Featured Research
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Evidence shows starvation did not cause saber-tooth cat extinction
The latest study of the microscopic wear patterns on the teeth of the American lions and saber-toothed cats that roamed North America in the late Pleistocene found that they were living well off the fat of the land in the period just before they went extinct. Read MoreDec 26, 2012
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Year in Review: Vanderbilt’s top stories, images, Tweets and shares of 2012
The top news stories, Tweets, Facebook posts, photos and videos of the year. Read MoreDec 17, 2012
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Vanderbilt Poll: Voters prefer state run health care exchange
Tennessee voters prefer the state run the online Health Care Exchange required by the Affordable Health Care Act, according to a new poll from Vanderbilt University. More than 45 questions were asked of voters on a variety of subjects. Read MoreDec 12, 2012
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LAPOP: Discrimination still plagues Americas
Women, homosexuals and people with darker skin tones continue to face discrimination in the Americas, according to responses to the 2012 AmericasBarometer survey of Vanderbilt University’s Latin American Public Opinion Project. Read MoreDec 10, 2012
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Chancellor Zeppos: Irresponsible cuts to research will curtail innovation
"Our scientists and engineers are making discoveries today that will lead to unimaginable technological breakthroughs tomorrow in medicine, energy and technology. Without long-term sustained federal investments in science and engineering research, these discoveries simply will not be made," write Chancellor Zeppos and University of Tennessee president Joseph Di Pietro in The Tennessean. Read MoreDec 6, 2012
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Vice Chancellor Balser: ‘Cliff’ looming for biomedical research
"Beyond the damaging effects on the health of our people, disrupting the nation’s biomedical science infrastructure puts our economic future at risk," writes Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Jeff Balser in The Tennessean. Read MoreDec 6, 2012
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Education Week: More churn at the top in large districts
A study of California school districts by Jason Grissom, assistant professor of public policy and education, shows that nearly half of superintendents left their districts within three years, including nearly three-quarters of the superintendents of the largest districts. Read MoreDec 4, 2012
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Vanderbilt and MNPS to lead tri-state efforts to build ‘pipeline of teaching excellence’
Advancing the math and science achievement of third through sixth graders in high-need schools is the aim of a new national partnership, being led in Tennessee, New York and Washington by faculty and staff from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of education and human development and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. Read MoreNov 30, 2012
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Mosquitoes as involuntary bioterrorists
Vanderbilt biologists have discovered that mosquitoes possess a previously unknown mechanism for destroying pathogens which takes advantage of the peculiarities of the insect’s circulatory system to increase its effectiveness. Read MoreNov 29, 2012
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Online archive extends legacy of dulcimer legend David Schnaufer
The Appalachian Dulcimer Archive contains sound clips of David Schnaufer playing various dulcimers, photos and history about dulcimers from Schnaufer’s collection, biographical material about Schnaufer and other information. Read MoreNov 29, 2012
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New research to help principals use teacher effectiveness for hiring, retention decisions
Helping school administrators navigate an ever-growing stream of teacher effectiveness data and apply it to their human capital decision-making is the focus of a Vanderbilt University study, which was awarded a $590,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Read MoreNov 29, 2012
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New faculty: Jaco Hamman connects theology and practice
The Rev. Jaco Hamman’s decision to avoid the draft for the South African military, which was responsible for enforcing apartheid, propelled his 1993 move from his native country to the United States, where work as a hospital chaplain shaped his career. Read MoreNov 16, 2012
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Holiday sale backlash: Do consumers think cheap prices mean cheap products?
Vanderbilt research looks at how consumers value products based on price and popularity. Read MoreNov 15, 2012
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Why learning guitar is different from learning other instruments
Through a set of experiments, Gordon Logan, Nashville musician Jerry Kimbrough and Matthew Crump (now of Brooklyn College-CUNY) have illustrated that guitarists – and players of other related instruments like mandolin, banjo and bass – tend to acquire their skills differently than most other musicians. Read MoreNov 13, 2012
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Daily Beast: Were the Romney and Obama TV ads a total waste?
They spent a total of $1 billion on TV ads, but most were instantly forgettable—and none swayed opinion. Next time, writes John G. Geer, make the ads memorable. Read MoreNov 13, 2012
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Autism Speaks: Researching sleep, tirelessly
Sleep research is one of the many initiatives made possible through Vanderbilt’s participation in the Autism Treatment Network. Read MoreNov 13, 2012
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Homeschooling goes under the microscope in new Peabody research
In a first-of-its-kind analysis, Peabody researcher Joseph Murphy examines the highly understudied homeschooling movement and its impact on students and society. Read MoreNov 12, 2012
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Despite their thick skins, alligators and crocodiles are surprisingly touchy
Researchers have discovered that alligators and crocodiles possess one of the most acute senses of touch in the animal kingdom. Read MoreNov 8, 2012
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Brain study provides new insight into why haste makes waste
A new study demonstrates how the brain follows Ben Franklin’s famous dictum, “Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.” Read MoreNov 7, 2012
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Advanced exoskeleton promises more independence for people with paraplegia
A team of Vanderbilt engineers has developed a powered exoskeleton that enables people with severe spinal cord injuries to stand, walk, sit and climb stairs. Its light weight, compact size and modular design promise to provide users with an unprecedented degree of independence. Read MoreOct 30, 2012