A team of CU-Boulder researchers is conducting the largest field campaign ever to assess ozone concentrations and chemical changes in the Arctic stratosphere. They will use various instruments, including satellites, aircraft, balloons, and ground-based instruments, to study the effects of climate change on ozone depletion.
Adults without private health insurance are 35% more likely to die than those with insurance between 1986 and 1995. The study found income and education reduce mortality risk by purchasing health insurance and acquiring necessary knowledge, respectively.
A new analysis by University of Colorado at Boulder professor Karl Mueller indicates a high threat of large earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone. The study gathered evidence on a pivotal 'blind-thrust' fault and found a slip rate of nearly 45 feet over 2,300 years, posing significant risks to Memphis and St. Louis.
Acoustical technology developed at CU-Boulder uses high-frequency pulses to detect fouling deposits on membranes, allowing for more efficient purification of drinking water. The technique has the potential to reduce chemicals needed and improve membrane performance in applications such as seawater desalination.
A CU study of ice-age sediment cores found that temperature fluctuations in the warm Atlantic Ocean were as large as those seen during the last ice age, raising concerns about future climate change. The research suggests that human-induced changes to ocean circulation could trigger global climate impacts.
Researchers use satellite altimetry to analyze warm ocean features and predict hurricane intensification, helping forecasters identify areas most at risk from storm surges. A study found that hurricanes crossing warm eddies intensified their winds by up to 70mph in just nine hours.
The CU National Snow and Ice Data Center has posted avalanche awareness information on its website to educate skiers and backcountry enthusiasts. The materials provide guidance on evaluating snowpack stability, recognizing danger signals, and surviving avalanches, with links to related sources.
Research indicates the Indian Ocean has its own El Niño-like phenomenon characterized by an east-to-west oscillation of warm waters affecting other parts of the world. The study found significant warming of the western portion of the Indian Ocean in 16 out of 48 years between 1950 and 1998, but only three were active El Niño years.
A University of Colorado at Boulder researcher is developing an interactive computer program for Alaskan middle school students to interest them in science and show the relevance of science to native Alaskans' daily lives. The project includes interactive stories, hands-on laboratory work, and use of special reference libraries.
A team of scientists will conduct seismic experiments along a 600-mile route, using specialized instruments and explosions to create detailed profiles of the Earth's crust. The project aims to gain insight into the formation of the Rockies and improve knowledge of earthquake hazards, natural resources, and water resources.
The catastrophic draining of two gigantic glacial lakes in Canada's Hudson Bay region led to the most abrupt, widespread cold spell on Earth during the last 10,000 years. Temperatures dropped by as much as 15 degrees Fahrenheit in central Greenland and by nearly 6 degrees F in Western Europe.
BioServe will fly three bioprocessing payloads and industry experiments, including a National Institutes of Health experiment and two K-12 student outreach projects, on the space shuttle Columbia. The experiments focus on developing new wastewater treatments and improving techniques used to evaluate pharmaceutical compounds.
The Columbia Glacier in Alaska has increased its speed to 35 meters per day, raising concerns among scientists about a rapid decline. The glacier, already the fastest moving glacier in the world, is now expected to retreat at an alarming rate, potentially posing risks to shipping lanes and marine ecosystems.
The QuikScat satellite, launched on June 19, will provide daily snapshots of ocean winds to improve weather forecasting. The satellite is controlled by students and faculty at CU's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.
Researchers at CU-Boulder are part of an international team experimenting with sub-atomic particles to explain how the universe came into existence. They aim to find out why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe.
Researchers have found evidence of chlorine emissions in the atmosphere of Io, a Jupiter moon with high volcanic activity. The discovery suggests that salt may be present on Io's surface due to chemical reactions or geological processes.
Regular churchgoers live longer than those who seldom or never attend worship services. They can look forward to about seven more years of life beyond age 20. The research also revealed that women and blacks can enjoy especially longer lives if they are religiously active.
An international team led by the University of Colorado at Boulder is studying the South Asian summer monsoon, a region that affects 65% of the world's population. The six-week expedition aims to understand the basic physics behind these variations and predict them, enabling drought or flood warnings for affected regions.
Researchers use a massive centrifuge to simulate earthen dam failures and study the effects of sinkholes on full-sized dams. The 400g-ton machine, built in 1988, can spin loads of up to 2 tons at 200 times gravity.
Scientists attribute the retreats to regional warming trends, which have caused annual melt seasons to increase by two to three weeks over the last 20 years. The ice shelves' disintegration is accelerating, with much of the Wilkins Ice Shelf likely gone within a few years.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study reveals that Ectatomma ruidum ants employ chemical camouflage to infiltrate neighboring nests and steal food, relying on vigilance of guard ants to eject intruders. The unique strategy allows the peaceful species to prosper despite its inability to kill individual members.
Computer models of Venus' changing climate system may provide insights into Earth's dynamic past and potential future. The models suggest that volcanic activity could have increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to a cooling effect on the planet.
Researchers from CU-Boulder will create a virtual sensor by combining data from two instruments orbiting NASA's Mars Global Surveyor satellite. They aim to identify the surface composition of Mars' polar ice and plot its perimeters, gaining insights into climate change on both Earth and Mars.
A recent study suggests that early human activity in Australia may have contributed to the extinction of most large animal species. The research team used dating techniques to determine that an ostrich-sized bird called Genyornis newtoni went extinct around 50,000 years ago.
New research reveals the Van Allen radiation belts are powerful particle accelerators generating 'killer electrons' that can severely impair satellites. The accelerated electrons have a dramatic effect on human technological systems, including satellite failures and pager service disruptions.
