The university aims to provide unique research opportunities for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, tackling big data sciences challenges. The three-year program will integrate students from Virginia Tech and partnering colleges, offering experiential learning and diversity.
A Virginia Tech professor is leading a study on STEM-based environmental education programs to determine how to promote positive learning outcomes for students. The research, funded by the National Science Foundation, will observe 500 single-day field trips and analyze their characteristics to identify factors linked to better outcomes.
Researchers aim to understand how biomolecules fold and interact to inform better drug design. The lab combines computer programming with biochemistry to model protein folding, nucleic acid dynamics, and lipid interactions.
Researchers at Virginia Tech and University College London discovered a key brain region that drives confirmation bias, where activity modulates decision-making and memory. The study found that people tend to favor information reinforcing their existing opinions over contradictory ones.
Researchers developed a parametric 3D modeling methodology to mimic the geometry of individual scales from the chiton mollusk. The scale armor model provides dual protection-flexibility performance through converging inward upon one another when under force, offering varying amounts of flexibility.
Researchers will study isolated wetlands in the Delmarva Peninsula to understand how hydrology influences wetland carbon export and emissions. The project aims to inform wetland management practices for conservation and restoration.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a microfluidic technology to study diseases such as breast cancer and schizophrenia using low-input sequencing methods like MOWChIP-seq, allowing for the analysis of epigenomes in smaller cell numbers.
New research highlights the urgent need to protect national parks from invasive animal species, which can cause loss of wildlife, decrease visitor enjoyment, introduce diseases, and have significant economic impacts. The National Park Service has taken steps to combat this issue, but more action is needed.
A researcher is studying how carbon moves through landscapes and across land-water boundaries, exploring its impact on water quality and freshwater food webs. The goal is to understand the fate of terrestrial carbon and improve global carbon budgets.
Researchers found genes linked to autism spectrum disorder may play a role in people with uncontrolled eye movements. The study suggests the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule-Like 1 gene is crucial for normal eye movements.
A study published in Nature Communications elucidated transcription factors and enzymes controlling brain processes through DNA methylation, shedding light on long-term memory storage. This research has significant implications for understanding Alzheimer's disease and potentially enhancing learning.
A team of researchers investigated the link between pregnancy and lupus flares, finding that gut microbiota may regulate disease severity. The study suggests that modulating the gut microbiota community could lead to improved disease management for pregnant women with lupus.
Researchers are developing a vaccine to counteract opioid addiction, with the goal of helping people stop the addiction and regain control of their lives. The vaccine, consisting of one shot and two boosters, aims to develop antibodies against opioids, alleviating symptoms and potentially saving lives during overdose.
A team of scientists has discovered fossils of an ancient animal species, Yilingia spiciformis, which date back approximately 550 million years. The fossilized remains and trails left by the creature provide conclusive evidence of segmented and mobile animals evolving during this time period.
Researchers found that invasive plants have a negative impact on native animals, reducing their abundance and altering ecosystem functions. In contrast, exotic animals are unaffected by invasive plants.
A team of Virginia Tech researchers has advanced quantum simulation by devising an algorithm that can more efficiently calculate the properties of molecules on a noisy quantum computer. The breakthrough enables simulating molecular properties, which can lead to advances in materials improvement and drug discovery.
Scientists have discovered that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use both vision and smell to track their victims, with CO2 affecting the responses of neurons in visual centers. This finding has significant implications for understanding mosquito-borne diseases and developing effective control measures.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a link between oilfield wastewater disposal and increased high-magnitude earthquakes. The study found that the percentage of high-magnitude earthquakes increases with depth, suggesting that stronger earthquakes may occur years after injection rates decline or stop.
Researchers created a mathematical model to calculate temperature suitability for citrus greening transmission, mapping areas at risk of production collapse. The study provides critical information for crop management and surveillance prevention.
Researchers found that probiotic bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens reduces the impact of white-nose syndrome in bat populations about five-fold. The treatment lengthened the amount of time bats stayed in the mine, allowing them to recover from the disease and emerge during spring-time when insects are available.
A Virginia Tech research team uncovered how Facebook and Google deadlocked the Federal Election Commission's efforts to regulate digital political advertising. The platforms sought exemption from disclaimers, citing profit motives and technological limitations. This led to a narrow advisory opinion with minimal guidance for compliance.
Researchers discovered that wheat plants' sneezing off condensation can spread spore-borne diseases like wheat leaf rust, causing crop yield losses up to 20%. Condensation droplets can carry spores and jump high distances, potentially spreading disease across entire crops.
Virginia Tech researchers uncovered how soap films and bubbles freeze, revealing a previously unknown phenomenon called Marangoni Flow. The study found that temperature gradients cause the flow of ice crystals within the bubble, hastening its complete freezing.
Researchers have discovered a cellular component called peptidoglycan that contributes to Lyme arthritis, a debilitating condition. The presence of peptidoglycan in synovial fluid may explain why some people experience symptoms despite no obvious infection, and could lead to new treatments.
Researchers used social media tools to engage large audiences in a concert, sustaining participation for an average of nine minutes. The Crowd in C app allowed audience members to manipulate sounds and create their own compositions, demonstrating the power of computer science in nontraditional ways.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that lithium-ion battery electrode failure is caused by the heterogeneity of individual particles, leading to inefficiencies in charging. The team used a synchrotron X-ray method to produce results and identified problems with batteries today, including uneven charging rates.
