Predatory bacteria—bacteria that eat other bacteria—grow faster and consume more resources than non-predators in the same soil, according to a new study from Northern Arizona University. These active predators, which use wolfpack-like behavior, enzymes, and cytoskeletal “fangs” to hunt and feast on other bacteria, wield important power in determining where soil… Read more
climate change
Deciduous trees offset carbon loss from Alaskan boreal fires, new study out of NAU finds
More severe and frequent fires in the Alaskan boreal forest are releasing vast stores of carbon and nitrogen from burned trees and soil into the atmosphere, a trend that could accelerate climate warming. But new research published this week in the journal Science shows that the deciduous trees replacing burned spruce forests… Read more
Seven new Regents’ professors showcase NAU’s research and scholarly excellence
At President Rita Cheng’s recommendation, the Arizona Board of Regents on Friday approved seven Northern Arizona University professors to be promoted to the rank of Regents’ professor, the highest rank a faculty member can achieve.
The professors are Scott Goetz, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber… Read more
NAU leading NSF grant that looks at the potential for drones in responding to forest fires
Three NAU researchers won a National Science Foundation grant to study the use of drones in responding to forest fires.
Fatemeh Afghah, an associate professor in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS), is the lead principal investigator in the $1.2 million grant in collaboration with Georgia Tech, the Desert Research Institute and the… Read more
For second consecutive year, NAU ranks in top 200 in NSF research rankings
Northern Arizona University moved up five spots in the most recent National Science Foundation’s (NSF) national research rankings, moving to No. 191 with a fiscal year 2019 performance of $58.91 million.
Year after year, NAU has risen in these rankings, which takes research expenditures into account. NAU also rose… Read more
NAU study indicates that U.S. cities underestimate their greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20 percent on average
Cities have become critical players in reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are causing global climate change. Urban areas produce almost 70 percent of those emissions, and city governments are proposing a variety of policy actions aimed at reducing them. Many cities also produce inventories that detail their greenhouse gas emissions.
Now, professor Kevin Gurney of Northern Arizona University’s School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems and colleagues… Read more