A University of Massachusetts Amherst study reveals that microorganisms in Boston Harbor sediments can break down PAHs using sulfate, potentially reducing the need for expensive remediation strategies. The findings suggest that natural activity can clean up contaminated harbors without active environmental protection.
UMass geoscientists are part of a team studying the retreat of Kilimanjaro's glaciers, using continuous data from a mountaintop weather station and monitoring the glaciers. The researchers found an 80% decrease in glacier area between 1912 and the end of the 20th century.
Head lice are becoming increasingly resistant to specialized shampoos, with 50-98% remaining after treatment. Researchers use artificial 'scalp' to study the pests on a genetic and molecular level, seeking alternative treatments.
A team of researchers, led by UMass geologist Julie Brigham-Grette, is conducting a comprehensive scientific deployment to study the Bering and Chukchi Seas. The mission aims to understand how quickly the land bridge formed or was flooded with changes in global sea level, cutting off migration routes for people and plants.
Researchers observed supernova remnants in two neighboring galaxies, providing new insight into gas shocked by blast waves and material structure between stars. The findings expand our understanding of a star's long-term evolution and how elements are redistributed into interstellar space.
A UMass anthropologist has investigated the dental development of an extinct primate species, revealing that these early primates developed teeth rapidly to adapt to their environment. The study found that these ancient lemurs had highly developed teeth by birth, allowing them to survive on solid food shortly after birth.
Researchers at UMass Amherst used computer simulations to predict that microwaves can be used to separate chemicals in sponge-like solids, leading to energy-efficient technologies. The study found that it is possible to maintain two chemicals at different temperatures using microwave radiation.
The UMass microbiology team found that Geobacter metallireducens has a built-in sensor to locate metals and can grow flagella to swim towards them. The bacteria use these strategies to survive in natural environments, and their genome revealed genes for flagella growth, allowing them to transform metal into an insoluble form.
Researchers create custom-built antimicrobial agents using polymers and oligomers inspired by natural defense peptides. The new approach focuses on overall shape rather than specific chemistry, offering a novel solution for combating bacterial infections.
A UMass project allows students to study plant growth in space, simulating micro-gravity conditions and evaluating plant-growth chambers. The project uses closed-loop systems and computer software to teach students about biology, engineering, and ecology.
Researchers at UMass are developing new materials from recycled tires, including a solid rubber object that retains 50-90% of its original strength and elasticity. Another material combines asphalt and recycled tires to create an asphalt alternative that withstands high temperatures and remains flexible in low temperatures.
Researchers at UMass Amherst found that certain microorganisms can transform organic matter commonly found in marine environments into electrical energy. This breakthrough has implications for developing technologies to decontaminate polluted water and sediment, as well as powering subsurface devices.
Scientists found a unique microbial community in Idaho's Beverhead Mountains that thrives without sunlight, using hydrogen gas from deep Earth as an energy source. This discovery mirrors Martian subsurface chemistry and has implications for searching for life on Mars.
Astronomers have detected X-ray radiation from the Milky Way’s center for over two decades, but the origin remained a mystery due to poor resolution. The new image reveals individual X-ray sources and hot gas, leading scientists to conclude that most high-energy radiation comes from white dwarf stars, neutron stars, and black holes.
A team of astronomers led by UMass' Daniel H. McIntosh found evidence of galaxies transforming in response to their environment. They observed three massive galaxy clusters and discovered a link between a galaxy's surroundings and its evolution, with blue galaxies forming stars while reddish galaxies have few stars.
Researchers at UMass are working on sensors that can identify bioterror agents more accurately by connecting small 'keys' to large molecules. The team is using nanoparticles and gold structures to solve the complex problem of detecting larger molecules, which have a difficult time fitting into traditional chemical sensors.
Researchers at UMass challenged a 60-year-old theory on polymer crystallization, finding that lengthy polymers never achieve total crystallinity due to reaching equilibrium. This breakthrough may lead to better control of material flexibility and shed light on the protein-folding problem.
Researchers discovered that ants and bees use dynamic sticky organs to adhere to various surfaces. The arolium footpad, which secretes a fluid for adhesion, is a key component of this complex system.
A UMass research team has developed a new technique for depositing copper films within tiny channels in silicon wafers, promising efficient fabrication of future generations of integrated circuits. The process uses carbon dioxide as a supercritical fluid, offering environmental benefits and the ability to create complex features.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts are flying into the eyes of hurricanes using advanced airborne sensors to gather real-time data. The new IWRAP system will provide finer resolution than previous systems, enabling better predictions about storm intensity and potential path.
Researchers at UMass have created a new electron microprobe technique that can date specific parts of rocks with greater precision. This method will provide valuable insights into the movement of tectonic plates and the evolution of rocks over time.
A team of UMass microbiologists led by Derek Lovley has extracted solid gold from water containing dissolved gold using iron-reducing microbes. The process involves the transfer of electrons to form a more valuable metal form, resulting in the formation of gold deposits.
A team of researchers led by Bradley and Yale archaeologist Harvey Weiss found that sudden climate changes were often present in societies that collapsed during the past 10,000 years. The study suggests that climate change was a major factor in the collapse of several societies around the world.
A new study suggests that the shape of a bird's beak affects its courtship song, with smaller beaks producing quicker, more varied melodies. This finding has implications for our understanding of speciation, as different songs may help distinguish between species.
