A UMass Amherst researcher is teaming up with 2 Western Massachusetts sheriff's offices to design an opioid treatment program for jail detainees. The 3-year project aims to deliver medications to 500 detainees and connect them to follow-up care after release, measuring outcomes to inform a national playbook.
A large study examining phthalate exposure and postmenopausal breast cancer found no association between the two. The research, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that more research is needed to investigate younger women and potential associations between phthalate exposure and breast cancer risk.
Researchers found that walking about 100 steps per minute constitutes moderate intensity and vigorous walking begins at about 130 steps per minute. A simple guideline provides walkers with a concrete way to track their activity level without relying on exercise devices or complicated calculations.
A recent study found that warmer sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Maine are a key predictor of cold-stunning events among juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles. The number of cold-stunned turtles is increasing at an alarming rate, with over 2,300 predicted by 2031.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a fabric that can harvest body heat to power small wearable microelectronics, such as activity trackers. The fabric uses thermoelectric properties of everyday materials like wool and cotton to generate electricity.
A team of researchers from the FluSight Network compared the accuracy of 20 flu forecasting models against a historical baseline. Most models showed higher accuracy than historical trends when forecasting incidence and timing of flu outbreaks. The ensemble model, combining individual forecasts, has helped the CDC plan responses.
Geoscientists at UMass Amherst have reconstructed the longest and highest-resolution climate record for the Northeastern United States, revealing previously undetected past temperature cycles. The study used branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetra ethers (branched GDGTs) to provide an independent terrestrial paleo-thermometer.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new theory that allows thin sheets to conform to 'geometrically incompatible' shapes by developing microscopic wrinkles, reducing the need for stretching and increasing efficiency. This breakthrough has significant implications for biotechnologists working on flexible and wearable sensors f...
A study suggests introducing gun safety into healthcare providers' checklists can prevent teen suicide. Researchers found support for promoting firearm safety in pediatric primary care as a universal suicide prevention strategy.
Researchers found that aromatase inhibitors suppress estrogen synthesis, but paradoxically increase estrogen levels in the brain, leading to memory and thermal regulation deficits. The study calls for new therapies to prevent breast cancer recurrence while minimizing side effects.
Researchers isolated giant viruses from soil at Harvard Forest using a novel mini-metagenomics approach, revealing unprecedented biodiversity and challenging existing knowledge of viral diversity. The discovery highlights the importance of new methods in uncovering key discoveries in microbial ecosystems.
A UMass Amherst-led research team is using a 'community mobilization' approach to reduce Alaska Native youth suicide rates by promoting community conversations and increasing safety. The PC CARES program has shown promising results, with participants learning skills and taking actions for prevention.
Researchers found significant differences between bacterial and eukaryotic Hsp70s, including variations in binding interfaces and cycles of domain docking and undocking. These findings suggest that eukaryotic Hsp70s have evolved to be more flexible and efficient in their function.
Researchers at UMass Amherst create a charge-storing system integrated into clothing using micro-supercapacitors and polymer films. The solid-state device stores high amounts of charge in a compact form, enabling powering of wearable biosensors.
A predictive model suggests common ragweed will expand its range into major northeast metro areas due to climate change, affecting millions with hay fever and asthma. The study found potential expansion at the northern margins of its current distribution, particularly in the northeast U.S.
A recent pilot study by kinesiologists at UMass Amherst found that pedaling while working improved insulin responses to a test meal, with lower insulin levels observed when using a pedal desk compared to a standard desk. The study suggests that pedal desks could be a feasible solution for sedentary work environments.
Researchers at UMass Amherst used an eye-tracker to study jumping spiders and found that the principal eyes rely on an adjacent set of eyes, known as anterior lateral eyes, to track moving stimuli. This integration is unusual in the animal kingdom.
Researchers are developing sensing technologies to measure circadian rhythm in shift workers, exploring the impact on cognitive performance, productivity, and accidents. The goal is to provide personalized feedback to enhance users' well-being and cognitive ability.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and international team reveal the first complete study of solar neutrinos emitted by the Sun, shedding light on its energy output and composition. The study uses data from Borexino, a highly sensitive neutrino detector, to measure the full energy spectrum of solar neutrinos.
Researchers have created a new class of electronic materials that combine protein nanowires with polymers, offering improved biocompatibility, stability, and sensing capabilities. The material can be easily processed into wearable devices and is made from sustainable, renewable resources.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst has been selected as one of the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps Sites. The program aims to increase research commercialization and campus startups, with a focus on enriching existing innovation infrastructure. Key findings include the importance of diversity and inclusion in techno...
Ramesh Sitaraman and his team won the prestigious award for building the Akamai content delivery network, which serves a quarter of all Internet traffic. The team's work on CDNs has transformed the Internet and spawned a business sector valued at tens of billions of dollars.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have figured out the fundamental mechanisms behind the stability of bendable tubes, including drinking straws. By introducing pre-stress into the material, they found that the structure becomes more stable in a bent configuration, contrary to intuition.
UMass Amherst researchers are developing a synthetic compound to power skeletal and cardiac muscle contractions during stress. This alternative energy source aims to improve heart function during a heart attack and maintain skeletal muscle function during fatigue, which is a debilitating symptom of many common diseases.
A new UMass Amherst study found that eating sunflower pollen dramatically reduced a protozoan pathogen infection in bumble bees. The researchers also discovered that incorporating sunflowers into pollinator gardens could provide a simple solution to improve the health of economically and ecologically important pollinators.
