Further Findings

The “tongues of dragon flame” captured in this image are the leaked charge that emerges from the Z Machine when it fires. Images courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories.

To re-create the surface of a white dwarf star, University of Texas at Austin astronomer Don Winget starts with roughly the electricity needed to power a few TV sets for the evening. He runs that through a ring of big old generators, all pointing inward toward the center of a machine more than 100
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Robert Hebner, director of the university’s Center for Electromechanics (CEM), conducts research in a large algae growth demonstration facility for biofuels. The facility is located adjacent to CEM.

It’s theoretically possible to produce about 500 times as much energy from algae fuels as is needed to grow the fuels, according to a new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

However, limited by existing technology, the researchers found in a separate study that their algae growing facility is getting
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When Alessio Figalli was named one of the winners, in June 2012, of the prestigious European Mathematical Society prize, his first reaction was gratitude for winning the prize, which is awarded every four years to 10 young European mathematicians who’ve made outstanding contributions to their field.

Figalli’s second thought was that it was a good day for Italy, since among the other prize-winners was another native of the country.

Alessio Figalli, a 2012 winner of the European Mathematical Society prize.

“Before us there
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We’ve rounded up some of the research highlights of the spring 2012 semester at The University of Texas at Austin.

One piece of news, growing support for a medical school at the university, isn’t exactly current research, but it could lead to vast research opportunities in health and medicine for years to come.

Noteworthy research included authoritative reports on the process of hydro-fracturing in mining natural gas, water resources in the important food-producing regions of California’s Central Valley and the Great Plains,
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Like many graduate students in the humanities, Cameron Strang, a Ph.D. candidate in his fourth year, came to The University of Texas at Austin’s History Department through a slightly circuitous route.

Cameron Strang, Ph.D. student in the Department of History.

After graduating from McGill University, Strang worked as an elementary school teacher and a landscaper before returning to his undergraduate major of history. He started out in the Master’s Program in Museum Studies at the University of New Hampshire, but he soon transferred
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Even if you look through the telescope on the roof of Robert Lee Moore Hall in the middle of The University of Texas at Austin campus, it’s hard to feel close to the stars and other celestial objects.

Walk over to the Harry Ransom Center and you can get very close – and yes, even personal – to some of the people who made a science of looking at the skies.

For Mary Kay Hemenway, a research associate and senior lecturer in
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Namkee Choi, professor in the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, is helping older homebound adults deal with depression with the Internet, a laptop and face-to-face communication. Yes, there is an app for that.

Use of methamphetamines is on the rise nationally after a decrease a few years ago, according to university researchers.

Use of meth dropped significantly in 2007 and 2008 after laws limiting the availability of pseudoephedrine went into effect made it much harder to obtain key ingredients.

Jane Maxwell, a senior research scientist in the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, is concerned that programs to help people addicted to methamphetamines continues.

However, indicators of meth use – reported
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Imagine what it would be like to shave 10 hours from your workweek. How would you make the most out of your free time? Would you tackle that home improvement project? Attend to that pile of laundry? Or take a nap in the backyard hammock?

Economics Professor Dan Hamermesh.

According to a new economics study, co-authored by Daniel Hamermesh, professor of economics at The University of Texas at Austin, people are more likely to put those household chores aside and practice
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