A recent study suggests that walking may improve a woman's chance of becoming pregnant after experiencing one or two pregnancy losses. For overweight or obese women, even limited blocks of time spent walking were associated with an improved ability to conceive.
The Massachusetts Public Health Department has received a $100,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to subsidize tick testing for residents. The program aims to track the incidence and spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in the state.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a new molecular mechanism explaining the link between obesity and increased risk of colon inflammation, a major risk factor for colorectal cancer. Inhibiting an enzyme called soluble epoxide hydrolase may abolish this risk, suggesting a potential treatment for obesity-induced colonic inflamm...
A UMass Amherst geologist is using satellite photos and high-resolution images to estimate topsoil loss in the Midwest, a challenge that has uncertainties about its extent. The research aims to identify areas where farm practices can be changed to reverse soil loss, with potential economic benefits for farmers.
Daniel Sheldon's NSF grant aims to develop efficient algorithms for complex models, enabling scientists to make predictions and test hypotheses from large datasets. He plans to address challenges in modeling animal populations, causal reasoning about citizen scientist data, and optimizing decision-making with multiple objectives.
Researchers found that adult listeners can learn to recognize previously unfamiliar speakers from seeing only the motion they produce while talking, even with limited exposure. This discovery has important implications for personal and facial recognition technologies.
A UMass Amherst geoscientist will spend 45 days in a closed habitat on a NASA research mission to study human adaptations during space travel. The experiment aims to optimize the quality of life and work flow for future astronauts, simulating isolation, confinement, and remote conditions.
Elsbeth Walker and her team will investigate how plants control iron levels, using sophisticated techniques to detect and test for iron signaling mechanisms. The research aims to understand how plants regulate iron uptake, with potential applications in breeding cereals that are rich in bioavailable iron.
The Digital Life team has released animated 3D models of loggerhead and green sea turtles, created using photogrammetry and software like Capturing Reality and Blender. The models can be used for educational purposes, scientific research, and conservation efforts, with over hundreds of hours invested in their animation.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and Japanese scientists report developing new techniques for modeling tsunami risk in the Nankai Trough, a region predicted to generate a magnitude 8-9 earthquake within the next few decades. The team's GPS-based methods simulate tsunami inundation and validate previous findings.
Research suggests that taking a 'lazy lawn mower' approach by mowing every two weeks instead of weekly can encourage bee habitat in suburban lawns. This results in more lawn flowers blooming, which helps bees. The study found that lawns mowed every three weeks had the most lawn flowers and the highest diversity of 93 bee species.
A recent study by Elephants Without Borders and the University of Massachusetts Amherst reports that Angola's elephant population has declined by 21% since 2015. The researchers highlight the need for active protection measures, such as anti-poaching laws and habitat conservation, to prevent further decline.
A recent study by researchers from UMass Amherst and Newcastle University found serious deficiencies in the evidence base for widely used diabetes drugs in India. The investigation calls for action to ensure these medications are safe and effective.
A new study suggests that native pine martens are suppressing invasive gray squirrel populations, allowing native red squirrel populations to recover. Exposure to pine martens has a strong negative effect on gray squirrel numbers, while having a positive impact on red squirrels.
Biologist Jeff Podos will teach at two Brazilian institutions and study birds that communicate vocally in unusual ways, using audio and video recordings to describe their habitat and behavior. He aims to understand adaptations for long-distance song transmission and how bird morphology influences song production.
Researchers investigated the evolution of small heat shock proteins (HSPs) that regulate cell operations. They found that changes in protein structure and assembly affect their ability to assemble into dodecamers, revealing fundamental principles governing protein function and evolution.
Physicist Andrea Pocar and his team at UMass Amherst designed a key part of the DarkSide-50 detector, achieving high sensitivity in detecting WIMPs. The detector's double-phase argon technique shows promise in searching for low-mass WIMPs.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and Stanford have discovered a new function of the receptor kinase FERONIA in Arabidopsis plants. The study shows that FERONIA acts as a sensor in the cell wall to maintain its integrity and protect against environmental assaults.
Researchers developed a rapid and efficient way to wrap liquid droplets in ultrathin polymer sheets, reducing the time from minutes to seconds. The technique exploits the dynamics of droplet impact and demonstrates robust results for various shapes and fluid combinations.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and University of Missouri found that prenatal exposure to a mixture of fracking chemicals affects mouse mammary gland development, leading to potential pre-cancerous lesions. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects on long-term health and lactational capacity.
A UMass Amherst researcher is studying the influence of emotions on medical decision-making and diagnosis among emergency medicine staff, with a focus on improving care for vulnerable patients. The study aims to develop cognitive interventions that can reduce diagnostic errors and improve physical health outcomes.
A new, rapid, and low-cost method for detecting bacteria in water or a food sample has been developed by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The technique uses a sensitive and reliable bacteria-detecting chip that can test fresh produce for bacterial loads.
Researchers used carbon isotopes to track shark feeding habits, finding that coastal sharks forage in a range of coastal food webs, while deeper ocean sharks rely on specific areas of colder water. The findings may help conservationists design more effective protection strategies for declining shark populations.
The study reveals a statistically significant increase in overall and casino gambling participation among Massachusetts residents. Notably, only 49.4% of individuals who were problem or pathological gamblers in Wave 1 remained in this category in Wave 2, with many transitioning to recreational or at-risk gambling categories.
A national study led by Elizabeth Evans found that childhood adversity elevates men's alcohol risk and increases women's drug risk among veterans. In contrast, civilian men and women show similar risks for both disorders with increasing childhood adversity. The study highlights the need to assess and address childhood adversity in vete...
