Research & Academics
Calling all Comet Catchers: NAU astronomers promote interstellar discoveries with citizen science project
Tracking down the solar system's countless icy comets has never been easier for those without a telescope or astronomy degree. Rubin Comet Catchers, a new citizen science project developed in collaboration with NAU scientists and alumni, allows volunteers to access exceptionally detailed observatory images to find hidden comets, asteroids and centaurs from their home offices. The objects participants find could have astonishing implications for scientific understandings of solar system formation, planetary defense and the history of water on Earth. 
Campus & Community
President Cruz Rivera elected to American Council on Education Board of Directors amid national focus on the value of higher ed
ACE is the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities. President Cruz Rivera's three-year term begins in September. 
Research & Academics
How robots are making first steps happen
Robotic exoskeletons are the future of helping people with certain disabilities perform daily tasks, but they can be prohibitively difficult and expensive to develop. Mechanical engineering associate professor Zach Lerner, whose research has focused on developing this technology, led a team that created OpenExo, an open-source exoskeleton framework, which will open doors for researchers globally to help speed up life-changing robotic discoveries. Research & Academics
Calling all Comet Catchers: NAU astronomers promote interstellar discoveries with citizen science project
Tracking down the solar system's countless icy comets has never been easier for those without a telescope or astronomy degree. Rubin Comet Catchers, a new citizen science project developed in collaboration with NAU scientists and alumni, allows volunteers to access exceptionally detailed observatory images to find hidden comets, asteroids and centaurs from their home offices. The objects participants find could have astonishing implications for scientific understandings of solar system formation, planetary defense and the history of water on Earth. 
How plants build the microbiome they need to survive in a tough environment
Did you know that under the right conditions, plants can handpick helpful microbes and weed out the bad ones, making them better able to survive in challenging environments? New research from the School of Earth and Sustainability documents this discovery, called functional team selection, which could reshape sustainable agriculture and deepen our understanding of how living systems adapt to a changing world. 
Throwing shade since 1899
NAU’s Flagstaff mountain campus is home to an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 trees. We all love them—so shouldn’t we learn more about them? With help from state grant funds, Lumberjack researchers are working on a campuswide tree inventory this summer. The project won’t just help NAU take better care of its trees—it’ll also provide student research opportunities for years to come and will help the university achieve its sustainability goals. 
