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Brendan M. Lynch
"Research Matters" looks at the most important and fascinating inquiries underway at KU across a range of disciplines, including science, engineering, humanities, social sciences and life sciences.
Each week, the KU Office of University Relations produces a new two-minute "Research Matters" spot. Hear the program on Monday at 2:57 p.m. and on Sunday at 1:04 p.m. on Kansas Public Radio (91.5 FM in Lawrence; 91.3 FM in Manhattan; 89.7 FM in Emporia).
Online, "Research Matters" is available for on-demand listening, complete with photography, relevant links, an archive of past shows and additional information about show topics.
Brendan M. Lynch is producer and host of "Research Matters."
Latest Episodes
Remaking Greensburg
For a tornado-torn community, a group of aspiring architects is designing and constructing the most sustainable building in Kansas.
Originally aired February 11, 2008
Transcript
To help rebuild tornado-torn Greensburg, an architecture program is constructing the most sustainable building in Kansas. From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
Studio 804, the design build program at the KU School of Architecture and Urban Design, aspires to construct in Greensburg a prototype building that’s LEED Certified – the most rigorous standard for environment-friendly buildings. Studio 804 is lead by Dan Rockhill.
Dan Rockhill: "Greensburg will hopefully see Studio 804 as providing leadership and an example that, you know, if students can do it we can certainly do it — meaning both the community as well as people that they bring into town to do development, etcetera. So I think there’s an opportunity here to lead by example."
Rockhill, J.L. Constant Distinguished Professor of Architecture, says a comprehensive approach is key to attaining LEED certification.
Dan Rockhill: "You are asked though a registration process to participate in a series of questions that make your doing you income tax look easy. We have taken advantage of every imaginable opportunity in recycling materials, using materials that are local in their evolution, as well as using all natural heating and cooling to the extent that we can in Greensburg, harnessing the wind, using solar power — many, many things."
Studio 804 will fabricate the structure from recycled materials -- then haul the components by truck to Greensburg. Environmental considerations in Greensburg will strongly influence design.
Dan Rockhill: "The sun rises and follows a trajectory that takes it though the southern sky and it’s either high or low depending on the season. And we can calculate that and depend up on those calculations to help us to modulate the sun. Farmers used to do that forever. And I think we’ve lost our way in the last 30 or 40 years with the sort of building boom and the enthusiasm for suburbia. And we have lost sight of the sensible way to build."
For more on remaking Greensburg, log on to Research Matters dot K-U dot E-D-U. For the University of Kansas, I’m Brendan Lynch.
KU architecture students to build a sustainable prototype for Greensburg
LAWRENCE — Studio 804 at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Planning has committed to design and construct a sustainable prototype for the city of Greensburg.
Man Versus Microbe
A University Distinguished Professor at KU warns that drug companies must develop "triple threat" antibiotics if humankind is to keep the upper hand in the contest with microorganisms.
Aired April 28, 2008
Transcript
Humankind someday may lose the upper hand in its war with bacteria. From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
It’s not an ideal topic for polite conversation, but the average adult plays host for trillions of microorganisms. Many of these bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Lester Mitscher, University Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at KU, says new, potent antibiotics are badly needed.
Lester Mitscher: Antibiotics are essentially selective poisons that kill bacteria and that do not kill us. Bacteria that survive the initial onslaught of antibiotics then are increasingly resistant to them. The sensitive proportion of the bacterial population dies, but then the survivors multiply quickly — and they are less sensitive to antibiotics.
While penicillin and its cousins were hailed as miracle drugs, Mitscher says we have been too casual in their use, leading to highly resistant “super bugs.”
Lester Mitscher: Half of all the antibiotics produced in the world are used in animal husbandry. The difficulty is that use of antibiotics in that setting is an invitation towards resistance. Unfortunately, humans get infected with resistant strains that were generated in animals in this manner.
Mitscher says drug firms must create antibiotics that kill microbes, inhibit their ability to mutate and also enlist the body’s own immune system. BUT such “triple treat” drugs might be a long time coming.
Lester Mitscher: The pace of antibiotic discovery has fallen off in recent years, partly because the intensive research on these things has lead to increasingly diminishing returns. Pharmaceutical firms have, for a variety of commercial reasons, de-emphasized antibiotic research – as a consequence, the pace of discovery has fallen down.
For more on microbial resistance, log onto Research Matters dot KU dot EDU. For the University of Kansas, I’m Brendan Lynch.
