Top research stories of the week: Aug. 25 edition
This week's top research sheds light on racial stereotypes in the NFL, the ecological mystery of Africa's fairy circles and the asteroid impact that may have contributed to the mass extinction of dinosaurs.
Racial stereotypes influence perception of NFL quarterbacks
Racial stereotypes affect public perception of NFL quarterbacks and, in some cases, may become a self-fulfilling prophecy for black athletes. New CU Boulder research is illuminating on how the public views professional athletes but could also carry implications beyond the football field.
Solving the ecological mystery of Africa's fairy circles
In the remote Namibian grasslands, visitors come not to see the grazing zebra and oryx but instead the fairy circles: barren patches of ground persisting 30 to 60 years. Unsure how they got there, a team of CU Boulder scientists is working to unlock the longstanding ecological mystery.
Dinosaur-killing asteroid could have thrust Earth into 2 years of darkness
Tremendous amounts of soot, lofted into the air from global wildfires following a massive asteroid strike 66 million years ago, would have plunged Earth into darkness for nearly two years, contributing to the mass extinction that marked the end of the age of dinosaurs.