A study by researchers at Ohio State University suggests that a disaster crippling major Internet nodes, such as Los Angeles and New York, could disconnect smaller cities from the entire network. This vulnerability is a concern due to the hub-and-spoke model of the modern Internet, which relies heavily on these central locations.
Researchers from Indiana University unveiled innovative tools, including GeoMapper and Warscope, to display geographic information and locate network devices. The displays demonstrate collaboration among top universities in the state.
The study found that household damages were not always proportional to levels of ground motion, with average damages being almost identical in high and medium ground motion zones. The majority of damage ($913 million) occurred in the medium ground motion zone, which is where nearly 60% of Puget Sound households are located.
Researchers used GIS techniques to assess New Minia City's site risk and bedrock stability, revealing soft limestone prone to dissolution. The model was found effective in identifying geo-environmental problems, allowing for informed decision-making on sustainable development.
The Dialogue-Assisted Visual Environment for Geoinformation (DAVE_G) is a new system that enables crisis managers to visualize geospatial information on a large map using verbal and gesture commands. The system aims to improve decision-making in emergency management by providing real-time access to critical data.
A UC researcher used geological features and satellite imagery to identify a possible bin Laden stronghold in Afghanistan, which was later confirmed by US forces. He also warned the US government about the potential for Al Queda to return to the region.
A study by Jennifer Stempien explores the geographic influences on species variation in ancient bivalves. She found that specimens from different locations exhibited wide variability in physical characteristics, suggesting a strong geographic influence over time.
Researchers use satellite data to identify geographic areas at risk of terrorist threats, tracking changes in chemical and power plants, utility lines, and population density. The technology has potential for detecting airborne agents and supporting homeland security initiatives.
A five-year project will study the effects of rural life on children's development, focusing on competence, family factors, and community characteristics. The study will follow over 1,400 subjects from selected rural counties in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
A recent survey of homebuyers in Raleigh and Wake County found that the Internet has had a limited impact on housing search patterns, with half of respondents using it. However, those who used the Internet visited more houses in person than non-users, possibly due to younger age or higher energy levels.
The Amazon forest, a significant carbon sink, may be slowing global climate change. A new monitoring team, RAINFOR, aims to study the impact of environmental changes on Amazonian forests. The project will analyze data from multiple sites across the basin to better understand productivity and dynamics.
A study by Penn State researchers found that jet contrails altered the average daily temperature range in the United States during a three-day commercial air shutdown in September 2001. The diurnal temperature range increased by 1.8 degrees Celsius, with daytime temperatures being higher and nighttime temperatures lower without contrails.
A team of researchers led by Hongxing Liu from Texas A&M University is analyzing remotely sensed data from the Lambert ice sheet to understand its role in global climate change. The study will help determine how glaciers respond to changes in the climate and provide clues about the potential impact on sea levels.
A study by Ohio State University ranks the top 30 most internet-accessible cities in the US, with Chicago at the top. The 'Big 7' cities - including Washington, DC, Dallas, and New York - will continue to reap economic benefits from their high levels of internet accessibility.
Researchers investigate active Archaean plate tectonics based on features in ultramafic blocks within oceanic crust remnants. Additionally, studies explore eukaryotic stromatolite builders' impact on Precambrian iron formations and atmospheric oxygenation.
The record winter weather led to a significant boost in the US economy, with estimated benefits of $21 billion. The mild conditions resulted in lower heating costs, reduced snow-removal expenses, and an increase in construction income.
A study using satellite ocean color data has shed light on the spring bloom of phytoplankton in the North Atlantic, a critical factor in the carbon cycle and global warming. The research found that simple models can accurately predict the timing of the bloom, with plankton animals and bacteria playing a key role in its duration.
An ice coring team led by Ohio State University's Lonnie Thompson aims to drill through Alaska's glaciers to retrieve ancient weather records. The expedition hopes to determine if recent climate change is part of a natural cycle or caused by human activity, with potential implications for global warming.
A Johns Hopkins-led study found that angioplasty reduced the combined incidence of death, repeat heart attacks, or strokes by 40% compared to clot-busting drugs. Patients treated with angioplasty had a shorter hospital stay and lower event rates at follow-up.
A virtual community of 26 educators from top universities will create, evaluate, and share effective engineering teaching materials, providing resources for faculty members. The project aims to address challenges in implementing digital learning technologies, including accessibility, quality, and teacher incentives.
