Latest news with #RochesterInstituteofTechnology
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Terre Haute graduate honored during Rose-Hulman commencement
Alisha Mastakar of Terre Haute was among Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates to receive special honors during commencement ceremonies Saturday. Mastakar, a nanoengineering and optical engineering graduate, received the Herman A. Moench Distinguished Senior Commendation for distinguishing herself as a commendable influence on members of the Rose-Hulman community. Mastakar, who earned summa cum laude academic graduation honors, was a Noblitt Scholar and served the campus community and Indiana in a variety of ways. Mastakar's post-graduation plans include pursuing a doctorate degree at Rochester Institute of Technology. Computer engineering graduate Vineet Ranade, of Mountain View, Calif., received the John T. Royse Award for being considered the most outstanding graduate, in the opinion of Rose-Hulman's faculty and staff, based upon academic achievement, student leadership, participation in co-curricular activities, and general campus citizenship. Ranade embodied all aspects of the Royse Award —academic achievement, student leadership, participation in co-curricular activities, and general campus citizenship —while finding success in everything he did while attending Rose-Hulman, said Erik Hayes, vice president of student affairs and dean of students. In addition, a record 15 students earned Heminway Gold Medals for attaining the highest academic achievement (4.0 grade-point average) during their Rose-Hulman careers. Ranade was engaged in several different research opportunities, which included evolvable hardware and investigating the merits of social networking for Bangladeshi farmers. Outside of the classroom, he excelled as a student-athlete, twice qualifying for the NCAA Division III swimming and division championships, winning multiple Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference swimming event titles and establishing numerous school and conference records. Joining Ranade as this year's Heminway Gold Medal recipients were Salik Ahmad, Kyle Asbury, Ariadna Duvall, Calvin Hamilton, Natalie Hannum, Kaylee Lane, Benjamin Lyons, Henry Nunns, Justin Roberts, Joshua Schrock, Mark Serdinak, Ellen Shales, Blaise Swartwood, and Isaac Towne.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
James Webb Space Telescope reveals largest-ever panorama of the early universe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have unveiled the largest map of the early universe to date, a sweeping cosmic panorama that offers seasoned scientists and curious stargazers alike a front-row seat to the ancient cosmos. The images come from COSMOS-Web, the largest observing program the James Webb Space Telescope undertook in its first year. It surveyed a patch of sky equivalent to the width of three full moons placed side-by-side, the telescope's widest observation area to date. The survey stitched together more than 10,000 exposures, revealing nearly 800,000 galaxies, many of which shine from the universe's earliest eras. Harnessing the abundance of data that came from this effort, on Thursday (June 5), the team released the largest contiguous image ever captured by the JWST, along with a free, interactive catalog detailing the properties of each galaxy — a cosmic record that's as vast as it is richly detailed. "I don't know if the James Webb Space Telescope will ever cover an area of this size again, and so I think it'll be a good reference and a good data set that people will use for many years," Jeyhan Kartaltepe, an astrophysicist at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and the lead researcher of COSMOS-Web, told "The hope is that, now, anybody at any institution can make use of this data for their own science." When the JWST launched in 2021, the global COSMOS-Web team comprising nearly 50 researchers from institutions around the world was awarded over 200 hours of observation time, the most allocated to any project in the telescope's inaugural year. While many JWST studies zoom in on small, deep slices of sky, COSMOS-Web prioritized breadth, capturing a wider cosmic canvas that brought to light 10 times more galaxies than astronomers anticipated from these early epochs. "It was incredible to reveal galaxies that were previously invisible at other wavelengths, and very gratifying to finally see them appear on our computers," Maximilien Franco, postdoctoral researcher of astrophysics at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K., said in a statement. The JWST's expansive view allows astronomers not only to catalog distant galaxies, but also to study how their characteristics — including size, shape and brightness — are shaped by their cosmic environments, such as whether they reside in isolation or in crowded regions. "That tells us a lot about what influenced them as they evolved," Kartaltepe said. Alongside the catalog, the COSMOS-Web team has published a series of scientific papers exploring the data. One study, posted to the preprint archive arXiv on Wednesday (June 