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Tuesday, October 16 2018

  • Unlimited spending on television political ads fails to deliver votes

    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.

  • Researchers develop, test new system for making biorenewable chemicals

    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.

  • No, we’re not all working for a bunch of psychopaths

    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.

  • Study to explore how cognitive development shapes attitudes about physical activity

    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.

  • Etched glass project illuminates microscopic disease to promote health literacy

    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.

  • Iowa State University researcher developing new industrial uses for wax made from soybean oil

    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.

  • ISU experts available to comment on 2018 midterm elections

    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. 

  • Asking questions, testing improves student learning of new material

    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.

  • Engaging students in STEM by changing the classroom experience

    Test scores, class attendance and participation have all improved since Elgin Johnston and Heather Bolles switched to a team-based learning approach for calculus courses. The instructors made the change as part of an initiative to retain students in STEM majors. 

  • Three Iowa State design programs ranked among nation's best

    Iowa State University’s programs in landscape architecture, interior design and architecture are ranked in the top 25 in the United States, according to the latest survey of practitioners by DesignIntelligence.

  • Iowa State study reveals trade disruption impacts on Iowa’s economy

    A new study by researchers at the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University reveals the impacts that current trade disruptions are having on Iowa’s economy. Overall, the study shows losses to Iowa’s gross state product in the range of $1 billion to $2 billion.

  • Sweet corn breeding set to make strides with USDA-funded project involving Iowa State University agronomist

    An ISU agronomist will contribute to a multi-institutional effort to make advances in sweet corn breeding. Thomas Lubberstedt, a professor of agronomy, will work on applying doubled haploid technology to sweet corn, which will allow for faster production of purely inbred lines of corn.

  • Iowa State student finds purpose in giving back to Latinx community

    Vanessa Espinoza, a graduate student in Iowa State University’s School of Education, has dedicated her life to giving back to the Latinx community – from launching a literacy project as a high school student, to elevating the voices of underserved students on campus, to creating a nonprofit to help Latinx people in small-town Iowa. Now, she’s being recognized as a statewide leader. 

  • Iowa State physicists contribute to hard-to-find observation of Higgs boson decay

    Iowa State physicists contributed to the international collaboration that found a way to sift and sort data from the Large Hadron Collider to observe the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of bottom quarks. The observation gives physicists a better understanding of the Higgs boson and could lead to clues for new physics discoveries.

  • Service, leadership, excellence are Wintersteen's priorities as 16th university president

    During her Sept. 21 installation as Iowa State University’s 16th president, Wendy Wintersteen pledged continued servant leadership to the institution to which she has dedicated her professional life. Video of the installation ceremony is available here.

  • ADVISORY: Iowa State University experts available to comment on 2018 harvest

    Harvest is underway in Iowa, and ISU agricultural experts are tracking the trends and field conditions that will influence the success of this year’s corn and soybean crops.

  • Campus support resources are available for students, faculty, staff

    Help is available for those who may be struggling with the incomprehensible loss of civil engineering senior and acclaimed student athlete Celia Barquin Arozamena.

  • Iowa State mourns the loss of Celia Barquin Arozamena

    Celia golfer

    Former Iowa State golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena, the 2018 Big 12 champion and Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year, was found dead Sept. 17 at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. She was 22. A native of Puente San Miguel, Spain, Barquin Arozamena was a senior in civil engineering.

    "This is a tragic and senseless loss of a talented young woman and an acclaimed student athlete," Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen said. "We mourn with her family and friends in Spain, her teammates here and all who knew her. On behalf of the entire Cyclone family, I extend our deep condolences to Celia's family and her many friends and teammates at Iowa State. We are deeply saddened."