Microscope view of many small worms swimming in a well of liquid

New ‘gym-on-a-chip’ for worms may lead to new Parkinson’s treatments

Feb. 28, 2023

The Acoustic Gym, designed by a team of biologists and engineers at CU Boulder, is about the size of a quarter and uses sound waves to generate small whirlpools—the perfect place for tiny worms to get in their laps.

Bathroom scale and tape measurer

Excess weight, obesity more deadly than previously believed

Feb. 23, 2023

New CU Boulder research finds that overweight populations have a 22% higher mortality risk than those of healthy weight, while obese populations have as much as double the risk. The study found that about 1 in 6 adult deaths in the U.S. are related to excess weight or obesity.

Marina Nieto-Caballero assesses the infectious potential of airborne murine coronavirus using computer aided microscopy

Tend to get sick when the air is dry? NewÌýresearch helps explain why

Feb. 23, 2023

CU Boulder researchers have found that airborne coronavirus remains infectious for twice as long in drier air—in part because saliva serves as a protective barrier around the virus, especially at low humidity levels.

Bacteria under the microscope

We’re not so different: Bacterial weapons could help fight human diseases

Feb. 8, 2023

A new study reveals that bacteria and people share the same core machinery for fighting off viruses and sheds light on how that ancient machinery works. The discovery could lead to novel treatments for human diseases, much like the gene-editing tool CRISPR—also modeled after a bacterial weapon—has.

Holocaust memorial site marked with a Jewish star

Holocaust Remembrance Day: How trauma persists

Jan. 26, 2023

Seventy-eight years ago on Jan. 27, the Auschwitz concentration camp closed after liberation by the Soviet army. Professor Janet Jacobs, who researches genocide, trauma and collective memory, discusses the ways in which the experiences and trauma of Holocaust survivors are passed down through generations.

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CU research team moves one step closer to printing models of life-like 3D organs

Jan. 26, 2023

A model of your very own kidney made entirely from soft and pliable polymers? Researchers at two CU campuses are on the cusp of 3D printing realistic replicas of human anatomy.

Cannabis

‘Gateway drug’ no more: Study shows legalizing recreational cannabis does not increase substance abuse

Jan. 24, 2023

Legalizing recreational cannabis does not increase substance use disorders or use of other illicit drugs in adults and may reduce alcohol-related problems, according to new research. The study also found no link between cannabis legalization and increases in cognitive, psychological, social, relationship or financial problems.

A pregnant belly

Prenatal pollution exposure linked to lower cognitive scores in early life

Jan. 24, 2023

Toddlers whose moms were exposed to higher levels of air pollution during mid- to late-pregnancy tend to score lower on measures of cognition, motor coordination and language skills, according to new CU Boulder research.

Professor Jill Litt checks on a plant with colleagues Evan Coringrato, Erin Decker andÌýAngel Villalobos

The scientific reasons you should resolve to start gardening

Jan. 5, 2023

The first-ever randomized controlled trial of community gardening shows it boosts fiber intake and physical activity while decreasing stress and anxiety. It could even reduce risk of cancer and chronic illness. And that’s all in the first season of getting your hands dirty.

UV light

Ultraviolet light can annihilate COVID-19 aerosols, but there’s a tradeoff with air quality

Dec. 15, 2022

A new CIRES-led study finds germicidal ultraviolet light disinfection can be used to fight COVID-19 in high-risk environments. However, the technique produces harmful secondary chemicals in indoor air, with a significant but not overwhelming impact. There are multiple strategies that can be used to minimize the air quality impact, which are now under investigation.

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