Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute • 24th September 2021

Black-Footed Ferrets: Top Milestones for a Species Once Presumed Extinct

Black-footed ferrets, North America’s only native ferret species, were thought to have gone extinct in 1979. On Sept. 26, 1981, a black-footed ferret was discovered on the Wyoming prairie. From that unlikely occurrence, an entire species began its comeback — one of the most remarkable conservation stories on Earth. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the last black-footed ferret colony, here are five of this miraculous species’ momentous conservation milestones.

Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute • 27th August 2021

Tracking backpacks for tiny hawks

Not all heroes wear capes, some wear GPS-enabled backpacks and have feathers. Joe Kolowski is a wildlife ecologist and animal tracking expert with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. He leads a remarkable project to study the breeding ranges of kestrels by fitting them with tiny tracking backpacks.

Ecological Society of America Newsroom • 16th August 2021

Putting a price tag on the priceless: Real-world property values in Kenya aid conservation decisions – The Ecological Society of America

Wildlife is priceless, but wildlife conservation is far from free. Being able to assess the value of land is vital to the success of land conservation. In an effort to bolster this understanding, a Kenyan ecologist, Peter Tyrrell of the University of Oxford and the South Rift Association of Landowners, turned to data science methods to mine data from real estate websites to determine how land is valued across Kenya.

Ecological Society of America Newsroom • 21st July 2021

Farm-dwelling Tree Swallows are Feeding Their Chicks Pesticide-laced Prey

On agricultural landscapes, pesticides travel through food webs and can negatively affect local wildlife populations. However, few studies have considered the long-term, cumulative effect of multiple pesticides on avian species, and most are carried out with treated food in a laboratory setting, not in the living landscape. Other studies have analyzed pesticides in the soil and water, but not in the food web itself.

Ecological Society of America Newsroom • 12th July 2021

Crystal clear: Lepidopterans have many ways of being transparent

Butterflies and moths have beautiful wings: the bright flare of an orange monarch, the vivid stripes of a swallowtail, the luminous green of a Luna moth. But some butterflies flutter on even more dramatic wings: parts of their wing, or sometimes the entire wing itself, are actually transparent.

Purdue University News Service • 28th June 2021

Still taking giant leaps from lunar small steps: Purdue scientists analyze moon dust collected by Apollo 17 astronauts

Humans have not set foot on the moon for nearly 50 years, but the Apollo moon missions aren’t over. The echoes from Neil Armstrong’s first steps are still helping scientists make giant leaps in understanding the moon’s geology.

Purdue University News Service • 15th June 2021

Soaking Up the Sun: Artificial photosynthesis promises a clean, sustainable source of energy

Humans can do lots of things that plants can’t do. But plants have one major advantage over humans: They can make energy directly from the sun. That process of turning sunlight directly into usable energy – called photosynthesis – may soon be a feat humans are able to mimic to harness the sun’s energy for clean, storable, efficient fuel. If so, it could open a whole new frontier of clean energy.

Purdue University News Service • 2nd June 2021

A Sticky Subject: Studying shellfish for advanced adhesives

Humans have been trying to stick things to other things for millennia. But shellfish have been doing it for eons longer. And they are far better at it than humans. Which is why Purdue chemists got to wondering: Why don’t we just use whatever they’re using? Anyone who has ever tried to unstick a barnacle from a rock knows that it’s nearly impossible. That success is something Jonathan Wilker, a Purdue professor of chemistry and materials engineering, and his lab are hoping to learn from – and build on.

Purdue University News Service • 26th May 2021

On the Road Again: New solutions for old problems

Self-curing concrete, self-healing roads, and concrete that reduces the global carbon footprint. Purdue University engineers are looking at new ways to pave roads, ways to extend the life of roads and ways to make roadwork less resource- and carbon-intensive.

