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The Scientist: Matthew DeLisa
March 10th, 2010Sometimes, even chemical engineers have reason to party.
On February 4th, 2010, the chemical engineers of Cornell gathered to celebrate Prof. Matthew DeLisa, chemical and biomolecular engineering. He received tenure in May 2009, but decided to postpone the celebration until Olin Hall's renovation was complete. Although postponed, the party went on.
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New Light Shines on Nanocrystal Solar Cells
March 10th, 2010The Hanrath Energy laboratory, also known as the Hanrath Group, combats one of the biggest obstacles that marketable solar energy technology faces: cost. Led by Prof. Read More
Recent Earthquakes Rock Public Awareness
March 10th, 2010On Feb. 27, when Haiti laid in shambles from a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that leveled the nation less than two months prior, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Chile. The quick succession of these two calamities jolted public conscience of earthquakes, rekindled curiosity about forecasting and generated speculation about the relationship between natural disasters and climate change.
Read MoreSpencer Wells Explores Cornell
March 10th, 2010Five years and over 400,000 samples later, Cornell’s most recent Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of ’56 Professor, Dr. Spencer Wells, enhanced the public’s view of genetic anthropology. His work re-traces humanity’s migrations over the past 60,000 years. Read More
Archived Stories
Cornell Researchers Addresses Climate Impact on Bird Migrations
March 8th, 2010The pattern between winter weather and bird migration seems to be common knowledge: birds fly south for the winter. But how does climate really limit bird distributions and what changes have scientists seen as global climate patterns continue to fluctuate?
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Science Around the Ivies
March 3rd, 2010AT BROWN, researchers have discovered that the tropic-loving C4 grasses evolved because of rainfall, not temperature. Previous theories had attributed the rise of C4 grasses, roughly 35 million years ago, to the plants’ ability to survive in warmer temperatures. Brown’s scientists have found that this is only because hot climates tend to receive less precipitation. Read More
Sugarcane Ethanol: Sweet Solution or Bitter Issue?
March 3rd, 2010Some hail ethanol as the methadone needed to wean Western countries off fossil fuels. Others deplore it as environmental sabotage.
The effects of Brazil’s growing sugarcane industry have prompted scientists to ask the question: are biofuels sustainable?
New Simulations Blowing Away Old Wind Turbines
March 3rd, 2010Today’s wind turbines are not your father’s windmill. These pieces of machinery need to fuse the physical turbine to electrical systems, software and control mechanisms.
During a presentation to group of engineers and students in Upson Hall on Thursday, Rohit Shenoy discussed the difficult process of designing turbines.
Slaughterhouse Spotlight: Livestock Behavior
March 3rd, 2010“The only way we can prevent bad from becoming normal is to measure handling,” said Prof. Temple Grandin, animal science, Colorado State University. Grandin is one of the nation’s top researchers in livestock behavior. Read More
Cornell Researchers Work to Reduce Energy Usage in Water Treatment
March 1st, 2010What happens to Cornell’s dirty water once it goes down the drain? Currently, two percent of the United States’ electricity consumption goes toward treating that wastewater. Prof. Lars Angenent, biological and environmental engineering, and his peers work to reduce electrical consumption by applying bioelectrochemical systems to the wastewater treatment process. Read More