Science Utah

Forecasting Water Supply In Colorado River May Benefit Water Resource Management

What if I purchase an early season ski pass– will it pay off with good snow this winter? Yoshimitsu Chikamoto, a climate scientist at Utah State University Utah had an idea to use climate modeling to help him decide.

Rare Condors In Southern Utah Threatened By Wildfires, Lead

To reduce human threats to western birds, scientists have been exploring effects of severe fires and lead poisoning on California condors.

Utah's Native Bees Featured In Documentary

Grand Staircase-Escalante is home to a rich assemblage of native bees, an often-overlooked part of Utah’s wildlife.

USU Professor Helps Discover Ancient Amphibian With A Venomous Bite

Hikers in the mountainous west are often wary of snakes, knowing some are venomous, many of us may be less concerned about our amphibious friends, like frogs, toads and salamanders. While in tropical regions, there are poisonous amphibians, but a venomous amphibian – that’s something new.

In Areas Where COVID-19 Is Rare, Accurate Antibody Tests Are Crucial

It seems like SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests should be pretty simple. Tests consist of SARS-CoV-2 antigens on a plate. If a person has antibodies for SARS-CoV-2, their antibodies bind to the antigens, and the test reads as positive. However, it is possible to get a false positive if some other antibody can bind by coincidence to the antigen.

Raining Plastics In The American West

A new study from researchers at Utah State University finds tiny pieces of plastic are being transported atmospherically and deposited on western public lands in astounding annual quantities.

Shifting Habitats: Bird Migration And Climate Change

The North American Breeding Bird Survey, a large-scale citizen science project started in 1966, is the basis of a newly-released study on migratory bird habitats and climate change.

Asian Giant Hornets: What You Should Really Know About Them

Dr. Joseph Wilson knows a little something about Vespa mandarinia , the species commonly called the Asian giant hornet .

Cameras To Help NASA Learn About The Origin Of Earth Were Made In Utah

Utah’s own Space Dynamics Laboratory is working with NASA to find clues that could give more insight into the big questions about where we come from.

New Mapping Of The Wasatch Fault Published Online

While the recent Magna earthquake may have taken many Utahns by surprise, geologists at the Utah Geological Survey were hard at work finishing a four-year, fault-mapping study they hope will help reduce earthquake risks in the state.

Space Dynamics Laboratory Prepares Innovative Light Imaging Instrument For Launch Into Space

Utah’s Space Dynamics Laboratory recently delivered a test version of a satellite sub-unit to NASA that will measure the movements of microscopic creatures within Earth’s oceans from space. The Space Dynamics Laboratory is an affiliate lab to Utah State University and is working on a sub-unit of the PACE spacecraft , which NASA will launch into space in 2022. PACE stands for Plankton Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem .

Utah Air Quality Continues To Impact Residents' Health

The American Lung Association recently released their annual State of the Air report . Will Barrett is the Director of Clean Air advocacy for the American Lung Association. “Nearly half of Americans live in counties that have unhealthy ozone or particle pollution. Unfortunately that includes about two and a half million people in the Salt Lake City region," Barrett said.

University of Utah Researchers Receive Grant To Study Coronavirus

Scientists at the University of Utah recently received funding to contribute to the fight against the spread of Covid 19. “This grant is studying mucus and it’s interactions with coronaviruses," said Dr. Jessica Kramer, and you heard right. She is studying how coronaviruses interact with mucus.

The Seasons Are Changing And So Is The Snow; Spring Brings Different Avalanche Dangers To Utah

Spring is almost here and many Utahns will take advantage of the warmer weather to get in just a few more ski days. However, experts at the Utah Avalanche Center say avalanche dangers will change along with the season.

Talk At USU Looks At How Bees Enrich Human Life

The Science Unwrapped talk at Utah State University this month focused on bees and how they impact our lives through the foods we eat.

USU Presentation Highlights Reasons For Reducing Emissions

Utah State University President Noelle Cockett is reviewing the most recent plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the university’s campuses across the state. Last week a meeting was hosted to inform students and faculty about the efforts.

Betelgeuse Is Dimming

No supernova has been observed in our Milky W ay galaxy since the invention of the telescope in 1608 . That may be about to change.

Proximity To USU May Be Why Cache Valley Is The 'Silicon Valley of Instrumentation'

Cache Valley is considered the "Silicon Valley of Instrumentation," thanks to its high concentration of remote sensing companies. The proximity to Utah State University may be what draws these companies into the area.

Giant Datasets From GPS Collars Can Lead To 'Data Dredging' For Habitat Inferences

Data from GPS collars on animals are used to determine crucial habitats and migration routes. Because of technological advances scientists can now collect animal locations in three dimensions as often as 32 times per second . But this abundance of data comes with a downside.

USU Plans To Release Report Detailing Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies This Week

As part of Utah State University's carbon neutrality goals, a report with recommendations for reducing carbon emissions is anticipated to be released this week.

Update On Plastic Recycling Changes In Logan

Seven months ago the city of Logan stopped accepting plastics number 3 through 7 for recycling. Emily Malik, Logan's Conservation Coordinator, said the change in the amount of plastic waste delivered to the Logan landfill since then is relatively insignificant.

New Utah Wildlife Crossings in the Works for 2020

During the winter, animals like deer and elk are on the move— migrating to more favorable habitats. Unfortunately, migration routes often cross roads and highways, leading to conflict with humans. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources plans to build more wildlife crossings this year to mitigate these conflicts.

Popular Bicycle App May Change User Behavior

Strava is a fitness tracking app mountain bikers can use on their smartphones. It connects with their bike’s computer, allowing riders to track and record their activity and then create visuals of their progress. But it may be changing how people recreate.