The new center will identify and track special outreach efforts by libraries nationwide, merging IU's medical informatics strengths with geographic information systems technology. It aims to provide a unique database for researchers to pinpoint health outreach activities.
Roger Balm examines the extent to which original pictures of Machu Picchu were framed to fit popular ideas about lost worlds rather than provide scientific documentation. He revisits an explorer's first photo-shoot at Machu Picchu using the same camera and film as the original 1911 expedition.
Researcher Michele L. Aldrich found that Dickinson's poetry incorporated geological terms, indicating an influence from her education at Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke College. This study aims to encourage students interested in geology to explore the subject through literary examples like Dickinson's poems.
Lawrence H. Tanner found evidence of a Manicouagan impact causing an earthquake in the Fundy Rift Basin, a sedimentary basin 700 km away from the impact site. The association between the impact and paleoseismicity was made using shocked quartz grains, providing a stratigraphic context for the event.
ColorBrewer is a free web-based tool that enables users to select from various color schemes for their maps. The tool offers sequential, diverging, and qualitative schemes, allowing users to test and refine their choices. Additionally, ColorBrewer provides detailed color specifications for printing, projection, or web display.
A researcher argues that the South is unfairly burdened with negative characteristics, such as racism and poverty, while the rest of America is viewed as more progressive. Historians' omission of Northern slavery from national narratives has contributed to this dichotomy.
A study analyzing satellite images of the 1999 hurricane flood area found that over 200 NC livestock operations were flooded, contaminating wells and posing a risk to local residents. The research highlights the need for improved monitoring and regulation of industrial animal farms in flood-prone areas.
A Rutgers scientist is linking global climate change to changes in ice and snow cover, citing convincing evidence of warming trends. The scientist's data shows that the amount of snow covering in North America and Eurasia has been shrinking over the years.
The Coordinated Stroke Strategy led to a dramatic increase in stroke treatment rates, from 3.5 patients per month to an average of six patients per month. Intracerebral hemorrhage hospitalization rates varied by gender and geography, with higher rates among men and in the southern United States.
Researchers at the new Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments will develop tools to gauge risks associated with hazardous waste sites and clean up pollutants. The center's initiatives focus on urban livability and brownfield redevelopment, aiming to create jobs and improve tax bases while addressing environmental concerns.
University of Cincinnati researchers are monitoring Arctic thaw lake basins using radiocarbon dating, pollen analysis, and remote sensing. The study aims to improve understanding of the role of interactions among land, atmosphere, and ice in the functioning of the Arctic System.
A University of Cincinnati geologist has found that genera appearing after mass extinctions survived for longer periods than those that emerged at other times. The trend is attributed to their generalist characteristics, which allowed them to adapt to new geographic and environmental distributions.
A new NASA study found that the Icelandic low-pressure system affects Arctic sea ice cover, leading to regional variations and an overall decrease in ice extent. The system brings warm air northward, reducing ice cover east of Iceland, while also contributing to climate warming.
A global map of asteroid 433 Eros reveals that nearly half of the largest rocks were ejected from a single crater, Shoemaker. The rocks were likely created by a meteorite collision about a billion years ago.
Researchers at Purdue University link economic growth to annual hard frosts, finding that temperate areas have historically had less disease and better agricultural productivity. Frost enables the build-up of organic matter in fertile topsoil, allowing for richer agricultural success.
Researchers analyzed data from 1973-1995 to find a significant rise in very low birthweight following Prime Minister Olof Palme's murder and ferry Estonia disaster. The study suggests that communal bereavement can affect public health, even if the event is rare or less visible.
Richard Wright seeks to understand how race, family dynamics, and income affect where interracial families live and their children identify. Preliminary analysis suggests that geography, class, and the racial makeup of parents influence these decisions.
The Terra satellite beams daily images of western U.S. wildfires to NASA, which are then transmitted to the Forest Service. The collaboration uses MODIS data to create Active Fire Maps that help resource allocation decisions and aid in public understanding of fire locations.
A study by Penn State researchers found that quaking aspen groves have declined by 30% in the last 50 years due to environmental changes such as fire suppression, livestock grazing, and increased herbivore populations. The unique history of the Lake Tahoe Basin also plays a role in this decline.
A recent study found that female great white sharks tend to stay in a particular region, while males disperse widely across ocean basins. This discovery has significant conservation implications for managing the species' populations and breeding grounds.
