Researchers at UMass Amherst have found that layered black phosphorous (BP) nanoparticle toxicity is dependent on particle size and concentration. The study reveals that BP's cytotoxicity is based on reactive oxygen species generation, disrupting cell membrane integrity in a particle-size-dependent manner.
Harold Grotevant, a UMass Amherst professor and internationally known adoption expert, has been chosen for the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award. The award recognizes educators who have inspired their former students to create an organization that benefits the community. Grotevant established two mentoring programs, including the Adoptio...
Researchers at UMass Amherst have characterized the functional dance of a protein-folding chaperone's interdomain linker. The study used computational techniques to simulate the movement of the linker and revealed its role in facilitating proper function, including binding sites for potential therapeutic targets.
A recent study by researchers at UMass Amherst found that anabasine, a natural alkaloid, has deleterious effects on infected bees and exacerbates the negative effects of combined stressors on pollinator health. The compound was previously thought to have potential as a self-medicating agent against intestinal parasites in bumble bees.
The UMass Amherst STEM Ambassadors Program aims to draw in young people from underrepresented groups in STEM, providing mentoring and research opportunities. The program has seen improvement in retention rates, with students becoming prepared for labs and problem-solving.
The UMass Amherst researcher will lead a multi-university project to design artificial autonomous systems with potential applications in personalized medicine and other areas. The goal is to mimic nature's mechanisms for autonomous responses, enabling new innovations and capabilities.
Researchers have discovered that stressed plants need to quickly produce new proteins to survive heat stress. This rapid protein synthesis is crucial for optimal growth and reproduction, as delaying it can severely impair plant development.
Computer scientists at UMass Amherst have developed a new technique called 'Themis' to automatically test software for discrimination, highlighting the need for fairness in AI-driven decision-making. The researchers found that even fair-designed software can perpetuate bias when trained on biased data.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a microRNA molecule called let-7 that serves as a molecular control hub to direct the function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, enabling them to kill tumors and pathogens. When let-7 levels are low or absent, T cells can become super killers, potentially enhancing immune responses.
A three-year NSF grant will fund a comprehensive assessment of how invasive non-native grasses alter fire patterns and carbon storage across the contiguous US. The researchers aim to quantify changes in carbon stocks associated with invasion and fire, providing new insights on managing fire-prone invasive grasses.
Hydrogeologist David Boutt has been named the Birdsall-Dreiss Distinguished Lecturer for 2018 by the Geological Society of America's Hydrogeology Division. He will give a 12-month national and international speaking tour, including stops in Asia, Europe, and South America.
Researchers found that environmental factors, such as 'vigorous gaping' behavior in larval fish, can significantly influence the development of their craniofacial bones. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that genetics is the primary driver of species variability.
A team of researchers led by Daniel Sheldon at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is developing new analytic methods using archived radar scans from the national weather radar network. They plan to estimate bird densities and migration patterns across the US, using machine learning and computer vision techniques.
Neal Katz, a theoretical astronomer at UMass Amherst, has received a Fulbright Scholarship to study and teach galaxy formation in collaboration with colleagues in South Africa. He will use computer simulations to advance understanding of galaxy formation and analyze data from the MeerKAT radio telescope.
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism used by brown rot fungi to break down biomass, using chelators and generating hydroxyl radicals to produce simple building-block chemicals. This method has potential use in bio-refineries for biomass conversion into platform chemicals.
Li-Jun Ma at UMass Amherst receives a five-year NSF CAREER grant to advance understanding of fungal pathogenesis and develop disease-resistant crops. Her research focuses on the plant-pathogen interface, exploring mechanisms to control pathogenic fungi causing wilt diseases in over 100 plant species.
Eco-physiologist Alexander Gerson is studying how birds metabolize muscle and organ tissues to fuel long migration flights. He hopes to better understand the influence of climate on flight metabolism and its potential impact on migrating birds.
Biologist Madelaine Bartlett aims to uncover the molecular underpinnings of floral diversification in flowering plants. Her research has the potential to improve grass crop yields and understand evolutionary development.
A recent study by UMass Amherst researchers found that certain beneficial gut bacteria can grow when fed a carbohydrate in cranberries, exhibiting a special nontypical metabolism. The findings could lead to new supplements or food products with potential health benefits.
UMass Amherst researchers investigate strike-slip faults, revealing the 'Lazy Earth' hypothesis, where faults evolve to optimize energy transformation. The study identifies four stages in fault evolution: pre-faulting, localization, linkage, and slip, with irregularities persisting along mature faults.
A new study from UMass Amherst suggests that long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from whole grains, soy and tofu may protect women from early menopause. Women consuming approximately 6.5% of their daily calories as vegetable protein had a significant 16% lower risk of early menopause.
A research team measured chimpanzee muscles and found a modest performance advantage, contrary to popular accounts of chimp 'super strength'. Chimpanzees have twice as many fast-twitch fibers, but this translates to only about 1.35 times more dynamic force and power output than humans.
A team of researchers led by David Julian McClements aims to quantify the ability of food nanoemulsions to increase pesticide bioavailability, posing a risk to human health. The study will investigate how nanoemulsion composition and structure impact pesticide absorption in fruits and vegetables.
Bee health expert Lynn Adler is studying the impact of sunflower pollen on honeybees and bumblebees. Her research aims to explore whether sunflower pollen can help bees fight off a common pathogen, potentially leading to new commercial products to support bee health.
Researchers at UMass Amherst create a breathable, pliable, metal-free electrode coating that can be applied to off-the-shelf clothing without compromising comfort. The coating generates small electric currents through triboelectric charging and has been tested on various fabrics with promising results.
