Sesquicentennial Prompts Governor’S Proclamation 2011 Whereas, 2011 Is the 150Th Anniversary of Kansas’ Entry Into the Union; And
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N E W S Spring 2011 To the stars through hi-tech / space-tech R &D Volume 10, No. 1 Sesquicentennial prompts Governor’s Proclamation 2011 Whereas, 2011 is the 150th anniversary of Kansas’ entry into the Union; and recognition of science legacy Whereas, that event was commemorated by the state’s motto, Ad Astra per Aspera; and by Jeanette Steinert Whereas, Kansas has a long history of leadership As in this sesquicentennial year every aspect of society of its kind west of the Mississippi and thought in aeronautics and aerospace innovation; and Kansas culture is ripe for recognition, it only seems to be the second oldest in the U.S. (after one in Connecticut). Whereas, Kansas’ future economic renaissance right that science should get its due in Kansas encourages development of opportunities in history. The work Kansas scientists have done over the past manufacturing, aerospace, scientific and technical services, energy, bioscience and technical After all, we weren’t just clod-busting in the 1860s. 150 years has impacted not only Kansas, but often innovation; and Founded in 1868 as the Kansas Natural History the nation and the world. Society at what is now Washburn University, the Whereas, in April 1990 Kansan Steve Hawley Kansas Academy of Science (KAS) is the oldest In 1890, entomologist (and co-founder of the KAS) was Mission Specialist 1 on the shuttle mission to Francis Snow discovered a launch the Hubble Space Telescope; and solution to a ruinous chinchbug, infestation, saving corn crops in Whereas, Kansas’ legacy to science and Ernest Fox NICHOLS 1869-1924 Kansas and surrounding states. technology includes Nobel Prize winners and astronauts as well as cutting-edge research in • Born in Leavenworth. Because of poor Early Kansans made big astrophysics, information technology, bioscience health he was homeschooled by his mother. and nanotechnology; and • Orphaned at age 15, he went to live with his differences as part of the United States Department of Agriculture. aunt and uncle in Manhattan. Whereas, all these accomplishments are • Graduated from Kansas State University. As a plant explorer for the USDA dependent on excellence in science, technology, • Famous for his work on infrared radiation. around the turn of the century, engineering and mathematics; and He proved that light exerts pressure, David Fairchild introduced information important to astrophysicists as alfalfa, soybeans, pistachios and Whereas, Kansans have chosen “Ad Astra per they study the stars. other crops to the U.S. Walter Aspera,” or “To the Stars Through Difficulties” as • Also known for the Nichols radiometer, a Swingle helped develop hardier the state motto: device for measuring stellar radiation. citrus plants and saved Florida’s • Did radiation research for General Electric. citrus industry. NOW THEREFORE I, Sam Brownback, Ernest Fox NICHOLS Governor of the State of Kansas, do hereby Physics EXTRA COOL: Nichols was one of the most During the same time period proclaim April 23, 2011, as General Electric famous scientists of the time and was friends with chemist Elmer McCollum Albert Einstein. discovered vitamins A and B, Ad Astra Kansas Day SCIENCE in KANSAS ANSAS ‐ and found that vitamin D helps 2011 Project of the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative and encourage all citizens, university, business and 150 years and counting ‐ 150 prevent rickets; while in medicine www.adastra-ks.org Dr. Walter Sutton is famous for government leaders to look to the stars and the Boveri-Sutton Theory which celebrate, encourage and promote the scientific achievements of our state and its citizens. explains that hereditary Judy Z. WU current information is carried in the chromosomes. • Fell in love with physics and math in seventh NOTE: Over the past ten years our organization grade. • Wu is a University Distinguished Professor In 1905, physicist Ernest Fox has been granted six proclamations by three at KU and is leading a NanoTechnology for Nichols proved that light exerts governors of an Ad Astra Kansas Day to celebrate Renewable Energy Team. pressure, information important science in Kansas. The plans are next year to to astrophysicists as they study • The team is devising improved and less submit a request to the state legislature for a the stars. The same year costly solar panels and cells for capturing permanent designation. the sun’s energy. Hamilton Cady and David • By working with the atoms and molecules McFarland discovered that that make up materials, the goal is to make helium could be extracted from materials that will better hold on to the sun’s natural gas. Before that it had Inside Courtesy KU University Relations energy so it can be used to light our homes been thought that helium could 2 Auger North presentation or provide other power in the future. Cont. “150” page 3 Judy Z. WU Ad Astra Kansas Day 2011 Physics / Astronomy New adhesive could find place in space EXTRA COOL: Received a KU Kemper Award for Left: The SCIENCE in University of Kansas 3 Kansas ScIence-Q Teaching Excellence in 2006. KANSAS--150 Years and Kansas Science Olympiad Counting trading card project SCIENCE in KANSAS Project of the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative 2011 features scientists both past Kansas R&D 150 years and counting www.adastra-ks.org and present. 