Page 4 - Inventing Tomorrow

TECH DIGEST
U geospatial center to create
elevation maps of Arctic
The University’s Polar Geospatial Center researchers, with support from the National Science Founda- tion, are leading a project to create the rst publicly available, satellite- based elevation maps of Alaska and the Arctic. The project, called Arctic DEM, is part of a national initiative recently announced by President Barack Obama. Researchers will be able to use the maps to learn how warming in the region is a ecting the rural landscape. To learn more, visit z.umn.edu/mappingarctic
New hope for those with
nerve injuries or disease
More than 200,000 people annually with paraplegia, quadriplegia, and other forms of paralysis could poten- tially bene t from a rst-of-its-kind, 3D-printed guide speci cally designed to help regrow the sensory and motor functions of complex nerves after injury. The ground- breaking research, led by Michael McAlpine, a mechanical engineering professor, was published recently in Advanced Functional Materials. To learn more: z.umn.edu/regrownerves
Supercomputer fuels research to limit carbon emissions
University chemistry researchers are running modeling software to develop more e cient and cost-e ective ways to capture carbon dioxide emissions before they reach the atmosphere with Mesabi, the University of Minnesota’s fastest supercomputer. At a speed 3,864 times faster than a typical personal computer and with 8,700 times the memory, scientists like Laura Gagliardi, professor of chemistry, are conducting compute-intensive research using complex computer modeling programs. To learn more, visit z.umn.edu/supercomputer
Physicists release rst results from neutrino experiment at NOvA lab
Scientists on the NOvA experi- ment saw their rst evidence of oscillating neutrinos, con rming the extraordinary detector built in northern Minnesota for the project not only functions as planned but also is making great progress toward its goal of understanding the cosmos, including antimatter, dark matter and the Higgs
boson. For more information, visit:
z.umn.edu/novaexperiment
Cougars likely to repopulate American Midwest in next 25 years
A new study by
University researchers shows a strong likeli- hood that the United States mid-section
will become home to healthy populations
of cougars within
the next 25 years.
To learn more: z.umn.edu/cougarpopulation
4 INVENTING TOMORROW