A new study by University of Colorado at Boulder researchers found that the average Major League Baseball player career lasts 5.6 years, with one in five position players having a single-year career. The study also revealed that a player's chance of ending their career is at least 11 percent at every point in their career.
A new study by researchers at CU-Boulder finds that reactive gases, not direct emissions of particulates, form the bulk of organic haze. The study reveals that aerosols formed chemically in the air account for about two-thirds of total organic haze in urban areas and over 90% in rural areas.
A CU-Boulder team is part of a massive field campaign studying tropical storms' impact on global warming and stratospheric ozone depletion. The team will use three NASA aircraft, seven satellites, and other instruments to collect data on chemical compounds, high-altitude clouds, and their influence on the Earth's radiation budget.
A University of Colorado study reveals wind-blown dust from desert droughts can shorten mountain snow cover by a month, impacting water supply and agricultural resources. The study found seasonal snow coverage in the San Juan Mountains disappeared 30 days earlier due to heavy dust deposition.
The University of Colorado at Boulder has developed a high-tech leaf sensor that can measure water deficiency and communicate with computers wirelessly. This technology could enable crops to provide information to farmers about when they need water, reducing excessive water use and energy consumption.
Researchers will make measurements of thick clouds and surface of Venus, comparing atmosphere with past data, using MASCS instrument. The mission also tests instrument performance before Mercury arrival and explores mineral composition, gas distribution, and water-ice at Mercury's poles.
The Cassini spacecraft has mapped the structure of Saturn's rings, revealing densely packed particle clumps that are constantly forming and colliding. The findings suggest the mass of the rings may be twice or more previous estimates, with implications for understanding the origin and age of Saturn's ring system.
The University of Colorado at Boulder will collaborate with major partners to design and build a 25-meter far-infrared telescope in the Atacama Desert. The telescope will enable scientists to study early stages of star and galaxy formation, as well as solar system origins.
A NASA-University of Colorado study revealed widespread Antarctic melting in January 2005, with affected regions spanning an area as big as California. The observed melting occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland and at high latitudes, and was linked to unusually high air temperatures.
A University of Colorado study reveals two ancient 'burps' from the deep ocean, releasing carbon into the upper ocean and atmosphere, contributing to high CO2 levels today. The findings provide insight into natural CO2 cycles and potential impacts of human-caused climate change.
A team of researchers created an interactive 'supermap' using Google Earth technology to visualize the mutations and spread of the avian flu around the globe. The map allowed users to analyze movements and changes in genetic blueprints of known avian flu sub-strains, providing insights into viral spread and potential future outbreaks.
Researchers at CU-Boulder's Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research predict a 57% chance of lower sea-ice minimum than 2006, with 70% chance within lowest five years on record. Declining Arctic sea ice is linked to higher winter temperatures due to greenhouse warming.
A satellite carrying CU-Boulder instruments will probe noctilucent clouds forming 50 miles above Earth's polar regions every year. The mission aims to determine why these clouds form and how they change, potentially linked to human activity.
The Arctic sea-ice extent in March 2007 was the second lowest on satellite record, at 5.7 million square miles. Researchers attribute declining sea ice to rising greenhouse gases and strong natural variability.
A University of Colorado study found that intensive psychotherapy added to medication significantly improved bipolar disorder symptoms, with patients experiencing better mental health faster. The research also highlighted the importance of family-focused therapy in stabilizing daily routines and coping strategies.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study suggests that the Arctic sea ice decline may have reached a tipping point, triggering a cascade of climate change affecting Earth's temperate regions. The loss of ice could lead to changes in atmospheric patterns, impacting weather and agriculture globally.
Researchers have created miniature lab ice spikes that resemble natural penitentes on glaciers, which could help block sunlight and slow melting. The study's findings suggest that adding a small layer of dirt to glacier surfaces may preserve them, providing a potential solution for global warming.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new technique to generate laser-like X-ray beams, which could improve medical imaging resolution by a thousand times. The technique uses a powerful laser to pluck an electron from an atom and then slam it back into the same atom, generating a weak but directed beam of X-rays.
A University of Colorado climate policy analyst argues that more information about human-caused climate change will not lead to meaningful mitigation or adaptation. Instead, strategies integrating climate issues with immediate concerns are more effective.
Astronomers have discovered a sun-like star in the earliest stage of development, dubbed E42, which is believed to be a virtual twin of Earth's sun. The object has a mass similar to the sun and appears in a violent environment similar to that believed to have produced our own star.
A team of researchers has discovered that ancient rocks from Quebec, Canada, contain iron carbonates believed to have formed in an atmosphere with extremely high CO2 levels. This suggests that high concentrations of greenhouse gases may have helped Earth avoid global freezing in its youth.
Researchers used NASA's Aura satellite to track the origin and movements of water vapor in the atmosphere. They found that tropical rainfall evaporation and water
A new study reveals that modern humans first arrived in Europe around 45,000 years ago, with evidence of stone, bone and ivory tools found in Russia. The discovery includes a carved piece of mammoth ivory believed to be the oldest figurative art ever discovered.
Researchers used satellite imagery meshed with video-game technology to trace the movements of ancient people in present-day Costa Rica, who reused single-file paths for over 1,000 years. The project revealed that villagers viewed footpaths as 'living entities' and reoccupied them after devastating eruptions.
A new tree-ring study links episodic fire outbreaks in the past five centuries with periods of warming sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic. The study suggests that warmer waters in the North Atlantic correspond with episodes of drought and subsequent fires in the West.