KU distinguished professor urges drug firms to create new generation of antibiotics
LAWRENCE — It may not be an ideal topic for polite conversation, but human beings are swarming with bacteria: Even the average healthy adult plays host to about 100 trillion microscopic organisms. Infection takes place when the bacteria get out of hand.
Now, a University of Kansas researcher has penned a history of the struggle between man and bacteria — and warns that humankind someday may lose its advantage.
Talking, Texting and Driving
An undergraduate at KU has studied the habits and motives of people who simultaneously drive and use cell phones. Most drivers see their own conversations and text messages as important enough to take risks on the road.
Aired April 21, 2008
Transcript
Research conducted by an undergraduate student sheds light on drivers’ risky cell phone habits. From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
KU cognitive psychology major and graduating senior Erik Nelson researchED why — despite the risks — people talk on cell phones while driving. Every single participant in Nelson’s study owning both a mobile telephone and a motor vehicle – all 276 of them – admitted to talking on their phones behind the wheel.
Erik Nelson: "These were pretty alarming numbers to us. You have people who that know that driving is dangerous to do while talking on a cellular phone, however they do it anyway. And we just wanted to figure out why is this is happening."
What lessons did you get out of it and what do you hope people take away from reading about your research?
Erik Nelson: "Many people understand that talking while driving is a risky behavior. However they still do it. People tend to believe that their conversations are a little more important than they are. Some of the conversation types that we looked at – like talking to fend off boredom or something like that while driving — people surprisingly thought that that was pretty important to them. So, obvious, importance to people is highly skewed sometimes."
What’s worse, Nelson found 72 percent of those owning a car and a cell phone admitted to text messaging while driving, an activity the participants themselves perceived as even more dangerous than chatting.
Erik Nelson: "You’re trying to do two visual tasks at the same time — and that doesn’t work out for most people. You see them swerving to the left, swerving to the right. You drive by them kind of fast, to get by quick, and you realize this person has been texting the whole time. So it’s kind of a national epidemic."
For more about driving while talking and texting with a cell phone, log onto Research Matters dot K-U dot E-D-U. For the University of Kansas, I’m Brendan Lynch.
KU announces 15 winners of Undergraduate Research Awards
LAWRENCE — Fifteen University of Kansas students have received $1,200 Undergraduate Research Awards to be used from January to June 2007.
Undergraduate Research Awards support original, independent research by Lawrence campus undergraduates. The University Honors Program administers the awards with funds from the offices of the provost and the vice provost for research and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Monarch Migration Threatened
Illegal logging at the Monarch Biosphere Reserve in central Mexico could ruin one of the world's most cherished natural wonders -- the 3,000-mile migration of the monarch butterfly.
Aired April 7, 2008
Transcript
Deforestation in Mexico could ruin one of the world’s most celebrated natural wonders. From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
According to a KU researcher, the puzzling 3,000-mile migration of the monarch butterfly could collapse without action to defend the Monarch Biosphere Reserve. Chip Taylor, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, leads Monarch Watch, a group dedicated to conservation of the butterfly.
Chip Taylor: "To lose something like this migration is to diminish all of us – to diminish the biodiversity on the planet. And it would be a shame to loose this particular phenomenon because it’s so truly spectacular, one of the awe-inspiring phenomena that nature presents to us. We need to understand it; we need to protect it. And if we don’t — we’re pretty lousy stewards of this planet."
The isolated reserve suffers from illegal logging driven by sky-high prices for lumber in Mexico. This logging has grown in recent years and now threatens the very survival of the butterflies.
Chip Taylor: "It’s a remote area in some respects, and it’s difficult to police. There are also elements in the sytem that are quite forceful in their illegal logging. They carry guns. They overpower the local residents. They sneak in there at night, sometimes with 100 trucks. They’ll clear out 2 or 3 hectares. Now that they’ve taken out most of the areas where the butterflies don’t occur, they’re going to be starting work on the areas where they do occur. This prospect is very ominous."
Taylor calls for the planting of more trees, the use of area residents as forest managers, and better interdiction to halt loggers. HE says stakeholders must act quickly.
Chip Taylor: "Since 2000, we’ve had the three lowest populations we’ve ever seen at these overwintering sites. Now, we’re only averaging about 6 hectares per year. This year the population was 4.61 hectares — it’s I think it’s the third-lowest population. On the surface, it looks like the population is going down."
For more about the threat to monarchs, log on to Research Matters dot K-U dot E-D-U. For the University of Kansas, I’m Brendan Lynch.
