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Cornell University


Disabled left behind by economic expansion

A Cornell University study reveals a significant decline in employment among working-age Americans with disabilities, with most experiencing a loss of economic ground despite receiving higher Social Security disability payments. The researchers argue that new national policies are needed to reintegrate young people with disabilities in...

Surgery by most experienced surgeons not always the best

A new Cornell University study found that surgeons performing carotid endarterectomies who got their licenses 20 or more years ago had the highest mortality rate among their patients. The study also found a relation between the mortality of endarterectomy patients and the number of times surgeons performed the procedure.

SourceCornell University·JournalNeurology·DateOct 29, 2000

Parent education program helps prevent AIDS

A Cornell University parent-education program has shown that it can triple the likelihood of parents discussing HIV risk reduction with their children. The program also significantly increases the likelihood that parents will make personal risk behavior changes and obtain HIV testing. The study, which involved 375 parents in New York C...

Newspapers, not TV, move the educated to civic action

Research at Cornell University and Ohio State University finds that newspapers have a stronger influence on the civic participation of highly educated individuals. This is because they can process information more carefully and extract mobilizing information efficiently from newspapers. In contrast, television has negligible impact on ...

SourceCornell University·JournalPolitical Communication·DateOct 24, 2000

Dual-earner couples follow traditional gender roles

A new study by Cornell University found that dual-earner couples tend to follow traditional gender roles, with husbands' careers given priority. This 'neotraditional' model helps couples manage work and family demands, but may have negative consequences for women's job security and advancement opportunities.

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Problems·DateOct 12, 2000

Global capital mobility stifles union organizing

A study by Cornell labor experts found that global capital mobility and ineffective labor laws create a climate where employers threaten to close plants or move investments to avoid unionization. This leads to increased job insecurity and no real wage gains for workers, despite the longest economic boom in US history.

El Niño cycles linked to cholera outbreaks

A new mathematical model links El Niño cycles to cholera outbreaks, with a consistent 3.7-year frequency in both ENSO events and cholera cases. The study suggests an 11-month time lag between ENSO events and peak cholera incidence, likely due to increased sea-surface temperatures and bacteria-bearing zooplankton.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateSep 6, 2000

Crowded homes stressful for every ethnic group

A new Cornell University study reveals that residential crowding is harmful to people of all cultures, contradicting widely held beliefs. The research found no evidence that Asian Americans or Latin Americans can better withstand the adverse psychological consequences of living in crowded homes.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateSep 5, 2000

Elusive secrets of chemical bonding found

Two researchers at Cornell University have made important theoretical discoveries that establish the principles of crystal bonding for a group of thousands of compounds. The 'Papoian-Hoffmann bonding formula' is based on magic numbers, designating stability in linear, square and cube lattices.

SourceCornell University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateSep 3, 2000

A molecular motor's key role in cell birth

Cornell University researchers reveal molecular motor Myo2p's crucial role in guiding the mitotic spindle during cell division. The study sheds light on an essential mechanism in new cell formation and highlights potential consequences of failures in molecular motor function.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateAug 30, 2000

US labor law is violated, has loopholes

A comprehensive study by Cornell University expert Lance Compa finds widespread labor rights violations in the US, with employers frequently firing workers who try to form unions and millions excluded from organizing laws. The report highlights the need for US labor law reform to meet international human rights standards.

Adhesive tricks to recycle old computers

Researchers at Cornell University have developed an environmentally friendly adhesive that can be easily removed and cleaned up, making it possible to recycle outmoded computers. The adhesive, dubbed Alpha-Terp, can be broken down using heat or industrial solvents, allowing for the reuse of valuable components.

Ozone threatens Long Island plants

High levels of ground-level ozone have been found to severely impact the growth of ozone-sensitive crops on Long Island, including spinach, grapes, pumpkins, watermelons, and tomatoes. This research highlights the urgent need for attention to be paid to ambient ozone levels in agricultural areas.

NASA chooses Cornell for 2003 Mars mission

Cornell University has been selected by NASA to lead the science team for the next Mars mission, which will include a large roving vehicle carrying six scientific instruments. The rover's Pancam panoramic camera system will reveal terrain around the vehicle and help select rock targets for study.

Cadmium makes brittle bones in Rocky Mt. birds

A study by Cornell University ecologists found that cadmium from abandoned mines is affecting white-tailed ptarmigan birds in Colorado, causing brittle bones and damaged kidneys. The metal is also concentrated in willow plants, which the birds eat, leading to reduced reproductive success.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateJul 11, 2000

Women with low body iron find exercise harder

A new study finds that women with moderate iron deficiency struggle to increase aerobic endurance after exercise training, while iron supplements can compensate for this impairment. Iron-deficient women who boost their body iron through supplements can improve their exercise endurance twice as much as those without supplementation.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateJul 11, 2000

Cancer gene related to fruit and vegetable growth

A team of scientists at Cornell University has discovered a genetic connection between the evolution of plump fruits and vegetables and the growth of human cancer cells. The study identified a single gene called ORFX that plays a key role in plant fruit development, similar to the human oncogene c-H-ras p21.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateJul 5, 2000

Human immunity to a virus from edible vaccine

A plant-based vaccine has successfully triggered human immunity to the Norwalk virus, causing widespread food-borne illness in the US. Researchers at Cornell University and the University of Maryland have developed a transgenic potato vaccine that shows promising results in clinical trials.

