News Archive
Wednesday, August 26 2015
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Are you a nomophobe?
Smartphones are a great way to stay connected with family and friends. But what if you suddenly lost that connection? A new Iowa State University study identifies the dimensions of nomophobia to help you determine if you suffer from it.
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New ISU professor helps Iowa towns build community, identity and economy through art
This summer, Jennifer Drinkwater was named assistant professor of art and visual culture and community art extension specialist. The outreach-oriented position was created under the ISU president's high-impact hire initiative and is one of only a handful nationwide. It places Drinkwater on a mission to help Iowa communities apply art in ways that "improve the fabric" of their towns.
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Trace heavy metals in plastics pose no immediate food safety threat but may lead to long-term environmental problems, according to ISU food science researcher
The trace amounts of toxic substances used to make plastics don’t contaminate the food or beverage products they contain at a significant level and pose no immediate threat to consumers, according to recent Iowa State University research. But the plastics may create environmental problems years after they’ve been used.
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Iowa State, Argo Genesis Chemical to dedicate new, $5.3 million bio-polymer pilot plant
Iowa State and industry partner Argo Genesis Chemical LLC will dedicate a new, $5.3 million Bio-Polymer Processing Facility on Aug. 26. The plant will allow Iowa State engineers to research and develop their process for producing bio-polymers from soybean oil. It will also "de-risk" the technology for companies that could be interested in producing tons of bio-polymers every year.
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Activity trackers not as accurate for some activities, ISU study finds
Activity trackers can provide a good overall estimate of calories burned, but an Iowa State University study finds they’re less accurate when measuring certain activities, such as strength training. In this latest round of testing, a team of researchers in ISU’s Department of Kinesiology tested four consumer fitness trackers – Fitbit Flex, Nike+ FuelBand SE, Jawbone UP 24 and Misfit Shine – to see how well they measured sedentary, aerobic and resistance activity.
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Mothers give more than they receive when family struck by major illness
Mothers are often the caregiver when a child is sick, and that motherly instinct doesn’t go away when the child is an adult. In fact, mothers provide more support to adult children with a serious health condition than to their other children, according to new research from Iowa State University. It’s a situation that can put older mothers in a vulnerable position.
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ISU researchers aim to boost science education with summertime pest
It may be hard to imagine how a mosquito could inspire students to develop an interest in science. Iowa State University researchers believe it’s not only possible, but say that generating student interest in the pesky insect will improve science learning and public health.
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Aphids are striking soybeans earlier than expected, according to Iowa State University entomologist
Soybean producers are dealing with a range of challenges this growing season, from perennial pests to new threats to environmental stress. ISU experts are urging producers to emphasize vigilance and early diagnosis of problems.
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Iowa State professor weighs pros and cons of mergers for business and consumers
Investment in research and development is dwarfed by the money corporations spend to acquire other firms. And the return on that investment is not always beneficial for business or consumers, said David King, an associate professor of management in Iowa State University’s College of Business.
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Iowa State, astronaut Clayton Anderson ready to teach undergrads about spaceflight ops
Twelve undergraduates will learn lessons in operational thinking during the second Spaceflight Operations Workshop to be offered by Iowa State's Department of Aerospace Engineering. The students will learn from Clayton Anderson, a workshop coordinator who retired from NASA’s astronaut corps in 2013. Anderson said the workshop's goal isn't to train the next generation of astronauts. It's to help students think in new ways.
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Team PrISUm dominates Formula Sun Grand Prix, earns first overall victory
Team PrISUm raced to its first overall solar car victory at this week's Formula Sun Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. It was a dominating performance: No other competitor was within 30 laps after three days and 24 hours of hot racing.
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Iowa State University scientist studies emergent corn disease that could slash yields across the state
Virtually unseen in the United States for decades, a potentially costly corn disease has reared its ugly head in Iowa fields with increasing regularity in recent years, according to Iowa State University researchers.
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Team PrISUm survives triple-digit temperatures and puts laps on its competitors
Team PrISUm won day two of the Formula Sun Grand Prix, pushing its lead to 21 laps in the three-day race. All the lapping of the Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas, concludes on Friday. A win would be Team PrISUm's first overall victory in 25 years of solar racing.
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Team PrISUm takes advantage of pole position, races to lead of Formula Sun Grand Prix
The student-engineers of Team PrISUm have built a fast solar racing car and a nice lead in the Formula Sun Grand Prix. The three-day track race for student-designed and student-built solar cars continues in Austin, Texas, on Thursday and Friday.
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Iowa State professor returns from Cuba with a sense of optimism
Rose Caraway recently returned from Cuba after witnessing the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana. It’s a moment the Iowa State University assistant professor of religious studies has hoped for ever since she first traveled to Cuba 12 years ago.
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Insulin resistance increases risk for Alzheimer’s disease, new Iowa State study finds
An Iowa State University study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology, found a strong association between insulin resistance and memory function decline, increasing the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Auriel Willette, a research scientist in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, says insulin resistance is common in people who are obese, pre-diabetic or have Type 2 diabetes.
Welcome to Iowa State, class of 2019
Incoming freshmen are moving in to Iowa State University, and their parents have some advice to help them get through their first year.Iowa State nuclear physicists use Titan supercomputer
An Iowa State team of nuclear physicists led by James Vary is studying neutrons with the help of the Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The machine has a peak performance of 27 quadrillion calculations per second.