News Service

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse will discuss human dignity, humility, empathy and respect when he presents the fall 2018 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science at Iowa State University. Sasse, who was elected to the United States Senate in 2014, will present “If Not Us, Who: Human Dignity in the 21st Century” on Thursday, Oct. 25, in the Memorial Union Great Hall.

There is a reason it may seem as if every television ad right now is a political one. Millions of dollars are spent to reach voters through this one medium, but does it pay off on Election Day? According to a new Iowa State University study of political advertising for the 2016 Iowa caucuses, the candidates who spent more on TV ads generally received more support on caucus night, but this does not suggest a candidate can buy an election.

The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting development of a new system for producing biobased chemicals that's based on the idea of "bioprivileged molecules." Researchers at the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals based at Iowa State University introduced the idea last year, saying such molecules have new and valuable properties that aren't possible from petrochemicals.

Reports of corporate scandals and misdeeds would seem to support the headlines suggesting that many CEOs are psychopaths. But a new study from Iowa State University and University of Alabama researchers found such claims to be overblown. Contrary to public perception, they say the relationship between leadership and psychopathy is weak.

Iowa State University researchers are working to understand how the emotional connection we develop with physical activity as children influences attitudes and behaviors throughout our lifetime. They suspect our prefrontal cortex, which regulates emotions, plays a significant role.

The complexity and stress of a cancer diagnosis in Kimberly Moss’ family prompted her to start a project addressing health literacy. Moss, coordinator of Iowa State’s biological and premedical illustration program, created “The Landscapes Within,” giving viewers larger-than-life details of different defense mechanisms and cellular relationships in the body.

Researchers at Iowa State University are exploring new uses for soybean oil, including as a coating for cardboard products that would be greener than widely used paraffin wax. The research could open new markets for soybeans at a time when grain prices remain stubbornly low.

Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 6 to cast their ballots in the midterm elections. Iowa State University political experts are available to discuss expected turnout, the record number of women candidates and policy issues, such as health care and immigration. 

Iowa State University researchers know memory retrieval is beneficial for new learning, but their new meta-analysis found there are limits. The research shows the frequency and difficulty of questions can reverse the effect and be detrimental to learning. It also is not enough to simply ask a question; students must respond to see a positive effect on learning.