A University of Florida study finds that New York, Chicago, and Washington-Baltimore lead the nation in bandwidth availability, while Florida's top cities, including Orlando, fall behind. The disparity puts Florida companies at a competitive disadvantage, hindering business growth and consumer access to high-speed Internet services.
A study of British adults found that most men follow a beer and fast food diet, while women prefer the traditional British diet. The research also revealed significant regional and socioeconomic differences in dietary patterns, with those on low incomes and smokers consuming less healthy diets.
Researchers have discovered evidence of agriculture dating back 1,400 years to the Princess Point people in southwestern Ontario. Well-preserved remnants of these ancient corn crops can still be found in the area, providing valuable insights into the transition from a hunting and gathering society to an agricultural one.
A CU-Boulder study found that Denver-area drivers are largely unaware of the impact of air-quality advisories on their transportation habits, despite being aware of the advisories themselves. The study suggests possible alternatives to mitigate the problem, such as subsidizing public transit passes and improving cycling infrastructure.
A tiny gallium arsenide bar has been developed that can bend infrared beams with minimal loss of light, opening possibilities for more efficient lasers and photonic computing. The device uses a two-dimensional photonic crystal structure with strategically placed holes to filter out unwanted wavelengths.
The Dartmouth Flood Observatory uses satellite images from NASA's Terra spacecraft to pinpoint flooded areas and provide precise mapping accuracy, aiding United Nations World Food Program staff. The new composite surface images have been used to identify the worst-hit areas of the current flooding in Southeast Asia.
The wetland's condition has deteriorated due to mass tourism, with garbage and solid waste contaminating the site. Researchers propose taking immediate action to save it and recommend its inclusion in a Heritage Corridor to protect natural spaces.
The book analyzes the accumulative effects of industrial development over 40 years, showing changes in pollution patterns and potential risks to agricultural food production. Historical studies of heavy metal pollution are used to illustrate how spatial patterns have changed over time.
Farmers perceive scientists as 'insensitive outsiders,' but researchers found that understanding their social and environmental practices can help improve watershed management. Farmers see beauty in modified, geometric landscapes that also harm biodiversity.
The new land cover maps will provide more precise assessments of land use types, including residential development, wetlands, forests, and crop lands. The maps will help improve estimates of polluted water runoff into the Chesapeake Bay by identifying pasture land and different crops.
Scientists are using harmonic analysis on satellite images to study changes in vegetation during growing seasons and land use patterns. They can detect desertification, forest regeneration, and climate change by analyzing wave patterns and amplitude measurements.
Dr. Guoray Cai's research highlights the importance of considering geographical space in understanding cyberspace. The study found that variations in access bandwidth can generate feelings of distance due to faster communication channels, and existing infrastructure biases towards certain categories of consumers.
The Association of American Geographers will hold its 96th annual meeting in Pittsburgh, April 4-8, 2000, featuring research presentations on topics such as war atrocities, urban heat islands, and divorce decisions. The event is expected to draw over 3,800 geographers.
Experts discuss the impact of brain development research on child development and public policy, particularly day care, at a symposium hosted by Temple University. The forum explores serious implications of John Bruer's book, citing lack of data to support the 'zero to three' theory.
Integrated Regional Assessment framework considers human activities, climate change impacts, economic responses, and social implications to inform local decisions. The approach aims to mitigate problems and create jobs in regions heavily dependent on coal production.
A new LSU study reconstructs past hurricane landfalls dating back 5,000 years and finds the US has a low incidence of major hurricane landfalls along the Gulf Coast over the past 1,000 years. The study provides concrete information on catastrophic hurricane landfalls in the US, with a likelihood of once every 300-600 years.
A multi-pronged analysis reveals that the supply of clean freshwater is dwindling due to growing demands for irrigation, industry, and natural ecosystem needs. Associate Professor Kenneth Strzepek identifies global river basins under strain, including China's Yellow River basin and Africa's Zambeze River basin.
A study of over 15,000 people found that residents of the South consumed the most produce daily, while those in the Northeast had the lowest intake. African Americans and college graduates also showed higher consumption rates, highlighting the need for tailored messages to promote behavior change.
A Yale study reveals that postmenopausal women's ovaries are often removed during hysterectomy due to geographical location and surgeon experience, sparking concerns about informed consent. The research highlights significant variation in oophorectomy rates across different areas of the state and among surgeons with varying caseloads.
Researchers have developed a suite of software tools called GETWEBS to design and evaluate broadband wireless systems. The project addresses key components of the wireless industry, including evolving technology, environment interaction, and system integration.