$10 Diamond Reveals Ocean of Discovery
When an international team of researchers led by Graham Pearson, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Resources at the U of A, purchased a dirty brown diamond for $10, they didn't expect it would reveal an ocean inside the Earth. Analysis of a mineral grain trapped in the diamond showed it contained 1.5 per cent water, suggesting its subterranean place of origin might contain as much water as the world's oceans combined. The finding changes the understanding of the planet's water cycle and has implications for the study of volcanoes and plate tectonics.
- CBC News
New Device Diverts Water Dangers
Sushanta Mitra and a team of researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed a device that detects the presence of E. coli in water within minutes - potentially saving lives. Results that would typically take 24 to 48 hours to confirm using current methods take only five to 10 minutes using Mitra's rapid sensory device. Positive results for pathogens trigger an alert via smartphones, warning people of any potential danger to the drinking water supply, with the goal of preventing widespread illness.
- Edmonton Sun
Romantic Success Linked to Parental Relationship in Adolescence
A recent study by U of A researchers suggests relationships between parents and teens can have a small but measurable impact on their romantic relationships up to 15 years later. Using data gleaned from a survey study that followed nearly 3,000 people from adolescence to adulthood, researchers led by Matt Johnson, assistant professor in the Department of Human Ecology, concluded that about eight per cent of the variation in the quality of young adults' romantic relationships could be explained by how they got along with their parents as teens.
- NPR
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