To address such big ideas, “You need the solar system as your laboratory,” says Sander Goossens. NASA’s MESSENGER satellite collected data during its years orbiting Mercury that enabled the research team to answer questions about the Sun’s interior processes and our fundamental understanding of gravity. Continue Reading UMBC space scientist further confirms Einstein’s theory through new solar research
People have pinned their hopes on quantum computers for the next leap forward in computing technology, “but my recent research has revealed that quantum computers will have limits of their own,” writes Sebastian Deffner, “and has suggested ways to figure out what those limits are.” Continue Reading UMBC’s Sebastian Deffner explains how the “quantum speed limit” may put brakes on quantum computers
UMBC celebrated so many milestones in the past year. In thousands of ways, big and small, the UMBC community made their mark on 2017. Here are 12 top highlights. Continue Reading UMBC’s Top 12 Highlights of 2017
The new finding “is attacking the bugaboo of this whole class of possible quantum computers,” says Jason Kestner. And yet, like so much in science, the finding “is something we stumbled across almost by accident,” says Michael Wolfe ’17. Continue Reading UMBC physicists’ finding has potential to springboard quantum computing to major advances
“The scientific community thinks that the way this works is that females prefer the bells and whistles of their own species, and that’s how species stay apart,” Tamra Mendelson says. “And our research contradicts that.” Continue Reading UMBC study challenges established paradigm, suggests males pickier than females in mate choice
Handling in-flight challenges on the spot showed the students “how the science gets done in real life,” Brian Carroll says. The flight experience met the initiative’s goal to provide experiential learning opportunities to expand students’ perspectives. Continue Reading UMBC students take flight to study weather, pollution in multi-institution initiative
Improper circadian clock function has already been linked to illnesses from diabetes to depression in humans. Plant science could grow our understanding. “As researchers continue to untangle more about how these clocks work—including how they influence interactions between hosts and their invading pathogens and pests—new forms of specially-timed precision medicine could be on the horizon,” write Lu and Wiratan. Continue Reading UMBC biologists discuss human health applications of studying plants’ circadian rhythms in The Conversation
“I think this competition is an amazing opportunity to help young adults have the confidence and ambition to go beyond just spitballing ideas,” said Karla Negrete ’19, participant and winner in the 8th annual Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship Idea Competition. Continue Reading Idea competition serves as springboard for young entrepreneurs
UMBC received an NSF award to expand its High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF). The funding will go toward upgraded hardware and increased computing speeds for the interdisciplinary core facility, which supports scientific computing and other complex, data-intensive research. Continue Reading UMBC upgrades High Performance Computing Facility through new NSF grant, expanding possibilities for data-intensive research
“We’re laying the groundwork for developing ways of monitoring vegetation,” says Fred Huemmrich. His and Petya Campbell’s new research uses images captured by instruments on the international space station to reveal global photosynthesis rates in unprecedented detail. Continue Reading UMBC scientists measure plant productivity from space, with applications from farming to forest conservation
“My colleagues and I who are cultural developmental scientists are trying to expand, diversify, and challenge people to think critically about culture and behavior,” says Cheah. “In the process, we aim to more accurately represent the world in which we live.” Continue Reading Charissa Cheah receives Fulbright award to research identity development of Muslim Tunisian immigrant adolescents in Sicily
“The assumption that the Ph.D. is primarily a pathway to the professoriate is just not the case,” says Janet Rutledge, dean of the Graduate School. “We’re hoping that by being part of this study, we will determine the best ways to focus our time and our resources to most effectively guide our students.” Continue Reading UMBC participates in national study on Ph.D. career pathways at pivotal moment for new grads
