Today’s top 5 from Purdue University

Purdue News Now

A new culinary destination is coming to Discovery Park District and Purdue scientists are learning more about ice on one of Jupiter’s moons — Trevor Peters has everything you need to know this week from Purdue University.

Plus, check out these five good stories below you may have missed.

Icy impacts: Planetary scientists use physics and images of impact craters to gauge the thickness of ice on Europa

A team of Purdue planetary scientists announced in a new paper that Europa’s ice shell is at least 20 kilometers thick. New Purdue research uses physics and images of impact craters to learn more about ice on one of Jupiter’s moons. Scientists believe Europa may be one of the best places in the solar system to look for nonterrestrial life.

Media contact: Brittany Steff, bsteff@purdue.edu 

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Purdue, NASA to host one of Indiana’s largest total solar eclipse viewing events

Comprehensive details have been announced for one of Indiana’s largest total solar eclipse watch events, with thousands from across the world expected to experience the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse Event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway presented by Purdue University. During this once-in-a-lifetime event, attendees are in store for an exciting day of programming and celebration as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Purdue team up with NASA, which chose the iconic racing venue as one of a select few broadcast locations across the country for this incredible phenomenon. 

Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu

$6.7M in federal grants awarded to develop tech to monitor, treat chronic eye diseases

Research teams led by Chin Hwan Lee in Purdue University’s College of Engineering will use two grants from the National Eye Institute totaling $6.7 million to further develop specialized smart soft contact lenses that continuously monitor or treat chronic ocular diseases like glaucoma, corneal neovascularization and dry eye syndromes. 

Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org

AP Video — Theme parks: new attractions and AI experiences

Chris Rogers, a Purdue University associate professor and the director of Computer Graphics and Technology program in Indianapolis, explains upcoming experiences announced in theme parks around the country and what technology advancements people can expect in the future. Advancements in AI technology have allowed theme parks to use mobile apps, wristbands and other devices to deliver unique, customizable experiences for tourists. Rogers says parks are starting to experiment with interactable, AI-driven characters that guests can have a conversation with.

Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu 

Tackling food insecurity in Lesotho and rural southern Indiana

An agricultural startup founded by Purdue University alumni is addressing international food insecurity in the Kingdom of Lesotho and rural southern Indiana, with a goal to expand domestically and internationally. Heliponix LLC, doing business as anu™, commercializes fully automated, in-home smart gardens that grow daily servings of produce using aeroponics. Anu establishes smart, aeroponic greenhouses that grow daily servings of produce in Africa and North America.

Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org

MORE: Recent AP video stories 

The AP Newsroom (for AP members) and Purdue News YouTube channel (for all reporters) provide comments from Purdue experts on timely topics.

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About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.