Eric Hamilton
Madison
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Articles by Eric Hamilton
Scientists find that Earth microbes can thrive in Mars-like conditions Original
A salt-loving Earth microbe showed growth after 160 days in warm brine under low pressure and an oxygen-free, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. Cultures supplied with nitrate or perchlorate grew and altered those chemicals; controls without either remained viable without measurable growth. The experiment represents a hypothetical Martian habitat, with warmer temperatures and richer nutrients than confirmed conditions beneath Mars.
Fluoxetine treatment after traumatic injury linked to fewer PTSD symptoms, lower pain
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A preliminary, unblinded study has shown that people who took the antidepressant Prozac after suffering a traumatic injury reported fewer PTSD symptoms and lower levels of pain in the year after their injury. With roughly half of patients with traumatic injuries facing some mental health decline after their injuries, the study suggests that preventive medical interventions could reduce the development of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Light-based chip boosts AI power efficiency
A team of engineers has developed a new kind of computer chip that uses light instead of electricity to perform one of the most power-intensive parts of artificial intelligence — image recognition and similar pattern-finding tasks. Using light cuts the power needed to perform these tasks, with efficiency 10 or even 100 times that of current chips performing the same calculations.
Guidelines for making robots more lifelike
Better, faster artificial intelligence is fueling a rise in human-like robots for customer service at places like hotels and airports, especially in areas outside the U.S. But many robots still fail to connect with people, instead creeping us out with fake smiles and jittery movements.
Critics, not fans, perpetuate the failed second album myth, study shows
After a debut hit, many bands often find their follow-up album panned: further evidence of the curse of the "sophomore slump," critics say. But it might just be critics saying that. That's according to a new study that discovered that the sophomore slump effect—where a band's second album is exceptionally bad compared to their first and third records—only crops up among professional critics, not fans.
We date and marry people who are attractive as we are, new analysis finds
In good news for our egos, both men and women were pretty accurate at rating their own physical attractiveness, according to a new study. Couples also tended to be well-matched on their attractiveness, suggesting that we largely date and marry people in our own "league," at least as far as beauty is concerned. These findings come from a new analysis of nearly 1,300 opposite-sex couples and 27 individual studies led by Gregory Webster, Ph.D., the R.
Over-the-counter supplement found to improve walking for peripheral artery disease patients
The over-the-counter supplement nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3, increased the walking endurance of patients with peripheral artery disease, a chronic leg condition for which there are few effective treatments.
New research lends an 'ear'
Corn is a classic American crop. First cultivated in North America thousands of years ago, it now blankets American farmland from coast to coast. The United States grows more corn than any other country. The grain is used for everything from tortilla chips to cow feed, to biofuel. But like most crops, corn is facing a new risk – climate change. Climate change isn’t just making the world warmer. It’s also changing when and how much rain falls.
Dogs prefer food over toys, according to study
Man's best friend is as treat-obsessed as we all thought. Nine out of 10 dogs chose food over toys in the first study of its kind, conducted by University of Florida psychologists. The study allowed dogs to pick their favorite food and favorite toy, then put them head to head in an experiment simulating a training experience. Most dogs responded more strongly to the food reward.
Exercise-mimicking drug sheds weight, boosts muscle activity in mice
A brand-new kind of drug, tested in mice, shows promising new results that could lead to the development of a new weight-loss drug that mimics exercise. The new compound, developed and tested by a University of Florida professor of pharmacy and his colleagues, leads obese mice to lose weight by convincing the body’s muscles that they are exercising more than they really are, boosting the animals’ metabolism. It also increases endurance, helping mice run nearly 50% further than they could before.
Paid online reviews can deceive consumers, shows study Original
New research based on thousands of reviews posted on Amazon shows that when people received free products in exchange for reviews, their ratings were significantly inflated—and product sales were stronger—even though reviewers disclosed that they received the product for free. These incentivized reviews, where reviewers receive discounted or free products, are common on many online retailers.
Incentivized online reviews inflate product ratings, sales, even when disclosed
New research based on thousands of reviews posted on Amazon shows that when people received free products in exchange for reviews, their ratings were significantly inflated — and product sales were stronger — even though reviewers disclosed that they received the product for free. These incentivized reviews, where reviewers receive discounted or free products, are common on many online retailers.
Sanctions on Russia’s businesses haven’t worked
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western governments implemented a suite of sanctions on Russian businesses, escalating the sanctions they implemented following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The goal in both cases was to inflict enough pain on Russian elites that they would pressure Vladimir Putin to reverse course and end the conflict.
