Research

The U.S. National Science Foundation champions research on how plastic impacts the planet. In this article, they highlight five projects that are changing how researchers think about plastic and what happens after it is tossed away. One of these projects is a study led by Alexandra Jahn about how sea ice moves microplastics in polar regions. Working with her are colleagues from NCAR, U Washington, and WHOI.

A multi-university team of researchers, including four members of CU Boulder's Taylor Lab, have identified nearly a hundred genes associated with the birds’ spatial memory, or ability to recall the locations of objects. Their paper, published in the journal Current Biology, also suggests a potential trade-off may exist between having a solid long-term memory and being able to quickly ditch old memories to form new ones.

The Mountain Hydrology Group will be developing a new snowpack data set to inform water supply management in the western United States, thanks to grant funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The 52nd International Arctic Workshop was a success! ~100 polar scientists gathered on 13-16 March 2024 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to share their latest environmental research on paleoenvironments, climate, oceans, and much more.

Allison Cook, a master’s degree student in the Environmental Engineering program, is passionate about tracing and control of pathogens in the urban environment for stronger public health. With her fellowship, she is investigating E. coli concentrations in storm sewers near Boulder Creek. Her research will help identify the source of the E. coli, which will help mitigation efforts.

Mackenzie Bowden, a PhD student in the Environmental Engineering program, is investigating contaminants from fires at the wildland-urban interface that work their way into streams and present risks to downstream communities and ecosystems.

Millie Spencer, a PhD student in Geography, is part of a team of Mapuche, Chilean, and U.S. scientists that has received consent from several Mapuche-Pehuenche communities outside Temuco, Chile, to share scientific perspectives and community knowledge about glaciers and water supply. Her fellowship has provided funds for travel and lodging while conducting her work in Chile.

In a study published March 5 in the journal Nature Climate Change, scientists from CU Boulder and Tel Aviv University in Israel revealed that deforestation combined with climate change could negatively impact 84% of North America’s lizards by the end of the century. Nearly one in five could face population decline. Keith Musselman is one of the three authors.

The Arctic could see summer days with practically no sea ice as early as the next couple of years, according to a new study led by Alexandra Jahn. The findings suggest that the first ice-free day in the Arctic could occur over 10 years earlier than previous projections.

CU Boulder’s Mountain Research Station is offering six field courses this summer, giving students the opportunity to study a wide range of disciplines in nature