Research by Stephen Canfield, Mechanical Engineering, made the October issue of Discover magazine. In an article outlining current research on space tethers, Canfield's endeavors are listed along with projects taking place at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Tethers Unlimited in Washington. Space tethers are being examined as a way to boost spacecraft from a low-Earth orbit to a high-energy orbit with minimal use of propellant. Canfield's team is investigating a whip-like tether to hurl a probe from Earth orbit toward another planet. "The idea is to store up a lot of energy by spinning the tether," he told Discover reporter Kathy A. Svitil. "Then you release that energy by briefly capturing a payload on the tether's end."

Cathy Cunningham, Human Ecology, gave a presentation on "Appalachian Food and Culture" to more than 300 members of the Fairfield Glade Ladies Club Sept. 3. She examined the unchanging characteristics of the Appalachian styles of preserving and cooking foods as well as recipe similarities around the world. At a related lecture at Cookeville Regional Medical Center on Sept. 10, she showed excerpts from a video produced as a Sociology Department class project which included interviews of faculty Michael Birdwell of History and Homer Kemp of English.