4), examines the most luminous galaxies at the centers of galaxy groups, tracing how their structure and star forming activity have co-evolved over the past 12 billion years. A key science goal of the project was to map the earliest structures during the Reionization Era (which fell more than 13 billion years ago) when the first galaxies ignited and began clearing the thick hydrogen fog that blanketed the early cosmos. To achieve this, Kartaltepe and her team plan early galaxies as tracers to measure the size of "reionization bubbles," vast regions where light from stars and galaxies carved clearings in the primordial haze. "That's not something we finished yet," Kartaltepe said. "But that was the main goal, and something that we're really excited about." Another paper, which was also posted to arXiv on Wednesday, tests a machine learning technique that can estimate the physical properties of galaxies in the massive dataset. The team also developed a new method to measure the brightness of distant galaxies more accurately. Unlike traditional techniques that simply sum the light within a fixed area, this approach models how light is spread across a galaxy, enabling more precise measurements that allow researchers to combine JWST images with blurrier ground-based data without losing important details. Related Stories: — James Webb Space Telescope finds coldest exoplanet ever seen, and it orbits a dead star — James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning images of bright auroras on Jupiter (video) — Calling citizen scientists! Help NASA's Galaxy Zoo classify galaxies seen by James Webb Space Telescope Three more studies detail the team's data processing efforts over the past two years, a meticulous process involving aligning and cleaning more than 10,000 individual images. As a brand-new observatory, the JWST brought unexpected challenges. The telescope's images included unforeseen artifacts, such as noise patterns and distortions, which the team had to carefully correct. Despite these hurdles, the JWST outperformed pre-launch models predicting how faint or distant galaxies it could detect, said Kartaltepe. "The reality turned out to be better — we were able to go deeper than what we expected." The catalog holds "incredible potential," she added. "There's still so much we don't know."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Habitat loss and climate change make it tough to be an amphibian. Some humans are helping
HONEOYE, N.Y. (AP) — On a rainy March evening, John Bateman puts on his boots and a headlamp and heads to a wetland cut through by a busy road. As he walks, he scans the pavement for spring peepers, toads, salamanders and newts making their slow way as they migrate to new habitat each spring, and leans down occasionally to help guide one across. It's a small act that makes a big difference for these amphibians, who need different habitats for different stages of their life cycle — sometimes wetlands, sometimes drier uplands. Roads often separate these habitats, and migrating amphibians can get squished. They already face challenges from habitat lost to development. That's especially true for vernal pools, the small pools that show up each spring in forested ecosystems as snow melt and rainwater collect at low points on the ground. These pools hold water as late as July, and provide essential breeding habitat for amphibians like salamanders and frogs. Larger wetlands can enjoy federal protections, but not the vernal pools, which are too small and temporary. 'Unfortunately, with urban sprawl and development, a lot of the forests are being cleared for new housing developments as people move out of the cities and into the suburbs," said Bateman, a professor of environmental conservation and horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. "When they clear these forest habitats, vernal pools are going to be buried and become new houses, condominiums, and neighborhoods.' ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology and The Associated Press. ___ The U.S. Geological Survey calls amphibian declines 'a global phenomenon' and one that's been underway in the U.S. since at least the 1960s. The agency said populations are dropping almost 4% each year in the U.S. Development isn't the only threat. Amphibians are being affected by Earth's changing climate. The Appalachian region is particularly rich in salamander species, and with temperatures rising, their range is shifting northward, Bateman said. That concerns him. 'At one point you hit the top and there is nowhere else to go," Bateman said. A warming climate also requires cold-blooded amphibians to spend more time hunting to get the food they need to maintain their metabolism, said Karen Lips, a University of Maryland biology professor whose research found salamanders becoming smaller as a result. Bateman isn't the only conservationist working to help amphibians. Margot Fass owns A Frog House, a center for frog advocacy in Pittsford, New York. In April, she raised money and worked with 70 volunteers to build three vernal pools as part of Save the Frogs Day. The pools should help amphibians, but will also be a source of water for birds and other wildlife. Fass grows animated as she talks about chemical-free gardens and their importance to amphibians: 'One spray of pesticides can kill a frog within an hour. It's just horrible." Both she and Bateman are strong believers in educating their communities to help amphibians. They often give talks in schools, libraries and to various groups. 