Laurel Hamers
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Science writer. Tree enthusiast. Big fan of mountains. Wisconsinite at heart. She/her.
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Articles by Laurel Hamers
Electrochemistry captures coffee’s taste, powering a more consistent cup
It takes a surprising amount of work to keep coffee consistent cup to cup. An electrifying new approach from University of Oregon researchers could make the task easier. They’ve discovered a way to measure the flavor profile of a cup of coffee — by sending an electrical current through it. The advance could help cafes improve their quality control with a simple measurement.
AI tool predicts how new drug molecules move before costly lab tests
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain For every life-changing new drug that comes to market, many candidates fail along the way. An artificial intelligence-based tool developed at the University of Oregon could help scientists better predict how hypothetical new drugs might act in the body before running expensive tests. Their algorithm efficiently simulates how never-seen-before molecules will move and behave, based on their chemical structure.
Scientists find a black hole spewing more energy than the Death Star
Feb 05, 2026 Scientists find a black hole spewing more energy than the Death Star A supermassive black hole with a case of cosmic indigestion has been burping out the remains of a shredded star for four years - and it's still going strong. (Nanowerk News) Already, the jet shooting out of the black hole is a contender for one of the brightest, most energetic things ever detected in the universe.
The Chemistry Trick Poised to Slash Steel’s Carbon Footprint
Researchers at the University of Oregon are turning rust and saltwater into pure iron, with a side of chlorine – and without the massive carbon footprint of traditional methods. Chemists are pioneering a clean, electrochemical method to make iron, a key step in decarbonizing the steel industry. Their process, which uses saltwater and iron oxide instead of carbon-heavy blast furnaces, has been optimized to work with naturally sourced materials.
University of Oregon scientists advance a greener way to produce iron
University of Oregon chemists are bringing a greener way to make iron metal for steel production closer to reality, a step towards cleaning up an industry that’s one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions worldwide. Last year UO chemist Paul Kempler and his team reported a way to create iron with electrochemistry, using a series of chemical reactions that turn saltwater and iron oxide into pure iron metal.
Octopuses Have a Secret Sex Chromosome - and It’s Older Than Dinosaurs
University of Oregon researchers discovered a 480-million-year-old sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus, making it one of the oldest known animal sex chromosomes. This finding confirms that cephalopods use chromosomes to determine sex. The chromosome was identified in female octopuses but not males, and further research found it in other cephalopods, suggesting an ancient and stable system.
Octopuses have some of the oldest known sex chromosomes
The octopus just revealed another one of its secrets: what determines its sex. University of Oregon researchers have identified a sex chromosome in the California two-spot octopus. This chromosome has likely been around for 480 million years, since before octopuses split apart from the nautilus on the evolutionary tree. That makes it one of the oldest known animal sex chromosomes.
Oregon Cascades hide a huge buried aquifer
Oregon's Cascade Range mountains might not hold gold, but they store another precious resource in abundance: water. Scientists from the University of Oregon and their partners have mapped the amount of water stored beneath volcanic rocks at the crest of the central Oregon Cascades and found an aquifer many times larger than previously estimated—at least 81 cubic kilometers.
When DNA Lies: The Hidden Flaws in Forensic Science
A University of Oregon study reveals challenges in forensic DNA mixture analysis, particularly for groups with low genetic diversity, which are at higher risk for false positive results in criminal investigations. Researchers reveal the complexities and limitations of forensic DNA analysis, especially when dealing with DNA mixtures from genetically similar groups.
University of Oregon researchers unravel how a breast cancer gene affects fertility
Advance could one day lead to new treatments for those who carry the BRCA1 gene EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- University of Oregon biologists have uncovered a mechanism by which a well-known breast cancer gene also influences fertility. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene sharply increase a person’s risk of developing breast cancer, and BRCA1 patients often face fertility challenges beyond the side effects of cancer treatment.
U of O scientists find that South Sister was more volcanically active over shorter time frame than previously thought Original
Study suggests past eruptions were more intense than earlier believed EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A hiker’s pack usually gets lighter over time as they plow through trail mix and water, but Annika Dechert likes to joke that hers gets heavier. As an earth sciences graduate student at the University of Oregon, she’s picking up clues to the eruption history of South Sister volcano in the Oregon Cascades, helping scientists better understand its possible future risk.
