07
November
2010
|
18:00 PM
America/New_York

Story Ideas for Media 11/8/10

  • leaf.jpg
    A mummified birch leaf discovered on Ellesmere Island in Canada. Ohio State University researchers and their colleagues have discovered the remains of a mummified forest that lived on the island 2 to 8 million years ago, when the Arctic was cooling. The remains could offer clues to how today’s Arctic will respond to global warming. Photo by Joel Barker, courtesy of Ohio State University.
  • outcropping.jpg
    An outcropping of mummified tree remains on Ellesmere Island in Canada. A melting glacier revealed the trees, which were buried by a landslide 2 to 8 million years ago, when the Arctic was cooling. The remains could offer clues to how today’s Arctic will respond to global warming. Photo by Joel Barker, courtesy of Ohio State University.
  • vista.jpg
    Ellesmere Island National Park in Canada. Ohio State University researchers and their colleagues have discovered the remains of a mummified forest that lived on the island 2 to 8 million years ago, when the Arctic was cooling. The remains could offer clues to how today’s Arctic will respond to global warming. Photo by Joel Barker, courtesy of Ohio State University.
  • leaf.jpg
    A mummified birch leaf discovered on Ellesmere Island in Canada. Ohio State University researchers and their colleagues have discovered the remains of a mummified forest that lived on the island 2 to 8 million years ago, when the Arctic was cooling. The remains could offer clues to how today’s Arctic will respond to global warming. Photo by Joel Barker, courtesy of Ohio State University.
  • outcropping.jpg
    An outcropping of mummified tree remains on Ellesmere Island in Canada. A melting glacier revealed the trees, which were buried by a landslide 2 to 8 million years ago, when the Arctic was cooling. The remains could offer clues to how today’s Arctic will respond to global warming. Photo by Joel Barker, courtesy of Ohio State University.
  • vista.jpg
    Ellesmere Island National Park in Canada. Ohio State University researchers and their colleagues have discovered the remains of a mummified forest that lived on the island 2 to 8 million years ago, when the Arctic was cooling. The remains could offer clues to how today’s Arctic will respond to global warming. Photo by Joel Barker, courtesy of Ohio State University.

Research

Ohio State study: UV light nearly doubles vacuum’s effectiveness in reducing carpet microbes. New research suggests that the addition of ultraviolet light to the brushing and suction of a vacuum cleaner can almost double the removal of potentially infectious microorganisms from a carpet's surface when compared to vacuuming alone.
Researchers say the findings suggest that incorporating the germicidal properties of UV light into vacuuming might have promise in reducing allergens and pathogens from carpets, as well.
"What this tells us is there is a commercial vacuum with UV technology that's effective at reducing surface microbes. This has promise for public health, but we need more data," said Timothy Buckley, associate professor and chair of environmental health sciences at Ohio State University and senior author of the study.
"Carpets are notorious as a source for exposure to a lot of bad stuff, including chemicals, allergens and microbes. We need tools that are effective and practical to reduce the associated public health risk. This vacuum technology appears to be a step in the right direction." CONTACT: Emily Caldwell, (614) 292-8310, caldwell.151@osu.edu. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/uvvac.htm.

Events

Calendar note – In observance of the Veterans Day Holiday (11/11), Ohio State is closed and classes are cancelled.

Ohio State Engineers join International Unmanned Robot Contest – Nov. 8-13. Researchers from Ohio State’s College of Engineering are participating in an international defense competition to develop unmanned ground vehicle systems for military or emergency uses.
Ümit Özgüner, professor of electrical and computer engineering, leads Ohio State’s participation with a team of researchers in Turkey for MAGIC 2010, the Multi Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge hosted by the Australia and U.S. Departments of Defense.
The teams will compete Nov. 8-13 to develop next-generation, fully autonomous ground vehicle systems that can be deployed effectively in military operations and civilian emergency situations. Ohio State researchers are members of Cappadocia, a team that is among six selected as finalists for the November contest at the Royal Showground in Adelaide, South Australia. b>CONTACT: Candice Clevenger, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Public Relations Coordinator: (614) 292-1806, clevenger.87@osu.edu, SEE: http://engineering.osu.edu/news/?p=1609.

Communication professor will discuss black racial stereotypes in advertising and news – Nov. 9. Osei Appiah, professor of communication at Ohio State, will present “Black Racial Stereotypes in Advertising and News” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (11/9) at Ohio State’s African American & African Studies Community Extension Center, 905 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Appiah’s research interests are in the effects of strategic communication messages (e.g., advertising) on ethnic minorities, and the impact of ethnic identity on audiences’ responses to media. Recently, he has begun exploring the effects of violent video games on players’ perceptions of race, self-esteem, body image, and aggressive attitudes and behaviors. SEE: http://aaas.osu.edu/NewsAndEvents/events/default.cfm

Lecture looks at national security, aerospace technology and diversity in the military – Nov. 12. Retired U.S. Air Force General Lester Lyles will discuss “Preparing a Stronger America: Perspectives on National Security, Aerospace Technology and Diversity in the Military” at 11 a.m. Friday (11/12) in 020 Page Hall, 1810 College Rd. Lyles retired in 2003 as Commander of Air Force Material Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and recently was appointed by the White House to the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. The lecture is part of the President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts Series. SEE: http://www.osu.edu/diversity/lecture.php

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu