Winter 2006

When ASU cell biologist Robby Roberson looks through a microscope, he sees works of art. --by Diane Boudreau

Inverse Ocean Modeling (IOM) is a tool for combining computer models with observations of the ocean. Researchers at ASU are helping to make the system more accessible and easier to use. --by Jessica McCann

Laboratory work shows undergraduates what it's like to work as a researcher, and gives them skills they can't pick up in the classroom. --by Linley Erin Hall

Cyanobacteria invented a perfect way to extract energy from the sun more than 2 billion years ago. Wim Vermaas thinks these busy bacteria would make an excellent biofuel. --by Diane Boudreau

In frogs, a chemical called Allurin acts like designer perfumes. Males are lured to the right spot to meet Princess Froggy. If it's good enough for frogs, what about humans? --by Margaret Coulombe

What caused the mysterious dark spots, fan-like markings, and spider-shaped features on the icecap at the Martian south pole?

Why would anyone want to study ancient cultures? Charles Redman says that understanding the past is key to enriching the present and future. --by Jessica McCann

A lot of people would define "affection" they way they define good art: "I can't explain it, but I know it when I see it." For a scientist, however, that's not enough. --by Diane Boudreau

Understanding the economy requires a sense of what Dawn McLaren calles connectivity—the way in which many factors come together to create a sort of force that affects us all. --by Jessica McCann

Accurate economic forecasting involves more than number crunching—it also takes a bit of gut instinct. --by Jessica McCann