Microwave ovens house more than 100 types of bacteria
bacteria: (singular: bacterium) Single-celled organisms. These dwell nearly everywhere on Earth, from the bottom of the sea to inside other living organisms (such as plants and animals). Bacteria are one of the three domains of life on Earth. DNA: (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) A long, double-stranded and spiral-shaped molecule inside most living cells that carries genetic instructions. It is built on a backbone of phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon atoms.
Bioengineers and chemists design fluorescent 3D-printed structures with potential medical applications
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Bioengineers and chemists design fluorescent 3D-printed structures with potential medical applications
In a process as simple as stirring eggs and flour into pancakes, University of Oregon researchers have mixed fluorescent ring-shaped molecules into a novel 3D printing process. The result: intricate glowing structures that support the development of new kinds of biomedical implants.
A more realistic artificial skin may lead to medical advances
Story by Laurel Hamers Photography by Chris Larsen and Dusty Whitaker Through a collaboration with L'Oréal, a Knight Campus lab is designing a better artificial skin A new bioengineered skin model could improve testing of skincare products and lead to better ways to heal damaged skin.
Fire camera network is largest of its kind
Firefighters battling wildfires in the Pacific Northwest will now have the world's largest public-facing system of wildfire cameras at their disposal.
Why does striking flint against steel start a fire?
Any outdoor survivalist worth their salt probably carries something in their pack to start a fire. If they're a purist, their tools of choice might be flint and steel. This pair of tools is a reliable way to start a fire in the backcountry, with a little skill. But why does it work? Why does striking a flint rock against a piece of steel start a fire, whereas rubbing two random rocks together doesn't? All fire-starting methods have a similar goal: generating enough heat to ignite a fuel source.
At last: How poison dart frogs ship defense toxins to their skin
amphibians: A group of animals that includes frogs, salamanders and caecilians. Amphibians have backbones and can breathe through their skin. Unlike reptiles, birds and mammals, unborn or unhatched amphibians do not develop in a special protective sac called an amniotic sac. biologist: A scientist involved in the study of living things. cell: (in biology) The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism.
New 3D-printed skin more accurately mimics the real thing
A new bioengineered skin model could improve testing of skincare products and lead to better ways to heal damaged skin. University of Oregon researchers teamed up with scientists with the French personal care company L’Oréal to develop the multilayered artificial skin that more accurately mimics real human skin and can be grown in just 18 days.
New 3D-printed Skin More Accurately Mimics The Real Thing - Futurity
A new bioengineered skin model could improve testing of skincare products and lead to better ways to heal damaged skin. University of Oregon researchers teamed up with scientists with the French personal care company L’Oréal to develop the multilayered artificial skin that more accurately mimics real human skin and can be grown in just 18 days.
Reindeer can chew food in their sleep
Arctic: A region that falls within the Arctic Circle. The edge of that circle is defined as the northernmost point at which the sun is visible on the northern winter solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen on the northern summer solstice. The high Arctic is that most northerly third of this region. It’s a region dominated by snow cover much of the year. biology: The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists.
Can passive exposure speed up learning?
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Can passive exposure speed up learning?
Learning a new skill takes deliberate practice over time, but passive exposure to the subject matter at hand can help speed up the process, new research in mice suggests. The finding, which builds on past research in humans, shows how passive exposure can be a valuable tool for learning.
Can Passive Exposure Speed Up Learning? - Futurity
Learning a new skill takes deliberate practice over time, but passive exposure to the subject matter at hand can help speed up the process, new research in mice suggests. The finding, which builds on past research in humans, shows how passive exposure can be a valuable tool for learning.
Passive exposure can speed up learning, new research shows
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Why does Norway have so many fjords?
Norway is known for its stunning fjords — long, sinuous coastal inlets with steep sides. It's no wonder that these geological features, which are filled with sparkling water and often lined with rugged cliffs, headline so many tourism ads. Although fjords are found along coastlines around the world, from Alaska to Scotland to New Zealand, Norway has more than 1,000 that are substantial enough to have names, according to the country's official tourism board.
Volcanic Underpinnings: How Magma and Water Sculpted the Iconic Columbia River Gorge
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Volcanic Underpinnings: How Magma and Water Sculpted the Iconic Columbia River Gorge
A new study shows that magma and water have jointly sculpted the Columbia River Gorge, with magma still influencing its landscape today. University of Oregon researchers are adding new details to the geological history of the iconic Columbia River Gorge, a wide river canyon that cuts through the volcanic peaks of the Cascades along the border between Oregon and Washington.
