A study by Jessi L. Smith and Meghan Huntoon found that gender norms about modesty contribute to women's reluctance to brag about their achievements. Interventions can help women communicate effectively about their successes. The research suggests that cultural shifts are needed, but practical strategies like promoting female friends' ...
Researchers are investigating the production of oil-producing algae and the feasibility of commercial-scale biofuel production based on microbes discovered in Yellowstone National Park. The study aims to integrate MSU's groundbreaking work on algal biofuels with larger questions about its potential as a sustainable energy source.
A new study tests the effectiveness of color-based traps against major pests in Montana, finding that red and green traps are most effective. The researchers also discovered that insects use chromatic cues to identify colors and will pursue further studies on this topic.
A team of researchers at Montana State University has verified that microorganisms produce methane by swimming towards hydrogen gas. The discovery sheds light on the movement of biological cells towards hydrogen gas and its implications for climate change, carbon cycle, and early Earth processes.
A study by Montana State University researchers found that the 25 wildlife crossings on the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff allow grizzly bears to access a prime patch of buffalo berries habitat safely. The crossings also enable bears to move between food, shelter and dispersal areas on both sides of the highway.
Researchers at Montana State University have discovered a universal relation among three intrinsic properties of neutron stars: moment of inertia, Love number, and quadrupole moment. This finding enables astrophysicists to infer the shape and degree of deformation without detailed internal structure knowledge, aiding gravitational wave...
Researchers discovered that the area has lost many species of bees and flowering plants, but found them surprisingly resilient in the face of warmer temperatures. The study used historical data to examine plant-pollinator interactions and found mismatches between plants and their historic pollinators due to climate change.
Researchers at Montana State University discovered a gene mutation in male moths that allows them to detect subtle changes in female pheromones. This adaptation enables males to find females despite scent changes over time.
A Montana State University study found that population densities around some US national parks rose 2,000-3,100% between 1940 and 2000, while housing densities grew 11-13.6%. The study also identified unique challenges for each of the five land-use category categories, including wildland-protected and urban parks.
A team of scientists has discovered that high levels of nitrogen in tropical forests are caused by natural interactions between the forest and nutrient cycles. The study found evidence of large losses of bioavailable nitrogen from plant-soil interactions, not directly from atmospheric deposition.
New research from Montana State University reveals how dinosaurs like Velociraptor and Deinonychus used their famous killer claws to latch onto prey, proposing a new behavior model for the evolution of flight in birds. This study suggests that the enlarged sickle-claw on digit two was used as an anchor to prevent escape, and that preci...
A new study from Montana State University has uncovered enormous bones of the sauropod dinosaur Alamosaurus sanjuanensis, which is now recognized as North America's biggest dinosaur. The giant vertebrae and femur measured up to 100ft long and weighed over 70 tons.
A two-year study by Montana State University researchers found that heifers can safely reduce their feed intake during the seven months between weaning and breeding. This results in cost savings of $21 per animal, with industry-wide savings being significant, especially in drought areas.
Researchers at Montana State University found a surprising condition where common lung mold causes a shortage of oxygen in the lungs. The study reveals that the mold's fermentation can influence the host immune response and adapt to low oxygen levels.
Researchers at Montana State University have discovered that dog-sized dinosaurs that lived in the Antarctic Circle had bone tissue very similar to those living elsewhere on the planet. This finding may help explain how dinosaurs were able to dominate the Earth for 160 million years.
A team from Montana State University solved the mystery of missing sunspots from 2008 to 2010, which coincided with unusually weak magnetic fields at the sun's poles. The discovery allows for the prediction of space weather, influencing technology in space and on Earth.
Research reveals that early settlers rapidly cleared New Zealand forests with fires within 200 years of initial colonization, replacing native forests with grasslands and shrublands. The findings support the idea that human activity was the main cause of these fires, which were not related to unusual climate conditions.
Researchers discovered a rare colony of moss, worms, and shrimp flourishing around a geothermal vent at the bottom of Yellowstone Lake. The unique environment is characterized by inky black water, high temperatures, and toxic gases.
Researchers have found that Triceratops and Torosaurus are the same dinosaur, but at different stages of growth. The discovery contributes to a theory that dinosaur diversity was highly depleted at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Researchers determined the structure of an intermediate enzyme form participating in fundamental biology reactions. The discovery sheds light on life's origins and potential applications in producing renewable fuels and fighting pollution.
Bile secretions in the small intestine send signals to disease-causing gut bacteria, enabling them to adapt and prepare to cause disease. The presence of bile triggers genes that increase iron uptake, a crucial nutrient for bacterial growth.
A team of researchers, including MSU geologist David Mogk, won a national award for their web site 'On the Cutting Edge', which promotes sharing scientific content and teaching methods. The site offers over 4,000 pages of educational resources, attracting 550,000 visitors in 2008.
Researchers compared four types of raptors' claws and killing techniques, revealing unique adaptations for each species. The study, published in PLoS One, provides new insights into raptor-prey interactions and may apply to dinosaur research.
Researchers at Montana State University aim to understand how Adeno-associated Viruses (AAV) assemble and enter cells. They will use this knowledge to build specialized AAVs for targeted gene therapy applications.
Researchers will drill through the Whillans Ice Stream and Ross Ice Shelf, sampling rivers, lakes, and microbial communities. The study aims to understand how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to past climate changes and potentially discover new organisms that can produce beneficial compounds.
