Researchers in the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS) at the University of Minnesota have mapped out every fatality in the nation with details on each death, so now you can see the "dead man's curve" on your commute or the "devil's triangle" in your backyard. And you can do it all, by simply typing in your address.
U of M researchers uncover the educational benefits of social networking sites
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered the educational benefits of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. The same study found that low-income students are in many ways just as technologically proficient as their counterparts, going against what results from previous studies have suggested.
University of Minnesota researchers have created a beating heart in the laboratory. It was grown by using a process called whole organ decellularization. The scientists from the University of Minnesota Center for Cardiovascular Repair grew functioning heart tissue by taking dead rat and pig hearts and reseeding them with a mixture of live cells.
U of M develops experimental therapy for dog with fatal brain cancer
Researchers with the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Medical School, and Masonic Cancer Center have successfully performed the first step of an experimental procedure to treat a dog with brain cancer. The team’s two-fold goal: cure or extend the life of the patient and gain information that will advance scientific knowledge about brain tumors for treatment of animals and humans with this disease.
Wiral hemorrhagic septicemia is a lethal fish virus that causes severe hemorrhaging and is capable of producing massive fish kills in some of anglers' favorite game and eating fish, including walleye, muskie, perch, sunfish, crappie, and bass.
The virus, which isn't native to the Great Lakes, was first diagnosed in Lakes St. Clair and Ontario in 2005. Since then, fish kills have occurred in other Great Lakes, including Huron and Michigan, and inland lakes in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
A quarter of a billionth of a gram... that's the size of the comet dust sample University of Minnesota physicist Robert Pepin analyzed when NASA's Stardust spacecraft returned from its mission around Mars. Pepin discovered that the study of comet dust can actually help to trace the history of all celestial existence.
U of M professor Leo Hurwicz wins the Nobel Prize in economics
University of Minnesota Regents Professor Emeritus Leonid Hurwicz, along with two other Americans, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in economics today for theories that help set rules for transactions ranging from auctions to elections called mechanism design theory.
According to the academy, Hurwicz, 90, was the oldest Nobel winner in history. He died June 25, 2008.
U of M professors discover a billion light-years of nothing
University of Minnesota astronomers have found an enormous hole in the Universe, nearly a billion light-years across, empty of both normal matter such as stars, galaxies and gas, as well as the mysterious, unseen “dark matter.” While earlier studies have shown holes, or voids, in the large-scale structure of the Universe, this new discovery dwarfs them all.
Most medical news stories about health interventions fail to adequately address costs, harms, benefits, the quality of evidence and the existence of other treatment options, finds a new analysis by Gary Schwitzer from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism & Mass Communication. The high rate of inadequate reporting, said Schwitzer, “raises important questions about the quality of the information U.S. consumers receive from the news media on these health news topics.”
University of Minnesota develops a life-saving treatment for rare skin disease
Physicians at the University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview have set the path to a cure for a young boy’s fatal genetic skin disease, recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), by using a cord blood and bone marrow transplant. Nate Liao, a 25-month-old from Clarksburg, New Jersey, underwent the experimental therapy in October 2007.
U of M researchers reveal new findings about Wikipedia authorship and vandalism
An ongoing study by University of Minnesota researchers has revealed that only one-tenth of 1 percent of Wikipedia editors account for nearly half the content value of the free online encyclopedia, as measured by readership. In addition, the computer science and engineering faculty and students have discovered that few edits inflict damage on the content and damage is typically fixed quickly.
"Mortenson Construction has celebrated many construction milestones with the university over the years," said Mort Mortenson, "but this milestone is especially meaningful to me and the Mortenson family. My grandfather, my father and my uncles Hilding and Carl all worked on the Memorial Stadium. So it is truly an honor for Hilding to be chosen to place the first brick on the new stadium."
TCF Bank Stadium, the first on-campus football stadium in over two decades, will have the capacity to seat 50,000 and the potential to expand to 80,000. Set to open on Sept. 12, 2009 in a game against the United States Air Force Academy. Fundraising is currently underway for the $288.5 million structure and so far nearly $75 million has been raised towards the goal of $86 million in donations and sponsorships.
At the University of Minnesota, where more than 600 student veterans are enrolled throughout all university campuses, veterans are not only dealing with the transition from combat to civilian life, but also with funding their education. The G.I. Bill used to cover their education fully but now only subsidizes it by 60 to 70 percent.
