30 years of Hubble: Images and discoveries that shaped astronomy

Posted on May 14, 2022 by ScIU Editorial Team

To celebrate International Astronomy Day (May 7), we are highlighting this post from ScIU’s archives! It was originally published by Jennifer Sieben in April 2020 and has been lightly edited to reflect current events.

April 24th, 2020 was the 30th anniversary of the launch of perhaps the most famous telescope: the Hubble Space Telescope. Orbiting the earth, this telescope has changed the way astronomers and the public alike view the universe. With over 1.4 million observations, providing data for more than 16,000 peer-reviewed scientific papers, Hubble has exceeded expectations.

Stunning Images

If you have ever seen an image of a spiral galaxy as a desktop background, textbook cover, or in the background of an inspirational quote, the chances are high that it was taken by Hubble. Images like these highlight the spectacular beauty of our universe and are often a great tool to encourage interest in science. Hubble images demonstrate that science can be more than a mixture of numbers and buggy code; it can also be spiral galaxies that show where new stars are being formed and remind us that the mystery of galaxy formation is still unsolved. New data received from Hubble constantly challenges our preconceived notions about the universe.

A bright spiral galaxy with two prominent arms of red with a blue glow of stars. The center is bright white. — A Hubble image of the Whirlpool Galaxy, featuring pink star-forming regions and brilliant blue strands of star clusters. Image taken in 2011. *Image credit: NASA/ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).*

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Grey wolves can be black? Recent trail camera footage shows a pack of black wolves in Minnesota

Posted on May 7, 2022 by Allison Nelson

Recently, a trail camera in northern Minnesota caught video of a pack of all-black wolves. The video has been viewed more than 950,000 times since it was uploaded in late December 2021. A greyish-brown wolf crosses the meadow in the shot, followed by three all-black wolves. People are fascinated. So, what affects animal coloration? And why are these wolves black?

First, although these wolves are black, they are still Canis lupus (commonly called the grey wolf). Naturally, wolves are red, brown, white, grey, black, and shades in between. These are the same colors we see available in nature in human hairs: black, brown, blonde, red, and grey/white. Other body coverings, such as scales and feathers, can be different colors due to the pigments available. Animals use color for camouflage, thermoregulation, and mating selection.

Three wolves in a field. On the left is a black colored wolf standing and facing left. On the right, a grey-red-brown colored wolf sits, possibly being groomed by a whitw colored wolf who is standing. — The range of wolf colors in Yellowstone National Park includes black, greyish-red-brown, and white. *Image credit: NPS/Jim Peaco,*

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Familial DNA as a method of identifying serial killers

Posted on April 30, 2022 by ScIU Editorial Team

To celebrate National DNA Day (April 25), we are highlighting this post from ScIU’s archives! It was originally published by Brittany Hood in January 2019.

Trigger warning: This post contains details of specific crimes that are related to sexual assault and murder.

In 1992, an 84-year-old grandmother was brutally assaulted and killed in California. For 25 years, the mystery of her death went unsolved — and her killer unapprehended — due to the lack of physical evidence to tie him to the crime. Twenty-five years later, police paid a visit to a pizza party, where they found sufficient evidence to arrest her murderer.

Slice of pizza on a white plate next to a drink and condiments.

At first glance, the murder and the pizza party seem unrelated. However, there is a link: familial DNA. Familial DNA testing has traditionally been used for a multitude of reasons, such as to identify potential genetic predispositions and to structure family trees. However, with advancements in technology, law enforcement agencies are now utilizing familial DNA testing to identify serial killers. San Diego police found a familial DNA connection, suggesting that a biological brother was responsible for the 1992 rape and murder of 84-year-old Angela Kleinsorge. In order to confirm that the DNA belonged to the suspect, police went undercover to a birthday party and collected Lonnie Franklin’s leftover pizza crust and utensils. The DNA was a match, and Franklin was arrested a mere two hours later. He was eventually tied to ten murders and has since been suspected of more. He is now known as the “Grim Sleeper.” (more…)

Deciphering geographers’ lingo

Posted on April 23, 2022 by Dan Myers

Every academic discipline has its own special words and phrases. However, it is hard to match geography in terms of words that are just curious. Did you know that “space” and “place” mean very different things? That the “Annals” is the hallmark of a geographer’s career? And the “First Law of Geography” is extremely important, but does not always hold true? To decipher the meanings of these words and phrases, we first must come to terms with the most ambiguous word of them all: “geographer.”

An embellished map of the world from 1689, including separate frames for the western hemisphere, eastern hemisphere, and north and south poles. — Geographers do a lot more than work with maps, and they have their own lingo. *Image credit: Gerard van Schagen*.

