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Breakthroughs in Science

Dr. Joe Beckman Honored by OSU as a Distinguished Professor

February 27th, 2013

Dr. Joe Beckman is a professor in the Biochemistry and Biophysics department as well as the Ava Helen Pauling Chair in the Linus Pauling Institute.  Oregon State University has honored him by naming him a Distinguished Professor along with College of Engineering, Thomas Dietterich.

To read more about his recent accomplishment, visit LIFE@OSU.

 

 

Roundworms From the Primordial Ooze

February 18th, 2013

Astrobiology Magazine discusses OSU professor of zoology, George Poinar’s book, The Evolutionary History of Nematodes in the latest addition. Outlining the history and evolution of the nematode, or more commonly known as roundworms, Dr. Poinar’s book discusses how they play a key role in soil biology and help support much of the planet and animal life on Earth.

To read the full article, click here.

A war without end – with Earth’s carbon cycle held in the balance

February 13th, 2013

By David Stauth, Oregon State University News and Communication

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The greatest battle in Earth’s history has been going on for hundreds of millions of years – it isn’t over yet – and until now no one knew it existed, scientists reported today in the journal Nature.

In one corner is SAR11, a bacterium that’s the most abundant organism in the oceans, survives where most other cells would die and plays a major role in the planet’s carbon cycle. It had been theorized that SAR11 was so small and widespread that it must be invulnerable to attack.

In the other corner, and so strange-looking that scientists previously didn’t even recognize what they were, are “Pelagiphages,” viruses now known to infect SAR11 and routinely kill millions of these cells every second. And how this fight turns out is of more than casual interest, because SAR11 has a huge effect on the amount of carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere, and the overall biology of the oceans.

“There’s a war going on in our oceans, a huge war, and we never even saw it,” said Stephen Giovannoni, a professor of microbiology at Oregon State University. “This is an important piece of the puzzle in how carbon is stored or released in the sea.”

Researchers from OSU, the University of Arizona and other institutions today outlined the discovery of this ongoing conflict, and its implications for the biology and function of ocean processes. The findings disprove the theory that SAR11 cells are immune to viral predation, researchers said.

“In general, every living cell is vulnerable to viral infection,” said Giovannoni, who first discovered SAR11 in 1990. “What has been so puzzling about SAR11 was its sheer abundance; there was simply so much of it that some scientists believed it must not get attacked by viruses.”

What the new research shows, Giovannoni said, is that SAR11 is competitive, good at scavenging organic carbon, and effective at changing to avoid infection. Because of that, it thrives and persists in abundance even though it’s constantly being killed by the new viruses that have been discovered.

The discovery of the Pelagiphage viral families was made by Yanlin Zhao, Michael Schwalbach and Ben Temperton, OSU postdoctoral researchers working with Giovannoni. They used traditional research methods, growing cells and viruses from nature in a laboratory, instead of sequencing DNA from nature. The new viruses were so unique that computers could not recognize the virus DNA.

“The viruses themselves, of course, appear to be just as abundant as SAR11,” Giovannoni said. “Our colleagues at the University of Arizona demonstrated this with new technologies they developed for measuring viral diversity.”

SAR11 has several unique characteristics, including the smallest known genetic structure of any independent cell. Through sheer numbers, this microbe has a huge role in consuming organic carbon, which it uses to generate energy while producing carbon dioxide and water in the process. SAR11 recycles organic matter, providing the nutrients needed by algae to produce about half of the oxygen that enters Earth’s atmosphere every day.

This carbon cycle ultimately affects all plant and animal life on Earth.

Contributors to this research included scientists at OSU’s High Throughput Culturing Laboratory; the University of Arizona’s Tucson Marine Phage Lab; University of California/San Diego’s National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research; and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, which provided opportunity to sample viruses from nature. Funding was provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Marine Microbiology Initiative.

 

Blaustein discusses amphibian decline

February 12th, 2013

McKinley Smith of The Daily Barometer reports on the Science Pub featuring Dr. Andrew Blaustein.  Read her story online here.

Jackie Seus

Dr. Andrew Blaustein addresses amphibian decline at the February 2013 Science Pub.
Photo by Jackie Seus

 

Science Pub: Extinction in Our Time: Why should we care if frogs disappear?

