From the Dean

Dean Jeff Vitter’s normal introduction does not appear in this month’s issue of Science @ Purdue. After being awarded a spot in the new Guinness Book of Records for his 31 dinners and desserts with Science faculty candidates in the month of March, he has secluded himself to work on a crash diet. If people continue to mistake him for Purdue’s Rowdy, he will consider surgical options.

 SCIENCE PEOPLE

EAS faculty member is state climatologist

Indiana’s new state climatologist is also a new assistant professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and a member of the Purdue Climate Change Research Center. Professor Dev Niyogi says he was attracted to Purdue because of the excellent facilities available on campus for climate research, particularly the working wind tunnel located in the walkway under the Mathematical Sciences Building. Full story.

Mussels lead to research strength

Chemistry Professor Jonathan Wilker and his research group have found that the natural glue that mussels make to anchor themselves to the sea floor has surprising chemical characteristics and could have applications in medicine and industry. The discovery, while valuable for its scientific merit, could also impact the market, leading to surgical adhesives, rustproof coatings and antifouling paints to defeat barnacle adhesion. While Prof. Wilker’s work has received funding from several agencies, a large grant from the State of California was withdrawn after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger realized the research didn’t involve “muscles.” Full story.

Mathematician finds new number

The Fields Medal (the “Nobel Prize of mathematics”) was awarded last week to Purdue professor George Carlin for his discovery of a new number. The number is “bleen,” which he says is somewhere between 6 and 7. Mathematics Department Head Leonard Lipshitz reports that new textbooks will be ready in time for the Fall semester. Full story.

Science research leads to new company

Professor Mike Atallah and colleagues affiliated with Purdue’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) are planning the launch of a new commercial enterprise based on their work. The group’s ground-breaking research in secure multiparty computation makes it possible for businesses to cooperate with each other without revealing sensitive data. Using the same principles, Atallah’s group will launch an online auction company later this month. “We see this as a great way to both serve the public and commercialize our research,” says Atallah. “If the auction company does well, we have plans for an online dating service next.” Full story.

 

 SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH

Structural Biologists map new virus

Researchers in Biological Sciences made international headlines in 2003 when they determined the structure of the West Nile virus, a development that has greatly augmented our understanding of the virus’s life cycle. This week, the Structural Biology group revealed a new NIH-funded breakthrough: they have mapped the structure of the virus that causes senioritis—a disease inflicting thousands of college students each spring. Symptoms include excessive sleeping, impaired time-telling skills, and an inability to open books. The research team is confident that their discovery will lead to new therapies to fight senioritis, which is currently curable only by exposure to grade reports. Full story.

New software developed by CRI researchers

Test marketing will begin later this month on new software developed by researchers affiliated with the Computing Research Institute (CRI), a university collaboration devoted to applied and basic research on scientific computing. The program, tentatively called “Get a Life,” can be installed on any personal computer. When the user has been online for more than four hours, the “Get a Life” software flashes a subliminal message saying “Turn off your computer and go outside.” Full story.

Physics Department to host anniversary event

The Department of Physics will wrap up its celebration of 100 Years of Physics at Purdue by presenting its production of “Atom and Eve” at Loeb Playhouse. The play, written by graduate students in high energy physics, tackles the question that has puzzled mankind for centuries: Who came first—Atom or Eve? Full story.

Science competition heats up

The College of Science announced this week that the Department of Chemistry will not file charges against the Department of Statistics after a rough but well-fought game during the College’s annual Science Supersonic Soccer championship. Four professors and eight graduate students were sent to the hospital after the “throw down,” but none received serious injuries. Witnesses say the mélée began when players on the Statistics team were overheard making remarks about the percentage of chemistry students who actually enjoy experiments with “gooey stuff” and “magic potions.” Several players on the Chemistry team were ejected from the game for tossing vials of gooey stuff at the Statistics players. Full story.

 

CALENDAR

National Pi Day, March 15 (rescheduled from 3.14)