Zircon crystals and magmas reveal new information about plate tectonic activity on Earth billions of years ago.

From the formation of mountains and oceans to the eruption of volcanoes, the surface of our planet is in a constant state of flux. At the heart of these changes lies the powerful force of plate tectonics—the movements of Earth’s crustal plates. This fundamental process has shaped the current topography of our planet and continues to play a role in its future.

But what was plate tectonic activity like during early Earth? And was the process even occurring during the time when life is thought to have formed?

“The dynamic tectonic nature of the modern Earth is one of the reasons why life exists today,” says Wriju Chowdhury, a postdoctoral research associate in the lab of Dustin Trail, an associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester. “Exploring the geodynamics and the lithological diversity of the early Earth could lead to revelations of how life first began on our planet.”

Chowdhury is the first author of a paper published in Nature Communications that outlines how Rochester researchers used small zircon crystals to unlock information about magmas and plate tectonic activity in early Earth. The research provides chemical evidence that plate tectonics was most likely occurring when life is thought to have first formed on our planet.

Read more about the study.

(Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash)

Astrocytes may be a key player in the brain’s ability to process external and internal information simultaneously, say researchers.

The star-shaped cells called astrocytes—members of a family of cells found in the central nervous system called glial that help regulate blood flow and synaptic activity, keep neurons healthy, and play an important role in breathing.

“We believe astrocytes can add a new dimension to our understanding of how external and internal information is merged in the brain,” says Nathan Smith, an associate professor of neuroscience at the University’s Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience.

He and fellow authors from the University of Copenhagen highlight this in an opinion article in Trends in Neuroscience.

“More research on these cells is necessary to understand their role in the process that allows a person to have an appropriate behavioral response and also the ability to create a relevant memory to guide future behavior,” he says.

Learn more about the importance of “brain glue.”

The annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges doctoral students to describe their research to a global audience—in just three minutes and with one slide. On April 4, 10 finalists representing disciplines from philosophy to biophysics took part in the competition.

Betul Zeyrek, this year’s winner as determined by a panel of judges, is a PhD candidate in psychology. In three minutes, she explained her research into why young children comply with parental rules in situations of personal choice. “When provided with an explanation, children are more likely to comply,” Zeyrek said. “And surprisingly, we found punishment had no effect on compliance, indicating that children’s compliance can’t be just explained by fear of getting into trouble.”

She added, “I hope that with my research, we can contribute to our overall understanding of children’s development of personal choice and autonomy, because children are still learning to set the boundaries.”

“Our graduate students are the future of our fields,” said Provost David Figlio during his remarks at the event. “This competition is great practice for the rest of your life when you’ll be telling your narrative about who you are as a scholar and as a thinker.”

Find out who won the People’s Choice Award and poster session.

The UR CTSI is seeking applications for a new translational science pilot award with a focus on dissemination and implementation; clinical trials; health equity and ethics; or quantitative modeling to improve the translational process. Distinct from translational research, translational science is the field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process, with the goal of developing generalizable principles to accelerate translational research. Submit letters of intent by Monday, April 17, 5 p.m. Questions may be directed to Jane_Tolbert@urmc.rochester.edu.

Tuesday, April 18, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EDT)
Virtual

Learn how to create a LabArchives notebook quickly and easily to securely manage your research data online. These training sessions highlight the key features relevant to your use in a research or teaching lab, provide tips on tailoring a notebook to your specific needs, and offer time to ask questions about the platform. Other topics covered will include access management, adding and managing content, and collaboration tools. This session is primarily for PIs, lab managers, researchers, lab technicians, graduate students, and technical support staff. Register for the event.

Wednesday, April 19, noon to 1 p.m. (EDT)
Virtual

This webinar will highlight effective strategies for clinical investigators and others who work in and with diverse communities to develop greater capacity and success in engaging, recruiting, and retaining research participants from underrepresented populations. The presenters are Nicole Wolfe and Mayra Rubio-Diaz from Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI). The event, hosted by the Trial Innovation Network, is made available to the University of Rochester community via the UR Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Registration is required.

Thursday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Memorial Art Gallery

The University Technology Showcase will begin with the Western New York AR/VR Mini Conference at 8:30 a.m., followed by a speed networking pitch event. A keynote speaker panel will start off the afternoon at 1:30 p.m., with a poster session to follow. Attendees can join for all or part of the full-day agenda. A shuttle service will be available between the River Campus and the Memorial Art Gallery. The event is presented by the Center of Excellence in Data Science (CoE) and the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences. See the agenda and register here.

Thursday, April 20, after 11 a.m. (EDT)
Virtual

Edith M. Williams, founding director for the Office of Health Equity Research, which is housed in the UR Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and the Dean’s Associate Professor of Health Equity Research, will present “Let’s Do It Together: Ensuring Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Health Research.” The short, informative presentation will be recorded and available on the Center for Community Health and Prevention’s Facebook page. The talk will continue to be accessible on the Facebook page after this date.

Thursday, April 20, noon to 1:30 p.m.
CEL Classroom 2-7536, Medical Center

Special guest presenter Ian Krout, a PhD alumnus in toxicology, will share tricks and tips used by two early-stage investigators to identify, apply for, and secure postdoctoral positions that helped put them on track to achieve their career goals. Register here.