A detector developed by a team led by Peter Dowben and Axel Enders was carried to the International Space Station on Oct. 17. Nebraska's contribution to the ISS cargo resupply mission is UNL DANSON — University of Nebraska–Lincoln Detector for the Analysis of Solar Neutrons — is a multi-element neutron detector system that can track solar neutron production in a specific range of energies. The detector complements the existing solar neutron telescope, which was designed and launched in 2009. For more information on the project, click here.
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Angela Palmer-Wackerly, assistant professor of communication studies, has earned the Dissertation Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association for her study, “Illness Identity, Social Support, and Cancer Clinical Trials Decision-Making.” The award will be presented at the association’s annual meeting in Philadelphia in November. For more information on Palmer-Wackerly, click here.
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The Nebraska Intelligent Mobile Unmanned Systems Lab received a new grant to continue work on its fire-starting drone project. The project aims to develop drones with the capabilities to start and monitor controlled fires in order to better manage wildfires and protect firefighters. The new grant received in September will allow the group to move into the next phase of work on the project, which will focus on improving the existing technology, making it safer and more powerful, and helping users become more comfortable with it. This includes enhancing the communication between the drones and firefighters with additions like responsive gestures, such as the drone shaking to signal that it has become too hot. For more information on the project, click here.