The University of Colorado has licensed its influenza chip technology to Quidel Corp for use in diagnostic tests. This collaboration enables the development of faster flu strain detection, critical for tracking emerging strains and combating epidemics.
A comprehensive study led by University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Delbert Elliott found that children growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods were doing much better than expected. The study, which analyzed data from 662 families and 820 youths in Denver and Chicago, showed a success rate of 52% for children from disadvantaged n...
A University of Colorado at Boulder researcher has designed compact vortex generators inspired by cephalopods, enabling more precise maneuvering and docking of underwater vehicles at low speeds. The technology may also be used to guide tiny capsules through the human digestive tract for disease diagnosis and medication delivery.
A new University of Colorado at Boulder study finds that small glaciers and ice caps are the largest contributors to global sea rise, with over half of the estimated 650 billion tons of ice lost annually coming from these sources. The study's results run contrary to public perception focusing on Antarctica and Greenland.
Two studies by University of Colorado at Boulder researchers predict a regional nuclear war could produce as many fatalities as World War II, disrupting the global climate for decades. The conflict could also lead to unprecedented climate change, with smoke emissions potentially exceeding 5 million metric tons.
BioServe is launching two space station experiments involving K-12 students worldwide, tracking seed germination and nematode population dynamics in microgravity. The projects aim to engage students in space research while exploring biological processes that support NASA's human exploration of space.
A recent University of Colorado at Boulder study reveals that Paranthropus robustus had a diverse diet including fruits, nuts, sedges, and possibly animals, casting doubt on the idea that its extinction was linked to its eating habits. The findings suggest alternative explanations for the species' demise.
Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder found that Himalayan mega-earthquakes occur every 1,000 years to release stored energy in southern Tibet. This new information helps forecast future seismic activity in the region.
A new study suggests that early Earth haze could have provided a substantial source of organic material useful for emerging life on the planet. The researchers found that hazy conditions could have produced a similar organic haze over a wide range of methane and carbon dioxide concentrations.
A new National Research Council report emphasizes the physical risks of extended space journeys due to space radiation. The report recommends developing storm shelters to protect astronauts from harmful radiation, as well as improving space engineering techniques and enhancing solar forecasting.
A CU-Boulder research team has discovered over 200 suspected parasite burrows in a well-preserved duck-billed dinosaur, indicating the presence of tiny worms similar to annelids and nematodes. The findings provide evidence for interactions between dinosaurs and invertebrates.
Researchers at CU-Boulder and Children's Hospital developed guidelines for safe earphone listening levels using iPods. Typically, individuals can safely listen to music for 4.6 hours a day at 70% volume without risking hearing loss.
A region of the human brain believed to be critical to intellectual abilities functions much like a digital computer, according to CU-Boulder Professor Randall O'Reilly. The prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia operate by turning electrical signals into binary states and flexibly manipulating them, similar to digital computers.
The Arctic sea ice minimum reached on Sept. 14 was the fourth lowest on record, with a decline of about 8.6 percent per decade. The ice has been declining at an area more than half the size of Ohio per year, threatening species like polar bears that depend on the ice for their livelihood.
A University of Colorado study found that winds in the polar upper stratospheric vortex led to record amounts of ozone-destroying nitrogen oxide gases in March 2006. This could have unanticipated climate consequences due to the destruction of ozone, which heats up the stratosphere.
A new University of Colorado study indicates that Greenland is shedding ice at about two and one-half times the rate of the previous period. The ice mass loss has been occurring primarily in southern Greenland, consistent with studies charting a dramatic acceleration of glaciers in southeast Greenland.
A recent study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder and Pennsylvania State University found that over one-third of giant planet systems could have Earth-like planets in habitable zones. These planets, formed through the migration of gas giants, may host oceans several miles deep and potentially support life.
A new study by a University of Colorado at Boulder researcher found that an in-class writing assignment reduced the achievement gap between African-American and nonminority students by 40%. The study suggests that targeted psychological interventions could help narrow the racial achievement gap among U.S. students.
A new study has found that deuterium, a heavy form of hydrogen, exists in greater amounts than anticipated in the Milky Way galaxy. This discovery could fundamentally alter our understanding of star and galaxy formation.
A University of Colorado study suggests using a gigantic, daisy-shaped space shield to block out light from parent stars and allow telescopes to image distant Earth-like planets. The concept enables astronomers to identify planetary features and detect biomarkers like methane and oxygen.
The research team showed that naphthalene can block enzymes that initiate programmed cell death, leading to unchecked cellular proliferation and cancer. The study used a common worm known as C. elegans to develop a systematic way to screen potential cancer-causing chemicals in humans.
A University of Colorado study found that adding phosphorus and nitrogen to tropical forest soils in Costa Rica increases CO2 emissions by 20%. The study highlights the impact of human activities on nutrient availability in ecosystems, with potential implications for climate change.
Researchers have long wondered how Chaco rulers controlled outlying communities, but a new book suggests that the Southwestern skies played a crucial role in establishing a 'line-of-site' system. The book explores Chaco's economy, politics, and history, shedding light on the culture's architecture and settlement patterns.
Researchers discover unique egg-forming structure in Amborella, potentially linking flowering plants to extinct gymnosperm ancestors. The novel embryo sac configuration could be a relic of intense evolutionary activity, shedding light on the origin and evolution of flowering plants.
A recent study suggests the ozone layer is recovering, but it's unclear if it will reach pre-1980 levels. The recovery is attributed to the Montreal Protocol's ban on chlorine pollutants, but natural factors like warming temperatures and greenhouse gases may impact its stability.