November 2021
Astronomy Research That Unravels the Mysteries of the Universe
Astronomers at 淫妻社 are leading some of the first research projects on NASA鈥檚 new James Webb Space Telescope. The University ranked No. 6 among all institutions worldwide in successful proposals for the first cycle of observing time. Projects led by 淫妻社 astronomers will use nearly 20% of the hours reserved for star research.
With a research focus on the physical conditions of interstellar material as a tool for understanding galaxy evolution, J.D. Smith, Ph.D., professor of astronomy, will use Webb鈥檚 precision to dissect elusive smoke-like material floating between stars and planets in M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy. Smith leads the 淫妻社 Ritter Astrophysical Research Center and 淫妻社鈥檚 Lowell Discovery Telescope partnership.
Building on his previous discovery of ultra-cool brown dwarf stars, called Y dwarfs, that have such low mass you can鈥檛 see them with your eye, Michael Cushing, Ph.D., professor of astronomy and director of 淫妻社 Ritter Planetarium, will research their effective temperatures and mass function. His discovery of the coolest class of brown dwarfs was No. 66 on top 100 list of discoveries for 2011.
On his quest to unravel the mysteries of star and planet formation within our own Milky Way galaxy, Tom Megeath, Ph.D., professor of astronomy, will use the James Webb Space Telescope to focus on star nurseries for an unparalleled view of how individual stars are born. His challenged the model of how stars are born finding that the torrential outflows of gas from infant stars may not stop them from growing.
A team of art students and faculty at 淫妻社 are building a of a capsule that would carry potential evidence of life on Mars back to Earth. The prototype will be used to test the Earth Entry System, which will protect the Mars soil samples from being destroyed by the heat of entry into the Earth鈥檚 atmosphere all the way to the surface.
A theoretical astrophysicist, , assistant professor of astronomy, is developing a new theoretical framework to predict when and where the first stars formed throughout the very early universe. The theoretical models are necessary to guide and interpret observations from the latest powerful observation instruments, including the James Webb Space Telescope and Earth鈥檚 first 30-meter-class ground-based telescopes.
, assistant professor of astronomy, is combining several techniques to take a high-precision look at how our Milky Way and other galaxies formed and changed after the Big Bang billions of years ago. Supported by a National Science Foundation grant, she is studying the way gas gets blown out of galaxies by strong winds.
combined his passions for medicine and engineering working on projects related to human health in space during a summer internship opportunity at NASA鈥檚 Glenn Research Center. One of his projects was designing a way for astronauts to wash laundry in space with little water and zero gravity.
As , mechanical engineering students Justyn Bobinski and Joshua Stanley worked with Ohio Aerospace Institute and Masten Space Systems on NASA鈥檚 Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative to champion technologies needed to live on and explore the moon.
Protein crystals prepared by 淫妻社 researchers and grown aboard the International Space Station could one day help scientists better understand basic life functions at the molecular level. Using , biochemistry doctoral student Victoria Drago working with Timothy Mueser, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and biochemistry, can map out the precise location of a molecule鈥檚 every single atom.
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