English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
Esperanto
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
UrduCombining a low dose of blood pressure medication with a higher intake of dietary-resistant starch might help stave off diabetic kidney disease, according to results from a new animal study. Researchers will present their work this week at the American Physiology Summit.
Tag: Iowa State University
Up and away with the Iowa State University high-altitude balloon course
The High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology course at Iowa State University conducts balloon launches each semester to gather data at the highest reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.
Finding art in the biological rhythms of trees
An Iowa State University professor is creating art out of data produced by tree saplings and the environment using sound, light and artificial intelligence. It’s an experimental approach to science and technology that inspires an alternate awareness of the environment in its audience.
Improving Bloodstain Pattern Analysis with Fluid Dynamics
In Physics of Fluids, researchers model the behavior of blood drops during secondary atomization to examine how the phenomenon affects a crime scene. The team examined different starting droplet sizes, confirming their model with experiments. They found the effect of secondary atomization was significant and predictable: The smaller droplets were easier to sweep up by the firearm’s gases and turn around toward the victim. This discovery could explain how a short-range shooter might stay clean from blood stains.
Researchers will harness machine learning to provide residents with personalized warnings for heat emergencies
An automated heat alert system built using innovative machine learning technology could improve preparedness for extreme heat. A research team lead by Iowa State University has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to gather data and develop an automated heat warning system for susceptible Des Moines neighborhoods.
Ames Laboratory is now Ames National Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory has announced a name change, to Ames National Laboratory.
Iowa State team receives XPRIZE Carbon Removal milestone award for innovative vision to remove carbon from the atmosphere
An Iowa State University research team has received a $1 million XPRIZE milestone award for its efforts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to combat climate change. The carbon removal team at the Bioeconomy Institute will use the award to advance its vision of using pyrolysis to turn biomass from crop residues and other sources into a soil amendment and other valuable products.
Soil study shows why nitrous oxide emissions should factor into climate change mitigation
Poorly drained agricultural soils emit enough of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide that the resulting climate change effects could far exceed the benefits of using the same soils as a means of sequestering carbon, according to a recently published scientific study.
Iowa State’s Schulte Moore named 2021 MacArthur Fellow
Lisa Schulte Moore, a professor of natural resource ecology and management at Iowa State University, has been named a 2021 MacArthur Fellow for her groundbreaking research as a landscape ecologist building more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. The prestigious awards, sometimes called “genius grants,” identify scientists, artists, entrepreneurs and others who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and who show promise for important future advances.
Campaigning for More Marie Curies: More Women Means Changes for Physics, Engineering
Amy Sue Bix, a leading expert on the history of science and women and gender studies, will speak in an upcoming Lyne Starling Trimble lecture Wednesday, Sept. 29, in a live webcast. Her talk will delve into how the dramatic shift of girls and young women toward STEM occurred, how diversity will play a role in the nature and purpose of science and engineering, the changes in gender relations in the scientific community, and escalating concern for girls’ psychological well-being and personal opportunities.
Studying mosquito immune cells could improve understanding of disease transmission
A recent study led by an Iowa State University entomologist explores the different kinds of cells that make up mosquito immune systems. The research could shed light on how mosquitoes transmit malaria.
Corn’s genetic diversity on display in new genome study
A new study details the genomes of 26 lines of corn from across the globe. The genomes can help scientists piece together the puzzle of corn genetics. Using these new genomes as references, plant scientists can better select for genes likely to lead to better crop yields or stress tolerance.
New study details enzyme that allows coronavirus to resist antiviral medications
A new Iowa State University study details the structure of a critical enzyme present in SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This enzyme removes nucleoside antiviral medications from the virus’s RNA, rendering many treatments ineffective. Scientists could use data uncovered in the new study to find ways to inhibit the enzyme, possibly leading to more effective treatments.
New study sheds light on function of sex chromosomes in turtles
A new study led by an Iowa State University scientist sheds light on how organisms have evolved to address imbalances in sex chromosomes. The study looks at a species of softshell turtle, but the results could help to illuminate an important evolutionary process in many species. The research centers on a process known as sex chromosome dosage compensation.
A wild hair: Using hair to gauge stress response in pigs
Researchers at Iowa State University aim to use hair samples from pigs to identify genetics related to stress response. The effort could help produce pigs that lead less stressful lives and are more productive. And it all starts with a quick haircut.
Studying how microbiome affects immunity could improve vaccine effectiveness
A new grant will help Iowa State University researchers figure out how the microbiome, or all the microorganisms that live inside and on human systems, affects immunity and the effectiveness of vaccines. Not everyone responds to vaccines in identical ways, and the researchers will search for ways humans can adjust their microbiomes to optimize vaccine response.
Sensing what plants sense: Integrated framework helps scientists explain biology and predict crop performance
Scientists have invested great time and effort into making connections between a crop’s genotype and its phenotype. But environmental conditions play a role as well. Iowa State University researchers untangle those complex interactions with the help of advanced data analytics in a newly published study.
