University of Alabama to hold graduation ceremony Saturday
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Dec. 8
Thousands of University of Alabama students will receive their degrees on Saturday. Graduation is set for Dec. 12 inside Coleman Coliseum. More than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate degrees will be awarded. Dr. Felecia Grier Wood, professor of nursing at UA, will serve as the commencement marshal. The ceremony will be broadcast live over the Internet atua.edu/commencement/. The website will be available for viewing for 30 days following the ceremony.
NIH funds robot projects aimed at improving quality of life
Healio – Dec. 7
The NIH has announced that it will spend $2.2 million to fund the development of robots that will help the elderly, the young and those with vision impairments, according to a press release issued by the research center. . . . Xiangrong Shen, PhD, at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, is working on a robot walker to increase mobility in older adults. The robot has four legs and two modes, where the user can either walk within the robot or alongside the robot as the device carries a load. As detailed in the release, the robot uses “a 3-D computer vision-based sensing system to detect the user’s motion and the environment.” The robot will enhance mobility and reduce the need for assistance and home renovation.
Super spiral galaxies amaze astronomers
Scientific American – Dec. 8
They’re big, they’re bright, they’re beautiful—and they shouldn’t even exist, at least to our current astronomical knowledge: gargantuan spiral galaxies that make our giant Milky Way seem downright modest. Spirals are supposed to be small fry compared to the greatest giant ellipticals, which are football-shaped swarms of stars thought to be the universe’s biggest and brightest galaxies. But now a search across billions of light-years has snared a rare breed of “super spiral” galaxies that rival their giant elliptical peers in size and luminosity, raising questions over how such behemoths are born. . . . William Keel, an astronomer at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa who was not affiliated with the research, says he knows of only one remotely comparable galaxy: the equally large but less luminous UGC 2885, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Perseus. “One [galaxy] is a pet rock; 10 is a statistical sample,” Keel says. With more than fifty super spirals now known, astronomers hope to learn how these enormous entities arose.
Looking at America and mass shootings
Toronto Sun – Dec. 7
Are mass shootings a uniquely American problem? University of Alabama criminologist Adam Lankford says data on mass public shootings, gun ownership and the very idea of “American exceptionalism” contribute to attacks like last week’s shooting in San Bernardino becoming a regular occurrence. Lankford spoke with the Toronto Sun: Q: Can you tell me about your research on public mass shootings? A: “I’ve looked globally at which countries have the most mass shooters and how can we explain the global distribution. In other words, why some countries have more than others. Are there differences between offenders in the United States and offenders elsewhere. I’ve also looked at fame-seeking as a motive.”
UA CAPS says crashes involving teens are common in December
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – Dec. 7
The University Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety says crashes involving teens are, unfortunately, common in the month of December in Alabama. The daily average between December 13th and 24th is 100 or more a day.
12 facts + tips about anxiety to bring your stress levels down
Women’s Health – Dec. 7
If a busy work life, money pressures and relationships sometimes leave you feeling stressed and anxious, you’re not alone. Dr. Paul J. Rosch, the current Chairman of the Board of The American Institute of Stress has explained, ‘women are twice as likely to experience major depression than men. They are also up to three times more apt to suffer from anxiety disorders.’ So, take a look at these stats and facts to help you build a coping strategy for your day. . . . A University of Alabama study found people who sat around and watched a fire for 15 minutes saw a dip in blood pressure. A virtual fire will spark the same benefits (try FirePlace, 79p, iTunes).