When is a species really extinct?
Ron Rohrbaugh of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology uses the ivory-billed woodpecker to illustrate the concept of a 'lost' species, one that is so rare that it is not able to be detected or studied. (Dec. 22, 2009)

Cornellians build computer climate-change model
Researchers are contributing to a new model of climate change that may give more accurate predictions of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earth's future. (Dec. 18, 2009)

Researchers devise new way to cleave nitrogen
Cornell chemist Paul Chirik and colleagues have devised a new way to break the tough nitrogen-nitrogen bond in the lab and simultaneously create carbon-nitrogen bonds. (Dec. 16, 2009)

Team to study how globalization affects air quality
An interdisciplinary Cornell team will develop computer models, funded by the EPA, that consider such factors as trade patterns, transportation and economic geography associated with globalization. (Dec. 15, 2009)

Six students share top design contest prize
Six graduate students received the top prize for their entry in a national competition for sustainable urban design ideas for Philadelphia. (Dec. 10, 2009)

Gallium nitride transistor could replace silicon
A Cornell researcher has created an extremely efficient transistor made from gallium nitride, which may soon replace silicon as king of semiconductors for power applications. (Dec. 8, 2009)

CU contingent to attend global climate conference
The contingent hopes to use the meeting as a springboard for creating interdisciplinary partnerships at Cornell to research pressing climate issues in the future. (Dec. 4, 2009)

Libe Slope's 're-naturalized' meadow reaps award
Cornell received a local City of Ithaca Pride of Ownership Award for returning part of Libe Slope back to a seasonal meadow that needs to be mowed only twice a year. (Dec. 3, 2009)

Panel on Marcellus Shale drilling addresses issues
A panel of experts in geology, energy, groundwater and public policy educated the Cornell community about the broad range of competing energy and environmental issues surrounding the drilling controversy. (Dec. 3, 2009)

Kyoto Now! organizes rally against hydrofracing
The rally, organized by Kyoto Now!, sought to raise awareness about water contamination from hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas from the earth. (Dec. 2, 2009)

Cooperative extension helps public understand gas drilling
Cornell Cooperative Extension is on the front lines of educating citizens and communities about natural gas drilling into the Marcellus Shale. (Nov. 30, 2009)

Climate experts debate carbon dioxide
Reducing carbon dioxide to safe levels may require extracting carbon from the air, says Cornell climate researcher. (Nov. 25, 2009)

Professors brief Congress on carbon offsets
Cornell professors Antonio Bento and David Wolf briefed the House and Senate on Capitol Hill, Nov. 18-19, on 'The Role of Agriculture and Forestry in Emerging Carbon Markets.' (Nov. 24, 2009)

Plant biologist, conservationist Carl Leopold dies at 89
Carl Leopold joined BTI in 1977, where he researched seed physiology and desiccation processes for 25 years. (Nov. 19, 2009)

Plant biologist, conservationist Carl Leopold dies at 89
Carl Leopold joined BTI in 1977, where he researched seed physiology and desiccation processes for 25 years. (Nov. 19, 2009)

Giant green paw print marks campus sustainability efforts
At a follow-up to the Sept. 26 Sustainability Summit for Student Leaders, students leaders presented their sustainability accomplishments and heard from an expert who encouraged them to be creative. (Nov. 19, 2009)

Sustainability, capitalism go hand in hand, says CEO
The 2009 Net Impact Conference held at Cornell Nov. 13-14 drew a record 2,400 participants and featured such speakers as Jeffrey Immelt, chairman and CEO of General Electric. (Nov. 17, 2009)

100 mpg team works on next stage of competition
Cornell's competition vehicle, vying for a share of the $10 million prize, is now being test driven. (Nov. 16, 2009)

Summer program on green design in Europe available
Cornell is offering a four-week Summer Study Abroad Program July 5-31 on ecological design in London and Paris. Students can earn eight credits. (Nov. 11, 2009)

Cornell releases predator beetle to battle hemlock pest
Cornell researchers released a well-studied beetle predator to test its ability to ward off a hemlock-killing aphid-like insect. (Nov. 10, 2009)

