Historians aren't known for interdisciplinary collaborations. But Paul Hirt is getting environmental historians out into the field and working with anthropologists, ecologists and geographers. He hopes to increase their understanding of the complex interactions between humans and the landscape. --by Adelheid Fischer

The sky islands borderlands of the Southwest is a unique area harboring such a broad range of life that Conservation International has designated it a hotspot of global diversity. Once sparsely settled, the sky islands borderlands are now undergoing economic, ecological, and social upheavals. Environmental historian Paul Hirt is looking at the region's past to help citizens, businesses and governments manage its present and future. --by Adelheid Fischer

Major league baseball players like Derek Jeter make actions like catching a fly ball look effortless. But if you want to understand the complexity underlying these moves, try teaching them to a robot. By combining expertise in engineering and psychology, ASU researchers have created Catchbot, a baseball-playing robot. In the process, they have learned a lot about how people perceive and respond to a moving target. --by Skip Derra

Do TV shows like CSI taint jurors' perceptions of forensic evidence? For years, legal professionals and the mass media have claimed that a "CSI effect" is influencing jury trials. But these claims aren't backed up by real data. In fact, new research from ASU indicates that watching CSI doesn't make people any more or less likely to convict. --by Diane Boudreau

Scientists have discovered shellfish remains, tiny stone blades and red ochre pigments in a cave in South Africa. The 164,000-year-old artifacts suggest that early humans were using tools, engaging in symbolic behavior, and even eating seafood much earlier than previously thought. --by Jodi Guyot

A majority of Southwesterners see undocumented immigration as a "very serious problem." Even so, they are sympathetic towards law-abiding immigrants in the U.S. who want to improve their lives, according to a new ASU phone survey. The survey polled more than 1,000 residents in AZ, NV, TX and NM about their views on immigration, the presidential race, and quality of life. --by Carol Hughes

The unknown health and environmental effects of
nanotechnology are a bigger worry for scientists than for the public,
according to a new report. --by Skip Derra

More than 15 million Americans care for a family member with a disability or illness, such as Alzheimer's disease. Caregiving exacts a heavy toll. Researchers have found that caregivers are at greater risk for depression, anxiety and physical ailments. The REACH II program is offering some hope for those caring for loved ones with dementia. --by Adelheid Fischer

Clear communication is the key to intercultural understanding. Poor translation can result in embarrassment or bigger problems. ASU sociology professor Victor Agadjanian studies HIV/AIDS in Africa. He also speaks 8 languages. --by Sheilah Britton

The discovery of a dozen 3-foot-tall "hobbit" skeletons in Indonesia generated heated debate among anthropologists. Do the fossils reveal a new species of early human, or were they simply modern humans with a shared genetic defect? The answers may lie in their wrist bones. Matt Tocheri is using 3D imaging technology to find out.--by Nicholas Gerbis

Steve Doig challenges his journalism students to use the computer to enhance their stories and give context to the larger issues facing society. He also conducts research to give American newspapers a view of whether their staffs represent the communities they serve. --by Candace S. Hughes

Some people bounce back well from traumatic events or from life’s many defeats, large or small. Others lack the skill. ASU scientists are studying the natural capacity for “resilience” among older Americans. --by Adelheid Fischer

Diane Wolfthal peeps into people's bedrooms--15th century bedrooms, to be exact. By examining paintings that depict couples and the marital bed, she hopes to learn about how ideas of sex and gender have changed over the years. --by Diane Boudreau

Does praying on behalf of another person's mental or physical health really make a difference? After an exhaustive meta-analysis of research on the topic, David Hodge says the answer is yes. --by Stephen Des Georges

Many adolescents in the United States are already drinking alcohol or using drugs by the time they are exposed to prevention messages. But new research from ASU social workers shows that it's never too late to intervene. Their findings indicate that prevention messages can reverse the course of alcohol use even after students have started experimenting. --by Debra Palka

Studying affection may sound fascinating, but how exactly does one measure expressions of fondness or love? --by Diane Boudreau

"A person undergoing a standsill has no breath, no heartbeat, no blood flow, no viable temperature, and most important, no brainwaves or other brain activity that clinically define being alive," writes Edward J. Sylvester in his book on brain surgery, The Healing Blade. In his writing, Sylvester turns complicated science into ordinary language. He also sets a scene, offering his readers a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of surgeons, patients, and their families. (part three in a three-part series) --by Melissa Olson-Petrie

Stephen J. Pyne doesn’t begin his writings on wildland fires by analyzing his audience, as most writers are advised to do. Likening the "general reader" to the myth of the Sasquatch, this author of nearly 20 books says he focuses on establishing a strong voice instead. (part two in a three-part series) --by Melissa Olson-Petrie

"A flurry of movements in and around the dried flower stalks of the big brittlebush in the middle of the yard catch my eye, and I wander over to see what’s up. There I find a mob of small native bees flying from flower stalk to flower stalk," writes naturalist John Alcock. The author of nine books, Alcock teaches graduate-level "popular science writing," teaching students how to turn the arcane and incomprehensible into something relevant and beautiful. Part one in a three-part series. --by Melissa Olson-Petrie

A lot of people would define "affection" they way they define good art: "I can't explain it, but I know it when I see it." For a scientist, however, that's not enough. --by Diane Boudreau

The discovery of a 3.3 million-year-old juvenile skeleton will fill an important gap in understanding the evolution of a species thought to be among the earliest direct ancestors to humans. --by Dan Jenk

Being affectionate is good for you. Affection can be a simple, inexpensive, and non-pharmaceutical way to reduce stress. --by Diane Boudreau