Pollinating insects can help soybean yields
Insects can help soybean yields by carrying out more effective pollination, according to a recently published study conducted by an international team of scientists. The study suggests introducing pollinator habitat to soybean fields may lead to production benefits, in addition to environmental advantages.
Mapping the Midwest’s soil topography
An Iowa State University agronomist is developing new computer models of soil erosion and topography changes, requiring both innovative big-data technology as well as painstaking validation of soil measurements in the real world. The National Science Foundation recently awarded Bradley Miller an early career development grant to support the research.
Ag experts available as spring planting approaches
Chad Hart, professor of economics and grain markets specialist, Iowa State University 515-294-9911, [email protected] Corn and soybean prices have risen 50-60% from where they’ve been over the past few years, and Hart said that will incentivize farmers across the country…
New cell line could lead to more reliable vaccine development to fight costly pig virus
The production of autogenous vaccines to fight individual strains of the virus that causes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome depends on the ability of scientists to isolate the virus, but sometimes that’s a tricky process. A new study from an Iowa State University researcher shows that a new cell line may offer a better alternative to the cell line most commonly used to isolate the PRRS virus. But the vast majority of vaccine producers use the established cell line, and it remains to be seen how readily they might adopt the use of a new one.
UV light shows promise in mitigation of costly swine virus
Experiments testing the ability of ultraviolet light to stop the spread of a costly virus for pork producers has shown promise, according to an ISU research team. Ultraviolet light analyzed in experiments irradiates aerosolized droplets of the virus that causes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. The researchers hope to scale their experiments up to a size comparable to pork production facilities.
Grant to help fill gaps in how livestock manure management affects antibiotic resistance
Iowa State University researchers received a $1 million grant to study how manure management systems in livestock production may give rise to antibiotic resistance. Human, animal and environmental health interact in complex ways that influence the pace at which antibiotic resistance spreads, and the researchers hope their work will shed light on these connections.
As climate change cranks up the heat in the Mojave Desert, not all species are equally affected
A new study shows how climate change is having a much greater impact on birds than small mammals in the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States. The study could inform conservation practices and shed new light on how climate change affects various species differently. The research drew on cutting-edge computer modeling as well as survey data from more than 100 years ago.
Collaboration with Homeland Security focuses on detecting biothreats
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing a portable sensor platform capable of detecting numerous biothreats, such as the coronavirus and other toxic agents. The research team has entered a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security worth as much as $2.5 million over five years to develop the technology, which would be a far more portable and flexible method for detecting biothreats than most current techniques.
Advising NASA on which satellites should stay in orbit
Iowans are helping to shape the future of NASA’s satellite missions. Faculty from Iowa State and Iowa were among 13 scientists selected to serve on a congressionally mandated panel to advise NASA on which satellite missions should continue and which should be grounded.
Making sense of a universe of corn genetics
A new study details the latest efforts to predict traits in corn based on genomics and data analytics. The data management technique could help to “turbo charge” the seemingly endless amount of genetic stocks contained in the world’s seed banks, leading to faster and more efficient development of new crop varieties.
Study: Crop diversification can improve environmental outcomes without sacrificing yields
Diversifying agricultural systems beyond a narrow selection of crops leads to a range of ecosystem improvements while also maintaining or improving yields, according to a new study that analyzed thousands of previously conducted experiments. Diversification practices such as crop rotations and planting prairie strips can lead to “win-win” results that protect the environment without sacrificing yields, according to the analysis.
Making health a central part of identity may improve mask compliance, other healthy behaviors
Thinking of health as an essential part of identity encourages healthier behaviors, including adherence to physical distancing and mask guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to newly published research. The results of the study also highlighted differences in how political views influence response to public health messages.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease with skin samples could lead to earlier detection
New research shows a simple skin test can accurately identify Parkinson’s disease, which could lead to earlier detection of the disease and better outcomes for patients. Currently, Parkinson’s disease is diagnosed by clinical signs and symptoms but only definitively diagnosed at autopsy. The researchers conducted a blinded study of 50 skin samples using an assay originally designed to detect mad cow disease.
Heavy rainfall drives a third of nitrogen runoff, according to new study
Extreme rain events that occur on nine days a year drive around a third of all nitrogen yields on farmland in the Mississippi River basin, according to a new study. The research could inform how and when farmers apply nitrogen fertilizer to their fields and has environmental implications for the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
Digging into soil organic matter
A new study found patterns in how soil organic matter forms across a wide range of climate types. Understanding how soils break down or preserve organic matter is important because organic matter plays a central role in the kind of services soils can provide, such as whether they make good agricultural soils or if they can sequester carbon to slow climate change.
