Welcome back to school. To inspire you for the next year of research and teaching, here are some Stellar publications from this summer:
VISION OF RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS
Researchers from Purdue University in conjunction with the USDA published a detailed characterization of the Red-Wing Blackbird’s visual system using a StellarNet Black Comet Spectroradiometer. Visually, the way birds perceive the world is different from the way humans perceive the world. Birds generally have a wider color space due to 4 visual pigments in 4 types of single cone photoreceptors, a better ability to discriminate color, an extra cone type specialized in achromatic and motion vision, a wider visual coverage, and a quicker processing of images. Learn more…
SPICY AND SCARY
Researcher at Jadavpur University used StellarNet’s DWARF-Star NIR spectrometer as part of an electronic nose study to determine the amount of Sudan Dye, a known carcinogen in laboratory animals, in the spice Turmeric (C21 H20 O6). Turmeric is used in many Indian dishes, and has a unique bright yellow color. For economic reasons, unregulated sellers will add adulterants (i.e. Sudan Dye) to pure Turmeric, to bulk up the amount. The objective was to estimate the potential of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a rapid and non-destructive tool for detection as well as quantification of Sudan dye I adulterated turmeric powder samples. The study resulted in this method returning accuracy of the identification of adulterants classes greater than 90%. Learn more…
DUST IN THE CITY
Researchers from the University of Florida published research in the ACS Earth Space Chemistry journal regarding the creation of hydrocarbons in the presence of mineral dust particles. Using Gobi Desert Dust particles and a large outdoor photochemical smog chamber under natural sunlight, the formation of secondary organic aerosols were studied to determine the processes involved. A StellarNet SolarRAD Spectroradiometer was used to measure the sunlight spectrum and intensity. Learn more…
