Latest news with #UniversityofTexasatArlington
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austin-based tech firm chosen for UT-Arlington project on data center cooling dilemma
An Austin tech company is partnering with the University of Texas at Arlington to develop innovative methods for cooling chips in data centers. Accelsius, an Austin-based company focused on two-phase, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, was selected as a contributor to a federal project looking to develop a hybrid cooling method for use in data centers. Data centers are large facilities housing servers that deliver computing power for essential services, from emergency operations to smartphones. Most data centers use air circulation or liquid cooling systems, which consume significant energy and water, to prevent chips from overheating and enable continuous 24/7 operation. More: OpenAI's Abilene data center secures $11.6B in part thanks to Austin-area investment firm The project, which is under the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) larger COOLERCHIPS project, is being led by Dereje Agonafer, a professor at UT-Arlington, with the goal of reducing total cooling energy consumption to less than 5% of a data center's IT load. "The government is actually concerned that as these chips get hotter, the architectures for cooling them won't keep up and therefore will impede progress on AI enablement, development and deployment," Accelsius CEO Josh Claman told the American-Statesman. Claman, who previously worked as an executive at Dell Technologies, launched his startup Accelsius three years ago, just before OpenAI's ChatGPT launched to the world. Claman said data centers have historically operated inefficiently, often shifting the extra energy costs of cooling onto tenants. He added that approximately 40% of the energy required to run these facilities 24/7 is wasted on cooling and overhead. "This was always sort of an issue that was near to my heart. Why can't we do this more efficiently?" Claman said. "Air is a terrible transport of heat, everyone knows that. If you have a 100 megawatt data center, you're wasting about 40 megawatts on cooling and overhead. That seems absurd. But it's been tolerated." These additional energy costs, the substantial strain on power grids and the significant water usage required to operate and cool data centers have been at the heart of community protests for several years. A recent report by Data Center Watch, a research organization that tracks data center opposition, found that about $64 billion in data center development nationwide has been stalled due to community pushback. More: Hays County residents are fighting a proposed data center. It'll likely be built anyway With water-based cooling, Claman says data centers can open themselves up to leaks and possibly expensive damage. Servers in data centers can be worth upwards of $400,000, meaning a rack can be work $3.5 to $5 million. Claman said Accelsius is looking to create hybrid cooling infrastructure. The company has two products on the market, with its second product, a multirack 250 kilowatt two-phase coolant distribution unit, having launched a few weeks ago and is being provided to UT-Arlington's ARPA-E project. "We're really confident the two-phase, direct-to-chip is going to be the technology that everyone centers on," Claman said. "So it's important that we get that sort of objective third party evaluation and experimentation. We want people to enter this market. We want to develop a global supply chain. We want to develop credibility around this technology. So for us, it was a really natural partnership. We really believe that if we're going to solve this issue around cooling chips, this is the sort of leading technology to get that done." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin-based Accelsius joins UT-Arlington data center cooling project
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Henderson veteran graduates with two degrees at 60
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) announces a 60-year-old Henderson Navy veteran will soon graduate from its institution with two degrees. UTA says John Shirley is a Navy veteran who has overcome several obstacles, including a cancer diagnosis and homelessness, in achieving his educational dreams. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for eight years, including three on active duty in the late 1980s aboard the USS Cochrane. After leaving the military, Shirley spent the next couple of decades working a variety of jobs, primarily as an electrician, while also facing serious medical challenges, including a diagnosis of colon cancer. Baked goods, plants, sweets and more at 2025 Henderson Farmers Market The university says following six surgeries and with his cancer in remission, Shirley made the decision in November 2021 to pack up and move to Dallas, Texas. He briefly stayed at a homeless shelter in South Dallas, before landing a job. However, he believed a college degree was the key to a better life. In August 2022, he enrolled at UTA, and on May 9 he will walk across the graduation stage at Globe Life Field in Arlington as a double major, earning bachelor's degrees in real estate and finance. UTA says since Shirley is now holding two degrees, Shirley is exploring opportunities with major financial institutions and even considering starting his own real estate company. 'As far as I know, I'll be the first one in my family to graduate with a bachelor's degree. It means everything,' Shirley said. 'It's a major life accomplishment. Education is always a pathway to a better life. Being around younger students helps me feel young again. It's encouraging to see others pushing through similar struggles. My message to anyone considering going back to college—if I can make it, they can make it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 73 visas revoked from international students at North Texas universities
The Brief The federal government says it has revoked more than 300 international student visas at campuses across the country and at least 73 of those are at universities across North Texas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about the visas during a cabinet meeting on Thursday. Some UTA students and faculty members launched pro-Palestinian protests last May, and it's not clear whether Secretary Rubio is specifically referring to those at North Texas universities. Another North Texas university says several international students had their visas unexpectedly revoked. The University of Texas at Arlington confirmed to FOX 4 on Thursday that 27 of its international students had unexpected changes to their visas in recent days. Though UTA officials didn't clarify why, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did. "If you're coming to this country as a student, we expect you to go to class and study and get a degree. If you come here to vandalize a library, take over a campus and do all kinds of crazy things, we're going to get rid of these people, and we're going to continue to do it," said Rubio. "When we identify lunatics like these, we take away their student visas." Last May, some UTA students and faculty launched pro-Palestinian protests. Mirroring similar rallies at other American universities. While it's not clear whether Secretary Rubio is specifically referring to those in North Texas, other colleges, where similar demonstrations were held, have also been impacted. What they're saying Freedom of speech advocates call it a stunning abuse of the First Amendment. "It's very scary, and I really think it represents a dark moment for our freedoms in America, if the government takes and exercises this power," said Lee Rowland, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship. "Just on its face, the idea that the federal government would use its power to get rid of people engaged in political speech, no matter how offensive, is itself a problem." Another institution feeling the effects is UT Austin. This week some students are standing in solidarity. "We have a very large international student community based here at UT. And they, like many other students, are rightly frightened and fearful," said UT Austin student, Arshia Papari. By the numbers The federal government says it has revoked more than 300 international student visas at campuses across the country. At least 73 of those are at universities across North Texas, including at UTA. The University of Texas at Dallas says 19 of its international student visas have been revoked. 