Big Orange Buses

UT Knoxville has new wheels on campus. The university has a brand new fleet of buses that roam its streets. The buses kept “the T” brand but added some tech-friendly extras, including USB charging stations and a real-time GPS location that is accessible through the university’s mobile app.

 

Water on Mars

Was there water on Mars? Yes, says Linda Kah, an associate professor of earth and planetary sciences at UT Knoxville. Kah is part of NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover team that is analyzing the planet’s terrain to determine that Mars possibly once supported flowing water. Kah and other scientists looked at rocks that indicated Mars was once warmer and was wet enough to allow water to flow with the potential to support life.

 

Living Green

The New Norris House, designed by UT Knoxville students and faculty in the College of Architecture and Design, has been named a top 10 example of sustainable architecture and green design by the American Institute of Architects. The house is located in the Norris community, established by the Tennessee Valley Authority during construction of Norris Dam. The house is a living laboratory for testing energy efficiency, rainwater purification, air quality and natural light.

 

Egyptian Statuette at McClung MuseumMcClung Turns 50

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture on the UT Knoxville campus is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. A community birthday party in the summer featured “pin the tooth on the dinosaur” and allowed participants to craft their own Egyptian pharaoh headdress. The museum, located in Circle Park and accredited by the American Association of Museums, was officially dedicated on June 1, 1963.