Virginia Tech researchers have developed a new method to 3D print complex graphene structures with high resolution, unlocking possibilities for applications in various industries. The breakthrough enables the creation of any size or shape of graphene, preserving its strength and conductivity.
Scientists are using large-scale computer simulations and statistical methods to better understand dark matter and dark energy. These mysterious components make up approximately 96% of the universe, influencing its expansion and structure. The research aims to provide insights into over 14 billion years of cosmic history.
Virginia Tech researchers have discovered a way to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable pest controls using pheromones, which can be used to lure stink bugs away from cash crops. This could save farmers millions of dollars on pest control costs.
A new study by Virginia Tech and Georgia Southern University found that giving primary school students 10 extra minutes in the cafeteria boosts their likelihood of eating a nutritious breakfast. The study also revealed that serving breakfasts inside classrooms increases consumption rates even more, getting close to 100%.
A new study finds that sea-level rise can significantly increase the tsunami hazard, with smaller tsunamis posing greater risks due to increased flooding frequency. The study simulates tsunami inundation maps for Macau and warns of increased dangers from tsunamis in the South China Sea region.
A new study by Virginia Tech finds that employees who expect to be available for work emails during non-work hours experience anxiety, affecting their health and family relationships. The 'flexible work boundaries' concept often turns into 'work without boundaries', leading to strain on both employees and their loved ones.
A researcher will investigate the effects of capoeira, a Brazilian dance-martial art, on anxiety and self-efficacy in various populations. The study aims to develop creativity-based interventions to supplement traditional mental health approaches.
A graduate student at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute is investigating how adenovirus affects gap junctions in the heart, which can lead to arrhythmia. The research aims to understand the pathways used by the virus in sudden cardiac death and potentially develop therapies for other forms of cardiac disease.
A novel approach to creating super slippery industrial packaging aims to cut down on food waste by using naturally compatible vegetable oils. This method can be applied to inexpensive plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, reducing waste and improving consumer safety.
A new study by a Virginia Tech geoscientist reveals that the Yellowstone super-volcano was powered by a gigantic ancient oceanic plate, not heat from the Earth's core. This ancient plate broke into pieces, resulting in explosive volcanic eruptions over the past 16 million years.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered that meningeal lymphatic vessels in the brain play a crucial role in maintaining healthy brain function, and dysfunction can contribute to cognitive decline. Treating these vessels with a molecule increased fluid flow and improved learning and memory tasks in aged mice.
Researchers at Virginia Tech used ecological forecasting to predict future growth rates of loblolly pine trees, showing a potential 30% increase in productivity by the middle of the century. The study focused on planted loblolly pine plantations in the Southeastern United States and highlighted uncertainties depending on specific regions.
Deb Kelly, a Virginia Tech researcher, has received $2.1 million from the National Cancer Institute to investigate the BRCA1 protein's role in breast cancer. Her team aims to develop new tools and techniques to better detect, prevent, and repair mutations found in cancers related to BRCA1.
The NIH has awarded a $2 million grant to Ken Oestreich at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute to study immunological memory. The research aims to understand how immune cells form and transition into memory cells, which can recognize and respond to pathogens more efficiently.
A new study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization found that corruption is lower in countries where a greater share of parliamentarians are women. The likelihood of having to bribe is also lower in regions with a greater representation of women in local-level politics.
Researchers from Virginia Tech found that phishing attacks can spoof email addresses of trusted friends and co-workers, making it easy to obtain sensitive information. Email providers tend to prioritize delivery over security, leaving users vulnerable to phishing campaigns.
A new method of microscale 3D printing allows switching between materials of different modulus without cross contamination, enabling programmable morphing and morphing capability in various applications such as aircraft wing structures and microrobotics. The technology can create materials with tailored stiffness and toughness.
A team of researchers identified the perinexus, a tiny pocket between cardiac cells that can disrupt heartbeat, in humans for the first time. The structure's expansion may contribute to atrial fibrillation by disrupting electrical communication between cells.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have synthesized a biodegradable alternative to polyolefins using a new catalyst and polyester polymer. This breakthrough could lead to improved physical and chemical properties of the resulting material, making it suitable for various applications.
Scientists at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have identified a novel cellular mechanism that can lead to cancer metastasis. The researchers found that the formation of gap junction structures allowing cells to communicate was disrupted during epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), despite an abundance of connexin 43 proteins.
The VTC Research Institute is developing a test to diagnose mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which can have long-term damage despite subtle or no physical signs. The test combines analysis of multiple biomarkers with imaging and cognitive tests.
Researchers used electrochemical probes to record simultaneous sub-second fluctuations in dopamine and serotonin during active decision-making in a conscious human subject. Serotonin appears to temper excitement over positive outcomes while softening the potential disappointment of negative outcomes.
Increasing temperatures and mercury pollution shift female-to-male ratios in snapping turtles, favoring male offspring in agricultural habitats. Field experiments found that temperature profiles and soil moisture content influenced sex determination, while mercury levels correlated with the development of more male offspring.
A study published in Science Advances reveals significant differences in molecular machinery that turns on and off gene expression between cerebellum and prefrontal cortex. The research provides insights into the molecular apparatus involved in conscious thinking and may lead to the development of drugs to treat mental illnesses.
A multi-university study is mapping the repeated evolution of similar head shapes among animals using their heads to dig into the ground. The researchers aim to understand how anatomy, development, relationships, and ancestry influence body shape, examining over 400 million years of evolution.