Researchers found specific physical changes to axons speed up neural transmission, leading to higher cognitive abilities. Axon myelination increased significantly during adolescence, corresponding with a dramatic increase in signal conduction velocity.
Researchers characterized microbial populations in a vegetable fermentation facility, finding distinct signatures between production and fermentation areas. The study's findings suggest that raw vegetables are the primary source of microbes in production areas, rather than handling or environmental sources.
Researchers at UMass Amherst found that small earthquakes near the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults may be due to deep creep 10 km below the surface. This finding should support more refined assessments of fault loading and earthquake rupture risk in the region.
A recent study found that women veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain are more likely to use complementary and integrative health (CIH) therapies, such as meditation, yoga, and acupuncture. The study, which analyzed data from nearly 500,000 men and women veterans, showed that rates of CIH use varied by race/ethnicity and age, with...
Ecologists from UMass Amherst report documenting rare Asian wild goat species markhor and Siberian ibex in northern Afghanistan. The species are found along the Amu Darya River, with populations declining due to hunting, making conservation efforts necessary.
Scientists at UMass Amherst have published the first-ever whole genome of the Canada lynx, a key conservation tool for studying evolution, disease, genetics and habitat connectivity. The release provides critical information on genetic health, demographic history and adaptive variation to inform wildlife management and policy decisions.
Astronomers create highest resolution molecular gas map of 'monster' galaxy, COSMOS-AzTEC-1, 12.4 billion light years away. The map shows a massive, ordered gas disk in regular rotation, defying previous theoretical predictions.
Kristen DeAngelis will lead a new soil warming studies project with undergraduates annotating soil microbe genomes and investigating bacterial traits. The goal is to understand how bacteria thrive in warmer soils and their impact on the environment.
A team of computational biophysicists has identified a hydrophobic dewetting mechanism that blocks intracellular access to the selectivity filter in BK channels. This finding represents a paradigm shift in understanding the regulation and gating process of these channels, which play a crucial role in various health conditions.
Research by neuroscientists at UMass Amherst found that naps and overnight sleep work together to benefit memory in young children. Naps contribute to emotion processing in preschoolers, which is consistent with parents' observations, but the benefits are delayed.
Jianhan Chen is studying intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) with flexible 3D structural properties, which account for about one-third of all eukaryotic proteins. His project aims to develop computational methods to simulate flexible proteins and explore the fundamental principles of their structural disorder's effect on function.
Researchers aim to understand the biological and physical underpinnings of mitosis, exploring how cells build, dissolve, and reuse structures millions of times per day. They will use physics concepts to analyze spindle fibers and develop a new model for their dynamic self-organization.
Astronomer Daniel Wang will collaborate with Jorge Cuadra in Chile to study the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, aiming to understand its interactions with the galactic ecosystem. This research has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy-wide properties and astrophysical processes.
A UMass Amherst researcher is using a five-year NSF grant to investigate how the brain learns to control and remember walking. Her study aims to understand motor learning processes in healthy people and those with neurological disorders, with the goal of developing new treatments to improve walking function.
Researchers develop a two-part 'punch' to re-educate macrophages and enhance their capacity to eat tumor cells, leading to complete inhibition of tumor growth. The therapy, tested in melanoma and breast cancer preclinical models, shows promise as a complementary treatment option.
Researchers at UMass Amherst used advanced seismic imaging and data from the National Science Foundation's EarthScope program to construct a detailed model of the tectonic plate beneath the Adirondack Mountains. They discovered a 'pillow' of low-density, relatively light rock material that appears to have been squeezed up under the mou...
Researchers found that expanding gene-regulatory modules can give rise to new traits, such as the enlarged snout in African cichlid fishes. The study implicated key genetic pathways, including the Tgfβ-Scx pathway and Adam12 protein.
Researchers will study lake sediments in western Svalbard to identify sedimentary signatures of recent changes, potentially leading to more flash flooding and landslides. The study aims to provide a long-term perspective on modern climate conditions and their effects on the region.
An international group of Antarctic research scientists presents two plausible future scenarios for the continent over the next 50 years. One scenario highlights reduced sea level rise and intact ecosystems if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, while the other depicts catastrophic consequences if emissions remain unchecked.
Scientists at UMass Amherst create a many-compartmented gel to trap large DNA molecules, exhibiting a 'topologically frustrated' inability to diffuse. The discovery has implications for gene therapy and tissue therapy, where precise control over macromolecules is crucial.
Researchers reconstruct Boston Harbor's water level record for 1825-2018, finding a nearly a foot rise in relative sea level and tidal trends driving increased flood risk. The study highlights the importance of combining historical data with modern measurements to understand extreme weather events.
A new mouse study suggests that the widely used antimicrobial ingredient triclosan may have adverse effects on colonic inflammation and colon cancer. Researchers found that triclosan altered gut microbiota, increased inflammation, and spurred disease development in mice.
Researchers created a 'quick and robust' blood test that can detect liver fibrosis, the first stage of liver scarring, from a blood sample in 30-45 minutes. The new method uses polymers coated with fluorescent dyes to bind to blood proteins, offering a simple and inexpensive way to diagnose disease.
Haiying Gao will study five subduction zones across the globe to characterize differences and similarities in large earthquakes. Her advanced modeling techniques will rely on sensor data from land-based and deep-ocean seismic stations.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a molecular switch that uses light to control the release of compounds. The system consists of a thin membrane made up of chemical bonds, which can be compromised by the movement of a single chemical bond to allow the compounds to react with each other.