Nitrogen loss threatens desert plant life, study shows
Cornell researchers have discovered that heat leads to nitrogen loss in desert soils, a finding that may require climate change models to be altered. (Nov. 5, 2009)

Cornell Dining serves up Cornell-grown produce
This fall Cornell is taking the 'local foods' concept to a whole new level by buying corn, potatoes, squash and ornamental gourds directly from Cornell's farms. (Nov. 4, 2009)

Gift of 50 trees honors Cornell tree policies
Cornell was recently recognized as one of only 13 schools - and the first Ivy League School - by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Campus USA program for practicing sound campus forestry for 2009. (Oct. 27, 2009)

H. Fisk Johnson speaks on 'A Crisis of Consumption'
In his Oct. 22 Hatfield Lecture, the CEO of SC Johnson urged business, government and consumers to work together to save the environment. (Oct. 23, 2009)

Cornell 100 mpg car makes the cut in competition
Cornell's 100+ MPG Team is one of 43 that have made it to the next stage of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize Competition, contest officials announced Oct. 19. (Oct. 20, 2009)

New Honduran water plant celebrates groundbreaking
AguaClara, a program in civil and environmental engineering in which students design municipal drinking water plants, celebrated the groundbreaking of its fifth full-scale facility last month. (Oct. 20, 2009)

Car companies bring fuel-cell cars to campus
For Cornell's second annual Fuel Cell Ride and Drive, representatives from Toyota, GM and Mercedes-Benz publicly displayed each company's hydrogen fuel-cell car prototype. (Oct. 20, 2009)

Cornell's Silo House in competition today
Cornell's Silo House begins competition today against 19 other entries in the 2009 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Department of Energy's biennial contest continues through Oct. 16. (Oct. 8, 2009)

Stimulus funding to study detoxifying heavy metals
With stimulus package funding, soil scientist Olena Vatamaniuk is studying a worm model system for clues into how humans might detoxify heavy metals. (Sept. 30, 2009)

Program to train disabled veterans for green jobs
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County has received some $317,000 of stimulus funding to provide training to 120 veterans, many with disabilities, for green jobs. (Sept. 22, 2009)

Lab of Ornithology aids artist Maya Lin with exhibit
On Sept. 17 in San Francisco, artist Maya Lin unveiled the first component of her serial art installation on species loss, which uses sounds and videos from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (Sept. 17, 2009)

Cornell unveils its climate neutrality plan
Cornell's new Climate Action Plan, released Sept. 15, will not only make the university far more energy efficient but also could save Cornell hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 40 years. (Sept. 15, 2009)

NSF grant supports sustainable materials research
A new grant from the National Science Foundation will support 30 graduate students working in the Cornell Center for Materials Research on the development of materials to advance sustainable living. (Sept. 15, 2009)

Environmental engineering degree now accredited
Now students can major in environmental engineering and graduate with an accredited degree in that field, which also qualifies them to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination. (Sept. 14, 2009)

Carbon nanotubes could make efficient solar cells
Cornell researchers fabricated, tested and measured a simple solar cell called a photodiode, formed from an individual carbon nanotube. (Sept. 10, 2009)

Tree inventory aids climate plan, raises awareness
Cornell's first comprehensive tree inventory, conducted this summer, quantifies the ecosystem services that trees provide and helps with the university's climate plan, to be unveiled Sept. 15. (Sept. 9, 2009)

Researcher explores evolution of milkweed
A Cornell study on the diversity of milkweed plants has used new techniques to prove an old theory that explains how the arms race between attacking insects and defended plants led to great diversity of both. (Sept. 8, 2009)

Grasso on CU's plans to meet new energy standards
Joseph Grasso, the ILR School's assistant dean for finance and administration, addressed 250 college and university presidents recently about Cornell's Climate Action Plan. (Sept. 8, 2009)

Climate, energy lectures targeted to undergrads
A new bi-weekly lecture series, specially tailored for undergraduate students, will focus on sustainability, energy and environmental systems. It's slated for Mondays, 7:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 7. (Sept. 3, 2009)

Solar house ready to leave lab for state fair test
After several months of construction, engineering and design work, Cornell's 2009 Solar Decathlon house will debut to the public Aug. 27 at the Great New York State Fair. (Aug. 17, 2009)

