Life, Earth and Space
Vanderbilt scientists use fossil records to understand the present, predict future ecosystems
Apr. 19, 2021—Vanderbilt environmental scientists show that patterns found in fossil records of ancient ecosystems may be the key to combating today’s biodiversity crisis and making informed conservation decisions.
Diet of Homotherium sabertooth cat included baby mammoths, according to new research
Apr. 15, 2021—Chemical signatures and microscopic wear patterns in dental fossils show that the diet of sabertooth cats included mammoths.
Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory to host virtual star party April 17
Apr. 5, 2021—Join Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory on Saturday, April 17, at 8 p.m. CT for a free, educational star party and discussion.
Vanderbilt research shows how polar bears maintained highly specialized diets during periods of Arctic warming—until now
Apr. 1, 2021—Dental analysis from Larisa DeSantis shows that polar bears may not be able to compete for food sources as their environment melts away.
Award-winning paleontologist to discuss how the past can help us conserve our future in virtual event March 24
Mar. 22, 2021—The Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative is hosting a free presentation by prominent paleoconservationist Michael Archer, who will discuss how understanding ancient life can help conservationists save endangered species today. The virtual event will be Wednesday, March 24, at 3:10 p.m. CT.
Voyager missions discussion hosted by Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory on March 25
Mar. 22, 2021—Billy Teets, director and resident astronomer for Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, will lead a discussion of the history of the Voyager spacecraft—including their engineering, major discoveries and what they are up to today. The virtual event will be at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 25.
Vanderbilt scientists sketch rare star system using more than a century of astronomical observations
Mar. 15, 2021—Vanderbilt astronomers have painted their best picture yet of an RV Tauri variable—a rare type of stellar binary—by mining a 130-year-old dataset that spans the widest range of light yet collected for one of these systems, from radio waves to X-rays.
Bordenstein elected to American Academy of Microbiology
Mar. 2, 2021—Seth Bordenstein, Centennial Professor of Biological Sciences and director of the Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, has been elected to fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology.
Evidence suggests climate whiplash may have more extremes in store for California
Feb. 24, 2021—Vanderbilt paleoclimatologists deploy first calcium isotope analysis of North American stalagmite to show how past weather extremes may predict events in California.
Award-winning paleontologist and National Academy of Sciences member Kay Behrensmeyer to discuss our understanding of ancient life on Feb. 24
Feb. 19, 2021—Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History senior scientist Kay Behrensmeyer will discuss fossilization and its relevance to our understanding of ancient life on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 3:10 p.m. CT.
Sean B. Carroll, award-winning scientist, author, educator and film producer, to deliver 2021 Darwin Day Lecture on Feb. 10
Feb. 3, 2021—Sean B. Carroll, a world-renowned evolutionary biologist whose discoveries have shed light on the evolution of animal diversity, will deliver the 2021 Darwin Day Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 3:10 p.m. CT.
Student’s fascination with astronomy inspires first completed Immersion Vanderbilt project
Jan. 25, 2021—Thanks to her passion for astronomy, as well as mentoring from faculty, undergraduate Samantha Bianco is both a named co-author on a graduate-level scientific research paper and the first Vanderbilt student officially to have completed an Immersion Vanderbilt project.