Majority Of Parents Think Interruptions From Phones Harm Families, Survey Results Suggest

Preliminary results from a new survey suggest that the majority of people think interruptions from technology are harmful to their family. Technoference occurs when technology interferes with human interactions and relationships.

Researcher Tracks Ozone Pollution By Recording Damage To Plant Leaves

Salt Lake City, the northern Wasatch Front, and the Uinta Basin all had high concentrations of ground-level ozone this year. When it occurs in the upper atmosphere, ozone is good for organisms because it blocks harmful UV rays. But when it occurs at ground level, ozone harms plants and animals by burning the tissues they use to breathe.

University Of Utah Celebrates 50 Years Of Internet, And The Utahns That Helped Make It Possible

When was the last time you thought about a time before internet? It wasn’t that long ago, only 50 years since the first message was sent between computers at the University of Califonia, Los Angeles and the Stanford Research Institute.

Putting Carbon Back In Soil Could Help Fight Against Climate Change, Researcher Argues

Soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, accounting for over three times more carbon than all plants on earth. According to a researcher who specializes in environmental issues, this could make it a key tool in the fight against climate change.

A New Online Tool May Improve Mental Health Care In Utah

Utah State University researchers have recently released a new online tool to help Utahns improve their mental health.

Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources Launches New Website To Track Banded Ducks and Geese

Did you know that the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources depends on hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to track migratory birds in Utah?

Utah Scientists Are Working To Reduce Conflicts Between Native Predators and Humans

Utah's Congressional Representatives Are Supporting A Bipartisan Bill On Wildlife Conservation

The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee is considering a bill to fund the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

3.9 Earthquake Prompts Discovery Of New Fault In Box Elder County

Last week, the 3.9 earthquake centered near Tremonton came as a big surprise to Box Elder County geologists - caused by one of many unknown faults in northern Utah.

An Economist's View: Bad Air Quality Costs Utah Citizens Big In The Long Run

The University of Utah will be hosting a symposium on Thursday about air quality in the state. Dr. Steve Bannister will be a guest panalist. He studies the economic influence of air quality in Utah and around the world.

Black-Footed Ferrets Released In Coyote Basin To Help Restore Populations

Previously thought to be extinct, black-footed ferrets are one of the rarest mammals in the United States. Thanks to captive breeding programs, these ferrets are being bred and reintroduced to prairie habitats across the Western US, including Coyote Basin near Vernal.

Pelican Lake Restoration Project: Bringing Back The Bluegill

Not long ago, Pelican Lake, roughly between Vernal and Deschene, was full of bluegill fish and bass.

University Of Utah Researchers Awarded $3 Million To Study Effect Of Exercise On Parkinson's Disease

There is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but for mice with induced Parkinson’s, exercise seems to slow the progression of the neurodegenerative disease, and surveys suggest something similar could be happening with humans. A research group at University of Utah is looking into this kind of treatment with a grant for controlled experiments.

Utah Scientist Work With NASA On A Mission That Is Out Of This World, Or Will Be Soon

Drs. Bruce Bugbee and Lance Seefeldt are both scientists at Utah State University. Dr. Bugbee is a botanist, he studies plants; and Dr. Seefeldt is a biochemist, he studies the chemistry of living organisms. It may not sound like these scientists have very much in common, but they do have one common interest.

Radiometric Dating Reveals Age Of The Navajo Sandstone In Southeastern Utah For The First Time

The Navajo sandstone is one of Utah’s most iconic rock formations, with its massive white-pink cliffs strikingly visible in Zion and other national parks and monuments. Deposited during the Jurassic time period, these sandstones tell us the story of a major turning point in Earth’s history when fertile lands turned into an immense desert – in a process called desertification.

Utah Residents Joined Demonstrators Around The World To Demand Action On Climate Change

Citizens of Utah joined people around the world on Friday in an international climate strike.

Bighorn Sheep Herd Planned To Be Reintroduced To Antelope Island, Public Input Welcome

Bighorn sheep are a charismatic species in the Western United States, but populations throughout the West have struggled due to a widespread respiratory illness originally introduced by European settlers.

NRCS Receives $9.6 Million Grant To Restore Watersheds In Utah County Affected By 2018 Wildfires

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently received $9.6 million for its Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) to help Utah County restore watersheds affected by the Pole Canyon and Bald Mountain fires.

Utah Is No Exception To The Rule: Changes In The Endangered Species Act May Hit Close To Home

There are 42 threatened or endangered species that call Utah home . These species are protected by federal law through the Endangered Species Act. However, the Trump administration recently announced some big changes to the act, which may have a large impact on those species.

Upcoming Rotenone Treatments In Uinta Mountains To Help Conserve Cutthroat Trout

Beginning August 28, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will be adding rotenone to several lakes and streams in the Eastern Uinta Mountains aimed at helping eliminate invasive species that threaten the populations of Colorado River Cutthroat trout.

A Tiny Device May Improve The Energy Efficiency Of The Electronics Utahns Use Every Day

Dr. Mathieu Francoeur, a professor and mechanical engineer at the University of Utah, has created a tiny device that could increase the efficiency of all of our electronics.

Highly Contagious And Highly Preventable, But Some Utahns Still Skeptical About The MMR Vaccine

Some vaccines have been extremely successful. “If you want to see one of the greatest public health achievements ever, follow smallpox, and how we were able to eradicate it.”

3D Mammogram Technology Promises To Improve Breast Cancer Detection

Doctors in Cache Valley have a new tool to help them detect and diagnose breast cancer earlier in their patients - 3D mammography.