Institute of Technology: Driven to Discover

What are neutrinos?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:49:33 -0600

Neutrinos are particles with the smallest mass, the weakest interaction, and no electric charge. Neutrinos change as they travel and their oscillations could tell why the universe exists. U of M physicists discovered the third of the three neutrino types and are measuring the oscillations of neutrinos shot through the earth from Chicago to the U of M laboratory in northern Minnesota.

Can we ease traffic jams without new roads?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:49:09 -0600

Mechanical engineering associate professor Rajesh Rajamani and a research team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering are developing a prototype of a narrow commuter vehicle that would take up less than half the space of a standard automobile and could be driven two abreast in a normal traffic lane, helping alleviate traffic congestion.

How do we make sure students can do math?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:48:30 -0600

Each year, the University of Minnesota's School of Mathematics offers about 200 classes--teaching math to more than 13,000 students from a wide variety of academic areas. As large as those numbers are, the department expects them to increase as math skills become increasingly important in our society.

Where do fossil fuel emissions end up?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:48:02 -0600

Geology assistant professor Katsumi Matsumoto, who researches carbon cycles, says approximately half of the carbon dioxide emitted in recent decades has remained in the atmosphere. The oceans absorb about 30 percent, and land plants and soils absorb the rest. This partitioning has changed in the past and will change in the future, as we continue to modify the land surface and marine environment.

Can nature help us meet our energy needs?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:47:21 -0600

Electrical and computer engineering professor Ned Mohan and his University of Minnesota colleagues are researching new technologies for storing energy generated by wind turbines and converting it into usable electricity. Mohan is also researching ways to save energy by making motors and generators smaller and more efficient.

Can we program robots to collaborate?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:46:42 -0600

Computer science and engineering professor Maria Gini is researching artificial intelligence and robotics. The goal is to develop robots that work together to accomplish tasks, despite unexpected changes in the
environment or sensor failures. Specific examples of these tasks include exploration, mapping of indoor/outdoor environments, and navigation.

Will global warming affect fish in Minnesota?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:46:02 -0600

Civil engineering professor Heinz Stefan and other researchers at the University's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory say their simulations show that cold-water fish (trout and cisco) would see their habitat reduced by 80 to 90 percent, while cool-water fish (walleye and northern pike) and warm-water fish (bass) would likely experience improved growth conditions.

Does plastic really last forever in the trash?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:45:30 -0600

Associate professor of chemistry Marc Hillmyer works on several collaborative efforts at the University of Minnesota aimed at developing new "natural" plastics that are biodegradable, durable, and inexpensive. Many of these materials, such as polylactide (PLA), are derived from biorenewable resources such as plain old cornstarch.

Is there a cheap, efficient way to make fuel?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:44:36 -0600

Chemical engineering and materials science professor Lanny Schmidt and a team of U researchers are working on a process that could slash the cost of producing renewable fuels from plant-derived materials. The process works 10 to 100 times faster than current technologies and could be done in facilities about 10 times smaller than today.

Can we study the brain from the outside?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:44:05 -0600

New findings about the electrical properties of the human skull by University biomedical engineering professor Bin He may hold the key to developing more non-invasive techniques for diagnosing and monitoring epilepsy, comas, and other brain activity. The research could also lead to more accurate brain surgery.

What is a supernova imposter?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:43:22 -0600

Supernovae explosions end the lives of millions of stars. U of M astronomy professors Kris Davidson and Roberta Humphreys study very massive stars that experience violent outbursts that may rival supernovae in brightness, but survive the explosion. These "imposters" are more mysterious than real supernovae.

How could planes fly safely without a pilot?

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 15:41:53 -0600

Aerospace engineering and mechanics assistant professor Demoz Gebre-Egziabher is researching new developments in the world of unmanned flights. University researchers are studying ways to make the next generation of highly reliable and accurate navigation systems.

How does a mass create gravity?

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:24:57 -0600

Every mass--be it an apple or the sun--distorts space and time, explains Physics and Astronomy professor Serge Rudaz. Gravity, he says, is the manifestation of that distortion.

What was going on around here before the Big Bang?

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:32:42 -0600

This oft-posed question is somewhat nonsensical to Big Bang theorists, says Big Bang expert Keith Olive. That's because, according to their scientific analysis, the Big Bang was the event that created both space and time. Therefore, there was no "around here" and no "before" until the Big Bang occurred.

What are the chances of intelligent life in outer space?

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:31:24 -0600

The odds are "definitely not zero" and are potentially quite high, according to University astronomy professor Charles "Chick" Woodward. Additionally, the odds are on the rise, he says, as scientists apply new information to an equation developed in the 1960s to answer just this question.