Researchers at UMass Amherst, in collaboration with teams from Carnegie Mellon and Columbia universities, aim to predict regional flu outbreaks. By combining forecasting models and past performance data, they hope to provide better information for decision-makers.
Researchers at UMass Amherst developed a polymer-based system storing more than two times higher energy density than previous systems. The new technology has potential applications in solar-powered heating and could provide sustainable energy storage for areas without access to power grids.
A UMass Amherst study found that a commonly used food preservative, epsilon-polylysine, temporarily altered the diversity of microbes in mouse gut but caused no lasting damage. The researchers observed that the gut microbiome returned to normal within 15 weeks
Researchers discovered a pair of receptors crucial for plant fertilization, which work together with molecules to orchestrate the process. The study advances understanding of plant reproduction, revealing an intricate communication mechanism between male and female parts.
A UMass Amherst team discovers electrically conducting filaments in several microbe species, greatly broadening the research field. The discovery reveals that some larger pilins can also yield e-pili, and the ability to express e-pili has arisen independently multiple times.
The study found that the number of women using modern methods increased by 28.8 million between 2012 and 2017, but progress varies widely across countries. Countries like Kenya, Mozambique, and Malawi made rapid strides in increasing modern contraceptive use, exceeding pre-FP2020 expectations.
A study by UMass Amherst researchers reveals that anaerobic microsites play a significant role in stabilizing soil carbon, contrary to previous assumptions. The team's findings suggest that these oxygen-free zones can protect up to 10 times more carbon from decomposition, posing a previously unrecognized threat to the global carbon cycle.
A study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers found that hospitals with higher midwife-attended births had lower rates of cesarean deliveries and episiotomies among low-risk pregnancies. The findings suggest that increased access to midwifery care could enhance perinatal care and reduce costs.
Astronomers have detected the second most distant star-forming galaxy in the universe, born 12.8 billion years ago, using the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT). The galaxy is one of the first massive galaxies to form and was observed with high precision using millimeter waves.
Researchers found triclosan accumulates in nylon bristles and is easily released when switching toothpaste types, exposing users to unregulated doses. Other chemicals like BHT and methyl salicylate also accumulate in toothbrushes.
A new study from UMass Amherst suggests that women who are underweight during adolescence or adulthood may be at increased risk for early menopause. The research, which followed nearly 80,000 women over 25 years, found a significant association between being underweight and an earlier onset of natural menopause.
Researchers led by Yasu Morita at UMass Amherst have characterized a protein involved in producing a glycolipid compound critical for TB-causing Mycobacterium to become infectious. The discovery provides insight into the disease's mechanisms and potential new drug targets.
Alicia Timme-Laragy's research investigates the health effects of PFOS and its replacement chemical PFBS on embryos of fish, worms, and fruit flies. The study aims to understand how these pollutants affect nutrient deposition and later-life metabolic dysfunction.
The UMass Amherst TickReport service is expanding its public health mission with a recent NIH grant and collaboration with L2 Diagnostics to study Borrelia miyamotoi, a tick-transmitted bacterium causing infection and disease in the US, Europe, and Asia. Researchers will conduct human testing on people who submitted B. miyamotoi-positi...
Researchers at UMass Amherst have discovered that ADAM13, a metalloprotease on the cell surface, regulates two critical transcription factors arid3a and tfap2- essential for human development and suppressing cancer cell division.
Researchers discovered a four-phase pattern in soil organic matter decay and carbon dioxide flows to the atmosphere due to soil warming. This pattern has significant implications for global warming, as it suggests that microbial communities are adapting to changing conditions by evolving new enzymes to process reduced carbon.
Sloan Siegrist, a UMass Amherst microbiologist, has received a five-year, $2.3 million NIH New Innovator Award to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth rates and develop new antibiotic therapies.
A team of UMass Amherst computer scientists are part of a four-institution consortium awarded $4.5 million by the Army Research Labs to develop predictive battlefield analytics and services. The project aims to create a seamless network between humans and technology to give soldiers a competitive edge in future military operations.
Researchers at UMass Amherst developed a vapor deposition method for nano-coating fabric to create sewable, weavable, electrically heated material. The technology has the potential to change personal thermal management, medical heat therapy, joint pain relief, and athletic rehabilitation.
Almost half of global abortions (45.1%) were estimated to be unsafe between 2010 and 2014, with higher rates in developing countries. The researchers urge increased efforts to ensure access to safe abortion, particularly in developing nations.
A researcher is investigating whether mid-day napping benefits learning in young children and helps them cope with emotions. The study will explore the mechanisms of sleep and its effects on cognitive functions, emotion processing, and behavior.
Laura Vandenberg, a leading expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals and their impact on human health, has been named one of CHE's '20 Pioneers Under 40 in Environmental Public Health'. Her groundbreaking research informs prevention-focused behaviors and policies to protect public health.
Dr. Hankinson aims to improve breast cancer risk prediction by analyzing blood samples from thousands of NHS participants and studying the insulin pathway. She hopes to validate new hormonal biomarkers that can help identify high-risk women who may benefit from risk reduction efforts.
Researchers aim to accurately interpret functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) of the brain, enabling better understanding of neural responses. By developing a computational tool, they hope to analyze fMRI data with finer resolution and gain insights into neural behavior.
A new study from UMass Amherst suggests that phthalate levels in expectant fathers can impact couples' reproductive success through epigenetic modifications of sperm DNA. The researchers found associations between certain phthalates and changes in sperm DNA methylation, which may influence early-life development.