Winter 2006

This stereo image of fungal cell nuclei in the process of dividing was one of several microscopic images displayed in an art exhibit at the Tilt Gallery in Phoenix. --by Diane Boudreau

More than 35 million Americans are age 65 and older. More than 20 million of those are women. Despite such demographic muscle, the needs of women in this age bracket are largely ignored in the marketplace. ASU's InnovationSpace program aims to change that. --by Adelheid Fischer

When Karen Chow's cell biology class discussed polymerase chain reaction, she thought, "Hey, I did that just yesterday!" Working in a bioengineering lab reinforces what this ASU undergraduate learns in class. In turn, she has contributed to scientific knowledge that could lead to plants that manufacture protein-based drugs. Part three in a three-part series. --by Linley Erin Hall

James Cronican started his own biotechnology venture. He is building a machine to automate a process involved in protein production. He has submitted a paper to the journal Biochemistry. And he hasn't even gotten his Bachelor's degree yet. The following is part two in our three-part series on undergraduate researchers. --by Linley Erin Hall

1,582. That's how many pieces of broken pottery Caitlin Wichlacz examined under the microscope when she was a senior at ASU. Wichlacz is one of the increasing number of undergraduate students moving beyond the classroom and into the laboratory. Follow Caitlin and some of her fellow students in this three-part series on the next generation of scientists. --by Linley Erin Hall

Golfers are always looking for an "edge" to improve their game. So are jet aircraft designers. Thanks to work by ASU engineers, the ardent pursuit of better golfing appears poised to lead to technological innovations that reach far beyond the game. --by Joe Kullman

Do you ever pull a magazine from the back of the rack at the supermarket? You are not alone--most shoppers never pick the one in front. Andrea Morales studies this phenomenon of "product contamination" and how it costs retailers. --by Carrie Barnett

Antarctica is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth. ASU's Tad Day studies the dance of tundra and ice as they move across the landscape in response to the accelerating beat of warming temperatures. --by Adelheid Fischer

Vaccines have long held great promise for wiping out the diseases that plague humans. Sometimes they work well. Sometimes they don't. Roy Curtiss and his colleagues are working to improve on a good idea. --by Skip Derra

Being affectionate is good for you. Affection can be a simple, inexpensive, and non-pharmaceutical way to reduce stress. --by Diane Boudreau