SourceCornell University·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateJul 4, 2000

Potentially hazardous asteroids mapped

A study reveals that nearly 900 potentially hazardous asteroids are hurtling towards Earth, with some passing within a few moon distances every year. The researchers estimate that only 40% of kilometer-or-larger asteroids have been discovered, leaving the remaining 60% potentially difficult to find.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateJun 21, 2000

Apple phytochemicals fight cancer

A study published in Nature found that the combination of flavonoids and polyphenols in apples provides anti-oxidant and anti-cancer benefits. The researchers discovered that eating 100 grams of fresh apple with skins can provide the same anti-oxidant activity as 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateJun 20, 2000

Hyperactive Cdc42 causes malignant growth

Researchers at Cornell University have discovered how a hyperactive form of the molecular switch Cdc42 disrupts orderly cell growth, leading to cancer. The team found that Cdc42 increases protein shuttling, overstimulating cellular activities and causing hallmarks of cancer cells.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateJun 13, 2000

Less-coercive policies boost child support

A new study by Cornell University and the University of Colorado found that state child-support guidelines increase the probability of unwed mothers receiving awards, often increasing their size. In contrast, guidelines for divorced or separated women with children have little impact on award levels.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Human Resources·DateJun 12, 2000

How neutron stars get their kicks

Researchers propose two theories to explain the origin of neutron star kicks: the 'mass rocket,' which suggests a mass ejection asymmetry, and the 'neutrino rocket,' which relies on the intense magnetic field surrounding the newly formed neutron star. These theories aim to explain the observed high speeds of pulsars and the asymmetrica...

Cocaine use while pregnant may cause ADHD

A study by Cornell University researchers suggests that prenatal cocaine exposure may cause lasting attention dysfunction in children, impacting their ability to focus despite distractions. The findings support the potential long-term effects of cocaine use during pregnancy on children's cognitive development.

SourceCornell University·JournalBehavioral Neuroscience·DateJun 4, 2000

Spiders get better web sites by rising early

Researchers discovered that large female spiders in colonies compete for space by building their webs earlier, using a capitalist technique to pre-empt areas. This strategy allows them to secure private space for egg-laying and reduces conflicts with smaller spiders.

SourceCornell University·JournalAnimal Behaviour·DateMay 30, 2000

Morning sickness protects mother and child

A study published in The Quarterly Review of Biology suggests that morning sickness serves a beneficial function, shielding the mother and fetus from harmful foods and chemicals. Women who experience morning sickness are less likely to miscarry than those who do not, and their aversion to certain foods peaks during the first trimester.

SourceCornell University·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateMay 30, 2000

How stress maintains population levels

A Cornell University study reveals that a naturally occurring disease can regulate a wildlife population, with house finches experiencing a dramatic drop in numbers after an epidemic began. The research provides insight into the dynamics of other host/disease systems and has implications for understanding diseases like AIDS.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 24, 2000

Nanofabricated 'gel' separates DNA

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a nanofabricated device that can separate DNA fragments by length in as little as 15-30 minutes, compared to the traditional method which takes 12-24 hours. The device uses alternating deep and shallow sections to propel DNA strands through it, allowing for faster separation and analysis.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateMay 11, 2000

Cowbirds' winning songs reflect brainpower

A study by Cornell researchers found a close correlation between cowbird brain size and its singing ability, which attracts females. The research suggests that visual and sexual selection factors go hand-in-hand in determining mating success among male cowbirds.

SourceCornell University·JournalBehavioral Neuroscience·DateMay 8, 2000

Accountability makes for better decisions

A study by Cornell University researchers found that auditors tend to make more objective decisions than salespeople due to their legal liability. However, when salespeople are held accountable for their decisions, their bias is reduced. The study suggests that making decisions based on facts rather than personal biases can lead to bet...

SourceCornell University·JournalManagement Science·DateMay 8, 2000

Radar shows giant, bone-shaped asteroid

Astronomers have obtained radar images of a giant, dog bone-shaped asteroid called 216 Kleopatra, located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid is about 217 kilometers long and 94 kilometers wide, with a shape that resembles a distorted dumbbell or dog bone.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateMay 3, 2000

Best images yet of Jupiter's inner moons

The Galileo spacecraft has captured the highest-resolution images yet of three of Jupiter's four innermost moons, revealing surface features as small as 2 kilometers across. The images show a bright surface feature on Amalthea named Ida, a streak of bright material about 50 kilometers in length.

Farm productivity is about tech, not age

A Cornell University study reveals that younger farmers' lack of access to modern technology hinders their productivity, while older farmers continue to use technology efficiently despite declining output. The research has implications for business management decisions and federal agricultural policies.

SourceCornell University·JournalAgricultural and Resource Economics Review·DateApr 17, 2000

$4.1 million NSF grant to mine Census data

A $4.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation is helping researchers link disparate databases and protect confidential data for economic and social scientists. The project aims to improve quality of the Census Bureau's surveys and enable better research on social issues like welfare-to-work and aging.

Making bottled green tea taste fresh-brewed

Researchers identify epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin-gallate as key compounds responsible for flavor changes in commercial processing, and suggest adding vitamin C to preserve their stability. This discovery could lead to improved bottled or canned green-tea taste and enhanced health benefits.

Cockroach birth control from gene discovery

Researchers at Cornell University have identified and cloned a key gene in the reproductive system of male cockroaches, which could lead to the development of safe and effective birth control. The goal is to create a pesticide that specifically targets pests without harming other insects or humans.