Science Utah

Scientists at the University of Utah recently received funding to contribute to the fight against the spread of Covid 19.

“This grant is studying mucus and it’s interactions with coronaviruses," said Dr. Jessica Kramer, and you heard right.  She is studying how coronaviruses interact with mucus.

Spring is almost here and many Utahns will take advantage of the warmer weather to get in just a few more ski days.  However, experts at the Utah Avalanche Center say avalanche dangers will change along with the season.

The Science Unwrapped talk at Utah State University this month focused on bees and how they impact our lives through the foods we eat.

Utah State University President Noelle Cockett is reviewing the most recent plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the university’s campuses across the state. Last week a meeting was hosted to inform students and faculty about the efforts.

No supernova has been observed in our Milky Way galaxy since the invention of the telescope in 1608. That may be about to change. 

Cache Valley is considered the "Silicon Valley of Instrumentation," thanks to its high concentration of remote sensing companies.  The proximity to Utah State University may be what draws these companies into the area.

Data from GPS collars on animals are used to determine crucial habitats and migration routes. Because of technological advances scientists can now collect animal locations in three dimensions as often as 32 times per second.  But this abundance of data comes with a downside.

As part of Utah State University's carbon neutrality goals, a report with recommendations for reducing carbon emissions is anticipated to be released this week.

Seven months ago the city of Logan stopped accepting plastics number 3 through 7 for recycling. Emily Malik, Logan's Conservation Coordinator, said the change in the amount of plastic waste delivered to the Logan landfill since then is relatively insignificant.

During the winter, animals like deer and elk are on the move— migrating to more favorable habitats. Unfortunately, migration routes often cross roads and highways, leading to conflict with humans. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources plans to build more wildlife crossings this year to mitigate these conflicts.

Strava is a fitness tracking app mountain bikers can use on their smartphones. It connects with their bike’s computer, allowing riders to track and record their activity and then create visuals of their progress. But it may be changing how people recreate.

Preliminary results from a new survey suggest that the majority of people think interruptions from technology are harmful to their family. Technoference occurs when technology interferes with human interactions and relationships.

Salt Lake City, the northern Wasatch Front, and the Uinta Basin all had high concentrations of ground-level ozone this year. When it occurs in the upper atmosphere, ozone is good for organisms because it blocks harmful UV rays. But when it occurs at ground level, ozone harms plants and animals by burning the tissues they use to breathe. 

When was the last time you thought about a time before internet? It wasn’t that long ago, only 50 years since the first message was sent between computers at the University of Califonia, Los Angeles and the Stanford Research Institute.

Soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, accounting for over three times more carbon than all plants on earth. According to a researcher who specializes in environmental issues, this could make it a key tool in the fight against climate change.

Utah State University researchers have recently released a new online tool to help Utahns improve their mental health.

Did you know that the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources depends on hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to track migratory birds in Utah?  

The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee is considering a bill to fund the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

Last week, the 3.9 earthquake centered near Tremonton came as a big surprise to Box Elder County geologists - caused by one of many unknown faults in northern Utah.

The University of Utah will be hosting a symposium on Thursday about air quality in the state. Dr. Steve Bannister will be a guest panalist. He studies the economic influence of air quality in Utah and around the world.

Previously thought to be extinct, black-footed ferrets are one of the rarest mammals in the United States. Thanks to captive breeding programs, these ferrets are being bred and reintroduced to prairie habitats across the Western US, including Coyote Basin near Vernal.

Not long ago, Pelican Lake, roughly between Vernal and Deschene, was full of bluegill fish and bass.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but for mice with induced Parkinson’s, exercise seems to slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease, and surveys suggest something similar could be happening with humans. A research group at University of Utah is looking into this kind of treatment with a grant for controlled experiments.

Drs. Bruce Bugbee and Lance Seefeldt are both scientists at Utah State University. Dr. Bugbee is a botanist, he studies plants; and Dr. Seefeldt is a biochemist, he studies the chemistry of living organisms. It may not sound like these scientists have very much in common, but they do have one common interest.