David Schmale, a professor at Virginia Tech, has received a Fulbright US Scholar Program award to develop remote-sensing capabilities to detect and respond to harmful algal blooms in New Zealand. He will also create educational units for students to design and fabricate robots for environmental monitoring.
Frank O. Aylward's three-year grant will focus on computational genomics to understand evolutionary trends in prokaryotes and their roles in biogeochemical processes. The research aims to predict how microbes might respond to climate change and ocean acidification.
Using superhydrophobic surfaces and vertical condensers, the team found that combining surface tension and gravity increases condenser efficiency. This method sheds moisture more efficiently than relying solely on jumping droplets or gravity, benefiting power plants and other heat exchange systems.
A recent study published in Cell Reports reveals how a genetic message to produce healthy heart tissue is altered during stress and aging, contributing to sudden cardiac death. The discovery allows for the potential development of targeted therapies to help people at risk of arrhythmias and heart attacks.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have gained a new understanding of the complex interactions between macrophages and fibroblasts as they work together to clean up and repair damaged tissue. The study shows that manipulating the environment around these cells could lead to improved treatments for wounds and tumors.
A new, smaller relative of the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex has been discovered by Virginia Tech paleontologist Sterling Nesbitt. The newly named Suskityrannus hazelae stood 3 feet tall and weighed between 45-90 pounds, with a diet likely consisting of small animals. The fossil dates back 92 million years to the Cretaceous Period.
Researchers at Virginia Tech developed a dynamic checklist system for web designers using Critter, an open-source platform. The system reduced checklist items by 20.4% and improved website quality, particularly for junior designers.
A team of researchers at Virginia Tech has created a new system to efficiently distribute data processing tasks across thousands of servers in supercomputers, achieving balanced loads and improved performance. The novel technique uses machine learning to predict task types and amounts, allowing for optimized load balancing.
A new computational model developed by Preeya Achari predicts the behavior of water on the surface of hexagonal boron nitride, a compound used in cosmetic products. The model provides more control over devices made with this material and water, leading to improved performance.
Researchers found that island lizards use behavioral thermoregulation to shield themselves from natural selection, slowing physiological evolution. This contradicts the 'island effect', which predicts faster evolution on islands.
Researchers and health-care professionals from universities across the region are teaming up with community groups to develop new solutions to the opioid crisis. The Opioid Research Consortium of Central Appalachia aims to improve access to treatment and reverse the tide of overdose deaths in areas with limited resources.
Researchers from Virginia Tech are undertaking an economic and environmental impact assessment for BOHEMIA, a four-year project using ivermectin MDA campaigns in Tanzania and Mozambique. The study aims to evaluate the potential indirect economic benefits of improved human and livestock productivity.
Researchers at Virginia Tech use drones and AI to complement human searchers, analyzing historical data from over 50,000 lost person scenarios. The system aims to provide large-scale data for better decision-making, addressing niche problems in the search process.
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is expanding its Sharing the Road program to educate high school students on safe driving practices around commercial vehicles. Through the program, researchers will visit 15 mid-Atlantic high schools and provide hands-on experience for thousands of teen drivers.
A Virginia Tech professor and his team have developed a method to integrate electronic sensors into personalized 3D-printed prosthetics, gathering information on pressure and comfort. This technology aims to improve the functionality of wearable systems and create more affordable electric-powered prosthetics.
The study reveals that increases in soil biodiversity follow plant cover increases in less productive ecosystems, while acidification leads to declines in more productive ecosystems. These patterns differ from those observed in other communities.
A team of researchers used a simulation to project the genetic and demographic outcomes of bull trout reintroduction in Washington State, focusing on connectivity and habitat availability. The study found that sufficient gene flow and unoccupied patches are key to maintaining genetic variation and persistence.
Virginia Tech researchers Margaret Couvillon and Roger Schürch have decoded the universal language of honey bees, allowing scientists to interpret the insects' sophisticated communications. By deciphering waggle dances, they hope to better understand pollinators' preferred forages and food sources.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers found that people who feed birds notice natural changes in their backyards and respond to these events. Most often, they take action against cats or sick birds, but some also adjust their feeding habits based on weather conditions.
The I-ACQUIRE trial evaluates an intensive pediatric therapy to increase upper extremity skills, gross motor development, and cognition in infants with strokes under four weeks old. The study aims to transform clinical rehabilitation for thousands of newly diagnosed infant stroke victims annually.
Srinivasan will develop a novel kinetic approach to understand astrophysical phenomena associated with supernovae explosions and their impact on plasma transport. His research has implications for clean energy, national security, and fundamental science.
Pelvic organ prolapse is a debilitating disorder that affects half of all women over 50. Researchers at Virginia Tech hope to address the problem through new tissue models and surgical mesh grafts. The goal is to develop treatment approaches that are patient-specific, reducing the risk of complications such as pain and infection.
A team of scientists analyzed biodiversity patterns in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, revealing that biotic interactions are essential for understanding ecosystem dynamics. The study found that biogeography and species interactions are stronger drivers of biodiversity than previously expected.
Researchers from Virginia Tech and Eastern Washington University are collaborating on a $958,415 NSF grant to study the critical role of the honey bee gut microbiome in health and defense against parasites. The team aims to develop a network of genes from the parasite, microbiome, and host to determine their interactions with each other.