KU researcher says habitat destruction may wipe out monarch migration
Intense deforestation in Mexico could ruin one of North America's most celebrated natural wonders -- the mysterious 3,000-mile migration of the monarch butterfly. According to a University of Kansas researcher, the astonishing migration may collapse rapidly without urgent action to end devastation of the butterfly's vital sources of food and shelter.
Music Boosts Test Results
Students may want to put down their pencils and pick up their piccolos. A recent study shows schools with excellent music programs show better results on standardized tests in math and English.
Aired March 31, 2008
Transcript
Research shows that quality school music programs boost performance on standardized tests. From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
Students may want to put down their pencils and pick up their piccolos. In a time when emphasis on testing often has meant cutbacks for school music programs, a study by KU researcher Christopher Johnson shows that slashing music could undermine standardized test performance in math and English.
Christopher Johnson: "We picked schools that were elementary or junior high that were fairly well matched in every demographic, except what was going on in their music classrooms. We looked for classrooms that had outstanding music education going on and classrooms that were less than adequate."
Johnson, professor of music education and music therapy and associate dean of the School of Fine Arts at KU, found jumps of 22 percent in English test scores and 20 percent in math scores at elementary schools with superior music education. Results were similar in middle schools. One theory holds that higher scores result because music helps to develop attentiveness.
Christopher Johnson: "When you sit down and do a standardized test you are on task trying to concentrate and focus for an extended period of time. And there’s really not a lot of things in school that require you to that. You can do a couple of math problems, get off task, look at the wall. You know, read a couple of lines in English and zone out. But if you zone out in band you’re likely to be playing a solo. If you zone out in choir, you might sing a solo – that has to be just as mortifying."
Ultimately, Johnson says music education should thrive on its own merits.
Christopher Johnson: "It would be ridiculous to say, ‘OK, put a good chorus in your school and your test results are going to go up 20 percent. That’s not the reason we should have a good chorus in our school. The reason we should have a good chorus is because we should have one. Every kid should be able to sing in a good chorus and play in a good instrumental ensemble because of the things that music offers."
For more about music and test scores, log onto Research Matters dot K-U dot E-D-U. For the University of Kansas, I’m Brendan Lynch.
KU professor finds link between music programs, academic achievement
LAWRENCE - Music has inspired people to dance, sing and create songs of their own for centuries, but can it also inspire improved academic performance? A recently published study by University of Kansas professor Christopher Johnson argues that it does.
Ice Age Trees
One researcher is examining trees that grew 20,000 years ago for clues to how modern plants will fare in tomorrow's world of skyrocketing carbon dioxide levels.
Aired March 24, 2008
Transcript
Research into ice age trees shows how plants might respond to skyrocketing carbon dioxide levels. From the University of Kansas, this is Research Matters. I’m Brendan Lynch.
Joy Ward, KU assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, studies trees from 20,000 years ago when low CO2 in the atmposhphere challenged plant life. Ward hopes to show how today’s plants might fare in high carbon dioxide concentrations linked to climate change.
Joy Ward: "They are amazing. They can actually take carbon right out of the atmosphere and use it as their food source, whereas on the other hand we as humans have to eat vegetables and meat in order to get carbon sources in our diet."
Ward says ancient air bubbles from ice cores show there was about half as much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during the last ice age as now. She has found today’s plants have severe difficulty thriving under such conditions.
Joy Ward: "So we can actually scrub carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere at very controlled levels to simulate the past. We have found that the average reduction in growth is about 50 percent for plants grown at these ice age carbon dioxide levels. And in fact, for some species, the reduction in growth can be as high as 90 percent and some species completely fail to reproduce."
Ward studies ice age wood and leaves found in the famed La Brea tar pits. She says her research has predictive value for a future with high CO2 levels.
Joy Ward: "There are three types of photosynthetic pathways that plants can use. And we know the majority of plants use the C3 photosynthetic pathway. We know those plants in many cases will be positively benefited by increases in carbon dioxide — if other factors like water and nutrients are very plentiful. If they are not plentiful the positive effects of carbon dioxide are diminished. They also may be diminished in the light of rising temperatures. So there’s a double effect there."
For more about ice age trees and carbon dioxide log onto Research Matters dot K-U- dot E-D-U. For the University of Kansas, I’m Brendan Lynch.
By looking back 20,000 years, KU researcher predicts plant response to rising carbon dioxide levels
We live in a time characterized by skyrocketing amounts of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. But imagine if you could push a "reverse" button and cut carbon dioxide to lower levels not seen for thousands of years.
Supported by an $869,000 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, one University of Kansas researcher is doing just that -- with ice age trees.
