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Tune in Tuesday, June 22 at 9 pm on WV PBS to watch 'The Ice Hunters'.
07/9/2009
West Virginia Public Broadcasting Outlook show about the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute – a unique, independent, non-profit institute dedicated to the study of both memory and memory disorders – on the campus of West Virginia University. Its mission is to expand and advance state-of-the-art scientific research of memory and memory disorders for purposes of prevention, diagnosis and treatment; and to promote the translation of resulting discoveries to practical medical applications.
From genes to stem cells to nutrition, it’s all under the microscope at Marshall’s Biotech Center. Scientists there are performing cutting edge research to fight cancer at its roots. Other researchers have discovered an efficient, economical and environmentally friendly method to manufacture a biopolymer used in making ice cream.
If changing one light bulb from an incandescent to a more efficient LED can save energy and money, how much of a difference can one million lights make? The Christmas light display at Wheeling’s Winter Festival of Lights is being changed to LED lights. We show the displays and discover the savings with LED lights.
Researchers at WVU and other institutions are leading the way in developing alternative fuels to help the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We explore many different fuels, from biodiesel used in school buses to ethanol to batteries. The pros and cons are clearly explained by people developing and using the technologies.
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In an unmarked cave, there are hints of our history. In Thunderstruck Cave, scientists discovered animal bones that provide clues about what animals were here, what West Virginia might have looked like in the past.
Underground West Virginia explores the caves and karst features found in the eastern portions of the mountain state. Geologists explain how the underground passageways interact with the hydrology of surface waters and how vital it is to know where the caves are located in relation to present day building and development. Another scientist explains how studying geologic formations in caves confirms past studies of century long climate fluctuations.
Is global warming affecting Ice Mountain? Scientists are studying Ice Mountain because of its natural cooling vents. In the 1800s it was used as a natural refrigerator and supplied the ice for ice cream and lemonade. It is home to plants such as the Appalachian Wood fern and the Bristly Rose, whose habitat usually is found in the Canadian and Siberian Arctic.