Connecting farmers to share agronomic data
A new project will help farmers use innovative technology to share data in an effort to improve production. The effort, recently funded by a federal grant, will start out as a small pilot project and gradually expand to hundreds of farmers.
New study on migration success reinforces need for monarch butterfly milkweed habitat
A recently published study presents evidence that the migration success of monarchs hasn’t declined in recent years and thus cannot explain the steep decline in the monarch population over the last few decades. The study drew on data collected on 1.4 million monarch butterflies that were tagged in the United States Midwest from 1998 to 2015 and emphasizes the need for new monarch habitat.
Plant scientists use robotics to study the interaction of heat stress responses in corn
A new study shows how two responses in separate locations inside plant cells work in concert to help corn plants respond to heat stress. The research was made possible by the Enviratron, an innovative plant sciences facility at Iowa State University that utilizes a robotic rover and highly controlled growth chambers.
Biomedical scientists piece together how medication paralyzes parasitic worms
A new study upends the widely held belief that a medication used to treat lymphatic filariasis doesn’t directly target the parasites that cause the disease. The research shows the medication, diethylcarbamazine, temporarily paralyzes the parasites.
Searching the ancient depths of a reptilian genome yields insight into all vertebrates
An Iowa State University scientists contributed to a global effort to assemble the genome of the tuatara, a rare reptile species native to New Zealand. The tuatara genome sheds light on the genomic structure of a huge range of species, including humans.
Grant to help scientists, industry and farmers harness biomass and manure to fuel farms
A $10 million federal grant will power a multi-institutional consortium aiming to create new value chains on U.S. farms. The consortium will innovate methods for farmers to make more efficient use of resources with an emphasis on the generation of renewable natural gas, improved rural economic outcomes and protection of the environment.
Survey of rural Iowa communities will gauge pandemic response
Residents in 70 rural Iowa communities soon will receive surveys that will help to inform state and federal officials as they orchestrate the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey, orchestrated by researchers at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, will cover topics ranging from the availability of health care services to the reliability of high-speed internet to the economic stresses placed on a community by the pandemic.
Iowa State University joins the international APSIM Initiative
The Iowa State University Department of Agronomy is the first North American entity to join the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) Initiative. The computer modeling tools predict crop production in light of climate, genotype, soil and management factors.
Veterinary expert available to discuss new swine flu strain
Dr. Phillip Gauger is an associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine at Iowa State University. Gauger is available for media interviews regarding the new strain of swine flu with potential to infect humans. Gauger’s areas of expertise…
Link between liver and heart disease could lead to new therapeutics
A newly published study of flies found that protecting liver function also preserves heart health. The research could lead to new therapeutic approaches in human health and illuminate the role of understudied organelles known as peroxisomes.
SAN ANTONIO REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONIST LINDA T. FARR BECOMES 2020-2021 PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Registered dietitian nutritionist Linda T. Farr began her one-year term on June 1 as the 2020-2021 President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.
Grant will help scientists break new ground in gene editing
A new grant from the National Institutes of Health will allow Iowa State University scientists to continue to develop gene editing technologies to model human disease in zebrafish. The research aims to build new tools to determine which genes have therapeutic potential to treat human genetic diseases that affect the cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems.
Scientists developing portable viral tests for future pandemics
Iowa State University researchers are developing a portable, inexpensive technology that could allow people to test for the presence of a virus or antibodies without having to go to a medical facility. The technology is still about a year away, but it could come in handy in the event of a resurgence of the coronavirus or for future pandemics.
Study gauges insecticide effects on monarch butterflies
A newly published study sheds light on how insecticides commonly applied to crops affect monarch caterpillars. Conservation efforts to protect monarch butterfly populations depend on planting milkweed on agricultural land, but doing so may put caterpillars in close proximity to harmful insecticides.
Some good news: Livestock and poultry appear to be safe from COVID-19
AMES, Iowa – Veterinarian and food safety expert Jim Roth is available for interviews regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 on food safety. Iowa State has a live studio available, though it may require some extra time to arrange an…
New test measures corn nitrogen needs with greater accuracy
A recently published study analyzed a combination of soil tests to gauge corn nitrogen needs more accurately than the standard chemical tests that have been in use for roughly 50 years. The research could result in economic benefits to farmers and improved environmental quality.
Heat trapped in urban areas tricks trees into thinking spring has arrived earlier
Satellite data of 85 U.S. cities shows plants begin turning green earlier in the spring in urban areas than in surrounding rural areas. It’s a symptom of the way cities trap heat, a phenomenon known as the “heat-island effect,” according to a recently published study.
Major NSF-sponsored grant will help researchers discover ways to improve urban sustainability
A new $2.5 million grant will help an interdisciplinary team of researchers analyze innovative approaches to improving urban sustainability. The team will study various approaches to bolstering local food production in Des Moines and the surrounding area and how those approaches could affect nutrition, waste and environmental impacts.