indiana university bloomington
Rising CO2 is causing plants to release less water to the atmosphere, researchers say
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — As carbon dioxide levels have risen during the last 150 years, the density of pores that allow plants to breathe has dwindled by 34 percent, restricting the amount of water vapor the plants release to the atmosphere, report sc…
US falls behind other nations in reducing traffic fatalities and injuries
WASHINGTON — The United States is missing significant opportunities to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, and could save lives by implementing a more rigorous, comprehensive program that adopts successful safety practices from other count…
Can Hungary’s red sludge be made less toxic with carbon?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The red, metal-laden sludge that escaped a containment pond in Hungary last week could be made less toxic with the help of carbon sequestration, says an Indiana University Bloomington geologist who has a patent pending on …
Chocolate farmers could benefit from newly sequenced cacao genome
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A first draft of the cacao genome is complete, a consortium of academic, governmental, and industry scientists announced today. Indiana University Bloomington scientists performed much of the sequencing work, which is descri…
Similarities between infants learning to talk, birds learning to sing
How infants respond to their mother’s touches and smiles influences their development in a manner much like what young birds experience when learning to sing, according to a research project involving the Department of Psychology at Indiana University Bloomington and the Biological Foundations of Behavior program at Franklin and Marshall College.
Center studies wheelchair substitutes for beaches
It’s virtually impossible for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices to enjoy the full benefits of a beach experience, but the National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University Bloomington is working to remedy this situation that affects millions of Americans. “Most typical wheelchairs are impossible to use on sand, so people with disabilities are unable to enjoy the beach,” NCA Director Gary Robb explained. “We had about 40 men and women who use wheelchairs test five different wheeled devices designed to traverse beach sand to evaluate their usability. We are now compiling the data and hope to report our findings in two to three months to government agencies, people with disabilities, and others interested in an independent analysis of this equipment.”