If there was one thing good to come out of the nonstop bitter cold storms that hit the Northeast this winter, fruit growers thought it might be fewer brown marmorated stink bugs this season. But Virginia Tech entomologist Tom Kuhar says don’t get your …
Archives for February 2014
Peter Rona, 79, Explorer of Ocean Depths, Dies
Peter A. Rona, an oceanographer who dived into the depths of the world’s seas and surprised his peers by discovering vast mounds spewing hot smoke at the bottom of the icy Atlantic, exciting interests in deep-sea mining and the origins of life on earth, died on Feb. 20 in Plainsboro, N.J. He was 79. The cause was complications related to multiple myeloma, according to Rutgers University, where Dr. Rona was a professor of earth and planetary sciences. Fascinated by the mysteries of what he called “the last frontier on earth,” Dr. Rona specialized in exploring the dark abyss for more than a half-century, starting around 1960…”I was one of those kids who collected rocks and minerals, climbed mountains, loved the outdoors and identified with geology,” he told a Rutgers publication.
New Study Abroad Opportunity for Rutgers Students to Help Turkish Women Farmers
Rutgers students can take advantage of a new, 3-credit study abroad program this summer in Antalya, Turkey. Empowering Turkish Women Farmers has been added to the growing list of summer International Service Learning programs through the Rutgers Center for Global Education. From May 16 to June 3 this year, students will live in the homes of […]
Raising Disease-Resistant Oysters at Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Lab
Join Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory Director Dave Bushek on a virtual tour of the facilities and the important research conducted there for WHYY’s Friday Arts. Bushek demonstrates the process of raising disease-resistant oysters and explains how it not only benefits consumers and the oyster industry, but fish and birds as well.
Alumni Story: Ralph Brinster (AG’53): Veterinarian and Human Health Revolutionary
The principle of “one medicine” or, as it is sometimes called, “one health” deems that the relationship between human and animal medicine and public health and the environment is inseparable. Ralph Brinster, V.M.D., Ph.D., exemplifies the concept. A 1953 graduate from the Department of Animal Sciences of what was known then as Rutgers’ College of […]
Flooding Threat Plagues NJ Bayside Communities [AUDIO]
he main focus when discussing floods or flood zones is usually New Jersey’s coastline and those living alongside the Atlantic Ocean, but the bigger threat is elsewhere, according to experts in the field. New Jersey’s back bay communities are at a larger risk of “inundation,” and the problem is only getting worse. “They are susceptible to the rising sea level that is ongoing and will be ongoing,” said Dr. Michael Kennish, a research professor with the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University. “By 2050, we’re looking at a sea level rise that could be as much as 22 inches.”
New Concerns Raised About Yellow Dyes
Next time you buy a bath towel, T-shirt or even notepad, you might want to think twice before picking the color. A new study by Rutgers University found that yellow dyes found in many common household products and items could contain a potentially harmful chemical that may be bad for your health. That chemical is PCB 11, which is regularly found in yellow dyes in printing inks, paper, paint and clothing, said Lisa Rodenburg, one of the study’s authors and associate professor in environmental chemistry at Rutgers…”PCBs cause a whole range of really worrisome health problems,” Rodenburg said in an interview today with “Good Morning America.” “There is enough evidence that there could be health effects from this specific kind of PCB that we should investigate further.”
Small Volcanic Eruptions Add to Larger Impact on Climate
The recent slow down in global warming has been attributed to a number of factors, including excess heat being stored in the deep ocean and reductions of certain greenhouse gases. Now add volcanic eruptions to the mix of contributing factors. A new analysis published in Nature Geosciences on Sunday shows that a series of relatively small eruptions since 2000 have likely helped dampened the rise in temperatures…”Since none of the standard scenarios for evaluating future global warming include volcanic eruptions, this paper will help us quantify the impacts of future large and small eruptions when they happen, and thus better interpret the role of humans in causing climate change,” said Alan Robock, a leading expert on the intersection of volcanoes and climate at Rutgers University.
Study: Volcanoes contribute to recent warming ‘hiatus’
By the late 1990s, scientists had observed more than two decades of rapid global warming, and expected the warming trend to continue. Instead, despite continuing increases in greenhouse gas emissions, the Earth’s surface temperatures have remained nearly flat for the last 15 years. The International Panel on Climate Change verified this recent warming “hiatus” in its latest report…Alan Robock, a professor of environmental sciences at Rutgers University and a leading expert on the impacts of volcanic eruptions on climate, says these findings are an important part of the larger climate picture. “This paper reminds us that there are multiple causes of climate change, both natural and anthropogenic, and that we need to consider all of them when interpreting past climate and predicting future climate.”
Rutgers Program Helps SEBS Student Transition from Foster Care System to College Life
Transitions for Youth, a program funded in part by the Rutgers School of Social Work and private donors, supports students like Amanda as they shift from foster care to college. Amanda is a SEBS student with a double major in Ecology, Evolution & Natural Resources and Biochemistry. Watch the video below to learn more about […]