'It's amazing how few people really know that frogs are endangered or that a third of them have gone extinct," Fass said. The Genesee Land Trust, a not-for-profit conservation organization, is another active member in preserving and protecting land in the greater Rochester region. It owns Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville, New York, on the edge of Lake Ontario. The trust bought the 77-acre property in 2016, becoming the first non-farmers to own the land in 200 years. They're preserving the historical farmland and in doing so have restored some wetlands and vernal pools. 'The wetland immediately served a population of birds after we first started digging,' said Elliotte Bowerman, the trust's director of communications. Catching amphibians may just be a nostalgic childhood memory for most, but for Bateman it never lost its magic. He believes preserving wetlands and vernal pools is critical not only for the amphibians and the environment, but for the next generation to experience the childlike wonder of discovering these hidden creatures. 'I think that the future generations are absolutely going to be at a loss to not have those experiences that I did as a child, to have that connection with nature," he said. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Winnipeg Free Press
21-05-2025
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Habitat loss and climate change make it tough to be an amphibian. Some humans are helping
HONEOYE, N.Y. (AP) — On a rainy March evening, John Bateman puts on his boots and a headlamp and heads to a wetland cut through by a busy road. As he walks, he scans the pavement for spring peepers, toads, salamanders and newts making their slow way as they migrate to new habitat each spring, and leans down occasionally to help guide one across. It's a small act that makes a big difference for these amphibians, who need different habitats for different stages of their life cycle — sometimes wetlands, sometimes drier uplands. Roads often separate these habitats, and migrating amphibians can get squished. They already face challenges from habitat lost to development. That's especially true for vernal pools, the small pools that show up each spring in forested ecosystems as snow melt and rainwater collect at low points on the ground. These pools hold water as late as July, and provide essential breeding habitat for amphibians like salamanders and frogs. Larger wetlands can enjoy federal protections, but not the vernal pools, which are too small and temporary. 'Unfortunately, with urban sprawl and development, a lot of the forests are being cleared for new housing developments as people move out of the cities and into the suburbs,' said Bateman, a professor of environmental conservation and horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College. 'When they clear these forest habitats, vernal pools are going to be buried and become new houses, condominiums, and neighborhoods.' ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is a collaboration between Rochester Institute of Technology and The Associated Press. ___ The U.S. Geological Survey calls amphibian declines 'a global phenomenon' and one that's been underway in the U.S. since at least the 1960s. The agency said populations are dropping almost 4% each year in the U.S. Development isn't the only threat. Amphibians are being affected by Earth's changing climate. The Appalachian region is particularly rich in salamander species, and with temperatures rising, their range is shifting northward, Bateman said. That concerns him. 'At one point you hit the top and there is nowhere else to go,' Bateman said. A warming climate also requires cold-blooded amphibians to spend more time hunting to get the food they need to maintain their metabolism, said Karen Lips, a University of Maryland biology professor whose research found salamanders becoming smaller as a result. Bateman isn't the only conservationist working to help amphibians. Margot Fass owns A Frog House, a center for frog advocacy in Pittsford, New York. In April, she raised money and worked with 70 volunteers to build three vernal pools as part of Save the Frogs Day. The pools should help amphibians, but will also be a source of water for birds and other wildlife. Fass grows animated as she talks about chemical-free gardens and their importance to amphibians: 'One spray of pesticides can kill a frog within an hour. It's just horrible.' Both she and Bateman are strong believers in educating their communities to help amphibians. They often give talks in schools, libraries and to various groups. 