Science & Technology

FSU marine geologist named Sloan Research Fellow

Published: February 12, 2020 | 11:13 am | Posted in: Science & Technology

For Florida State University Assistant Professor Jeremy Owens, the chemical fingerprints left behind by oxygen in the ancient ocean are the key to better understanding our current and future climate. A fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will give him the opportunity to further investigate the connections between chemical and climatic changes in […]

FSU researchers look to natural products to shed light on protein interactions in cancer, neurological diseases

Published: February 11, 2020 | 12:45 pm | Posted in: Science & Technology

A fungus that attacks almond and peach trees may be key to identifying new drug targets for cancer therapy. A team of Florida State University researchers from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry found that a natural product from the fungus Fusicoccum amygdali stabilizes a family of proteins in the cell that mediate important signaling […]

Rapid weather swings increase flu risk

Published: January 30, 2020 | 9:42 am | Posted in: Science & Technology

New research from a team of Florida State University scientists shows that rapid weather variability as a result of climate change could increase the risk of a flu epidemic in some highly populated regions in the late 21st century. The research was published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters. Zhaohua Wu, an associate professor […]

MagLab scientists capture molecular maps of animal tissue with unprecedented detail

Published: January 23, 2020 | 3:46 pm | Posted in: Science & Technology

We’ve all heard, and seen, how a picture paints a thousand words. Now, in a scientific twist on that saying, researchers at the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (National MagLab), are creating pictures that paint thousands of molecules. Using a uniquely powerful instrument, the scientists have refined a technique called mass spectrometry […]

FSU Research: Despite less ozone pollution, not all plants benefit

Published: January 22, 2020 | 2:33 pm | Posted in: Science & Technology

From left, Christopher Holmes, the Werner A. and Shirley B. Baum assistant professor of meteorology in the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science at Florida State University, and Jason Ducker, a postdoctoral researcher. Their research compared levels of atmospheric ozone to the amount of ozone plants took in through pores on their leaves at more than 30 sites over 10 years. They found that environmental factors have more impact on the ozone dose the plants received than the amount of ozone in the atmosphere. (Bruce Palmer / FSU Photography Services)

Breathe easy: Concentrations of ozone in the air have decreased over large parts of the country in the past several decades. But not too easy. Policies and new technologies have reduced emissions of precursor gases that lead to ozone air pollution, but despite those improvements, the amount of ozone that plants are taking in has […]

FSU researcher receives NSF funding to make higher-performing computer apps

Published: January 6, 2020 | 4:41 pm | Posted in: Science & Technology

A Florida State University researcher is working to make computer processors execute applications in a more energy-efficient manner with the help of a new $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. “The general goal is to increase performance but to do it in a manner that is more energy efficient than the dominant computer processors […]

FSU researchers use mechanical engineering, scientific computing and forestry to better understand prescribed burns

Published: December 12, 2019 | 2:18 pm | Posted in: Science & Technology

From left, Bryan Quaife, assistant professor of scientific computing, Rod Linn, of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Neda Yaghoobian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and Kevin Hiers, of the Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy, won a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study smoke plumes from prescribed fire. Photo by Mark Wallheiser / FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

In the effort to mitigate destructive wildfires, wildland managers often fight those uncontrolled fires with prescribed fire — carefully controlled burns to safely eliminate the vegetation that piles up on forest floors and adds to potential fuel. Prescribed fires are an important tool for managing fire-prone landscapes, but they come with a cost. Fire makes […]

FSU computational biology researcher named AAAS Fellow

Published: December 5, 2019 | 2:38 pm | Posted in: Science & Technology

Peter Beerli is a professor of scientific computing at Florida State University. Photo by Ray Stanyard/College of Arts and Sciences

A Florida State University computational biology researcher has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a lifetime distinction that honors contributions to science and technology. The AAAS named Peter Beerli, a professor of scientific computing, as one of 443 new fellows of the association. The new fellows represent scientists […]

FSU Research: Microwave treatment is an inexpensive way to clean heavy metals from treated sewage

Published: December 5, 2019 | 11:00 am | Posted in: Science & Technology

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering research assistant Runwei Li looks over the separation of waste solids in professor Gang Chen’s lab at the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics, and Energy (AME) building in Tallahassee, Florida.

A team of Florida State University researchers studying new methods to remove toxic heavy metals from biosolids — the solid waste left over after sewage treatment — found the key is a brief spin through a microwave. The method removed three times the amount of lead from biosolids compared to conventional means and could reduce […]

FSU researchers find risk in opening goliath grouper fishery

Published: November 18, 2019 | 11:58 am | Posted in: Science & Technology

A review of the iconic Atlantic goliath grouper by a team of Florida State University scientists revealed considerable downsides to proposals to reopen the fishery that has been closed for nearly 30 years. In Fisheries magazine, FSU researchers explain that though the species has recovered to some extent in Florida waters since the closure, it […]

FSU observatory gives students a new perspective on astronomy

Published: November 18, 2019 | 11:43 am | Posted in: Science & Technology

From a terrace along Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State University students can now get an up-close view of planets, stars and other astronomical objects that are normally too faint to see with the human eye. These awesome views are possible thanks to the new modern astronomical observatory constructed by FSU’s physics department. The FSU Observatory […]

FSU students earn gold medal at international synthetic biology competition

Published: November 14, 2019 | 10:07 am | Posted in: Science & Technology

A team of 15 Florida State University undergraduate students earned a gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition Nov. 4 in Boston. FSU’s entry competed in a field of 360 teams from around the world. FSU was one of only eight American teams to earn gold and the first team from Florida. […]