“Geographer”

Many people assume that a geographer is either: a) someone who makes maps, or b) someone who studies the Earth. However, someone who makes maps is a cartographer, and someone who studies the Earth is a geologist. In reality, a geographer can study pretty much anything. The best definition of a geographer I have heard was from my Introduction to Geography professor: “A geographer is what a geographer does, and a geographer does what they want.” Geographers are typically classified into two branches of study, “human” and “physical,” although there can also be fascinating overlap between these branches.

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The power of quantum computing: Parallelism

Posted on April 16, 2022 by ScIU Editorial Team

To celebrate World Quantum Day (April 14), we are highlighting this post from ScIU’s archives! It was originally published by AJ Rasmusson in July 2019.

Tech companies are going big in a microscopic way, pouring millions of dollars into a new form of computing: quantum computing. Quantum computers will revolutionize drug research, material discovery, and artificial intelligence by solving complex problems in a new way. To understand this, let’s review how normal computers solve problems and compare this to how a quantum computer would do it.

The picture shows three serious problems quantum computing could solve: a cure for cancer, boosting food production, and breaking computer encryption codes. They are some of the overly optimistic outcomes of quantum computers. — The hope of what quantum computers can do. Although many of these goals are far from being reached, scientists are cautiously optimistic that a quantum computer of the future will accomplish them. *Image credit: EPiQC zine on quantum computing.*

Today’s computers use billions upon billions of 0’s and 1’s, called bits, to represent information like numbers, words, images, etc. To watch a movie or simulate life-saving chemical reactions in medicine, a processor in the computer takes a group of bits and modifies them according to programmed instructions. For example, to watch Avengers: Infinity War, your computer processes more than 16 billion bits. By repeating this process very quickly, your computer can turn a file of 0’s and 1’s into moving images on your display or store answers to complex math equations in a new file.

Quantum computers take a different approach to information processing. Instead of solving a problem one outcome at a time, a quantum computer computes every possible outcome simultaneously. To understand the power of that statement (and what it even means), let’s consider an example. (more…)

A beginner’s guide to Bloomington birds

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Guest Contributor

This post was written by ScIU Undergraduate Intern Rose Schnabel.

Step outside in Southern Indiana and you’ll be greeted by a symphony of chirps, calls, and songs from a myriad of local birds. Home to over 400 species, Indiana is a birder’s paradise. Warblers, eagles, and owls alike call Bloomington home and are frequently spotted on the campus of IU Bloomington. Birds are a vibrant part of Bloomington culture, so it’s worth getting to know a few:

1. 1. Blue-Winged Warbler — Commonly found in the shrubs of Hoosier National Forest, this species is named for its light blue-grey wings. But, you’d recognize it more so by its bright yellow body or “buzzy song.” The blue-winged warbler is commonly found on the East Coast, but has recently begun expanding its range to the North, commonly interbreeding with the golden-winged warbler native to that region. To spot these birds, aim your eye at dense brush on the forest floor. Blue-winged warblers consume a diet of small insects and spiders, so they can be found where bugs abound.
    A blue-winged warbler. Illustration by William Zimmerman, photographed in the Biology Building at IU Bloomington by Rose Schnabel.
    
    A bald eagle. Image credit: ArtTower (Pixabay).
  2. Bald Eagle — With a wingspan taller than most humans and speeds that would earn them a ticket on I-69, bald eagles are a stunning sight. Their history in Indiana is a success story of reintroduction. Before the 1890s, bald eagles were a common sight in Indiana. However, as the use of organic chemicals and pesticides grew, bald eagle numbers dropped; by 1897, Indiana was home to only one known bald eagle nest. The Indiana Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program launched a reintroduction program in 1985, bringing chicks from Wisconsin and Alaska to Bloomington’s own Lake Monroe. Under the watchful eye of Bloomingtonians, eagle numbers quickly grew. As of 2020, Indiana had over 350 bald eagle nests throughout the state. Head to the Northern edge of Lake Monroe during their annual bald eagle festivities for the best chance of spotting one.
  3. Dark-Eyed Junco — This sparrow is ubiquitous throughout North America. That’s not to say that juncos are anything short of fascinating. At IU, Distinguished Professor Ellen Ketterson has studied dark-eyed juncos for more than 40 years. With their collaborators, the Ketterson lab has undertaken studies of mating, migration, and more. Commonly referred to as snowbirds, dark-eyed juncos come to the Eastern United States during winter and can be spotted by their flashy tail feathers in flight. In the spring, they return to the North to coniferous and hardwood forests. You can find these white-tailed beauties on campus, in parks, or even in your own backyard.
    A dark-eyed junco. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.
  4. An eastern screech owl. Illustration by William Zimmerman, photographed in the Biology Building at IU Bloomington by Rose Schnabel.
    
