Science News Releases
Revealing Ancient Secrets: 1,000 Years of Tree Rings in Yellowstone Show Recent Climate Warming Trend
Posted Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:06:00 -0700
This story by Jerry Painter appeared in the Idaho State Journal on May 31. Like careful note-takers during the past 1,250 years, Engelmann spruce trees high in the Yellowstone National Park backcountry have left behind a record of how harsh summer temperatures have been. A new study of living and dead tree ring samples, applying new technology, reveals that the past 20 years in Yellowstone have been the hottest in 1,250 years. The new temperature record was cross-referenced with the shorter instrumental records of the national park that are available since 1905. The millennium-long record was gathered by a group of researchers from the University of Idaho led by dendrochronologist Karen Heeter. Read more
Revealing Ancient Secrets: 1,000 Years of Tree Rings in Yellowstone Show Recent Climate Warming Trend
Posted Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:06:00 -0700
This story by Jerry Painter appeared in the Idaho State Journal on May 31. Like careful note-takers during the past 1,250 years, Engelmann spruce trees high in the Yellowstone National Park backcountry have left behind a record of how harsh summer temperatures have been. A new study of living and dead tree ring samples, applying new technology, reveals that the past 20 years in Yellowstone have been the hottest in 1,250 years. The new temperature record was cross-referenced with the shorter instrumental records of the national park that are available since 1905. The millennium-long record was gathered by a group of researchers from the University of Idaho led by dendrochronologist Karen Heeter. Read more
A U of I-Led Study Identifies a Protein That Saves Cells From Formaldehyde Toxicity
Posted Fri, 28 May 2021 11:54:00 -0700
Normal cellular processes give rise to toxins, like formaldehyde, that cells must mitigate. Bacteria that feed on methanol, like Methylorubrum extorquens, produce a lot of formaldehyde. A U of I-led study published in PLOS Biology identified a protein that acts as a kill-switch, binding to formaldehyde and leading to a rapid cessation in growth and protein production. This protein, named EfgA, is the first formaldehyde sensor ever discovered in bacteria that eat methanol as food and is found nearly universally among bacteria with this metabolic capacity. Read more
U of I-Led Study Finds Ongoing Evolution in Tasmanian Devils’ Response to Transmissible Cancer
Posted Wed, 26 May 2021 09:49:00 -0700
MOSCOW, Idaho — May 26, 2021 — University of Idaho researchers partnered with other scientists from the United States and Australia to study the evolution of Tasmanian devils in response to a unique transmissible cancer. Read more
Jagdish Patel and Colleagues Identify Natural Product That Inhibits Cancer Cells
Posted Wed, 19 May 2021 13:29:00 -0700
U of I molecular modeler Jagdish Patel worked with Canadian scientists to identify a natural product from actinomycete extracts that might be useful in combating cancer. They focused on various actinomycete, a type of bacteria often used in the bioremediation of water or soil that has been polluted, and published their work in Cell Chemical Biology. They identified one compound that selectively targets and inhibits cancer stem cells over normal stem cells as well as the chemical pathway the natural product influences. Read more
Jagdish Patel and Colleagues Identify Natural Product That Inhibits Cancer Cells
Posted Wed, 19 May 2021 13:29:00 -0700
U of I molecular modeler Jagdish Patel worked with Canadian scientists to identify a natural product from actinomycete extracts that might be useful in combating cancer. They focused on various actinomycete, a type of bacteria often used in the bioremediation of water or soil that has been polluted, and published their work in Cell Chemical Biology. They identified one compound that selectively targets and inhibits cancer stem cells over normal stem cells as well as the chemical pathway the natural product influences. Read more
U of I Researcher to Study STIs Using Biomimetic Models of the Female Reproductive Tract
Posted Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:25:00 -0700
Larry Forney from the Department of Biological Sciences will take part in a five-year grant of $7,875,379 that was awarded to an interdisciplinary team that also includes researchers from the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia and the University of Delaware. The project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to develop innovative biomimetic models of the lower reproductive tract of women to study aspects of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by chlamydia and gonorrhea that are not achievable in humans or with the animal and cell models currently available. The ultimate impact of this research will be to improve public health by reducing the incidence of STIs in humans. Read more
U of I Researcher to Study STIs Using Biomimetic Models of the Female Reproductive Tract
Posted Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:25:00 -0700
Larry Forney from the Department of Biological Sciences will take part in a five-year grant of $7,875,379 that was awarded to an interdisciplinary team that also includes researchers from the University of Maryland, the University of Virginia and the University of Delaware. The project, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to develop innovative biomimetic models of the lower reproductive tract of women to study aspects of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by chlamydia and gonorrhea that are not achievable in humans or with the animal and cell models currently available. The ultimate impact of this research will be to improve public health by reducing the incidence of STIs in humans. Read more
Campus Can Crushers Recycle More Than 81,500 Cans Across U of I Campus
Posted Fri, 16 Apr 2021 11:13:00 -0700
This story by Lynsey Amundson was published by KIVI-TV in Boise on April 15. MOSCOW — With a grant from the University of Idaho biology engineer student, Addie White, created "Campus Can Crushers" to help Idaho become more recycle friendly. “They are highly durable metal can crushers in the shape of university logos," White said. "It’s a project I started at the University of Idaho because our recycling program was cut.” Read more
