Into the Abyss

At an ocean depth of 2,000 feet, pressures run high—890 pounds per square inch, to be exact. And it’s pitch black. So how can an extensive coral reef system in the Florida Straits between Miami and Bimini thrive? It’s a question researchers Mark Grasmueck, Gregor Eberli, and colleagues at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science are probing since discovering the reefs in December using advanced sonar technology and an unmanned AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle). This spring they teamed up with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution colleagues to explore these areas for the first time in a submersible, aiming to collect samples of organisms, such as sponges and corals, that may produce chemicals with pharmaceutical potential.

Poll Predictions

Political elections make 2006 a dynamic year for Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Nicaragua. To gauge which direction the populace in each country is leaning and release results of pre-election voter surveys, the University’s School of Communication is partnering with Zogby International, a worldwide leader in tracking public opinion since 1984. “We view our collaboration with Zogby International on this research as an extension of the important work of our faculty to address the profound role that the Southern Hemisphere will play in the global future,” says School of Communication Dean Sam Grogg.

PlayStation Perks

While playing video games is not an adequate substitute for riding a bike, it’s better than watching television for boys between the ages of 7 and 10, according to a study by Arlette Perry, professor and chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences in the School of Education. Published in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the study examined metabolic and physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, ventilation, oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure, all of which were significantly higher while playing the action game Tekken 3 than when the boys were at rest. Still, nothing beats the cardiovascular benefits of a good old-fashioned game of wiffle ball.