A study by Nilanjana Dasgupta and Tara C. Dennehy found that female peer mentors increased retention rates among young women in engineering majors, with 100% of mentored students still in the program after one year. The benefits of mentoring lasted for two years and were associated with higher motivation and confidence.
A biostatistician aims to improve national reproductive health by analyzing family planning indicators at the subnational level. The grant will help provide more detailed information on contraceptive use and demand, shedding light on local disparities.
A UMass Amherst study found that high intake of dietary vitamin D and calcium is associated with a modest lower risk of early menopause. The study, which analyzed data from over 116,000 female nurses, suggests that vitamin D from food sources may play a role in reducing the risk of early menopause.
The Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool has received a national award for its exemplary leadership in addressing climate change impacts on fish and wildlife species and their habitats. The tool, launched in 2015, provides information on climate change vulnerabilities and offers adaptation strategies to protect natural resources.
The Digital Life project has released 15 three-dimensional models of live frogs, including several endangered species, to raise awareness about their vulnerability to ecological threats. The project aims to promote conservation, education, and science by showcasing the extraordinary beauty and diversity of these animals.
A recent study by hydrologist David Boutt found that upland aquifer systems in New England store about 70% of the region's active and dynamic groundwater. Thin glacial sediments, traditionally neglected as a significant storage reservoir, play an important role in storing water for recharge to alluvial aquifers and base flow to streams.
The Laboratory of Medical Zoology at UMass Amherst is conducting pathogen tests on thousands of ticks collected from 47 sites across the country as part of the National Ecological Observatory Network project. The tests will help track changes in tick-borne disease surveillance and research over 30 years.
Researchers are creating the first images of a supermassive black hole's event horizon using an Earth-sized telescope. The project aims to test predictions from Einstein's general relativity theory by studying the shadow, mass, and spin of the black hole.
A UMass Amherst study suggests that conserving water resources in rapidly urbanizing areas is crucial due to climate change and population pressure. By adopting green infrastructure design and water conservation incentives, towns can reduce surface runoff and improve water quality.
Researchers detect 75% of a typical galaxy's star formation obscured by dust, revealing surprising findings about the early universe. The Large Millimeter Telescope allows for deeper observations, pushing our knowledge of dust production and metal enrichment over cosmic time.
Alfred Crosby, a UMass Amherst polymer scientist, has received a $1 million grant to explore the development of nanoscale wrinkles in plants and animals. He will collaborate with experts from the University of Cambridge and Switzerland to understand how these patterns relate to all living organisms.
A new study suggests that the ability to assess group size is processed in the ancient brain structure of the subcortex, which is shared across humans, birds, and fish. This finding has implications for understanding mathematical thinking and education.
Researchers aim to quantify soil mass balance, production rates and lifespan in agricultural landscapes with unknown data. Soil erosion threatens food security, costing the US tens of billions annually.
Climate scientist Michael Rawlins will study the impacts of climate change on coastal lagoons and rivers in northern Alaska. The five-year project aims to understand changes in carbon and nutrient content and their effects on ecosystem dynamics.
Researchers have developed a mathematical foundation to explain the role of small molecules in promoting proper protein folding. This understanding has important implications for developing future therapies based on pharmacological chaperones to treat misfolding diseases.
Researchers at UMass Amherst are creating an improved diagnostic test to help track symptoms and diagnose patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. The two-year project aims to detect subtle changes in sensory and motor function, enabling early treatments to slow disability progression.
A recent analysis reveals that human-started fires account for 84% of all wildfires, tripled the length of the fire season, and dominated an area seven times greater than lightning-caused fires. Human ignitions have expanded the fire niche into areas with historically low lightning strike density.
Stella Offner's research aims to understand how stars form and interact with their birth environments. Her team will perform computer simulations to test different theories on star mass origin and compare models to telescope observations of star-forming regions.
A European Commission proposal to define and identify endocrine-disrupting chemicals has been widely criticized by experts, who argue it sets an unrealistic burden of proof and limits regulatory action. The Endocrine Society, led by UMass Amherst biologist Thomas Zoeller, claims the proposal will create gaps in identification criteria,...
A UMass Amherst study found that current incentives for developing orphan drugs are not sufficient to meet patients' needs, leading to unmet health needs and barriers to access. The researchers call for a comprehensive understanding of the ethical considerations of access to safe and effective orphan drugs.
A new study finds that small bird species in the US desert Southwest are at higher risk of lethal dehydration during heat waves, with some regions becoming uninhabitable for many species. Conservation efforts may focus on thermal refugia and water sources to mitigate this threat.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst has unveiled a powerful new GPU cluster, housing 400 specialized graphics processing units, to accelerate deep learning research and attract top talent in the field. The cluster is expected to significantly boost the university's capabilities in artificial intelligence, computer vision, and natur...
Researchers at UMass Amherst have designed a novel nanoparticle-based delivery system to enhance CRISPR/Cas9's treatment potential for genetic diseases. The new delivery method achieved an editing efficiency of about 30 percent in cultured cells, with successful nuclear delivery in approximately 90 percent of cells.
A UMass Amherst researcher argues that a historical investigation error led to the adoption of the LNT model, which challenged fundamental beliefs about ionizing radiation effects. The corrected research supports a threshold rather than linear dose response for carcinogens.
Researchers investigate Tambora's effects on coastal fish and commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Maine, revealing parallels with current climate change phenomena. The study suggests that past extreme events can inform resilience strategies and that complex solutions require a multi-faceted approach.