Budget cuts, sustainability goals change campus landscape
As Cornell becomes more sustainable - and cuts costs - Cornellians will see fewer lawns and more meadows on campus, longer grass and more green roofs and functional plantings. (Aug. 7, 2009)

Conference examines aging and sustainability
The Cornell Conference on Aging and the Environment was the beginning of a major new push to consider the effects of the aging population in the context of the environment. (July 31, 2009)

100 mpg car taking shape over the summer
A group of Cornell students are working day and night to get their full-size, fuel-efficient, plug-in hybrid vehicle ready for on-road testing Sept. 1 in preparation for the Automotive X Prize Competition. (July 29, 2009)

Researchers help wind turbine industry protect birds
Five Cornell scientists and other experts reached an agreement on research priorities to help America's wind turbine industry produce alternative energy while also providing safe passage for birds and bats. (July 24, 2009)

Beijing air quality improved during Olympics
The air in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics was cleaner than the previous year's, due to aggressive efforts to curtail traffic and increase emissions standards, according to a Cornell study. (July 23, 2009)

No ivory-billed woodpecker, but plenty of data
The Lab of Ornithology's ivory-billed woodpecker search team, which has spent the last three winters combing the southeastern United States, has wrapped up what is likely to be its last large-scale search. (July 15, 2009)

Cornell receives $5.5 million for Bangladesh project
Cornell has been selected to lead a $5.5 million-plus project in Bangladesh as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food for Progress program to provide international assistance in 2009. (July 13, 2009)

CCE to hold natural gas drilling meetings
Cornell Cooperative Extension will host public meetings across New York's Southern Tier in July and August to educate residents about the development of natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale. (July 9, 2009)

Grad students stress need for environmental research
An innovative Cornell program may offer a model for interdisciplinary environmental research in an academic system where research across departments is challenging at best, according to a recent paper. (July 8, 2009)

Experts examine risks to birds from wind turbines
At the Cornell Workshop on Large-Scale Wind-Generated Power on June 13, researchers proposed using bio-acoustic and radar technology to address whether wind turbines pose risks to billions of night-flying birds. (June 23, 2009)

World use of fertilizer varies wildly, study shows
In a Science policy forum piece, co-author Laurie Drinkwater says that fertilizer is often used way too much or too little across the world, and both extremes have substantial human and environmental costs. (June 19, 2009)

Deadly beetle threatens New York's ash trees
The threat posed by the emerald ash borer is 'extreme,' says entomologist E. Richard Hoebeke. 'There is the potential for ash as we know it to be extirpated from the landscape.' (June 18, 2009)

Governor to use Skorton-led task force as building block
As New York Gov. David Paterson outlined his vision June 8 to make New York state a global leader in the knowledge-based economy, he cited President David Skorton's task force as the type of initiative that will create jobs. (June 10, 2009)

Milk goes 'green': Dairy farms use fewer resources
The dairy industry has reduced its carbon footprint by about one-third in the past 60 years, due to improved genetics, nutrition, herd management and animal welfare, reports a new Cornell study. (June 10, 2009)

CALS helps keep New York's waters clean
Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has a wide range of researchers working on water issues to make sure New York state continues to have plenty of clean water to offer. (June 10, 2009)

Cornell teams up with National Renewable Energy Lab
University Engineer Randy Lacey will spend three months at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a national and virtual center to help universities reduce their carbon footprint. (June 9, 2009)

Cornell Iroquois social focuses on sustainability
The Cornell Native American Alumni Association Reunion Iroquois Social celebrated the sustainable approaches that indigenous peoples have played in caring for Earth. (June 8, 2009)

Ratan Tata discusses corporate responsibility in lecture
Ratan Tata '59, chairman of India's Tata Group, presented the new $2,500 Nano minicar and addressed 'Corporate Social Responsibility in the 21st Century' with President David Skorton June 5. (June 6, 2009)

Computational sustainability conference draws a crowd
Nearly 200 researchers from universities, private laboratories and government agencies will converge on Cornell June 8-11 for the first conference on computational sustainability. (June 5, 2009)

Gore, Tata discuss bringing technology to world's poor
The conference brought together 100 green-technology pioneers and entrepreneurs to work on action plans to accelerate a 'convergence' of clean technology and business development at the 'base of the economic pyramid.' (June 4, 2009)