The laws of physics used to be different, which may explain why you exist
(Nanowerk News) The laws of physics must have been different at the start of the universe than they are now, according to a mind-bending study conducted by University of Florida astronomers, which provides clues to why stars, planets and life itself managed to form in the universe. After analyzing the distribution of a whopping million, trillion groups of galaxies, the scientists discovered that physical laws once preferred one set of shapes over their mirror images.
One-third of galaxy’s most common planets could be in habitable zone Original
In a new analysis based on the latest telescope data, University of Florida astronomers have discovered that a third of the planets around the most common stars in the galaxy could be in a goldilocks orbit close enough, and gentle enough, to hold onto liquid water – and possibly harbor life. The remaining two-thirds of the planets around these ubiquitous small stars are likely roasted by gravitational tides, sterilizing them.
Human DNA is everywhere. That’s a boon for science – and an ethical quagmire.
On the beach. In the ocean. Traveling along riverways. In muggy Florida and chilly Ireland. Even floating through the air. We cough, spit, shed and flush our DNA into all of these places and countless more. Signs of human life can be found nearly everywhere, short of isolated islands and remote mountaintops, according to a new University of Florida study. That ubiquity is both a scientific boon and an ethical dilemma, say the UF researchers who sequenced this widespread DNA.
How CEO political leanings affect their international deals Original
Conservative CEOs are four times more likely than their liberal counterparts to acquire international firms rather than forge new alliances when entering foreign markets, according to new research. The same study finds that these political biases can be moderated by active, independent boards. Published in the Journal of International Business Studies, the findings come from a sample of more than 1,000 foreign market actions taken by hundreds of S&P 500 CEOs over the last decade.
CEO political leanings affect their international deals
Conservative CEOs are four times more likely than their liberal counterparts to acquire international firms rather than forge new alliances when entering foreign markets, according to new research. The same study finds that these political biases can be moderated by active, independent boards. The findings come from a sample of more than 1,000 foreign market actions taken by hundreds of S&P 500 CEOs over the last decade.
Study: Severe Drought Decreases Corn Yield By 90%
By Eric Hamilton Corn is a classic American crop. First cultivated in North America thousands of years ago, it now blankets American farmland from coast to coast. The U.S. grows more corn than any other country. And the grain is used for everything from tortilla chips to cow feed to biofuel. But like most crops, corn is facing a new risk — climate change. Climate change isn’t just making the world warmer. It’s also changing when and how much rain falls.
How drought affects corn studied
Climate change isn’t just making the world warmer. It’s also changing when and how much rain falls. That leaves more corn farmers at risk of facing drought during part of the growing season. Not all droughts are created equal. If one strikes at the wrong time, an entire field can be lost. “A severe drought during the corn reproductive stage can cause a complete crop failure,” said Ranadheer Vennam, a graduate student in the Mississippi State University-Plant and Soil Sciences Department.
New Research Shows How Drought Impacts Corn Yields
By: Eric Hamilton Corn is a classic American crop. First cultivated in North America thousands of years ago, it now blankets American farmland from coast to coast. The U.S. grows more corn than any other country. And the grain is used for everything from tortilla chips to cow feed, to biofuel. But like most crops, corn is facing a new risk – climate change. Climate change isn’t just making the world warmer. It’s also changing when and how much rain falls.
The four factors that fuel disinformation among Facebook ads
Before and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russia's Internet Research Agency purchased tens of thousands of Facebook ads in an effort to stoke division among Americans. Their effect on the election is hard to quantify. But their reach is undeniable. "Tens of millions of people were exposed to these ads. So we wanted to understand what made these disinformation ads engaging and what made people click and share them," said Juliana Fernandes, a University of Florida advertising researcher.
How drought impacts corn yields Original
Corn is a classic American crop. First cultivated in North America thousands of years ago, it now blankets American farmland from coast to coast. The U.S. grows more corn than any other country. And the grain is used for everything from tortilla chips to cow feed, to biofuel. But like most crops, corn is facing a new risk—climate change. Climate change isn't just making the world warmer. It's also changing when and how much rain falls.
Improving wildfire predictions with soil science Original
Severe wildfires have become annual events in the United States. The years 2020 and 2021 were the worst in wildfire history in California. Other states—and countries—are at risk as well. Climate change is making wildfires more likely in some places. And with heavy populations residing in areas bordering wildlands and forests, many people are more likely to experience serious wildfires. "Better understanding and prediction of wildfire danger is increasingly important.
Keeping current with landslide prediction tools Original
In the United States alone, a few dozen landslide deaths are recorded every year. They often happen when gravity pulls rocks and soil down an unstable slope. The trigger may be caused by natural events like rain or snowmelt. The extra water suddenly weakens the slope, and it gives way. Landslides happen quickly. So, it's vital for governments to monitor conditions and provide warnings in landslide prone areas during times that landslides are more likely to occur.
