When you think of the process that enables the northern lights, think of spaghetti becoming untangled, says University of Iowa researcher Jack Scudder. He and his colleagues have reached a milestone in describing how the northern lights work by way of a process called “magnetic reconnection.”

A NASA-sponsored program will examine impacts of land use and climate chante, providing better estimates of carbon dioxide emissions in Iowa, the Midwest, and beyond.

UI faculty member John Rachow, past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, says nuclear-emergency preparedness plans are out-of-date.

A special note to smokers needing general surgery: not only will your recovery likely take longer, but your wallet may also take a harder hit. A new study finds that hospital costs are an average 4 percent higher, or roughly $900, for general surgery patients who smoke.

UI health policy expert Keith Mueller offers his take on the Affordable Care Act and whether the health care reform legislation will be upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Leisure studies scholar David Gould comments on the difficulty Americans have finding opportunities to take their vacation time.

Anita Stineman, associate professor in the University of Iowa College of Nursing, is the winner of the 2011-2012 Collegiate Teaching Award.

Richard E. Walton, chair of endodontics at the UI College of Dentistry for 13 years, has won the Lifetime Educator Award from the American Association of Endodontists.

Archeologist Bill Whittaker comments on the practice of using dousing rods to "witch" for graves.

The UI College of Engineering faculty member's accomplishments include managing sediment deposits in rivers and protecting salmon at hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River.

The line-up of music and musicians is now complete for MusicIC 2012, Iowa City’s summer classical music festival June 10-16. The main events are three concerts on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, June 14, 15, and 16.

Kurt Anstreicher, current department executive officer for the Tippie College of Business Department of Management Sciences, has been named senior associate dean of the college.