'It's amazing how few people really know that frogs are endangered or that a third of them have gone extinct,' Fass said. The Genesee Land Trust, a not-for-profit conservation organization, is another active member in preserving and protecting land in the greater Rochester region. It owns Cornwall Preserve in Pultneyville, New York, on the edge of Lake Ontario. The trust bought the 77-acre property in 2016, becoming the first non-farmers to own the land in 200 years. They're preserving the historical farmland and in doing so have restored some wetlands and vernal pools. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. 'The wetland immediately served a population of birds after we first started digging,' said Elliotte Bowerman, the trust's director of communications. Catching amphibians may just be a nostalgic childhood memory for most, but for Bateman it never lost its magic. He believes preserving wetlands and vernal pools is critical not only for the amphibians and the environment, but for the next generation to experience the childlike wonder of discovering these hidden creatures. 'I think that the future generations are absolutely going to be at a loss to not have those experiences that I did as a child, to have that connection with nature,' he said. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump has cut more than $1bn in research grants including one area he thrives
The Trump administration has cut more than $1 billion worth of research grants, including studies that track online misinformation and harmful content. Cuts into the grants looking to tackle the spread of online misinformation appear to stem from President Donald Trump 's executive order issued on January 20 that pledged to 'restore freedom of speech and end federal censorship.' The order says that the Biden administration 'infringed' on the free speech of Americans 'under the guise of combatting 'misinformation,' 'disinformation,' and 'malinformation.'' While the cuts are also part of the administration's broader mission to purge federal spending, the crackdown on research into misinformation aligns with the view adopted by many Trump supporters and allies that conservative Americans have been censored online, according to The New York Times. No evidence of any of the studies suggested that was the case, the newspaper notes. The National Science Foundation, the government agency that funds a significant amount of scientific research in the U.S., has now cut more than 1,400 grants, according to a list compiled by researchers at Harvard's Chan School of Public Health and rOpenSci. Research grants that have had the plug pulled on them by the Trump administration include a study by Ohio's Kent State University of how malign actors manipulate information on social media by posing as ordinary users. Another at the Rochester Institute of Technology was developing a tool that could detect fabricated videos or photos generated by AI, the Times reported. 'I'm almost certain this is going to lead to a vastly more polluted information environment,' Boston University economist Marshall Van Alstyne told the Times. Van Alstyne's team was researching ways to encourage social media users to verify sources of what they post online to promote accuracy, but the grant was canceled. The cuts come at a time when social media giants, including Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, have overhauled their policies regarding monitoring misinformation. Meta no longer uses independent fact-checkers on Instagram and Facebook, following the lead of Elon Musk's X, which uses community notes instead. On its website, the National Science Foundation said it would not prioritize research proposals that 'engage in or facilitate any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.' 'NSF will not prioritize research proposals that NSF will not support research with the goal of combating 'misinformation,' 'disinformation,' and 'malinformation' that could be used to infringe on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States in a manner that advances a preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate,' the foundation said. Elsewhere, at least a dozen projects were canceled by the National Institutes of Health. They included research into how conspiracy theories undercut treatment for cancer and covid-19, according to the Times. Trump - who is no stranger to sharing misinformation - was propelled back to the White House after three years of falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen. Already during his second term, Trump has been accused of spreading misinformation during January's devastating wildfires in Southern California, where he claimed that the state was deliberately blocking the flow of water from the north to the south. Last month, he shared what appeared to be a digitally altered image of the deported El Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia, w hich he presented as evidence Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang. His peddling of conspiracy theories was particularly rife during the 2024 presidential campaign. 'He's building a coalition of people who just see the world in a very dark way,' co-author of the book American Conspiracy Theories, Joseph Uscinski, said at the time.