Powerful simulation solves vital physics problem
In one of the most intensive uses yet of the University of Florida’s HiPerGator supercomputer, UF engineers have faithfully reproduced the turbulence and complexity of hot air rising along a wall — a previously impossible simulation with applications in home fire safety and heating and cooling. Such a fine-grained and detailed simulation of so-called thermal wall plumes has not been possible in the past because of the complexity of the air movements.
Powerful simulation solves vital physics problem Original
In one of the most intensive uses yet of the University of Florida's HiPerGator supercomputer, UF engineers have faithfully reproduced the turbulence and complexity of hot air rising along a wall—a previously impossible simulation with applications in home fire safety and heating and cooling. Such a fine-grained and detailed simulation of so-called thermal wall plumes has not been possible in the past because of the complexity of the air movements.
Arctic lakes are vanishing in surprise climate finding
To search in site, type your keyword and hit enter The Arctic is no stranger to loss. As the than the rest of the world, glaciers collapse, wildlife suffers and habitats continue to disappear at a record pace. Now, a new threat has become apparent: Arctic lakes are drying up, according to research published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
UF is perfecting the next generation of pedestrian safety tech - News
Over the subsequent yr, the University of Florida campus will rework into one of many world’s main take a look at websites for pedestrian security.
Water-altered rocks discovered on Mars, stored for return to Earth by Perseverance rover
Using NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover, a team of scientists including University of Florida astrobiologist Amy Williams has collected the first Martian rock samples that could be returned to Earth – the first step toward answering if the red planet ever hosted life. The rock samples come from the floor of Jezero crater, which was chosen as the study site because it sports a large river delta that once flowed into an ancient lake.
Smartphones push us to prefer customized products
Personalized wine lists. Tailored clothing options. Unique experiences just for you. The world is awash in products and services that promise to provide custom experiences to every consumer. And it turns out our smartphones are pushing us to unconsciously prefer just these kinds of customized options. A new study from the University of Florida has discovered that consumers gravitate toward customized, rare or special products when they are engrossed in their phones.
Why Interseeding Might be the Boost Cover Crops Need
By: Eric Hamilton American farmers harvest nearly five times more corn than wheat. But this productive, useful crop requires fertilizer to reach its maximum potential, and is often not able to take up all the fertilizer it's given. Excess nitrogen, in particular, can flow away from farms and damage waterways. That lost nitrogen can't help future crops, either. This is where cover crops can help. These plants are grown during the off season to prepare the soil for the following summer.
Why interseeding might be the boost cover crops need
American farmers harvest nearly five times more corn than wheat. But this productive, useful crop requires fertilizer to reach its maximum potential, and is often not able to take up all the fertilizer it's given. Excess nitrogen, in particular, can flow away from farms and damage waterways. That lost nitrogen can't help future crops, either. This is where cover crops can help. These plants are grown during the off season to prepare the soil for the following summer.
Early Seeding Key to Controlling Nutrient Loss with Cover Crops
By Eric Hamilton The Chesapeake Bay once produced tens of millions of bushels of oysters a year. Today, the oyster harvest is below one percent of these historic highs. What happened? “With modern farming and urban development in the watershed around the Bay during the mid-20th century, water quality declined rapidly,” says Ray Weil, a professor of soil science at the University of Maryland.
How cover crops can protect the Chesapeake Bay Original
The Chesapeake Bay once produced tens of millions of bushels of oysters a year. Today, the oyster harvest is below one percent of these historic highs. What happened? "With modern farming and urban development in the watershed around the Bay during the mid-20th century, water quality declined rapidly," says Ray Weil, a professor of soil science at the University of Maryland.
Gophers are first non-human mammal known to farm
Although you’ll probably never see them, you can spot them by the tell-tale mounds of sandy soil dotting a field: pocket gophers. Beneath your feet, the gophers continuously create and remold a labyrinth of winding tunnels hundreds of feet long. And, perhaps, tend the world’s most recently discovered farms. Root farms, that is.
Gene absorbs carbon dioxide
Every day plants take carbon dioxide from the air and – with the help of sunlight – turn it into chemicals essential to plants and humans. Some of the chemicals, known as aromatic compounds, are the starting material for medications. Yet it’s difficult for plants to make enough of them to harvest economically. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison recently identified a way to release the brakes on plants’ production of aromatic amino acids by changing, or mutating, one set of genes.
