Category Archives: Science

Power Device, Electronic R&D Awarded

By Staff Report

A new $3.5 million award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology confirms the University of Arkansas’ place as a world leader in power packing research and development. The award will allow the High-Density Electronics Center (or HIDEC) to upgrade its facility and become a Power Packaging Center of Excellence.

What is power packaging?

Consider the boxy plug of a cell phone charger. It converts the AC electricity coming out of the wall outlet to the DC power charging the battery. The various elements inside the plug that allow it to do this are its “power packaging,” all of which is built around a semi-conducting material. 

David Huitink with Power Packaging Unit
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Teach to Protect from Fentanyl

By David Arnett

Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, is renewing a call for action on Rain’s Law, House Bill 1484, legislation that would require age-appropriate fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness education in Oklahoma schools. Approved by the full House and a Senate Committee, leadership in the Senate is apparently not interested in bringing it to a floor vote. How many must die to move the bill?

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USDA: Screwworm Grand Challenge

By Staff Report

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced Tuesday the launch of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Grand Challenge. This funding opportunity marks a pivotal step in USDA’s comprehensive strategy to combat NWS and prevent its northward spread.

“This is a strategic investment in America’s farmers and ranchers and is an important action to ensure the safety and future success of our food supply, which is essential to our national security,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “These are the kinds of innovations that will help us stay ahead of this pest and protect our food supply and our economy, protecting the way of life of our ranchers and go towards rebuilding our cattle herd to lower consumer prices on grocery store shelves.”

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Fertility Preservation for Boys

By Staff Report

OU Health, the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system, is the first health system in Oklahoma to offer testicular tissue preservation for prepubescent boys facing cancer treatments that could affect their future fertility. This procedure provides a potential path to biological parenthood when conventional methods, such as sperm banking, are not feasible.

The advancement offers new hope to families whose children face cancer treatments that could compromise future fertility. By introducing testicular tissue cryopreservation, OU Health is expanding access to leading-edge preservation techniques previously unavailable in Oklahoma.

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