Artist's depiction of a planet covered in volcanoes

Newly discovered planet is the size of Earth, but may be covered in volcanoes

May 17, 2023

A team of astrophysicists, including two researchers from CU Boulder, have caught a glimpse of a new and rocky planet called LP 791-18d. There, temperatures on the dayside could climb to more than 250 degrees Fahrenheit, while volcanoes blast the planet's surface.

Saturn's rings partially in shadow

How old are Saturn’s rings? Far younger than once thought, according to new study

May 12, 2023

New research led by Sascha Kempf of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder finds that Saturn's rings are no more than 400 million years old. That's much younger than Saturn itself, which formed around 4.5 billion years ago.

Solar flare erupt from the sun

How 1,000 undergraduates helped solve an enduring mystery about the sun

May 9, 2023

For three years at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CU Boulder students enrolled in "Experimental Physics I" spent an estimated 56,000 hours analyzing the behavior of hundreds of solar flares. Their results could help astrophysicists understand how the sun's corona reaches temperatures of millions of degrees Fahrenheit.

Person wears a shirt made out of kombucha leather with glowing LED lights

Kombucha chic: How one student uses microbes, and time, to grow her own clothes

May 4, 2023

Biodesign researcher Fiona Bell says that anyone, anywhere can grow their own clothing right from their kitchens. You start by brewing a batch of kombucha.

A biodegradable "artificial muscle" made with material stamped with an image of a carrot

Grad student helps design ‘artificial muscles’ you can toss in the compost bin

April 20, 2023

Mechanical engineering student Ellen Rumley was part of a robotics club in high school, but she could never get over the clunkiness of rigid, metal machines. Now, she's designing soft robotic actuators that work like animal muscles. They're also completely biodegradable.

A teacher at a lectern speaks to students sitting at desks

5 lessons on improving US education—from high schools that beat the odds

April 12, 2023

Edited by a trio of CU Boulder researchers, a new book titled Schools of Opportunity: 10 Research-Based Models of Equity in Action tells the stories of nine U.S. high schools that flourished despite the odds—overcoming tough challenges to offer students from a wide range of backgrounds rich and even joyful educational experiences.

The shadows of visitors seen on the wall of the Columbine Memorial

Student teachers feeling the toll of school violence, educator says

April 7, 2023

Deena Gumina, an assistant teaching professor at CU Boulder, takes hope from college and high school students who are taking action to try to prevent violence in schools. Now, adults need to "show up" in support.

Image of the sun fringed in white light as seen during an eclipse

Scientists heading to tip of Australia to observe rare eclipse

April 6, 2023

CU Boulder astrophysicists Kevin Reardon and Sarah Bruce are traveling across the globe to the fringes of Australia to witness a rare event—a total solar eclipse that will last just one minute but could help scientists answer a burning mystery about the sun.

A gray-colored mare with her spotted foal

Landmark study on history of horses in American West relies on Indigenous knowledge

March 30, 2023

Indigenous peoples as far north as Wyoming and Idaho may have begun to care for horses by the first half of the 17th century, according to a new study by researchers from 15 countries and multiple Native American groups.

Microscope view of many small worms swimming in a well of liquid

New ‘gym-on-a-chip’ for worms may lead to new Parkinson’s treatments

Feb. 28, 2023

The Acoustic Gym, designed by a team of biologists and engineers at CU Boulder, is about the size of a quarter and uses sound waves to generate small whirlpools—the perfect place for tiny worms to get in their laps.

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