Intellect

BYU researchers found that more than half of American adults in a new study gained 5% or more body weight over a 10-year period. What’s more, more than a third of American adults gained 10% or more body weight and almost a fifth gained 20% or more body weight.

For the first time, researchers have sequenced the entire genome of a modern oat, the Swedish variety “Sang.” BYU plant and wildlife sciences professors Jeff Maughan and Rick Jellen played an important role in the international project, sequencing the genomes of two of oat’s ancient progenitors to elucidate its evolutionary history. The group’s findings were recently published as the cover article in top science journal Nature.

This spring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a massive $360 million grant to fund a four-part initiative to conduct research on water resources nationwide. BYU has been tapped to lead one of the four pillars of this major effort over the next five years.

BYU engineering students and undergrads from universities representing 10 countries traveled to the deserts near Hanksville, Utah, last weekend for the annual University Rover Challenge. There they tested their student-built rovers to the limits and the BYU team competed admirably with some of the finest student engineering minds in the world.

BYU professor Rob Sowby has contributed to over 200 civil engineering projects throughout North America, including many addressing sustainable water supply. With the current drought crisis in the Mountain West, he’s refining his efforts to be most helpful to water suppliers, policy makers and residents here in Utah.

BYU engineering students are testing radar to track polar bears aboveground. If successful, the team’s work would mark a significant step forward in scientists’ ability to track mother polar bears during winter, when they den and give birth to their cubs beneath dense snowpack. Locating and protecting bear dens is important for conservation efforts.

Dr. Paul B. Savage, the recipient of the 2021 Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, delivered the forum to campus on Tuesday. He discussed some of the adventures and experiences he has had as a professor and researcher, and the concept that Heavenly Father has a great academic adventure planned for all of us.

A new study published in PLOS ONE from BYU scientists finds that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is almost immediately nonviable if deposited on a cash banknote. The virus actually shows greater stability on plastic money cards, with the live virus still being detected 48 hours after initial deposition, but no viable virus was detected on either cash or card that was randomly sampled in the study.

The dwarf planet Haumea has befuddled modern scientists for years. New BYU research details the planet's creation and solves one of astronomy's puzzles.

Covid-19 tests were in short supply two months ago, but now testing options abound, from free tests mailed by the U.S. government to those available from pharmacies and nonprofit healthcare providers. All other factors being equal, is there an advantage to accessing a test through any one of these avenues?

A new study from BYU, University of Arizona, Rider University and NYU finds essential workers who receive public praise are energized and recover in healthy ways from the stress of their jobs, while those who don’t receive that praise experience negative emotions and are more likely to drink, smoke or overeat to recover from work.

Thanks to the work of Dean Grant Jensen and his students, scientists are now learning much more about the structure and function of cells.

A recent study from BYU business and family studies professors finds that the U.S.’s Every Kid Outdoors program — which gives families with fourth graders free access to national parks for one year — is leading to an increased frequency of hiking with children.

The Television Academy announced the winners of the 41st College Television Awards or “Student Emmy’s” last week and BYU students claimed the top spot in the best animation series and the best commercial.

Amy Chua — the John M. Duff Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School, a legal scholar and a writer — delivered Tuesday's forum address. She spoke on the root causes of political tribalism and offered proposals on how the future leaders of America can overcome them.

BYU Law has earned its highest U.S. News ranking to date, rocketing up six spots from last year and coming in at No. 23 in the 2023 Best Graduate School rankings released today. The Marriott School of Business once again ranks high and the BYU Nursing program makes a big jump.

This past week BYU took home its fourth-consecutive National Collegiate Landscape Title, a championship that means BYU is once again best in the land for taking care of land… and water and rocks and trees and shrubs.

Respite care may allow parents of children with disabilities to step back and recount specific moments of joy with their children, which results in an uplift. Experiencing more uplifts might counteract the detrimental effect of stress on parents.