Research suggests that communicating openly about group differences in power can motivate advantaged racial groups to join historically disadvantaged racial minority groups to strive for racial equality and social justice. A UMass Amherst study tested this proposition, supporting the idea that greater communication about power differen...
UMass Amherst researchers create materials that harness environmental energy to propel themselves, offering a sustainable solution for industries like robotics and toys. The discovery builds on natural phenomena like plant springs and animal movements.
The UMass team developed a novel biomaterial, demineralized bone paper, that mimics the dense structural matrix of bone. This material supports cellular processes and can be used to model bone remodeling and disease progression.
A team of scientists has discovered that the mechanical events of a molecular motor precede biochemical events in force generation. This finding challenges the long-held view that biochemical events gate the force-generating event, and could lead to new treatments for conditions like heart failure and cancer.
A new NIH grant will support advanced statistical models for analyzing large-scale metabolomics data sources, aiming to better understand the links between metabolic action and chronic health conditions.
A new study found that Hudson River tidal marshes are growing at a rate two to three times faster than sea level rise, suggesting they should be resilient to accelerated sea level rise. The research discovered that more than half of the marshes were created accidentally by humans between 1850 and now.
Researchers found that oral hormone therapy alters the metabolome of postmenopausal women, with estrogen-alone therapy providing a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. The study also identified metabolites associated with increased CHD risk in combination therapy.
A University of Massachusetts Amherst physicist found that opening the front window on the right side and the rear window on the left side can create an air current barrier, reducing airborne pathogen transmission in cars. This measure can help lower the pathogen load in confined car spaces.
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study recommends guidelines for the ethical handling of opioid use disorder information stored in the Public Health Data Warehouse. The research highlights concerns about public trust and potential misuses of big data, and proposes safeguards to prioritize health equity.
A team of scientists has detected neutrinos from the sun directly revealing that the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) fusion-cycle is at work in our sun. This detection confirms the CNO cycle as the dominant energy source powering stars heavier than the sun.
Researchers have used powerful seismic imaging techniques to study the Alaska coastline's volcanic activity, revealing unexpected details about tectonic plates and volcano distribution. The new research highlights complexities in subduction zones and how they control volcano formation.
A study by UMass Amherst researchers found that postpartum care visits often fall short, with women receiving only 91.1% of recommended blood pressure screenings and just 8.7% depression screenings. The researchers analyzed data from over 20 million visits and identified room for improvement in the delivery of postpartum care.
A team of researchers has discovered how an enzyme called UCH37 helps cells get rid of damaged proteins. By removing branchpoints from ubiquitin chains, UCH37 allows proteins to be degraded more efficiently, which could lead to new cancer treatments.
The study analyzed over 591,000 chemical-gene interactions and found that almost every well-known molecular pathway is sensitive to chemicals to a certain degree. The researchers identified genes and pathways most sensitive to chemical exposures, including aging, lipid metabolism, and autoimmune disease.
Climate scientists extend Atlantic sea-surface temperature record to 2900 years, finding the past decade as the warmest interval. The study uses ancient lake sediments to reconstruct temperatures and atmospheric pressure over time.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a single-measure biomarker in sperm mitochondrial DNA that may predict male reproductive health and pregnancy success. Higher levels of this biomarker are associated with lower odds of cycle-specific pregnancy and 12-month fertility.
Researchers aim to pinpoint specific areas with the highest risk of tick-borne disease transmission using GPS data loggers and interviews with people with tick-borne diseases. The study's findings will inform targeted interventions to address a major public health threat in the US.
Researchers found that Amazon fish species can rapidly adapt their body shape in response to environmental changes. The study used geometric morphometrics to analyze changes in six native species across five genera, revealing that even specialist species are capable of changing their anatomy to survive in the new environment.
A new climate modeling study simulates the dramatic impacts of accelerated Antarctic ice melt on future climate conditions. The research reveals that higher greenhouse gas emissions could slow warming around Antarctica, but may not prevent serious warming and sea level rise globally.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and Baylor College of Medicine developed a new method to protect deep neural networks from catastrophic forgetting, inspired by the brain's 'replay' ability. The method, called generative replay, generates high-level representations of previously seen data, preventing the network from forgetting earlier lea...
A new UMass Amherst program, Elevating Equity Values in the Transition of the Energy system (ELEVATE), brings together experts in energy technology and social justice to develop pathways for a sustainable energy transition that promotes socioeconomic equity. The program aims to create technological and policy solutions that reimagine t...
Materials chemists at UMass Amherst create a polymer tattoo on plant leaves to detect early ozone damage, which can reduce crop yields and threaten the food supply. The innovative method allows for frequent and long-term monitoring of cellular ozone damage in economically important crops.
Materials scientists at UMass Amherst developed a way to efficiently convert elastic energy into kinetic energy for high-acceleration movements. By designing elastic bands with strategically placed elliptical holes, they achieved more than 90% energy conversion, compared to 70% for plain bands.
Researchers reveal that private game farms and reserves offer unequal protection for free-ranging carnivore species in South Africa. The study found that carnivore richness was highest in formal protected areas, with occupancy rates also higher compared to communal lands.
A UMass Amherst health informatician has received a $2.4 million grant to develop a mobile health system using finger-worn sensors to monitor and encourage movement in stroke survivors' weak upper limbs. The goal is to provide individually tailored data and visualization tools to motivate patients and inform clinicians.
