achieve particle removal in water containing pollutants. Jan. 4: Star Tribune

U of M tests window film to avert bird collisions
CSE students are involved with research between the University of Minnesota and the San Diego Zoo in an experiment to test a way to prevent fatal bird strikes. Jan. 1: Star Tribune; Kentucky; Duluth News Tribune; Jan. 2: Bring Me The News

Spatial Computer
Computer science and engineering professor Shashi Shekhar contributed a cover story article on spatial computing that creates a new understanding of locations. Jan. 1: ACM Magazine