This week's top research sheds light on racial stereotypes in the NFL, the ecological mystery of Africa's fairy circles and the asteroid impact that may have contributed to the mass extinction of dinosaurs.
Racial stereotypes influence perception of NFL quarterbacks
Racial stereotypes affect public perception of NFL quarterbacks and, in some cases, may become a self-fulfilling prophecy for black athletes.听New CU Boulder research is illuminating on听how the public views professional athletes听but could also carry implications beyond the football field.
Solving the ecological mystery of Africa's fairy circles
In the remote Namibian grasslands, visitors come not to see the grazing zebra and oryx听but instead the fairy circles: barren patches of ground听persisting 30 to 60 years.听Unsure how they got there,听a听team of CU Boulder scientists is working to unlock the听longstanding ecological mystery.
Dinosaur-killing asteroid could have thrust Earth into 2 years of darkness
Tremendous amounts of soot, lofted into the air from global wildfires following a massive asteroid strike 66 million years ago, would have plunged Earth into darkness for nearly two years,听contributing听to the mass extinction that marked the end of the age of dinosaurs.