A team of astronomers led by Bo Reipurth and John Bally observed that ultraviolet radiation from nearby massive stars destroyed the cocoons of gas and dust surrounding young stars, revealing billions of miles long supersonic jets. The destruction has provided new insight into star birth and evolution, and may have implications for the ...
A University of Colorado at Boulder study found that rats who exercised regularly before stress exposure were protected against its suppressive effect on immune response. Regular exercise in moderation can help buffer the negative effects of stress on the immune system, according to the researcher.
Researchers have discovered ancient reptile nests in Arizona's Petrified Forest, dating back 220 million years. The finds push the fossil record of reptile nesting behavior back by 110 million years.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and nuclear power, are crucial to fill the gap between energy demand and supply. John D. Edwards predicts that world crude oil production will peak in 2020 at 90 million barrels per day, emphasizing the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy options.
Deep Space 1, a miniaturized space probe powered by solar-electric propulsion, will navigate through space and analyze charged particles and magnetic fields surrounding an asteroid and two comets. The mission, led by CU-Boulder Professor Fran Bagenal, tests innovative technologies and aims to explore the outer solar system.
The University of Colorado at Boulder's archaeological team, led by Professor Payson Sheets, is developing a five-year conservation plan for the ancient village of Ceren. The plan aims to preserve the site's structures, artifacts and agricultural features using ground-penetrating radar and climate-controlled environments.
An ancient Antarctic ice core suggests a global climate-warming event occurred 12,500 years ago, with temperatures rising about 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a 50-year period. The findings challenge previous assumptions and throw new light on climate change research.
Scientists estimate a small amount of life could have existed on Mars through chemical reactions over billions of years. They also explore the possibility of life on Europa, estimating lower energy availability than on Mars.
A team led by University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Robert Hohlfelder has discovered a 1,700-year-old Christian church submerged in shallow water off the coast of southern Turkey. The stone church, with an elaborate apse and multicolored mosaic, is likely the only underwater church known from that era.
A University of Colorado at Boulder chemical engineering team has developed new techniques for faster healing of severe bone fractures and regeneration of cartilage in joints. The process uses ultraviolet light to create custom scaffolds that can be engineered to time-release medications and human-growth factors.
Researchers from CU-Boulder are part of a major international project to understand climate change trends in the Arctic and its impact on global temperatures. The Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean project uses aircraft, satellites, ships, and submarines to study interactions between sea ice, atmosphere, and clouds.
Researchers propose that intense magnetic fields from lightning can induce fatal electrical currents within the body, leading to unexplained heart malfunctions in high-altitude areas. The study, published in Lancet, suggests a new route for lightning-related injuries and deaths.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study reveals a significant decrease in glacier area and volume worldwide, especially at mid- and low-latitudes. Glaciers such as those in Africa's Mount Kenya have lost up to 92% of their mass and many glaciers in Europe and New Zealand have shrunk significantly.
The Bluff site, a Pueblo great house in the Four Corners region, shows signs of occupation well after the Chaco culture collapsed. The discovery suggests possible religious revival and potential movement of people from Chaco Canyon to the Aztec site.
Researchers confirm massive ice shelf break-off using satellite images, indicating rapid collapse beginning early next year. The 12,000 square kilometer Larsen B Ice Shelf is nearing its stability limit due to regional climate warming, with two-thirds of the ice sheet now at risk.
A new computer software called Intelligent Essay Assessor uses mathematical analysis to measure essay knowledge content. It has been extensively tested and published in peer-reviewed journals, providing consistent results that surpass human graders.
The CU-Boulder payload, dubbed COLLIDE, analyzes the gentle collisions of dust particles in space to understand the dynamics of larger particles. Four different impact speeds and two different depths of dust will be tested to shed light on the mysterious disappearance of dust from planetary ring particles.
A team at University of Colorado at Boulder has found a faint, doughnut-shaped ring of interplanetary and interstellar dust orbiting Jupiter. The ring is much larger and more sparse than previously detected rings, and most particles in it move in the opposite direction to Jupiter's rotation.
Scientists have discovered the oldest known astronomical alignment of megaliths in Egypt's Sahara Desert, dated to around 6,500-6,000 years ago. The Nabta site features a stone circle, tomb-like structures, and five lines of standing and toppled megaliths, which were likely used for ceremonial purposes.
The University of Colorado's Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite is successfully returning science data, measuring nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere and X-rays from the sun. The NASA mission was controlled by students and faculty 24/7, marking the second university-led satellite to be operated.
The Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (SNOE) satellite, designed and built by a team of University of Colorado at Boulder students and faculty, is set for launch on Feb. 4. The mission aims to measure nitric oxide in the upper atmosphere affecting Earth's ozone layer, x-rays from the sun, and ultraviolet light from Earth's aurora.
The Physics 2000 Project offers a fun and interactive approach to learning physics, featuring over 30 virtual experiments and explanations by cartoon characters. Users can explore topics such as X-rays, wave interference patterns, and electromagnetic radiation in an engaging and accessible way.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have created transgenic mice with gene mutations for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease that thickens the heart muscle and obstructs blood flow. The study may lead to new therapeutic agents to improve heart function in humans.
Astronomers have discovered eta Carinae, a bright stellar object in the Milky Way, to be the most massive binary star system ever known. The two stars, each weighing about 70 times that of the sun, orbit each other every 5.5 years, causing predictable spectral changes.
Geologist Professor Joseph Smyth discovered wadsleyite can contain solid water bound in crystals at extreme pressures. The earth's interior may store large amounts of water in the form of wadsleyite, which could regulate surface water levels. Laboratory tests are underway to determine the amount of water in wadsleyite.