In the age of instant and constant communication, are we losing something?

Cornell researchers have found a system of communication between worms. A more complete understanding of this communication may help researchers better understand human biology and physiology.

On Saturday night, I caught the end of an art performance put on by art students Chase Wilson ’12 and Nick Faust ’12, to find out more about the parts I missed and the show overall — a staged séance for Final Destination characters. What followed, below, was a continuation of the show itself, the essence of the work captured in an interview.

Jane Mermel '11 and Hilary Oran '11 look at the changing role of technology through the lens of communication. 

Cornell professors find that a portion of text messages contain "white lies."

Prof. Sheila Hemami, electrical and computer engineering, studies signal processing, working so that the deaf community too may take advantage of the cellular revolution.

Prof. Ronald Hoy, neurobiology and behavior, has an ear for fine music, and he uses it to study the sounds of life.  From Beethoven and Vivaldi to mosquitoes and birds, Hoy listens to the sounds of life, and connects animal movement to communication.

The past year has seen a strange development in Libe Café. In addition to the usual cast of characters — the sorority girls rehashing the weekend’s drunken escapades, the biochem students fretting over electron counts, the indie kids twirling their headphones — a strange new breed of introverts has grown up amongst the crowded tables and chairs. Consumed by conversations taking place on their laptops, these videochatters pass the hours in virtual exclusion from their peers, all but oblivious to the cacophonous, non-digital reality surrounding them.