Purdue University News Service • 19th May 2021

Data Science Pairs with Cancer Research for Better Diagnostics, Therapies

The next generation of treatments for cancer may be found, not by scientists peering through microscopes, but by computer scientists crunching numbers. Thanks to unprecedented amounts of data, Purdue University scientists are using innovative data science techniques to better understand the genetics and cellular biology of cancer cells and tumors.

Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute • 18th May 2021

17-year Cicadas: Bird buffet or a big disturbance?

As the emergence of 17-year cicadas, commonly referred to as Brood X, approaches, animal keepers are gearing up to keep an extra close eye on their charges, especially those that eat insects, to make sure they don't over-indulge. But of course, zoo animals aren't the only ones that eat cicadas. Local songbirds, including chickadees, bluebirds and cardinals, will take advantage of their abundance too, something Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientists are eager to study.

Purdue University News Service • 17th May 2021

Building the Workforce for the Quantum Age

The Stone Age. The Bronze Age. The Iron Age. The Industrial Revolution. Eras tend to be defined by their technology, and humans may be headed for a new one: the Quantum Age. As the Digital Revolution ushered in an era of computer scientists, software engineers and electrical engineers, the evolution of quantum technology needs human hands and minds to develop it.

Purdue University News Service • 3rd May 2021

Flying Among the Stars: Professor uses virtual reality to teach astronomy

A professor at Purdue University is teaching his students astronomy by letting them touch the stars. Danny Milisavljevic, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, is using innovative new technology for his students to use virtual reality headsets to explore space.

Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute • 29th April 2021

Cicada Snacks: The wild (and tasty) side of Brood X at the zoo

They slumber underground for 16 summers, nestled near tree roots, sipping xylem — the nutrient-poor water inside tree tissues. Then, as ground temperatures rise on the 17th summer, they emerge and begin blindly burrowing their way toward the surface, bursting forth to a summer of song, flight and love. It sounds like a spooky fairy tale but in fact, it’s the actual true story of the 17-year Brood X cicadas and for some Zoo animals, the beginning of a tasty bug buffet.

Purdue University News Service • 21st April 2021

Monkeys are Less Cuddly with Each Other When Dealing with an Infection

Social grooming plays an important role in vervet monkey society, helping concrete social bonds and increase an animal’s chances of reproduction. However, anthropologist Brandi Wren’s research reveals that monkeys suffering from certain gastrointestinal parasites may not participate in grooming as much as infection-free monkeys.

Purdue University News Service • 20th April 2021

‘Undruggable’ Cancer Protein Becomes Druggable, Thanks to Shrub

Inspired by a rare compound found in a shrub native to North America, Mingji Dai, professor of chemistry and a scientist at the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, discovered a cost-effective and efficient way to synthesize it in the lab. The compound — curcusone D — has the potential to help combat a protein found in many cancers

Purdue University News Service • 6th April 2021

Biologist Uses Malaria Expertise to Track COVID-19 Variants

Giovanna Carpi’s lab studies the genomics of infectious diseases to better understand how they spread. An assistant professor of biological sciences, she focuses her research primarily on malaria. With the onset of the pandemic, her lab pivoted to study the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, including tracking variants.

Purdue University News Service • 25th February 2021

Scientists Use Doppler to Peer Inside Cells

Doppler radar improves lives by peeking inside air masses to predict the weather. A Purdue University team is using similar technology to look inside living cells, introducing a method to detect pathogens and treat infections in ways that scientists never have before.

Purdue University News Service • 10th February 2021

New Mix Could Double Concrete’s Carbon Uptake

Cement, a component of concrete, produces 8% of the world’s carbon footprint. Looking to lower that percentage, Purdue University engineers have discovered a way to make concrete more sustainable. Their new recipe for concrete has the potential to cut carbon emissions dramatically, creating building blocks for a better world.

Purdue University News Service • 2nd February 2021

Digital Inclusion in a Time of Coronavirus

During the pandemic, internet has become more important than ever. From streaming meetings and classes, to virtual worship services and telehealth appointments, to ordering groceries and scheduling COVID tests, access to internet can feel like a literal lifeline. It is a lifeline that hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers lack.