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A Volunteer’s Perspective
Farming Arugula in the Republic of Georgia
Excerpts taken from C. Bruce Williams’ personal diary:
Tskaltubo City, Republic of Georgia September 2009
My host’s name is Zurab Janelidze. He is the new
Did You Know?
A collection of University esoterica
Do you know which popular soft drink is named for a U.Va. alumnus? Or how about the top-secret military experiments conducted in the shadow of the Rotunda?
Lunar Lunacy
Phil Plait battles ‘bad science’
Phil Plait (Grad ’90, ’94) has a simple lesson plan. Known Webwide as “The Bad Astronomer,” he wants to stop bad science, especially the spread of misinformation about all things celestial.
Space Odyssey
Alumni who have “the right stuff”
Beginning in the 1960s and continuing through the most recent shuttle flight, U.Va. alumni have journeyed beyond the earth's bounds to work--and walk--in space.
Supersized Ring
Astronomers recently found the largest planetary ring in the solar system swirling around Saturn.
Burning Question
Early farmers changed the weather
Our ancestors may have begun warming the planet 8,000 years ago.
R&D in Brief
Less stress for medical students, tests for toddlers and the power of popularity among teens.
Jack Needs Jill to Get Up the Hill
Perceptions affected by friendship
Hills seem less steep if you have a friend by your side.
A Wink Is as Good as a Nod
Head movements trump gender in conversation
Watch a video that shows how researchers change perceived gender with video conferencing software.
Adorable Secret to Success
Exposure to cuteness increases fine motor skills
Imagine a calico kitten playing with a ball of string. Are you picturing it? Good, now you are—by a small but measurable margin—better prepared to perform surgery. <
Targeting Addiction
One man’s quest on the path of discovery
Addiction is a disease that affects millions. Dr. Bankole Johnson is developing a pharmaceutical treatment for it.
Academic Notes
Brain Drain?
A new study indicates that some cognitive skills peak at the age of 22, then begin a slow decline a few years later. Timothy Salthouse, a U.Va.
In Pursuit of Happiness
Psychologists explore everyone's favorite emotion
How would you reply if a psychologist asked how satisfied you were with your life? A trio of U.Va. professors delve into what makes us happy.
Into the Wild
The call of the wild beckons in many ways
A passion for the outdoors inspires the lives of many alumni. Some explore it, some guide others through it, some teach about it and others work to protect it.
HIGHLIGHTS
War Stories
Generations of alumni reflect on military life over the past century, sharing stories of world wars and major American operations in Asia and the Middle East.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Money
Logan Sachon (Col '05) writes openly and honestly about finances, a subject once considered taboo, on the website The Billfold.
Unearthing Slavery at the University of Virginia
Recent discoveries on Grounds raise questions about the history of slavery.
Ed Roseberry’s Charlottesville
Look through a few of the thousands of photographs Ed "Flash" Roseberry has taken of Charlottesville since the 1940s.
Blue Books
The agony and ecstasy of final exams (including excerpts from real blue book exams).
Holsinger’s Charlottesville
Rufus W. Holsinger photographed Charlottesville at the turn of the 20th century, capturing the Rotunda fire and much more.
Rethinking the Way We Learn
Professor Daniel Willingham knows why students don't like school— it's all in how the brain works.
Charlottesville Then & Now
An interactive feature that compares scenes from the same spots in Charlottesville, nearly 100 years apart.
Top 5 Lists
Want to know the top 5 hidden gems around Grounds? The all-time leading sports scorers? Top foods at the dining hall?
Make It Stick
Physics professor Lou Bloomfield sets out to fix a wobbly table and discovers a substance that might do much more.