U of M undergrad builds I-35W bridge model for NTSB
University of Minnesota civil engineering junior Rachel Gaulke will showcase a 1/200th-scale model of the former I-35W bridge she built for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The model was approximately five feet long, and was shipped in a large crate to Washington, D.C. to be used by engineers at NTSB for various presentations to help visualize and explain information related to the bridge collapse and its causes. NTSB contracted the University of Minnesota to produce the model because of its familiarity with the bridge.
University of Minnesota’s solar car team competes in cross-country race
This solar car, built entirely by the U of M Solar Vehicle Project team, raced in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge in July. The solar car placed fifth in the cross country journey that took them from Texas to Canada. The current car is just over 3 feet tall, about 16 feet long and nearly 6 feet wide. It weighs about 420 pounds.
U of M student entrepreneur returns from China, creates video tour guide for Beijing Olympics visitors
When University of Minnesota student Dave Lindeman traveled to China last fall, he realized he couldn’t have experienced a more different way of life than his in America. When the budding videographer returned to Minnesota and looked at the footage he had shot, he also realized he might have a solution to help this summer’s Olympics visitors to Beijing who won’t be so lucky.
U of M dentistry computerized patients give students instant feedback
Equipped with the most current advances in dental innovations, the educational facility features CAD/CAM technologies, digital radiography, and some of the most comfortable dental chairs available, each with touchpad controls to operate the chair, an integrated scaler, curing light, intraoral camera, and chairside monitor.
U of M student establishes charity to restore ravaged communities in Kenya
University of Minnesota global studies student Kathryn Nelson is returning to Kenya this summer to run her charity, The Nafula Foundation - which helps repair communities that have been destroyed by the ongoing violence that has killed more than 1,500 people and displaced 600,000 since December 2007. Nelson established The Nafula Foundation last summer and aims to provide clothing, food and books to orphaned children who have otherwise been left for dead.
The Bell Museum of Natural History is a portal to explore experiences that bring people closer to the natural world. It is a small, personable place with big ideas, an historic state treasure and a landmark destination. It is a familiar point-of-entry to the resources of the University of Minnesota and a gateway to the natural wonders of our state.
Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum offers an educational and friendly museum experience. The museums' collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selecton of contemporary art.
The Equine Center's unique design provides a functional high-tech space for sophisticated equine evaluations. The latest in diagnostic equipment allows for unprecedented examination of a horse's performance, making it easier to solve your horse's health problems.
Established in 1974, the Raptor Center specializes in the medical care, rehabilitation and conservation of eagles, hawks, owls and falcons. In addition to treating approximately 800 birds a year, the internationally known program reaches more than 240,000 people each year through public education programs and events, provides training in avian medicine and surgery for veterinarians from around the world.
The Carlson School of Management's newest addition, Hanson Hall, is proudly opening its doors this fall. The new building will feature the newest classroom technologies to serve the new undergraduate programs including the new nonprofit major and a required study abroad element to the curriculum.
It was founded seven years before Minnesota was even a state and more than a century and a half later it has awarded 13,691 degrees in one year, the most ever. The University of Minnesota recently released its “10 things you need to know about the U,” a list of important university facts, stats and fun tidbits.
Mowing and mulching are just the beginning for how the U of M maintains its beautiful campus. It is more than just planting Wave Petunia’s and picking up trash - it is using green practices to get the job done. The green practices they use are a crucial part of the efforts to be sustainable. Recycling organic waste that can be used in plant beds, utilizing waste wood for mulch, running efficient irrigation systems based on evaporation and transpiration rates and driving electric carts instead of gas vehicles are all part of these efforts.
Minnesota wine trail continues to gain in popularity
With the help of University of Minnesota researchers, eastern Minnesota vineyards are taking home awards from California wine competitions. The Three Rivers Wine Trail is Minnesota’s first wine trail and is comprised of six Minnesota wineries all located within the St. Croix, Mississippi and Cannon River valleys. Wine lovers can spend a day or a weekend on the trail visiting wineries amid lush valley scenery and sampling high-quality, locally produced wines.
Formerly known as "MN447," Frostbite dates back to 1921 when the cross-pollinating of two apple blossoms was made at the university's Horticultural Research Center (HRC), now in its 100th year. The apple is actually a grandparent of the most famous U of M apple, Honeycrisp, and joins a long line of successes including Haralson, Zestar and Snowsweet apples.
