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MU Research Centers to Perform Experiments During Eclipse

Researchers at the University of Missouri say they have found a new way to extend electric car battery life.
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Researchers at the University of Missouri say they have found a new way to extend electric car battery life.

MU research centers will use the upcoming eclipse to their scientific advantage.

Bradford and South Farm research centers will host visitors for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, according to a news release from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Visitors will also get to watch research experiments in progress via livestreams.

Each research center will open about 11 a.m.

South Farm Research Center is home to the MU Equine Teaching Facility, the subjects of one experiment during the day, the release said.

For the other experiment, South Farm will team up with MU professor of biological sciences Bethany Stone to focus on plants and crops, namely mimosa, purple clover, corn and soybeans. They will be monitored for their movement and behavior during the eclipse.

Tim Reinbott, assistant director of the Agricultural Research Centers, said the results should be interesting.

‘We’re not sure how plant and animals will react,” Reinbott said in the release. “Will they think that it’s nighttime and react as though it’s time to shut down for the day? Or will they go about things as if nothing is changing?”

Although the Equine Teaching Facility will be closed to the public for the safety and comfort of the horses, the South Farm Research Center will livestream them. It will also have a livestream of the plants being studied.

Bradford Research Center will have both livestreams as well, to be shown in the John Poehlmann Education Center there.

In addition to the horse and plant livestreams, the research centers will also pay attention to fish, bugs and chickens and how their habits change as the eclipse occurs.

Bradford Research Center is at 4968 Rangeline Road, and the South Farm Research Center is at 3600 E. New Haven Road.

Supervising editor is Elizabeth Brixey.