Researchers from Virginia Tech found that airborne particles have an outer alkaline shell, contradicting the traditional view of uniform droplets. This discovery has significant implications for understanding air quality and climate change.
Scientists discovered that oxygen levels in shallow oceans declined about 8 million years before the end-Triassic mass extinction, stressing marine ecosystems. The research provides a rough guide for the future as our oceans undergo acidification and deoxygenation.
Researchers found that yellow fever mosquitoes can learn to associate the smell of DEET with food, leading to a significant reduction in their repellent effect. The study suggests that the timing and concentration of DEET application may be more crucial than previously thought.
Researchers found that smaller tetraploid cancer cells are more aggressive and tumorigenic, associated with worse prognosis and lower survival rates in several cancer types. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of tetraploidy's role in cancer progression.
A Virginia Tech study found that AI image generators consistently produce more realistic and recognizable images of larger metropolitan areas than smaller towns. The research raises questions about how generative artificial intelligence tools portray places and whose communities are most visible online.
Researchers identified a key protein called PERM1 that is restored in patients whose hearts recover after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. PERM1 regulates energy production and contractile function in heart cells, and its normalization is associated with improved cardiac function.
Researchers found that restricting menthol in cigarettes reduced cigarette purchases, while flavor restrictions in e-cigarettes increased nicotine replacement product sales. Tax policies also showed promise, with the highest-tax approach leading to significant reductions in spending.
Researchers discovered that simple artificial intelligence tools can bypass security techniques meant to protect authentic content from use in deepfakes and facial identity theft. The study found that attackers can easily defeat existing image protection using off-the-shelf AI models and simple commands.
A National Institutes of Health grant supports Mary Elizabeth Baugh's research into how metabolic health influences brain systems that shape eating behaviors. The study aims to understand the interactions between metabolic signals and brain circuits engaged in everyday learning and eating behavior.
A new study from Virginia Tech found that task switching in transplant surgeries increases one-year mortality rates by 14.8 percent, highlighting the need for efficient scheduling and workflow changes to minimize risks. The research also suggests that recovery time and surgeon experience level can mitigate these effects.
Researchers identified blocking ID1 and ID3 as a promising therapeutic strategy to halt and reverse lung scarring in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The approach showed significant reduction in lung scarring and improvement in lung function across multiple experimental systems.
A study published in Cells suggests that declining estrogen levels alter epigenetics, which may explain the rise in heart disease risk after menopause. The researchers identify a potential link between estrogen loss and changes in cardiovascular health.
Research by Virginia Tech researcher Phil Thompson and his colleagues found that when managers frame work problems as potential losses, employees are more likely to take action. Framing something as a loss yields employees to voice a work suggestion more than framing them as gains. This approach can influence employees' motivation to s...
A team at Virginia Tech developed a water-based process to create multilayer bioplastic films that are both high-performing and easier to manufacture. The method avoids toxic solvents and matches current industrial production speeds, making it viable for real-world use.
Elif and Alp Tural teach interior designers to consider how spaces affect users every day, emphasizing trauma-informed design and visual accessibility. Their approach aims to create legible and comfortable environments that respond to users' needs.
Artificial intelligence models provide personalized advice, but may perpetuate negative stereotypes about people with autism. Researchers found that up to 70% of the time, AI discourages those with autism from socializing.
A Virginia Tech student's discovery of a rare, ancient meat-eating dinosaur sheds light on the evolution and spread of dinosaurs during the Jurassic period. The species, Ptychotherates bucculentus, had massive cheekbones and a short snout, indicating constant evolution in early dinosaurs.
A new study reveals that subsidence is a major driver of coastal flooding along Java Island, with rates of up to 15 centimeters per year. Groundwater withdrawal and agricultural water use are identified as key culprits, highlighting the need for active monitoring and mitigation.
Researchers at Virginia Tech used modern data science to guide restoration strategies for the endangered butternut tree. The study mapped climate and soil conditions linked to natural disease resistance, identifying prime regions for resistant butternut trees and hybrids across the eastern United States.