Campus Can Crushers Recycle More Than 81,500 Cans Across U of I Campus
Posted Fri, 16 Apr 2021 11:13:00 -0700
This story by Lynsey Amundson was published by KIVI-TV in Boise on April 15. MOSCOW — With a grant from the University of Idaho biology engineer student, Addie White, created "Campus Can Crushers" to help Idaho become more recycle friendly. “They are highly durable metal can crushers in the shape of university logos," White said. "It’s a project I started at the University of Idaho because our recycling program was cut.” Read more
Combining QPI and Deep Learning to Improve Subcellular Imaging
Posted Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:39:00 -0700
Researchers from the University of Idaho and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are improving the ability to study the metabolism and dynamics of living cells. In a new paper published in PLOS One, Northwest Knowledge Network Director Luke Sheneman, Associate Professor of Physics Andreas Vasdekis and MIT Chemical Engineering Professor Gregory Stephanopoulos develop a unique framework for performing accurate, high-throughput and non-invasive subcellular imaging and classification. Read more
Two U of I Students Will Receive Prestigious Goldwater Research Scholarships
Posted Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:54:00 -0700
MOSCOW, Idaho — April 7, 2021 — Two University of Idaho students were selected from a pool of 5,000 candidates nationwide to receive the prestigious Goldwater scholarship for the upcoming academic year. Read more
Idaho medical students match with residency programs in their hometowns
Posted Mon, 05 Apr 2021 14:01:00 -0700
This story by Nicole Camarda was published by KIVI-TV in Boise on April 2. Idaho has seen a shortage of physicians and in 2019, the state was 49th in the country for active physicians per 100,000 patients. Friday was the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the University of Idaho and the University of Washington, which enables Idaho students to learn at a top-ranked medical school. The University of Washington's School of Medicine’s WWAMI program, which stands for and serves Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho celebrated “Match Day” recently. Read more
Professors Research Effect of Warming on Dall’s Sheep in Alaska and Canada
Posted Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:16:00 -0700
Changes in Arctic habitats brought on by global warming could adversely affect Dall’s sheep in Alaska and Canada, according to a new paper published in PLOS One by University of Idaho researchers. Assistant Research Professor of Landscape and Wildlife Ecology Jocelyn Aycrigg, Professor of Wildlife Ecology Janet Rachlow and Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Ecology and Statistics Edward O. Garton of the College of Natural Resources Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences show that habitat selected by Dall’s sheep is influenced by snow depth and cover, temperature and avoidance of shrubs. Read more
Forney Awarded Visiting Endowed Chair at University of Puerto Rico
Posted Mon, 22 Feb 2021 14:56:00 -0800
University Distinguished Professor Larry J. Forney has been awarded the Hispanics in Research Capability Visiting Endowed Chair in Health Disparities Research from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus. Read more
Paper Explores Use of Shell Material to Gather DNA From Mollusks
Posted Fri, 19 Feb 2021 11:34:00 -0800
Kelly Martin, a biology doctorate student, and two faculty members, including Christine Parent, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Lisette Waits, distinguished professor in the College of Natural Resources, jointly produced a paper on mollusk shells that appeared in BioScience, a peer-reviewed science journal published by Oxford University. The paper explores the use of unconventional DNA sources from mollusks, which have the highest number of extinctions of any taxonomic group. Traditionally, mollusk shell material was used for morphological research. Not until recently has it been used in DNA studies. Successful recovery of shell DNA can help answer ecological and evolutionary questions and protect molluscan diversity, according to the paper. Read more
Biology Professor Recognized by Alma Mater for Success, Service and Leadership
Posted Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:48:00 -0800
College of Science Professor Jim Bull has been recognized as the 2021 Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus by Texas Tech University College of Arts and Sciences, where he earned an undergraduate degree before earning his doctorate from the University of Utah. The award recognizes former teachers and students for their “innovation, community service and leadership, pursuit of excellence, public accountability and diversity.” Jim was also recognized for his “professional success and service to the community and representation of the university” as an “undeniable candidate for this prestigious honor.” Read more
Distinguished Professor Celebrates 60 Years of Chemistry Research at U of I
Posted Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:58:00 -0800
University Distinguished Professor Jean’ne Shreeve celebrated 60 years with the University of Idaho chemistry department on Monday, a milestone that — along with Shreeve’s accomplishments — is a tough act to follow. Read more
Distinguished Professor Celebrates 60 Years of Chemistry Research at U of I
Posted Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:58:00 -0800
University Distinguished Professor Jean’ne Shreeve celebrated 60 years with the University of Idaho chemistry department on Monday, a milestone that — along with Shreeve’s accomplishments — is a tough act to follow. Read more
Zebrafish May Hold Clues for Retinal Regeneration in Humans
Posted Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:17:00 -0800
What can zebrafish do that humans can’t? They can regenerate damaged neurons in their retina for starters. Assistant Professor Diana Mitchell in the Department of Biological Sciences recently received $1.25 million of direct funding from the National Institutes of Health to study specialized immune cells called microglia and macrophages to determine if the function of these cells could help explain why zebrafish have this ability and humans don’t. Mitchell’s grant proposal was submitted through the Institute of Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies. Read more