In order to limit global warming to 1.5˚C as outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement, global carbon emissions must reach net zero by around 2050. Since the commercial aviation industry is responsible for around 2.5% of global carbon emissions, emission-free aviation is vital for a carbon-neutral economy of the future. This research project aims to analyze hydrogen as a potential alternative to kerosene in fueling commercial aircraft with respect to cost and emissions. Both hypothetical hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen combustion engine planes fueled using various hydrogen production methods were considered in comparison to a Boeing 737-400.

Because of COVID-19, people are forced to shelter in place, which disrupts not only their daily lives and normal routines, but also the economic and social standings of the world. To date, not many studies have been conducted to analyze the relationship between environmental factors and COVID-19. In this study, various environmental factors such as air pollution, air temperature, and air humidity will be studied to see if there is any correlation between these factors and the number of COVID-19 cases. Having a clearer understanding of the relationship between the amount of COVID-19 cases and the environment will provide information on how different factors impact virus transmission and how the virus spreads. It will also help determine the best timing or conditions for immunoprophylaxis, also known as the prevention of disease through passive or active immunity.

This research project will focus on constructing a self-driving model car using an Arduino along with infrared and ultrasound sensors. The infrared sensors are used to specifically detect heat sources, which simulate living creatures in the path of the car, while the ultrasound sensors are used to determine the actual distance between the object and the car. In the end, the car is expected to be able to travel from a designated point on a four by four meter grid with obstacles to the end.

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are the 7th leading cause of death in the world. Specifically, Alzheimer’s disease is a currently incurable neurodegenerative disease that affects millions worldwide. Yet, one thing that scientists do not completely understand is why Alzheimer’s is especially prevalent in elderly African American populations. Current research suggests that African Americans could have a higher risk of developing the disease due to the varied physical manifestations of the disease in different races and socioeconomic factors, but it has been difficult to obtain more information because previous research studies have excluded African American and other minority populations from data. Because of this, minority communities, especially African American communities, still suffer from a disproportionately high rate of Alzheimer’s. The inquiry approach for this research is correlational research, which will be used to study how much known factors are correlated with higher risk of Alzheimer’s in African Americans over the age of 65 compared to other ethnicities over the age of 65. Using data from the NACC database that includes information about sociodemographics, family history, dementia history, neurological exam findings, the APOE genotype, clinical diagnoses, and more, statistical analysis will be performed.

Sterilization of equipment is essential for the safety of healthcare workers and patients in hospitals. However, the current process is very costly. By using cheaper sterilants for cleaning medical equipment, hospitals would be able to save time and money. This study experiments with different concentrations of ethanol and isopropanol to determine the optimal concentration of water and alcohol in the sterilization of bacterial spores.

Black abalone are on the decline and now listed as an endangered species due to an increase in water temperatures as a result of global warming, withering syndrome, and overfishing. The first step in black abalone restoration is understanding the abalone gonadal development to know when artificial breeding can take place. This research project will have two parts: it will use ultrasonography to track and better understand gonadal development and study the effects of ambient ocean waters.