Redistributing farm topsoil is goal of ORIE project
For their 2008-09 master of engineering project, four operations research students set out to optimize the redistribution of topsoil over a farm in Iowa. (June 3, 2009)

Summer college admissions go paperless
Summer College, which is part of Cornell's School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, is just one of many campus units slashing its paper use. (June 1, 2009)

Sustainability center to fund five research grants
The Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future will fund five projects this year to stimulate original and cross-disciplinary work in sustainability science. (May 26, 2009)

$1 million grant explores health of organic dairy cows
Do dairy cows raised on organic farms produce different amounts of milk or suffer from less disease? A $1 million grant from the USDA will study 300 dairy farms - of which 200 meet organic standards. (May 11, 2009)

Sea Grant funds five Cornell projects for 2009-10
New York Sea Grant has awarded five projects a total of $1.1 million in research funding to study PCBs, lake invaders and more. (May 7, 2009)

Team in China offers innovative urban eco-design
A Cornell team traveled to China to participate in an eco-urban design workshop, where they developed an innovative urban model for China to consider as it prepares to build new cities. (April 23, 2009)

Pinpointing catalytic reactions on carbon nanotubes
Cornell researchers have shown that catalytic reactions on carbon nanotubes occur at unique sites, which could lead to a new way to make cleaner fuels. (April 16, 2009)

New Cornell biofuels lab: Turning bales into barrels
Cornell just opened its new $6 million Biofuels Research Laboratory, where Cornell scientists and students from across the university are examining sustainable and economical biofuel production. (April 1, 2009)

Pesticide application method keeps chemicals on target
To prevent pesticides from drifting away and potentially posing risks to the environment, Cornell researchers have devised a solution: Apply the pesticides by encapsulating them in biodegradable nanofibers. (March 26, 2009)

Professor examines how the U.S. and Japan build green
Ying Hua, assistant professor of design and environmental analysis, has received a fellowship to study how U.S. and Japanese green building design differ, and a grant to develop a green building course. (March 26, 2009)

New science major graduates its first class
The new major, the science of natural and environmental systems in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will graduate its first crop of students this May. (March 12, 2009)

Deadly pest threatens hemlock trees in region
Cornell natural-areas staff spotted small fluffy white sacs along the base of the needle on an eastern hemlock: telltale signs that a devastating pest had invaded Cornell's hemlocks for the first time. (March 11, 2009)

Cornell initiative transforms 'biotrash' into bioenergy
In a new campus initiative, vegetable oil from deep fryers in campus dining halls, animal bedding, farm waste and other sources of 'biotrash' will be transformed to help fuel the university. (March 5, 2009)

Alumna's foundation funds sustainability projects
Since 1999 about 75 faculty and student projects that examine the technological, social, political and economic elements of sustainable agriculture have benefited from the Toward Sustainability Foundation. (March 4, 2009)

Help identify deadly hemlock pest in Ithaca's gorges
Cornell announces volunteer training sessions to help identify and report new infestations of deadly hemlock pest around Cornell and in Ithaca's gorges. (March 4, 2009)

CU scholars to speak at Sun Grant conference
The event will feature a bevy of speakers and will showcase the latest innovations in bioenergy research, March 10-13 in Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2009)

Town of Ithaca adopts planning study
The Town of Ithaca has adopted a findings statement on Cornell's transportation-focused Generic Environmental Impact Statement. (Feb. 18, 2009)

Alison Power discusses food security at AAAS
With proper management practices, farmers could grow crops while maintaining ecosystem services, said Cornell professor Alison Power during her AAAS presentation in Chicago. (Feb. 17, 2009)

Improved test can screen fungal pests for biofuel sources
Cornell researchers have improved a method that can now rapidly screen hundreds of fungal species to find ones that can most efficiently produce biofuels from such nonfood sources as cornstalks. (Feb. 11, 2009)

Evolutionary history of diatoms needs to be rewritten
A new study suggests that after a sudden rise in species numbers, oceanic plankton called diatoms abruptly declined about 33 million years ago -- trends that coincided with severe global cooling. (Jan. 7, 2009)