The fourth state of matter in the universe is called “plasma.” It can be created in the laboratory by breaking down gases, the third state of matter, using extreme voltage. A lightning strike is plasma created by nature. Laboratory-generated plasmas, under ordinary conditions, are hard to control. However, thanks to the work of electrical engineering […]
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A Catheter That Kills Bacteria With Light
After hearing his aunt, a primary care nurse, tell stories of catheters causing clotting and infections, Nate Rhodes, a recent graduate, decided to come up with a solution. With a few classmates, he developed a new type of catheter — a tube inserted into patients to remove and deliver fluids — that emits bacteria-killing light […]
The Great Salt Lake: An Unexpected Energy Source
Did you know the Great Salt Lake could become a huge source for clean energy? A team of student researchers at the U are working to make this a reality, with help from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. Ph.D. students Thomas Tran, Carlo Bianchi and undergraduate Joseph Melville of the Mechanical Engineering Department are working […]
My Computer Reads Poetry Too!
Advanced computing is typically only a tool for scientists and engineers, but some U researchers decided to crank it up a notch. Under the guidance of English professor Katharine Coles, scientific computing professor Miriah Meyer and a postdoctoral scholar in English literature, Julie Lein, a team of students from humanities and computer science are collaborating […]
Minimalist Bottle Openers … and Beyond
Mechanical engineering student Carter James has been designing and selling real products for almost as long as he’s been studying at the U. He started his first project designing a minimalist bottle opener several years ago. James raised $11,409 for that product through crowdfunding and fulfilled about 450 orders. “Most bottle openers are pretty much […]
Social Work Students Take on Criminal Mental Health
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 64 percent of inmates showed symptoms of a mental health disorder in 2006. Upon release, many of these men and women were left without medication, food, housing and support. University of Utah master of social work graduates Rebecca Brown and Lynn Unger are using their experience in […]
Hydrogen-Powered Car Wins National Prize
Who says toy cars are for kids? Add strict guidelines, alternative fuels and global competition, and you have a perfect opportunity for university students to test their skills. A team of U students proved the point when they won first place and $2,000 at the national Chem-E-Car competition hosted by the American Institute of Chemical […]
Adaptive by Design
People without disabilities take a lot for granted — especially when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors. Pedaling a bike, using a sleeping bag and even planting flowers can be difficult for people with physical limitations. The challenges came as a shock to students in the U’s new Multi-Disciplinary Design program when they started […]
Testing Materials in Extreme Conditions
When Anne Schaeffer, a Ph.D. candidate in physics, wanted to study the properties of materials, specifically superconductors, under extreme conditions, she realized that she wouldn’t know the true effects unless they were tested concurrently. Her solution: create a method herself. With grant support, she created a pressure chamber that tested two different samples of a […]
Using Sunlight to Build Community
Students can now recharge themselves and their tablets with a little barbecue, bonfire and solar energy thanks to the new Student Solar Plaza at the U’s Shoreline Ridge apartments. The plaza features eight canopies lined with 32 panels that provide students with shade and an environmentally friendly energy source that helps decrease campus electric costs. […]