Model that maps relationships between neurons could help make deep brain stimulation treatment more viable
By listening in on the background chatter in the brain, scientists can predict the relationships between different neurons, according to new research from University of Oregon scientists and their colleagues. The advance could help make deep brain stimulation a more viable treatment for conditions like Parkinson's, epilepsy and depression, allowing doctors to figure out exactly which neurons to stimulate without extensive trial and error. The findings are reported in a paper published Dec.
Volcanology has a trick for making better espresso
Adding a squirt of water to coffee beans before grinding reduces static electric charge on the coffee grounds, new research shows. That reduces microscopic clumping of the grounds during brewing, ensuring that water moves through the packed grounds more evenly and thoroughly.
Volcanology Has A Trick For Making Better Espresso - Futurity
Adding a squirt of water to coffee beans before grinding reduces static electric charge on the coffee grounds, new research shows. That reduces microscopic clumping of the grounds during brewing, ensuring that water moves through the packed grounds more evenly and thoroughly.
Tiny worms are helping scientists better understand fertility
Studying sex from just the male perspective misses half the experience. But much of what we know about the origins of reproductive cells comes from looking at sperm and egg formation separately—or only focusing on sperm. Now, new University of Oregon research in tiny worms is directly comparing the two processes, unpacking some of the ways that the same building blocks get used differently to make sperm and eggs.
Is anything harder than a diamond?
Diamonds are prized for their hardness. In jewelry, they can last generations and resist scratches during day-to-day wear. As blades or drill bits, they can penetrate almost anything without getting destroyed. As a powder, diamonds polish up gemstones, metals and other materials. So is anything harder than diamond? It turns out, figuring out the answer is, well, a bit hard.
How mice use their brain to hunt
BY LAUREL HAMERS The part of the brain that governs emotions such as fear and anxiety also helps mice hunt. That structure, the amygdala, orchestrates a mouse’s ability to both stalk a cricket and deliver a fatal bite, scientists report January 12 in Cell. Scientists made select nerve cells in mice’s brains sensitive to light, and then used lasers to activate specific groups of those cells.
Linked faults explain ancient mythology and inform plans for world's longest suspension bridge
Ancient Greek mythology told tales of two fearsome monsters working in tandem across the narrow channel separating mainland Italy from the island of Sicily. Scylla was a vengeful rock-dwelling monster on one side; Charybdis was a tempestuous whirlpool on the other. These were poetic representations of real perils that ancient sailors faced in Strait of Messina.
'Good' bacteria sense gut lining to stay in the right spot
Beneficial gut bacteria actively sense the mucus lining of the gut, using the information as a guide to stay in their proper place, new research shows. Breakdowns in that communication can lead to abnormal bacterial behavior and gut inflammation. The findings point to possible mechanisms behind intestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They also suggest avenues to develop more effective probiotics.
‘Good’ Bacteria Sense Gut Lining To Stay In The Right Spot - Futurity
Beneficial gut bacteria actively sense the mucus lining of the gut, using the information as a guide to stay in their proper place, new research shows. Breakdowns in that communication can lead to abnormal bacterial behavior and gut inflammation. The findings point to possible mechanisms behind intestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. They also suggest avenues to develop more effective probiotics.
Beneficial bacteria sense gut mucus to stay in the right place, at the right time
Beneficial gut bacteria actively sense the mucus lining of the gut, using this information as a guide to stay in their proper place, new research from the University of Oregon shows. Breakdowns in that communication can lead to abnormal bacterial behavior—and gut inflammation. The findings point to possible mechanisms behind intestinal conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and also suggest avenues to develop more effective probiotics.
Tunable 'affibodies' offer a new approach to healing bone fractures
Instead of bulky metal plates and screws, bone fractures might someday be healed via targeted, controlled delivery of a specialized bone-growth protein. University of Oregon researchers have developed a system to get that protein to the site of injury and release it gradually over time. Their approach uses small proteins called affibodies, which can be specially engineered to grab onto specific other proteins and release them at different rates.