February 11th, 2013

Tonight’s Science Pub presenter will be Distinguished Professor, Dr. Andrew Blaustein.

Extinction in Our Time: Why should we care if frogs disappear?

With dramatic population declines and extinctions worldwide, amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders and newts) are among the most threatened animals on the planet. Habitat loss, climate change, disease and pollution have well-documented impacts. “Amphibians are embedded in culture and religion and are ecologically important,” says Blaustein. “They may aid humans medically and are interesting to observe for their own sake. Their loss would be devastating in so many ways.”

Blaustein is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the board of directors of the Amphibian Conservation Alliance. While his lab focuses on the Pacific Northwest, it has also been active in the tropics. See a brief interview with Blaustein on Science Central.

 

Science Pub
Monday, February 11th
6 pm – 8pm
Old World Deli
341 2nd St., Corvallis, OR

Science Pub is a popular event in Corvallis and is highly attended.  It is recommended that you arrive early in order to get a seat.

 

If you missed last month’s Science Pub with Dr. Doug Keszler, you can watch the recording online.

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award – Dr. Jane Lubchenco

February 6th, 2013

Dr. Jane Lubchenco was honored with the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Ecology and Conservation Biology.  The foundation has recognized her work that has laid the scientific groundwork for the design of marine reserves.

The jury described Dr. Lubchenco as being “a leader in establishing marine reserves based on solid principles of ecological science. Her work established a scientific framework for defining the optimal locations, size, and connectivity of marine reserve networks, effectively integrating her scientific expertise into science-based principles for public policy.”

For more information, please visit: http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/tlfu/ing/microsites/premios/fronteras/galardonados/2012/ecologia.jsp

Worldwide amphibian extinctions discussed at Science Pub

February 5th, 2013

This story is available online: http://bit.ly/14Pky0w

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Amphibians such as frogs, salamanders and newts are declining around the world.  Oregon State University zoologist Andrew Blaustein will discuss what these extinctions mean for ecosystems and for people during a talk at the Corvallis Science Pub on Monday, Feb. 11.

Amphibians are among the most threatened animals on the planet, said Blaustein, who has the title of Distinguished Professor at Oregon State. Habitat loss, climate change, disease and pollution have well-documented impacts.

“Amphibians are embedded in culture and religion and are ecologically important,” he said. “They may aid humans medically and are interesting to observe for their own sake. Their loss would be devastating in so many ways.”

Blaustein is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the board of directors of the Amphibian Conservation Alliance. While his lab focuses on the Pacific Northwest, it has also been active in the tropics.

The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli, 341 S.W. Second St. in Corvallis. It is free and open to the public.

Sponsors of Science Pub include Terra magazine at OSU, the Downtown Corvallis Association and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

 

Science Pub
Monday, February 11th
6 pm – 8pm
Old World Deli
341 2nd St., Corvallis, OR

Science Pub is a popular event in Corvallis and is highly attended.  It is recommended that you arrive early in order to get a seat.

 

 

Dr. Indira Rajagopal named UHC eminent professor

January 31st, 2013

Senior instructor in biology, biochemistry and biophysics, Indira Rajagopal was named as an UHC Eminent Professors for 2013 by the University Honors College.

Congratulations Dr. Rajagopal!

Read the full story at Life@OSU.

PBS, Scourge of the Lionfish, with Mark Hixon

January 30th, 2013

Coral reef expert and Oregon State University professor in Zoology, Mark Hixon is featured in the PBS video, Saving the Ocean: Scourge of the Lionfish. In this video, marine biologist and writer Carl Safina looks into the damaging affects that lionfish are having in the Caribbean and Atlantic.

 

Watch Scourge of the Lionfish on PBS. See more from Saving the Ocean.

February Science Pub – Extinction in Our Time: Why should we care if frogs disappear?

January 22nd, 2013

Distinguished Professor of Zoology, Dr. Andrew Blaustein will be the presenting on the threat of population decline and extinction of amphibians at the February 2013 Science Pub.

Monday, February 11th
6 pm – 8pm
Old World Deli
341 2nd St., Corvallis, OR

Science Pub is a popular event in Corvallis and is highly attended.  It is recommended that you arrive early in order to get a seat.

More information.