    Eastern Screech Owl — You’d have to stay up late to catch a glimpse of this backyard bird. Screech owls are typically active at night and asleep during the day. True to their name, these owls make a distinctive trilling noise. The noise serves to attract a mate, find family, and display aggression. Eastern screech owls have a variety of coat colors: grey, red, and brown. This kind of variation is known as polymorphism, as groups of owls in different forest zones display the coat color that most camouflages them in their environment.
  5. Northern Cardinal — A list of Hoosier birds would be incomplete without the state’s pride and joy: the cardinal. But, Indiana isn’t the only state to claim the bird as its own. The cardinal is the state bird of seven states, mostly in the Midwest and East. Male cardinals are aggressive: they attack other males to defend their nesting territory, but will even attack their own reflection if they spot it in a window or mirror. The best part about these birds is that they call Indiana home all year round instead of migrating to warmer climates during the winter.
    A male cardinal (left) and a female cardinal (right). Image credit: John Flannery on Flickr.

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How climate change impacts fresh water: a SWAT modelist’s perspective

Posted on March 26, 2022 by ScIU Editorial Team

To celebrate World Water Day (March 22), we are highlighting this post from ScIU’s archives! It was originally published by Dan Myers in December 2019.

Ph.D. student sits at his desk with a virtual model of the Great Lakes Basin on his computer screen. — Dan Myers uses the SWAT model on his computer to simulate climate change impacts to fresh water.

When people ask me what I research as a Ph.D. student in the Indiana University Department of Geography, I respond “I model.” This is typically followed by a head-to-toe, confused glance at my worn running shoes, wrinkly shorts, and faded yellow-and-brown collared shirt. “No,” I say, “I’m not a fashion model. I make computer models. I am working on some really cool research involving the effects of climate change on rivers of the Great Lakes Basin, just north of us.” Now, you may be thinking, “climate change, that’s scary, huh?” Why, yes it is! That’s why it is so important that we learn as much as we can about climate change so that we can prepare our ecosystems and communities for its impacts.

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What the heck is a nanowire?

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Thomas Ruch

Imagine a future in which your iPhone 20 charges itself as you walk down the street and your house is powered by photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells installed in your backyard, using the power of the sun to convert captured rainwater into clean hydrogen. If we have any hope of realizing this future, you can be certain that nanowires will play a significant role. So what are nanowires, and why are they so important?

My previous blog post [1] was dedicated to examining a class of objects known as topological materials, with an emphasis on the bizarre realm of topological insulators (TIs). Implicit in the definition of topological insulators in the previous post was the assumption that the bulk of this insulator behaves as one would expect from its name: preventing the flow of electric current. Real-world TIs are not quite so simple, however. The bulk of TIs is often somewhat conductive due to the presence of material defects, negating the purpose of the insulator (to prevent the flow of electric current). As a result, one principal objective of topological materials research is to minimize the influence of the bulk. There are various ways to accomplish this, one of which being to shrink everything down to minuscule scales. The incentive to reduce bulk influence has given rise to nanowires, one of the most promising geometric configurations of topological materials. Nanowires are structures that have diameters on the order of nanometers (a nanometer is 0.000000001 meters, which is very small), with variable lengths. These minuscule wires are known for possessing a diversity of fascinating properties, making them exceptionally versatile and, thus, extremely useful for industrial, electronic, and other technological applications, from dramatically increasing transistor efficiency to creating a synthetic tooth enamel that mimics the real thing exceptionally well [2]. Not all nanowires are topological materials, however. Topological and non-topological nanowires alike have a wide range of applications. During my time at IU, our group was focused on “growing” nanowires and testing their electrical/magnetic/thermal properties in order to look for interesting physics that occurs on such scales. For the purpose of this post, I will focus on three of these properties and how each endows nanowires with certain advantages when compared to bulk materials, enabling them to have a wide range of applications in the real world.

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Potluck of neuroscience: Meet microglia, your brain’s National Guard

Posted on March 12, 2022 by ScIU Editorial Team

To celebrate Brain Awareness Week (March 14-20, 2022), we are highlighting this post from ScIU’s archives! It was originally published by Taylor Woodward in March 2021.

This post is the second in a series that will highlight contributions from various scientific disciplines that have furthered our understanding of how the brain and nervous system affect how we think and behave. Click here for the previous installment about ion channels, and look out for more posts in the future!

One of the first things you’ll learn about if you start studying the brain is that it is made of cells called neurons. While neuroscientists have a decent understanding about how neurons work, it turns out that at least half of the brain is actually made of non-neuronal cells called glia*. Glia, named after the Greek word for ‘glue,’ were initially thought to be a type of connective tissue in the nervous system, acting just as scaffolding, while the neurons did all of the communicating. In the last couple of decades, the growing field of neuroimmunology has highlighted the importance of a certain kind of glia: microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells.

An illustration of a neuron showing its root-like dendrites, its blobular soma (body), and its long axon. — A simple diagram of a neuron with its three main parts: the dendrite, the soma, and the axon. *Image attribution*: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Neuron.svg.

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