Life, Earth And Space
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Research in Colorado mountains takes students’ environmental immersion to new heights
Students in the Glacial Geology class took their research to new levels of immersion, collecting soil and rock samples at an elevation of 9,000 feet in the Sawatch Mountain Range of Colorado. Their research helps show the movement of glaciers, ultimately giving clues about the impact of climate change. Read MoreJan 20, 2022
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Vanderbilt’s Bob O’Dell elected 2022 fellow of American Astronomical Society for role in creating Hubble Space Telescope
Robert O’Dell, Distinguished Research Professor of Physics and Astronomy, has been named a 2022 fellow of the American Astronomical Society for extraordinary achievement and service to the field of astronomy. He is among 23 fellows being inducted into the AAS this year. Read MoreJan 20, 2022
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Vanderbilt receives $3M from National Science Foundation to launch cutting-edge astronomy graduate program
Vanderbilt University researchers from the departments of physics and astronomy, math, electrical engineering, and history have received a $3 million National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Award to establish a graduate certificate program in the emerging field of multimessenger astronomy. Read MoreJan 18, 2022
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Vanderbilt researchers contribute to promising global search for gravitational waves
International astronomy collaboration strengthens evidence for signal that may hint at ultra-low frequency gravitational waves. Read MoreJan 14, 2022
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Vanderbilt researchers combine paleontology and fluid physics to uncover Ediacaran nurseries
Looking at prehistoric organisms allows Simon Darroch and his students to describe how, when and why complex life evolved on this planet. Their work is a piece of the puzzle in understanding how likely it is that we’ll find complex life beyond Earth. Read MoreJan 7, 2022
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Stephen Taylor receives NSF CAREER award to study gravitational waves from supermassive black holes
Stephen Taylor, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program award to further his efforts to probe ultra-low-frequency gravitational waves. Read MoreDec 14, 2021
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Vanderbilt researcher outlines how whales’ sensory systems have evolved through imaging technology
In a review of 100 years of research on the sensory systems in whales, Rachel Racicot, research assistant professor of biological sciences, describes advances in the field and key questions that remain. Read MoreDec 2, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Mosquitoes have a mutual symbiotic relationship with malaria-causing pathogen
By reproducing conditions under which malaria occurs in nature, the Zwiebel Lab finds that the deadly pathogens responsible for human malaria provide a specific adaptive advantage to disease-transmitting mosquitoes, explaining the persistence of this ancient disease. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreNov 19, 2021
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Vanderbilt astronomer co-authors seminal roadmap for the next decade of U.S. research in outer space
Keivan Stassun joins leading astronomers to write "Astro2020," a once-in-a-decade guide for astronomy research, prioritizing gargantuan telescopes on the ground and in orbit as well as increased diversity and inclusion. Read MoreNov 15, 2021
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Vanderbilt University signs on to U.N.-backed Race to Zero campaign
Vanderbilt University, which already has taken significant steps in its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, has joined the Race to Zero—Universities and Colleges coalition. At the same time, Assistant Professor Leah Dundon and 14 students are participating in international climate change negotiations. Read MoreNov 8, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Darwin’s magnificent mystery and the microbiome
Vanderbilt researchers are reimagining Charles Darwin’s work by communicating how the origin of species might depend largely on the microbiome—the totality of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other organisms—living in or on a host body. Read MoreNov 1, 2021
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Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center launched as hub for resources, education, and research
The Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative has been renamed the Vanderbilt Microbiome Innovation Center. It will offer a hub of resources for education, outreach and research around the microbiome—the community of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that are crucial to sustaining life ecosystems. Read MoreOct 27, 2021
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Vanderbilt astrophysicist leads international workshop to turn plans for a crewed lunar observatory into reality
Karan Jani, research assistant professor of physics and astronomy, convened experts from around the world at the European Gravitational Observatory in Italy to further explore the possibility of detecting gravitational waves on the moon. Read MoreOct 25, 2021
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The buzz on Vanderbilt’s bees
Hundreds of acres of trees, green spaces and gardens across Vanderbilt’s campus support thousands of bees that live on the roof of the Jean and Alexander Heard Central Library. Read MoreAug 23, 2021
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Research Snapshot: How will the global community react if vulnerable nations pioneer solar radiation geoengineering
Simulating controversial responses to climate change, researchers illustrate how a small group of nations may influence climate change in the decades to come. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreAug 23, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Astrophysicist outlines ambitious plans for the first gravitational wave observatory on the moon
Not a moonshot: Karan Jani explores possibility of lunar observatory to better understand fundamental physics, astronomy and cosmology Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreJul 21, 2021
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Academic experts across disciplines tackle questions surrounding the origins of life
The School of Medicine Basic Sciences brought together a biologist, a Christian theologist, a philosopher and an astrophysicist June 17 for a lab-to-table conversation exploring their views and academic perspectives on the origins of life. Read MoreJul 7, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Astrophysicists prepare for age of multimessenger astronomy; build galaxy catalog to study black holes
Led by Vanderbilt astrophysicists, researchers work with data from thousands of galaxies to investigate the origins and physics of black hole binaries in nearby galaxies. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreJun 23, 2021
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National Science Foundation renews funding to support detection of gravitational waves, led locally by Stephen Taylor
NSF funding will support the development of new techniques to search for signatures of exotic interstellar phenomena. Read MoreJun 21, 2021
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Discussion on the origins of life featuring cross-section of Vanderbilt academics set for June 17
How do academics with diverse areas of expertise view the origins of life? A June 17 virtual discussion hosted by the School of Medicine Basic Sciences will bring together perspectives from single-cell biology, theology, space and time and metaphysical philosophy to explore the unique and common understandings among the fields. Read MoreJun 3, 2021