Despite growing evidence that artificial light at night severely impacts wildlife, human health, wasteful spending and a disconnect to our cultural past, there are no formal academic educational programs strictly for dark sky study and protection. The University of Utah is changing that. This week, the U launched the first issue of The Journal of […]
Science & Technology
University of Utah launches first-ever Journal of Dark Sky Studies
New rider data shows how public transit reduces greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions
Public transit has long been an answer for people looking to leave their car at home and reduce their air pollution emissions. But now, with better rider tracking tools, the University of Utah and the Utah Transit Authority can better answer the question: How much does public transit reduce pollution emissions? In a paper published […]
U establishes philosophy of science major
The University of Utah’s Department of Philosophy has established a new interdisciplinary philosophy of science major, which launched Fall Semester 2019. The undergraduate major provides students with a technical grounding in a scientific discipline of their choice, core knowledge in ethical, analytical and logical reasoning and highly developed verbal and writing skills. The major is […]
Changes Associated with Autism Risk May Be Detected as Early as the Second Trimester
Researchers at University of Utah Health have identified a link between autism and steroid hormone changes detected in the mother’s blood. These changes, which suggest increased estrogen activity, can be seen early in the second trimester. The pilot study, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, opens a new direction in autism research. […]
Foraging for Information: Machine Learning Decodes Genetic Influence Over Behavior
Mice scurry around while foraging for food, but genetics may be the unseen hand controlling these meandering movements. Researchers at University of Utah Health are using machine learning to draw links between genetic controls that shape incremental steps of instinctive and learned behaviors. The results are available online in Cell Reports on August 13. “Patterns […]
U studies safe gun storage practices in military homes
Homes are the front lines of military suicide prevention as nearly two-thirds of suicides occur at home using a firearm—nearly always a personal firearm. Because suicide risk decreases if a firearm is safely stored locked and unloaded researchers, led by Craig Bryan of the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah, surveyed military personnel […]
Genetic Testing Motivates Behavior Changes in At-Risk Melanoma Patients
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most severe type of skin cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 96,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and the disease will cause more than 7,000 deaths. Utah has a particularly high melanoma rate. A new […]
Limitation exposed in promising quantum computing material
Quantum computers promise to perform operations of great importance believed to be impossible for our technology today. Current computers process information via transistors carrying one of two units of information, either a 1 or a 0. Quantum computing is based on the quantum mechanical behavior of the logic unit. Each quantum unit, or “qubit,” can […]
Team approach to cardiac care increases chance of surviving severe complications from heart attack
When multidisciplinary health care teams were engaged in caring for patients suffering from refractory cardiogenic shock, a severe condition that can occur after a heart attack, the likelihood of survival increased significantly, by approximately 50%. The proof of concept study by investigators at University of Utah Health was published online in the July issue of […]
Beat the heat
It’s estimated that as much as two-thirds of energy consumed in the U.S. each year is wasted as heat. Take for example, car engines, laptop computers, cellphones, even refrigerators, that heat up with overuse. Imagine if you could capture the heat they generate and turn it into more energy. University of Utah mechanical engineering associate […]