4 Interstellar R&D The AD ASTRA KANSAS INITIATIVE in cooperation with Washburn University is sponsoring a 2 Presentation on possible Kansas observatory to be 9th annual Ad Astra Kansas Day³ celebrating science in Kansas given in Topeka Planetarium shows Wichita State University physicist Nickolas Solomey will give a presentation April 23 at Flight demonstrations Washburn University on the Auger North Cosmic Ray Observatory project which may be partially Telescope displays located in Kansas. Robotics demos The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will be at 7 p.m. at the Stoffer Science ´6SDFHµLFHFUHDP Hall. -3/´(\HVRQWKH6N\µ The internationally-funded Pierre Auger (Oh- zhay) Observatory Project studies the universe’s virtual solar system highest energy particles which shower down on earth in the form of cosmic rays. After nearly a Voyager model century of research, though low to moderate energy cosmic rays are fairly well understood, the SKY-Q quiz for all ages high energy ones remain a mystery to scientists. The Auger project studies these high-energy Auger North presentation ones. Crane Observatory stargazing The project consists of an already-operating High-altitude ballooning display observatory in Argentina, Auger South, and a correlating one to be placed in the northern Hands-on activities, take-aways and more... hemisphere. The Auger North Observatory is Participants include: beginning construction in eastern Colorado and Washburn University Dept. of Physics/Astronomy may eventually extend into southwest Kansas Northeast Kansas Amateur Astronomers League also. FREE ² Fun The Foundation for Aeronautic Education Fundamental Technologies, LLC Solomey, chair of the WSU Department of for all ages Wichita State University Dept. of Physics/ Astronomy Physics, will speak on the science of cosmic rays Rain or shine American Assoc. of Civil Engineers /Kansas DOT and explain this unique type of observatory which Washburn University Chemistry Club consists of strategically-placed tanks and NearSys buildings spread over 8,000 square miles Space Age Publishing Company including up to five counties in Kansas. Solomey also works with Fermi Lab, the U.S. 5:30³10 p.m. Saturday, April 23 Department of Energy’s national high-energy Stoffer Science Hall ³Washburn University physics research laboratory and is a physics consultant to Cornell University’s online scientific 17th and Washburn, Topeka library. Interested in the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative? Find more info at www.adastra-ks.org STICKING POWER: NEW PATENTED ADHESIVE COULD FIND PLACE IN SPACE MANHATTAN — A recently patented adhesive that formed nanoscale fibrils that become moisture detection device,” Tomich said. “There made by Kansas State University researchers entangled, sort of like Velcro. It has all these little could be a circuit or something that when the could become a staple in every astronaut’s toolbox. hooks that come together,” Tomich said. “It’s a moisture got to a certain level, the adhesive would mechanical type of adhesion, though, not a fail and break the circuit, sounding an alarm.” The patent, “pH dependent adhesive peptides,” chemical type like most commercial adhesives.” was issued to the Kansas State University The project began nearly a decade ago as Sun Research Foundation, a nonprofit corporation Because of its unusual properties, applications will and a postdoctoral researcher were studying the responsible for managing technology transfer most likely be outside the commercial sector, adhesive properties of soybean proteins. Needing activities of K-State. The patent covers an adhesive Tomich said. an instrument to synthesize protein peptides, Sun made from peptides — a compound containing contacted Tomich. two or more amino acids that link together — that For example, unlike most adhesives that become increases in strength as moisture is removed. brittle as moisture levels decrease, this adhesive’s Serendipitously, Tomich’s lab had developed a bond only becomes stronger. Because of this, it peptide some time ago that had cement-like It was created by John Tomich, professor of could be useful in low-moisture environments like properties. Tomich said he knew it was unusual biochemistry, and Xiuzhi “Susan” Sun, professor outer space, where astronauts