New research from Virginia Tech shows that personal outreach to landowners is vital to the success of conservation programs. Landowners who accompanied conservation biologists on site visits had higher trust in the agency and better perceptions of program outcomes. The study highlights the importance of face-to-face interactions in sha...
Researchers found that human-centered design approaches minimize costs by creating programs seen as desirable from the start. The approach considers both resource needs and participant needs during program design, increasing participation rates among fishers in Chile.
A team of researchers is working to better understand how riverbank erosion affects citizens in Bangladesh and develop early-warning measures. They will use satellite images and precipitation data to plot spatiotemporal patterns of erosion and generate location-specific annual rates.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have improved the traditional design of fog nets to increase their collection capacity by threefold using a 'fog harp' system featuring vertical wire arrays. This innovative design sheds tiny water droplets faster and more efficiently, increasing overall water yield.
A new study from Virginia Tech found that fluid shear stress causes cancerous cells to become more aggressive and benign cells to exhibit traits of cancer. This discovery could lead to the development of a predictor for ovarian cancer, enabling earlier diagnosis and potentially saving thousands of lives.
Researchers discovered a new mode of drinking in mosquitoes, allowing for burst feeding and generating low-pressure vacuum on demand. The findings have significant implications for understanding mosquito morphology and potentially developing targeted drug therapy.
A team of researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute improved the developmental skills of three girls with microcephaly, a genetic disorder affecting brain and body development. The girls made significant gains in skills and abilities after receiving intensive therapy for four hours a day for 10 days.
Researchers from Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and other institutions study the effects of ventilated filter cigarettes on smoking behavior, addiction potential, and lung cancer risk. They aim to inform FDA decisions on regulating cigarette design changes, ultimately moving toward safer products.
A study found that incomplete immunity to a pathogen in birds makes it stronger and more dangerous for its next victim. The findings suggest that imperfection can be deadly, and the results have implications for human health.
Researchers can now study pollutants and emissions more comprehensively by tracking the changing chemistry of carbon molecules in the air. A new method established by Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz allows for accurate depiction of a compound's behavior over time.
A Virginia Tech student research team has discovered the Melt Mat, a thermally absorptive blanket that increases melting rates by threefold without any effort or energy input. The product can be used on residential driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and athletic fields to save municipalities millions and homeowners from snow shovel duty.
Researchers discovered ways to improve computing efficiency in cloud-based containers, reducing latency by utilizing caching and prefetching. The study analyzed 38 million requests and 181.3 TB of traces, finding that younger nonproduction registries experience lower loads compared to production systems.
Entomologist Paul Marek has discovered a new millipede species, Apheloria polychroma, which boasts an impressive array of colors and contains cyanide that deters birds from snacking on it. This unique trait also helps other millipedes evade predators through Mullerian mimicry.
Researchers found that mosquitoes can learn and remember human smells and associate them with defensive behaviors, leading them to avoid hosts who swat at them. This aversive learning is mediated by dopamine and can be exploited for mosquito control.
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers found that efforts to curb earthquakes triggered by oilfield wastewater injections are not targeting the most dangerous tremblers. To mitigate large magnitude earthquakes, a larger reduction in injection volumes is needed, according to the study.
Researchers found that banded mongooses transmit a novel tuberculosis pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, through olfactory secretions, infecting other animals in their social group. The study provides insight into the evolution of this unique transmission route and its implications for understanding tuberculosis.
Two graduate students have won National Institutes of Health fellowships to study heart health, with Tristan Raisch focusing on electrical conduction and Carissa James exploring protein synthesis in gap junctions. The awards strengthen Virginia Tech's training in biomedical sciences.
Researchers discovered dodder's sophisticated gene manipulation system, which operates like a computer virus, allowing the parasite to silence specific genes in its hosts. This finding has implications for engineering parasite-resistant plants.
Researchers charted the lineage of potatoes to understand how they were domesticated and how their DNA evolved. They identified genes targeted during domestication that control variance for agricultural traits, vital to food security.
A study led by Leandro Castello explores the link between deforestation and fisheries yields in the Amazon, finding that lakes with intact floodplain forests provide greater fish yields. The research has implications for managing and conserving the Amazon's fisheries and food security of local populations.
Researchers found invasive plant species can change their ecological niches to thrive in new continents and climates, challenging traditional assumptions. This shift has major consequences for predicting invasive species distribution and responses to climate change.
A new clinical trial aims to test a novel treatment protocol that combines medication with follow-up support to prevent opioid relapse after recovery from an overdose. The trial, led by F. Gerard Moeller and Warren Bickel, involves patients receiving the investigational treatment in emergency rooms followed by outpatient care.
Researchers used video cameras to capture footage of cars accelerating through a traffic light, finding that packing tightly doesn't increase passing chances. Drivers should maintain a safe distance from the car in front when stopped at a light to reduce rear-end collision risks.
Optic nerve hypoplasia is a leading cause of childhood blindness in developed nations, and researchers have discovered the biological mechanism behind it. The condition affects brain growth during development, particularly with the CASK gene, which helps provide architectural support for neuronal communication.
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers tracks land cover changes in the Chobe district of Northern Botswana, providing critical information for governments and nonprofit organizations. The study reveals a long-term trend of decreasing woodland cover and increasing shrubland, with fire being a driving force in land cover change.