NOTABLE DISCOVERIES IN 2008
Environment and Energy
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Camille Parmesan |
Global Warming Experts Recommend Drastic Measures to Save Species
An international team of conservation scientists from Australia, the United Kingdom and United States, including University of Texas at Austin Professor Camille Parmesan, calls for new conservation tactics, such as assisted migration, in the face of the growing threat of climate change.
New Source for Biofuels Discovered by Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin
A newly created microbe produces cellulose can be turned into ethanol and other biofuels, report scientists from The University of Texas at Austin who say the microbe could provide a significant portion of the nation's transportation fuel if production can be scaled up.
Invisible Waves Shape Continental Slope, University of Texas at Austin Researcher Says
A class of powerful, invisible waves hidden beneath the surface of the ocean can shape the underwater edges of continents and contribute to ocean mixing and climate, researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have found.
Ultrasoundí of Earth's Crust Reveals Inner Workings of a Tsunami Factory
Research announced this week by a team of U.S. and Japanese geoscientists may help explain why part of the seafloor near the southwest coast of Japan is particularly good at generating devastating tsunamis, such as the 1944 Tonankai event, which killed at least 1,200 people.
Health and Medical
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Edward Marcotte
Photo: Randal Ford
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Gene Discovery Made Easier with Powerful New Networking Technique
The identification of disease-causing genes will be much easier and faster using a powerful new gene-networking model developed by Professor Edward Marcotte and colleagues at The University of Texas at Austin.
Discovery Opens Door for Drugs to Fight Bird Flu, Influenza Epidemics
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Rutgers University have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight avian flu and other virulent strains of influenza.
Model for Angelman Syndrome Developed by University of Texas at Austin
Biologists A model for studying the genetics of Angelman syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes mental retardation and other symptoms in one out of 15,000 births, has been developed by biologists at The University of Texas at Austin.
Tolerance to Inhalants May Be Caused by Changes in Gene Expression
Changes in the expression of genes may be the reason why people who abuse inhalants, such as spray paint or glue, quickly develop a tolerance, biologists at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered.
Scientists Find New Clues to Explain Amazonian Biodiversity
Ice age climate change and ancient flooding--but not barriers created by rivers--may have promoted the evolution of new insect species in the Amazon region of South America, a new study suggests.
New Chlorine-Tolerant, Desalination Membrane Hopes to Boost Access to Clean Water
A chemical engineering professor at The University of Texas at Austin is part of a team that has developed a chlorine-tolerant membrane that should simplify the water desalination process, increasing access to fresh water and possibly reducing greenhouse gases.
Pollination Habits of Endangered Texas Rice Revealed to Help Its Preservation
A type of wild rice that only grows in a small stretch of the San Marcos River is likely so rare because it plays the sexual reproduction game poorly, a study led by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin has revealed.
Science and Engineering
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Mark Raizen |
Controlling Most Atoms Now Possible, Say Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin
Stopping and cooling most of the atoms of the periodic table is now possible using a pair of techniques developed by physicist Mark Raizen at The University of Texas at Austin.
Atomic Coilgun Used to Slow and Stop Atoms
An atomic coilgun that slows and stops atoms has been developed, report physicists from The University of Texas at Austin in the New Journal of Physics.
Researchers Underscore Limitations of Genetic Ancestry Tests
Although many people rely on commercially available genetic tests for insights into their ancestry, the tests have significant limitations, according to Deborah Bolnick, assistant professor of anthropology at The University of Texas at Austin.
Astronomers Discover Sunís Twin at McDonald Observatory
Peruvian astronomers Jorge Melendez of The Australian National University and Ivan Ramirez of The University of Texas at Austin have discovered the best "solar twin" to date, using the 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. Their findings suggest the Sunís chemical composition is not unique, as some previously thought.
Astronomer Makes First Ground-Based Detection of Extra-Solar Planet Atmosphere
University of Texas at Austin astronomer and Hubble Fellow Seth Redfield has used the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at McDonald Observatory to make the first ground-based detection of the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system.
Seismic Images Show Dinosaur-Killing Meteor Made Bigger Splash
The most detailed three-dimensional seismic images yet of the Chicxulub crater, a mostly submerged and buried impact crater on the Mexico coast, may modify a theory explaining the extinction of 70 percent of life on Earth 65 million years ago.
Scientists Find Missing Evolutionary Link Using Tiny Fungus Crystal
The crystal structure of a molecule from a primitive fungus has served as a time machine to show researchers more about the evolution of life from the simple to the complex.
Saliva Can Help Diagnose Heart Attack, Study Shows
Early diagnosis of a heart attack may now be possible using only a few drops of saliva and a new nano-bio-chip, a multi-institutional team led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin reported at a recent meeting of the American Association for Dental Research.
Idle Computers Offer Hope to Solve Cancer's Mysteries Through Grid Computing Project
A biomedical engineering professor at The University of Texas at Austin is using a concept called "grid computing" to allow the average person to donate idle computer time in a global effort to fight cancer.
Society
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Laura Lein |
Most Roadside Solicitors Seek Return to Regular Employment, Report Shows
With few reporting income above minimum wage, Austin individuals engaging in roadside solicitation are using it as a survival strategy, but most desire to return to more regular employment, according to preliminary results of a study conducted by Professor Laura Lein.
Smart Data Use Can Improve Schools, University of Texas at Austin Study Shows
A research team in The University of Texas at Austin's College of Education may have found a workable way to translate school districts' data into improved teaching and learning--and it could be as basic as evaluating what data they want to use before buying computing equipment to deliver them.
Creative Work Has Health Advantages, Population Research Center Study Shows
Employees who have more control over their daily activities and do challenging work they enjoy are likely to be in better health, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin published in this month's Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
Adapting to Pregnancy Played Key Role in Human Evolution, Study Shows
The human spine evolved differently in males and females in order to alleviate back pressure from the weight of carrying a baby, according to research spearheaded at The University of Texas at Austin.
White Children More Positive Toward Blacks After Learning About Racism, Study Shows
Challenging the idea that racism education could be harmful to students, a new study from The University of Texas at Austin found the results of learning about historical racism are primarily positive. The study appears in the November/December issue of the journal Child Development.
When She's Turned On, Some of Her Genes Turn Off
When a female is attracted to a male, entire suites of genes in her brain turn on and off, show biologists from The University of Texas at Austin studying swordtail fish.
Most Ancient Case of Tuberculosis Found in 500,000-Year-Old Human
Although most scientists believe tuberculosis emerged only several thousand years ago, new research from The University of Texas at Austin reveals the most ancient evidence of the disease has been found in a 500,000-year-old human fossil from Turkey.
With Age Comes a Sense of Peace and Calm, Population Research Center Study Shows
Aging brings a sense of peace and calm, according to a new study from the Population Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Starting at about age 60, participants reported more feelings of ease and contentment than their younger counterparts.
Do Attractive Women Want it All? New Study Reveals Relationship Standards are Relative
Although many researchers have believed women choose partners based on the kind of relationship they are seeking, a new study from The University of Texas at Austin reveals womenís preferences can be influenced by their own attractiveness.
Welfare Reform in Texas Has Not Worked, University of Texas at Austin Researchers Say
Most Texas families who leave welfare remain in or near poverty and many are likely to return to the welfare rolls in the future, say University of Texas at Austin researchers.
Over Half of College Students Surveyed Had Suicidal Thoughts, Says Study
More than half of 26,000 students surveyed across 70 colleges and universities reported having at least one episode of suicidal thinking at some point in their lives, according to a University of Texas at Austin study. |