A $580,000 NSF-funded project is transcribing and publishing John Tyndall's letters, which touch on topics like science and religion, professionalization of science, and government funding. The project aims to create an international community of Tyndall scholars and train graduate students in research methods.
The five-year grant will investigate the effect of instructional coaches on elementary school math education and identify what coaches need to know about math and coaching. The researchers will train 60 coaches, analyze data, and gather feedback from classrooms in multiple states.
The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University to develop the National Technical Assistance Center for Alternative Transportation in Public Lands. This center will provide federally owned land managers with a 'one-stop shop' of information, trainin...
Montana State University researchers study Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus (STIV) and its effects on host cells. The virus forms pyramid-like projections on the surface of infected cells, releasing progeny in a previously unknown manner.
Montana State University is launching a pilot program to test the effectiveness of web-based engineering laboratory courses. With an $148,000 NSF grant, students will be able to control real laboratory equipment from home computers, simulating in-person lab experiences.
A study published by Montana State University researchers found that elk are having fewer calves due to changes in their nutrition, mainly caused by the presence of wolves. Elk are changing their behavior and foraging habits, such as browsing more in forested areas, resulting in a 27% decrease in food intake.
A new study led by Montana State University researcher Philip Higuera finds that changes in vegetation can either reduce or increase the risk of wildfires, even under climate change. The research suggests that considering vegetation's impact on fire regimes is crucial for predicting future wildfire patterns.
Scientists discovered an ancient ecosystem trapped beneath Taylor Glacier in Antarctica, which survived without light or oxygen by transforming sulfur and iron compounds for growth. This unique ecosystem has the potential to explain how life might exist on other planets and serve as a model for life under ice.
A Montana State University master's graduate is working with doctors at Vanderbilt Medical Center to build a handheld laser microscope that can detect skin cancer more accurately. The device uses laser light to form an image of the skin's cellular structure and compare it to a database of known cancers.
A Yellowstone alga has been found to detoxify arsenic through a process of oxidation, reduction, and conversion, rendering it less toxic. The discovery could have significant implications for bioremediation efforts and the potential for life to exist on other planets or moons.
A Montana State University study has found that the coldest daily temperatures recorded in Bozeman, Mont., and Coldstream, British Columbia, have occurred less often over the past several decades. Extreme warm nighttime temperatures have become more frequent at a rate of about one percent per year or 10 percent per decade.
A Montana State University study found that males from three types of dinosaurs were sole care givers for their mate's eggs, possibly having multiple mates. The researchers examined fossil evidence and compared clutch sizes to adult sizes in the dinosaurs and their closest living relatives, birds and crocodiles.
The partnership will test sequestration methods and develop infrastructure to tackle carbon management, with a focus on the region's vast energy resources. The project aims to validate carbon sequestration as a technology to reduce greenhouse gases and promote energy independence.
Researchers will screen different types of algae to learn which species produce the most oil and grow them in large numbers to produce biodiesel. Algae have benefits that make farming them easier on growers, such as being able to use non-prime agricultural land and water not suitable for food crops.
Researchers at Montana State University have identified a gene called srbA that allows molds to resist drugs and thrive in low-oxygen environments. The gene is found in both humans and molds, and its removal makes the mold more susceptible to antifungal drugs and oxygen deprivation.
A team at Montana State University has discovered a fungus that produces diesel fuel, which could offer an alternative to fossil fuels. The fungus, called Gliocladium roseum, can grow in cellulose and produce medium-chain hydrocarbons.
Montana State University will incorporate more wind-related topics into existing engineering courses, educating students about wind energy and preparing them for jobs in the industry. The university aims to support Montana's growing wind industry and provide valuable technical experience.
MSU scientist Darla Goeres is developing standardized methods to measure the effectiveness of antimicrobial products against biofilms. This work aims to improve public trust in product efficacy claims.
A new study at Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute will use in-car cameras to monitor the effect of Montana's driver's education modules on teen attitudes and behaviors behind the wheel. Researchers aim to understand how these programs can help teens become better drivers and reduce fatal car accidents.
Researchers at Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute will use automated in-car cameras to gauge the effect of Montana's driver's education modules on teen attitudes and behaviors behind the wheel. The study aims to reduce drowsy and distracted driving, particularly in rural areas.
A Montana State University microbiologist is studying how microbes living together interact to understand their potential use in energy production, climate change mitigation, and soil remediation. The research could lead to cheaper and more efficient methods for remediating contaminated sites.
A new Montana State University study utilizes thousands of bird watcher reports and a satellite sensor to analyze biodiversity across the continental United States, Canada, and Alaska. The research team found that MODIS technology provides comprehensive measures of vegetation, allowing for broad-scaled ecological studies.
Two Montana State University graduate students, David Hoffman and Amin Nehrir, have been awarded prestigious $30,000 NASA fellowships for their research on lidar technology. They will work with top scientists at NASA's Langley Research Center, developing instruments to study the climate and atmospheric science.
Researchers at Montana State University have created the first three-dimensional map of the Steap3 protein, which regulates iron absorption. This breakthrough could lead to the development of targeted drugs for hemochromatosis and iron deficiency conditions.
Research found that airborne bacteria are globally distributed and may cause freezing at warmer temperatures, leading to the formation of rain. The bacteria can multiply and form groups on plants, creating a cycle of precipitation that could help reduce drought.