Altered gene helps plants absorb more carbon dioxide, produce more useful compounds
Every day, plants around the world perform an invisible miracle. They take carbon dioxide from the air and, with the help of sunlight, turn it into countless chemicals essential to both plants and humans. Some of these chemicals, known as aromatic compounds, are the starting material for a wealth of useful medications, such as aspirin and morphine. Yet, many of these chemicals come from fossil fuels because it's hard to get plants to make enough of them to harvest economically.
Tracking weeds to stop them in their tracks
Not that long ago, weeds spread at a much slower rate. Seeds would spread to nearby soil and move perhaps a few feet each year or would be transplanted by birds who flew with them several miles away. In today's interconnected world, though, weeds can hitch a ride on a truck, boat, or even an airplane. What once might've taken generations to spread weeds from one region to another now takes no time at all.
Non-invasive liquid biopsy tracks cancer treatment success in real time
A non-invasive, blood-based biopsy for kidney cancer can tell doctors how a patient’s disease is responding to treatment. Known as liquid biopsies, these blood tests could help physicians better treat their patients by allowing them to see which treatments are working in real time without the need for repeated, invasive biopsies of solid tumors.
UW names Glenda Gillaspy dean of agricultural and life sciences
Plant scientist Glenda Gillaspy has been named the next dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She has been a professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech since 1998 and head of the department since 2015.
‘Serve others,’ chancellor entreats celebrating UW graduates
Among the more than 800 doctoral, MFA and medical professional students attending commencement on Friday, Laura Livingston was celebrating with her husband, Kirby, in the Kohl Center — and the rest of the family on the livestream. A doctoral graduate in environment and resources, Livingston pivoted from agroecological research to community engagement when a position at the Morgridge Center for Public Service turned into an opportunity to help others find ways to serve their communities.
Two UW-Madison professors elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
By Eric Hamilton Science communication expert Dietram Scheufele and chemist Shannon Stahl have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The election recognizes the University of Wisconsin–Madison scholars’ accomplishments in their fields. They join 259 other newly elected members across academia, the arts, industry and public policy.
UW-Madison scholar wins 2022 Carnegie Fellowship
Monica White, a professor of environmental justice at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been awarded a prestigious Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. White will use the $200,000 award to complete the research and writing of her second book, We Stayed: Agriculture, Activism, and the Southern Black Rural Families Who Fought to Keep the Land.
Understanding the climate effects of grazing agriculture
The Great Plains in the United States are well known for a rich history and expansive grasslands. This region is synonymous with ranchers herding cattle across the plains and a valuable resource for a growing population. Today, that work continues. Huge tracts of prairie still support livestock, especially cattle. The land might not be as well-suited for growing grain or vegetables, but grasslands can contribute to feeding people by feeding animals first.
Nationwide maps of bird species can help protect biodiversity
New, highly detailed and rigorous maps of bird biodiversity could help protect rare or threatened species. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison developed the maps at a fine-enough resolution to help conservation managers focus their efforts where they are most likely to help birds — in individual counties or forests, rather than across whole states or regions.
Biodegradable gel boosts immune system’s attack on several cancers in mice
April 6, 2022 By Eric Hamilton A new biodegradable gel improves the immune system’s ability to keep cancer at bay after tumors are surgically removed. The gel, tested in mice, releases drugs and special antibodies that simultaneously deplete immune-blocking cells called macrophages from the surgical site and activate T cells so they can attack cancer. University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists tested the gel on mouse models of several cancers.
Biodegradable gel boosts immune system's attack on several cancers in mice
A high-magnification of the hydrogel (in blue) encapsulating T cell-activating platelets (in red) and nanoparticles that release a drug to inhibit tumor-boosting cells (in green). This gel inhibited the growth of cancer cells after surgical removal of different types of tumors. Credit: UW–Madison A new biodegradable gel improves the immune system's ability to keep cancer at bay after tumors are surgically removed.
2022 Hilldale Awards recognize faculty achievements
March 31, 2022 By Eric Hamilton The secretary of the faculty is honoring four University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty members with the Hilldale Award for their contributions to teaching, research and service. One faculty member each from the arts and humanities, social sciences, physical sciences and biological sciences is selected from nominations by department chairs. The winners will be awarded $7,500 and recognized at the April 4 Faculty Senate meeting.
UW-Madison works to protect Wisconsin poultry from avian flu
It was only a matter of time, Keith Poulsen knew. Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, with a team of diagnostic scientists led by Ailam Lim, had been closely tracking the ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza as migrating wild birds were spreading it across the country this winter and spring. So, his team was prepared when they recently identified Wisconsin’s first known case of the virus, from a commercial chicken producer in Jefferson County.
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