Adelheid Fischer

More than 15 million Americans care for a family member with a disability or illness, such as Alzheimer's disease. Caregiving exacts a heavy toll. Researchers have found that caregivers are at greater risk for depression, anxiety and physical ailments. The REACH II program is offering some hope for those caring for loved ones with dementia. --by Adelheid Fischer

The citizens of the United States own millions of acres of national parks and forests. This shared commonwealth transforms places like the Grand Canyon into active arenas of participatory citizenship as well as milestones in landscape conservation. Scholars at ASU have teamed up with the Grand Canyon Association to share the beauty and history of the canyon with visitors, armchair travelers and schools.--by Adelheid Fischer

Lots of people want to do right by the small blue planet we call home. Protecting our world is no small concern for the people who create the toasters, cell phones, automobiles, and medical equipment that we use every day. To practice sustainability, product designers must juggle a mind-boggling array of variables to create even the simplest products. --by Adelheid Fischer

Some people bounce back well from traumatic events or from life's many defeats, large or small. Others lack the skill. ASU scientists are studying the natural capacity for "resilience" among older Americans. --by Adelheid Fischer

The flesh of a rotting saguaro cactus is 90 percent water, a moist organic soup that is teeming with life. The whole thing is moving, heaving with bugs, worms, and all sorts of microorganisms. It also sparkles with a stunning variety of crystals--some rare, some completely new to science. --by Adelheid Fischer

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

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