Researchers at UMass developed a new technique for creating densely packed arrays of magnetic nanowires using self-assembling polymer scaffolds and electrodeposition. This technology has great potential in magnetic data storage and could be used to fabricate other array devices with nanoscale dimensions.
A team of scientists from the University of Massachusetts suggests that some Nasca lines in Peru may mark underground water sources. The research project, detailed in Discover magazine, indicates that the lines depict natural forces and are aligned with groundwater associated with faults in the bedrock.
A UMass researcher has found that new species can arise in as little as 12-14 generations, rather than the previously accepted maximum of 200-400 generations. This discovery suggests that adaptation can lead to reproductive isolation at a much faster rate than previously thought.
A UMass-led international research group has successfully sequenced the genome of Halobacterium species NRC-1, a salt-loving microorganism. The achievement promises to reveal insights into cell regulation, gene expression, and potential biomedical applications, including vaccine development and antibiotic design.
The Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) has released a massive dataset of infrared images, containing half a million galaxies and 162 million stars. The images are now available for the general public to view on their home computers, thanks to the collaboration between UMass and NASA.
Researchers have produced complete maps of CO emission in IC 10, a nearby dwarf irregular galaxy. This observation may offer insights into the formation of stars in the early universe. The team discovered that molecular gas generally lies near dense atomic hydrogen and young, recently formed stars.
Researchers found evidence of El Niño-like climate changes in New England during the Ice Age, revealing a strong three-to-five-year cycle of activity. This finding provides new insights into El Niño's persistence under different climate conditions.
Tornado researcher Andrew Pazmany heads to the Great Plains to track supercells and determine conditions that enable F4/F5 tornadoes. He will use a modified marine radar to analyze storm structures and distances.
UMass researchers are creating a software called Tinkerplots to help middle-school students understand statistics and data analysis, enabling everyday decision making. Prototypes are being tested in two area schools, with the goal of widespread availability in 2003.
Researchers have found a way to convert oil to methane gas using specialized microorganisms living beneath the earth's surface. This breakthrough could lead to safer oil exploration and more efficient extraction methods.
A team of University of Massachusetts researchers has developed a way to make molecules that are too small to be seen, behave in a predictable and orderly way. The finding could lead to the creation of faster computers and ultra-sensitive sensors.
Only about a third of engineering schools in the US require all students to take an ethics course, according to UMass professor Karl Stephan. This lack of emphasis on ethics raises concerns about the impact of technology on society and the need for engineers to consider the ethical implications of their work.
A UMass exercise scientist is conducting research into how aging affects upper-body motion and balance while walking. The study will examine age-related changes in the upper half of the body and develop models for environment perception as people walk.
Researchers propose a coordinated model for DNA repair, recombination and replication processes in cell division, revealing a link between DNA replication and recombination. The study uses E. coli as a model organism to understand the role of primosome assembly proteins in restarting replication.
Researchers at UMass have made a major step forward in nanoscopic pattern transfer, creating precise designs on polymer films without the use of chemicals. The breakthrough has implications for producing smaller integrated circuits, magnetic storage, and on-chip sensors.
Researchers at UMass have created a miniature UMass logo using nanotechnology, with potential applications in creating smaller electronic devices and increasing magnetic storage. This breakthrough is part of a larger push to develop new technologies through the study of nature's own self-assembling molecular structures.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have created a virtual 'Loganscape' to test alternative signs for Logan International Airport. The study aims to reduce the time it takes drivers to find their terminal, using modified signs with airline names and letters, and also exploring the effectiveness of alphabetized listings.
A study by UMass researcher Robert S. Feldman found that convincing lying is associated with good social skills, particularly among older adolescents and those with high social competence. This suggests that being a better liar can make someone more popular, but only when controlling nonverbal behavior.
Threadsnakes have evolved a unique feeding mechanism, devouring pupae and larvae of ants at an incredible rate of three or four bites per second. This rapid-fire eating pattern may be crucial for their survival in ant-infested environments, allowing them to outsmart powerful worker ants and secure food.
A team of astronomers has discovered a new molecule, nitrogen sulfide, in comets, which may offer insights into the formation of the early solar system. The compound's presence in comets suggests that it could have originated from the material that formed the planets.
Researchers will collect snow samples from Illimani and Sajama mountains to understand the impact of El Nino and La Nina on precipitation patterns. The team's goal is to analyze climate conditions over the past two years using sophisticated chemical analyses of snow samples.
Dennis L. Goeckel, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of Massachusetts, has received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue his research on high-speed wireless communication. He uses mathematical models to optimize signals and improve reception quality.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have created a switchable adhesive coating that relies on temperature changes to control its stickiness. This technology has potential applications in self-cleaning tennis racquets and golf club grips, improving performance and durability.
A new theory proposes that some of the carbon in diamonds originates from supernovae explosions and meteorites, rather than organic materials. This idea is supported by the antiquity of diamonds and similarities in carbon isotopic ratios to those found in meteorites.
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts have produced the highest-resolution data ever available on a tornado during the May 3 storm in Oklahoma. By analyzing radar signals, they aim to determine what meteorological conditions enable supercells to form and drop dangerous tornadoes.
A study by UMass researchers found that athletes taking andro steroid may experience mood changes and affect their brains. The steroid alters neurotransmitters and stimulates libido and aggression, similar to testosterone.