Society & Culture - Jun 23, 2010 11:59 - 1 Comment

Microfinance success tied to macroeconomy

MICHIGAN STATE (US)—Success or failure of microfinance depends largely on the state of a nation’s economy, according to a new study. (more…)

Science & Technology - Jun 21, 2010 15:21 - 2 Comments

Can quantum dots stop heat loss in solar cells?

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Researchers have cleared a major hurdle in the drive to build solar cells with potential efficiencies up to twice as high as current levels, which rarely exceed 30 percent. (more…)

Earth & Environment - Jun 2, 2010 9:24 - 3 Comments

Steep rise in dioxins from antibacterial soap

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Specific dioxins derived from the antibacterial agent triclosan, used in many hand soaps, deodorants, dishwashing liquids, and other consumer products, account for an increasing proportion of total dioxins found in Mississippi River sediments. (more…)

Earth & Environment - May 24, 2010 16:52 - 0 Comments

Time limits, not quotas, for hunting, fishing

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Hunting and fishing quotas limit the number of game animals or fish an individual may take based on harvests from the previous year. But according to a new study, this strategy may jeopardize wildlife populations. (more…)

Society & Culture - May 20, 2010 14:16 - 3 Comments

Is money the ultimate pain reliever?

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Simply holding money may actually reduce pain—both physical and emotional. (more…)

Science & Technology - May 19, 2010 13:06 - 0 Comments

How the body moves electricity efficiently

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Researchers have created a molecular image of a system that moves electrons between proteins in cells. The work could provide insights to minimize energy loss in other systems, from nanoscale devices to moving electricity around the country. (more…)

Society & Culture - May 18, 2010 11:32 - 0 Comments

Should FTC set rules for Facebook?

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Concerns about changes to Facebook policies regarding sharing user information have some asking if the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should set up social media guidelines to protect users’ privacy. (more…)

Science & Technology - Mar 31, 2010 12:48 - 0 Comments

Barcodes reveal insects’ hidden habits

U. MINNESOTA (US)—DNA barcoding is giving researchers a faster way to study where insects go and what they eat along the way. (more…)

Earth & Environment - Mar 17, 2010 14:31 - 0 Comments

‘Green’ bean gene triggers nitrogen fix

STANFORD (US)—Nitrogen-producing bacteria living inside legumes, such as soybeans, could blunt the negative effects of fertilizer and aid efforts to make agriculture more sustainable. (more…)

Earth & Environment - Mar 8, 2010 15:37 - 0 Comments

Could higher CO2 slow biodiversity loss?

U. MINNESOTA (US)—For years, a global rain of nitrogen from fertilizers and exhaust fumes has been linked to losses of species diversity among communities of plants. However, new research shows that rising CO2 could mitigate the loss of biodiversity brought about by nitrogen pollution. (more…)

Science & Technology - Mar 5, 2010 12:31 - 1 Comment

Dark matter ‘bump’ detected deep underground

MINNESOTA (US)—Physicists have recorded two interactions of subatomic particles whose signals look like those expected from the dark matter that gives shape to galaxies and forms the bulk of the Universe. (more…)

Science & Technology - Mar 3, 2010 11:53 - 0 Comments

‘Killer’ algae’s dark side

U. MINNESOTA (US)—A toxic alga, once thought to be a helpless, sun-loving microbe, is really a vicious, venom-producing predator responsible for massive fish kills in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways. (more…)

Science & Technology - Mar 2, 2010 21:00 - 1 Comment

For fish, body form follows function

U. MINNESOTA (US)—The water movements generated by fish as they swim could have a hand in shaping the form of their bodies and their swimming style. (more…)

Health & Medicine - Nov 16, 2009 16:25 - 2 Comments

Phthalates prevent boys from being boys?

U. ROCHESTER (US)—A study of 145 preschool children reports that when the concentrations of two common plastic softeners—known as phthalates—in mothers’ prenatal urine are elevated their sons are less likely to engage in male-typical play. (more…)

Society & Culture - Nov 12, 2009 15:52 - 0 Comments

Internet meltdown unlikely

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Even as Internet traffic grows by as much as 50 percent a year, concerns that usage will eventually overwhelm the system are unfounded, according to work by mathematics professor Andrew Odlyzko. (more…)

Earth & Environment - Nov 12, 2009 15:23 - 1 Comment

How walkable is your neighborhood?

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Life in the suburbs may not be all its cracked up to be. A new study finds that the suburbs fare poorly in both walkability—the degree of ease for walking—and in pollution levels. (more…)

Earth & Environment - Nov 3, 2009 14:54 - 1 Comment

As wolves age, killer instincts fade

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Young wolves are leaders of the pack as far as the ability to kill elk is concerned. However, a new study of wolves in Yellowstone National Park finds wolves are in their hunting prime at the ages of 2 and 3, but after that, their skills deteriorate steadily. (more…)

Earth & Environment - Nov 2, 2009 10:50 - 0 Comments

Mapping the bottom of the world

U. MINNESOTA (US)—Penguin poop has a reddish tint that makes colonies and trails stand out on satellite images. That’s a boon to researchers who want to identify and keep track of remote, inaccessible colonies. But to do so, they need somebody to turn satellite images into maps. (more…)

Posts Tagged ‘University of Minnesota’