Fruit fly mating is reminiscent of a medieval romance. Male fruit flies vibrate their wings to produce a unique courtship song that attracts females, who promptly choose whether they want to mate with the male. The antennae of fruit flies are always vibrating, even when there is no sound present. “These vibrations are at the courtship song frequency, which makes the antenna ten times more sensitive to sounds in that frequency,” said Daniel Eberl, professor of biology at the University of Iowa. This specific tuning helps female fruit flies process the courtship songs performed by males.

The history and African American Studies professor published her first book in June.

University of Iowa's annual Dance Gala took place Oct. 17–18.

As the University of Iowa welcomed its second-largest first-year class this fall, faculty across campus are utilizing resources and new teaching approaches that work for large enrollment courses.

The University of Iowa continues to be recognized as the best public university for writing and communication in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Iowa is tied for No. 10 in writing in the disciplines.

Out of hundreds of submissions, Jungin Angie Lee and Ajay Patri were among the 12 awardees of Patterson’s “Go Finish Your Book!” grants.

For more than 1,700 years, Buddhist temple food in Korea has used local, seasonal ingredients to help Buddhist priests "sustain their bodies in their pursuit of enlightenment", said professor Hyaeweol Choi, who teaches Korean gender history at the University of Iowa. To support a monastic lifestyle, the food is gentle and easy to digest, eschewing five pungent ingredients – onions, garlic, chives, green onions and leeks – that are said to stimulate the body and disrupt spiritual meditation. Meals served at temples on Buddha's birthday adhere to these practices and are strictly vegetarian.

Ding-dong-ditch has had many names through history and in different regions. It’s known as knock down ginger, knock and run, Nicky Nicky nine doors and even a racist name in some places. It’s in a category of pranks that have been evolving since a few hundred years ago, when the concept of private property began emerging, according to University of Iowa Chair of Communication Studies Kembrew McLeod, who wrote the book “Pranksters: Making Mischief in the Modern World.”

In a significant step that builds on one of its most distinctive strengths, the University of Iowa will establish the Office of Writing and Communication (OWC) to unify, amplify, and expand the university’s rich legacy as a global leader in writing and communication.