Tunable “Affibodies” Offer a New Approach to Healing Bone Fractures
Newswise — Instead of bulky metal plates and screws, bone fractures might someday be healed via targeted, controlled delivery of a specialized bone-growth protein. University of Oregon researchers have developed a system to get that protein to the site of injury and release it gradually over time. Their approach uses small proteins called affibodies, which can be specially engineered to grab onto specific other proteins and release them at different rates.
Tunable “affibodies” offer a new approach to healing bone fractures
EUGENE, Ore. – August 1, 2023 - Instead of bulky metal plates and screws, bone fractures might someday be healed via targeted, controlled delivery of a specialized bone-growth protein. University of Oregon researchers have developed a system to get that protein to the site of injury and release it gradually over time. Their approach uses small proteins called affibodies, which can be specially engineered to grab onto specific other proteins and release them at different rates.
The octopus visual system is a lot like ours, shows study
Just like us, octopuses use a large part of their brains for vision – about 70%, to be exact. But for a long time, we didn’t really know what an octopus sees when it looks out at the underwater world. Now, a recent study is bringing that vision into clearer focus. Even though humans and octopuses last had a common ancestor about 500 million years ago, this study shows that the way octopuses see isn’t so different from how we do.
Financial transparency index helps track the flow of 'dark money' in politics
Not all nonprofits are created equal—and some exist mainly to capitalize on a tax law loophole that allows them to anonymously funnel donations to political causes. New University of Oregon research proposes an index that rates the financial transparency of social advocacy nonprofits to give people more awareness of organizations that are funneling anonymous donations, or "dark money," into politics.
Financial transparency index helps track the flow of “dark money” in politics
Newswise — EUGENE, Ore. – (June 6, 2023) - Not all nonprofits are created equal — and some exist mainly to capitalize on a tax law loophole that allows them to anonymously funnel donations to political causes. New University of Oregon research proposes an index that rates the financial transparency of social advocacy nonprofits to give people more awareness of organizations that are funneling anonymous donations, or “dark money,” into politics.
Neuroscientists get a new view on how neurons communicate
An often-overlooked communication strategy for neurons might be more prevalent than previously believed. New research from biology professor Adam Miller's lab in the UO's College of Arts and Sciences illuminates the importance of neuron-to-neuron communication via direct electrical signaling, instead of the usual chemical messengers sent between cells. The team also identified proteins that might link disruptions in these electrical pathways to conditions like autism and epilepsy.
Why Do Animals Keep Evolving into Crabs?
A flat, rounded shell. A tail that's folded under the body. This is what a crab looks like, and apparently what peak performance might look like — at least according to evolution. A crab-like body plan has evolved at least five separate times among decapod crustaceans, a group that includes crabs, lobsters and shrimp. In fact, it's happened so often that there's a name for it: carcinization. So why do animals keep evolving into crab-like forms?
Why Do Animals Keep Evolving into Crabs?
A flat, rounded shell. A tail that's folded under the body. This is what a crab looks like, and apparently what peak performance might look like — at least according to evolution. A crab-like body plan has evolved at least five separate times among decapod crustaceans, a group that includes crabs, lobsters and shrimp. In fact, it's happened so often that there's a name for it: carcinization. So why do animals keep evolving into crab-like forms?
Grad student uses data science to explore biological diversity
Using data science applied to plant and animal records at natural history museums, UO graduate student Jordan Rodriguez is finding new ways to study the evolution of key proteins. As an undergraduate, Rodriguez embarked on a research project looking at the biases and limitations of biodiversity records from natural history collections and databases like iNaturalist. That work led to a recent publication in Nature Ecology and Evolution.
How prenatal opioid exposure impairs breathing in newborns
Exposure to opioids in the womb affects the development of important circuits in the brain and spinal cord that control breathing, new University of Oregon research shows. The study, led by Adrianne Huxtable in the UO's Department of Human Physiology and Institute of Neuroscience, was recently published in Frontiers in Physiology. Its findings could lead to better treatments and interventions for at-risk infants.
How prenatal opioid exposure impairs breathing in newborns Original
Exposure to opioids in the womb affects the development of important circuits in the brain and spinal cord that control breathing, new University of Oregon research shows. The study, led by Adrianne Huxtable in the UO’s Department of Human Physiology and Institute of Neuroscience, was recently published in Frontiers in Physiology. Its findings could lead to better treatments and interventions for at-risk infants.
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