27 students at the University of North Texas have also had their visas revoked. The Source Information in this article comes from several North Texas universities, comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conversations with the American Council on Education.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning after making disturbing find in bird species: 'An urgent need to address'
A new study has found that microplastics are accumulating in birds' lungs, adding to concerns about the prevalence of these particles in our air and food. Shane DuBay, a member of the University of Texas at Arlington team behind the research, said that birds were selected for the study because they can be found nearly everywhere on Earth and often share habitats with humans, according to Technology Networks. "Birds are important indicators of environmental health," DuBay said. The Texas scientists worked with Chinese researchers from Sichuan University to conduct the study at an international airport in Chengdu. The team studied 56 wild birds representing 51 different species, collecting samples of their lungs to test for microplastic contamination. By using advanced chemical analyses to identify plastic types, the researchers found an average of 221 particles per species. Common plastics included chlorinated polyethylene, a common insulation material for pipes and wires, and butadiene rubber, which is used to make tires. The findings were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. As the name suggests, microplastics are tiny — no larger than a grain of sand — fragments of the many plastics we use for a variety of things. More than 10,000 chemicals are used to make plastic, according to a 2021 Swiss study, with over 2,400 of those "of concern" for human health. Although no amount of microplastics in the lungs is deemed safe, per Technology Networks, high concentrations can be linked to serious respiratory issues. More broadly, the bird study echoes similar findings of microplastics "hot spots" in human lungs and nasal passages, indicating the effects of airborne drifting of particles. Microplastics have been found in a wide range of human tissues and are believed to have links to cancer and reproductive issues. DuBay described the research findings as a call to action for better management of microplastic contamination. "Our research highlights an urgent need to address plastic pollution in our environments, as these contaminants can have far-reaching impacts on ecosystem health, as well as human health," DuBay said. "Our findings call for further research, funding and action to mitigate the harmful effects of plastic pollution and ensure a healthier environment." On an individual level, there are tons of ways to reduce plastic use in day-to-day life. Avoiding single-use plastics, such as water bottles and utensils, is a great way to remove a top contributor of dietary microplastics while decreasing waste. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Some unexpected sources of microplastic pollution include fast-fashion clothing items, which tend to be made from synthetic materials — so greening up your wardrobe by choosing clothes made from natural fibers could help both the planet and your personal style. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Guardian
21-03-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
First evidence of microplastic buildup in bird lungs found in new study
A new study has provided the first evidence that microplastics are accumulating in bird lungs. Birds have long been used to give early warnings of environmental risks. The absence of birdsong was used in the evocative title of Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring, and for more than a century miners carried caged canaries to warn of carbon monoxide – a practice that ended in UK coalmines only in 1996. Prof Yongjie Wu, from Sichuan University, who led the study said: 'Birds are highly mobile, ecologically diverse and have unique respiratory systems that make them vulnerable to airborne pollutants. We aimed to assess the micro and nanoplastic contamination in bird lungs and evaluate their potential as bioindicators for airborne plastic pollution.' The researchers analysed the lungs of birds from 51 species. All had been killed as part of a programme to minimise aircraft bird-strikes at China's Chengdu Tianfu international airport. Microplastics were found in every bird's lungs. Shane DuBay of the University of Texas at Arlington and part of the research team said: 'The result that surprised me the most was the widespread contamination in all species that we sampled, regardless of body size, habitat preference and feeding habits.' Microplastics were found in all the species studied, with an average of 416 particles in every gram of lung tissue. Terrestrial birds had a greater burden of microplastics compared with aquatic birds, and large birds than smaller ones. The greatest burdens were found in carnivorous and omnivorous birds, suggesting habitat and feeding were important exposure routes – foraging in polluted areas, for example. The researchers found fibres, films and pellets from 32 different types of plastic including polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and butadiene rubber, which is, as Wu explained, widely used in tyre manufacturing. 'Tyre wear from aircraft/ground vehicles and nearby roads could release butadiene rubber particles into the air, but further source-tracking studies are needed to confirm this.' Although tyre wear is often overlooked as a source of microplastics, it is thought to be responsible for between 5 and 28% of plastic entering the oceans. DuBay continued: 'This widespread contamination highlights the pervasive nature of airborne plastic pollution. This is a global problem, like plastics in our oceans.' Previous studies have found microplastics in the air in remote parts of the Alps and in megacities in China, in Paris and London. In 2018, Dr Stephanie Wright from Imperial College London, set up an air sampler on a rooftop near London's Somerset House. In four weeks of sampling, she found 15 types of petrochemical-based polymers. Wright, who was not involved in the bird-sampling study, said: 'This new research on bird lungs highlights the pervasiveness of microplastic pollution, which we now know contaminates the atmosphere, and clearly presents an issue for both animal and human health. 'We've observed microplastic particles in atmospheric fallout in London, from both outdoor and indoor environments. You can't clean it up, so it is all about stopping it at source. The fact that these are persistent materials is a cause for concern, especially if they are accumulating in the body.'
