Iowa State University and University of Hawai’i researchers have won a 2008 R&D 100 Award for their work to grow microscopic fungus in leftovers from ethanol production in an effort to improve the efficiency of the corn-to-ethanol conversion process. Presented by R&D Magazine, the Chicago Tribune has called the awards the “Oscars of Invention.” An award letter said editors and a judging panel consider the project “one of the top 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.”