Brigham-Grette will lecture on her Arctic drilling research, including the longest sediment core ever collected, which provides new knowledge of Arctic climate from 2.2 to 3.6 million years ago. Her work highlights the importance of scientific drilling in understanding natural variability of climate change.
The researchers created a lightweight eye mask called Chesma with two kinds of fabric electrodes to track electro-oculography and cardiac signals. The mask can be integrated into various garments and tested for performance after multiple washings.
The article reports on a research paper comparing onsite server setups and virtualized cloud setups for teaching GIS courses online. The authors share user feedback and discuss resource metrics needed to support student computing needs, highlighting the growing need for fast computers.
Karen Giuliano, AACN Distinguished Research Lecturer, shares her journey from bedside care to challenging critical care and medical device innovation. She emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in developing person-centered, humanistic patient care.
A task force review of mobile health technologies found that wearable sensors and electronic patient-reported data can monitor COVID-19 patients at home and predict those who need medical intervention. The technologies also show promise for monitoring and predicting coronavirus exposure in people presumed to be free of infection.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a new regulatory role for CaMKII, a protein involved in calcium signaling, in the brain's memory center. They found that the hub domain of CaMKII plays a crucial role in tuning its sensitivity to calcium, opening up new avenues for investigation and potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers discovered that stressed bacteria's damage-containment system can become overwhelmed, prompting cells to activate alternative pathways for DNA replication and growth. This response allows cells to maintain normal functions under stressful conditions.
A new grant will fund the research, which aims to develop an effective and efficient cleaning method for peanut butter processing facilities. The technology has the potential to reduce cleaning time by nearly a week and minimize the risk of Salmonella contamination in peanut butter production.
Researchers found that diverse microbial communities can improve soil's ability to sequester carbon, but drought stress neutralizes this effect. They discovered a limit to the stress resilience of high-diversity systems.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have identified a key protein component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway as an important player in phenotypic plasticity, allowing cells to sense and respond to environmental inputs. This finding provides insights into how genes and environment interact to shape anatomical traits.
A team of researchers found that 73 boreal bird species experienced a contraction in their breeding periods over a 43-year period, with most species starting to breed earlier and ending earlier. The study suggests that warmer temperatures may be causing this shift, allowing birds to take advantage of earlier food availability.
Certain decontamination methods for reusable N95 face masks can significantly impair their effectiveness. Research found that treatments using high concentrations of gas plasma hydrogen peroxide or longer processing times degrade filtration performance. In contrast, vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizers and shorter decontamination cy...
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed an alternative energy source for muscle protein myosin, enabling controlled muscle activity and potentially treating conditions like cerebral palsy and chronic heart failure. The new energy source, Azobenzene triphosphate, has been shown to modulate myosin function and generate force and velo...
The UMass Amherst Department of Food Science has been awarded a five-year grant to fund an experiential learning program for undergraduates. The FUEL Scholars program offers independent research opportunities, paid summer internships with industrial partners, and professional skills development.
A team of researchers has discovered a new role for a tiny linker in regulating transmembrane ion channels, which could lead to new targets for drugs and treatment in conditions such as hypertension and autism. The study found that the linker plays a more active sensing role than previously thought.
University of Massachusetts Amherst biostatistician Nicholas Reich has received significant grants from the CDC and NIH to enhance his groundbreaking pandemic forecasting work. The new funding will support the expansion of the COVID-19 Forecast Hub, which provides weekly projections for COVID-19 deaths in the US and by state.
Researchers at UMass Amherst find TiO2 nanoparticles alter gut microbiota, causing inflammation and changes in liver protein expression. The study suggests long-term exposure to foodborne TiO2 NPs may have adverse health effects, particularly in obese mice.
Research finds nanoplastics can accumulate in plants, depending on surface charge, impacting ecological effects and agricultural sustainability. Plant growth is reduced, with positively charged particles causing more harm than negatively charged ones, according to a new study.
A new mentoring model called Amplifying Voices created a supportive environment among underrepresented minority women in STEM, with participants agreeing that the virtual format was an effective way to discuss challenges and solutions. The study suggests that combining career-focused mentoring with empathetic psychosocial mentoring is ...
A lack of reliable data on marijuana use hinders public health research in US states where cannabis has been legalized. Researchers found significant gaps in data availability, particularly for adolescent use and perceptions of cannabis.
Researchers propose a new model for managing facial recognition technologies at the federal level, citing risks of breach of privacy, surveillance, and profiling. A proposed FDA-inspired agency would categorize these technologies by degrees of risk and institute corresponding controls.
Researchers confirm strong association between bed bug infestations and socioeconomic factors like neighborhood income, eviction rates, and crowding. The study uses systematic data from Chicago's Department of Buildings to show that poorer neighborhoods face higher risk of bed bug infestations.
A special issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment synthesizes climate-change refugia science developments, highlighting conservation successes and future directions. The article highlights the importance of 'slow lanes' to protect native species and ecosystems from climate change impacts.
Women with a history of miscarriage who engage in high-strain exercise may be at a greater risk of subclinical pregnancy loss, according to new research. The study found a two-fold higher risk of very early pregnancy loss for highly active women compared to those who were less active.
A new study by UMass Amherst and NC State biologists found that flower strips benefit common Eastern bumblebees despite some plants increasing pathogen infection rates. The researchers created three conditions with canola plants and different types of flower strips, showing that bees reproduce more with flower strips than without.