The Re-Analysis of Water for Society (RAWS) project seeks to create a detailed daily record of the world's freshwater systems spanning 60 years. By combining advanced water modeling with artificial intelligence and integrated global datasets, RAWS aims to provide a clearer picture of how water systems have changed over time.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a method to reduce noise in quantum computers by using a geometric approach. By adjusting the shape of a 3D space curve, they can design pulses that suppress noise errors and improve performance. This breakthrough brings us closer to large-scale quantum computing.
Researchers have identified fungal proteins that can catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures, making them a potential alternative to toxic silver iodide in cloud seeding. The discovery could lead to safer weather modification and improved food preservation techniques.
A new trial found that infants and toddlers with unilateral cerebral palsy show significant improvements in hand and arm function when receiving early, high-dose therapy. The study suggests that multiple approaches can help children build critical motor skills, providing families and clinicians with evidence-based options.
Researchers propose a new measure for recovery from substance use, recognizing incremental progress, to reduce stigma and improve quality of life. The study found strong associations between proportion of remission and quality-of-life measures, suggesting a paradigm shift in how recovery is measured.
A recent study led by Virginia Tech researchers found that certain medium-chain fats in infant formulas can strain the developing liver and lead to early signs of steatotic liver disease. Newborn pigs fed with these formulas accumulated liver fat faster than those fed long-chain fats, despite receiving the same calories and protein.
A team of scientists, led by Associate Professor Jiangtao Cheng, has discovered a previously unreported method to get a puddle of water up to 1 cm wide to jump into the air. The bursting energy of bubbles trapped inside the droplets is key to this phenomenon.
A new study published in Science Advances has shed light on how the body responds to energy demands from exercise, identifying a crucial cell signaling mechanism that could lead to a new treatment for diabetes. The research focuses on Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), a regulator of energy production, and reveals...
A ketogenic diet reduced high blood sugar and improved aerobic capacity in mice with hyperglycemia. The diet caused remodeling of their muscles, making them more oxidative and reactive to aerobic exercise. Researchers believe that combining the keto diet with exercise may be key to achieving optimal health benefits.
A multi-institutional effort aims to refine relapse prediction by identifying genetic markers in blood samples from patients with rare blood cancer. Analyzing blood samples from 190 patients, researchers found that tiny traces of persistent NPM1 mutation were linked to worse outcomes and lower survival rates.
Researchers used genome sequencing to identify blight-resistant trees with high American chestnut ancestry, preserving the species' ecological and cultural importance. The approach, known as genomic selection, allows breeders to predict resistance and make better decisions earlier in the breeding process.
Scientists have identified specific patterns of brain chemical activity in honey bees that predict how quickly individual bees learn new associations. The findings may help explain why humans learn at different speeds and provide implications for understanding brain disorders.
A Virginia Tech scientist emphasizes the importance of preserving the nation's ability to turn discovery into life-saving therapies. He argues that strong transparency and careful oversight are key to making the technology-transfer ecosystem work, and that abandoning it could have unintended consequences.
Virginia Tech researchers identified a malformed area in the corpus callosum and pattern of bad connections that may help doctors diagnose Leigh syndrome earlier. The study found that developmental defects can be seen before symptoms appear, suggesting potential for earlier intervention.
Researchers have found that nanoplastics interact with environmental microbes, strengthening bacteria and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. This can lead to challenges for water treatment and distribution systems. More research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions.
Researchers are utilizing the SWOT satellite to study how rivers and streams shape the Earth's surface, transforming scale in river studies. By covering all rivers worldwide, SWOT enables tracking of dam failures and understanding their long-term effects on ecosystems.
A recent study found that nearly every major river delta is experiencing subsidence, with at least some portion sinking faster than the sea level in 18 of the 40 deltas examined. This phenomenon poses a significant threat to the lives of over 236 million people, particularly in regions such as the Mekong and Nile river systems.
A study funded by the National Cancer Institute aims to test a low-cost intervention using future-focused thoughts to help people quit smoking. The project will examine the effectiveness of episodic future thinking in reducing impulsivity and promoting healthier choices.
Researchers have developed a strong, defect-free composite material that can phase-shift under stress to dissipate energy. The material, created using additive friction stir deposition, has potential applications in defense, infrastructure, aerospace, and sporting equipment.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new method for attaching fluorine-18 to trifluoromethyl groups, enabling the tagging of previously inaccessible targets in PET scans. This breakthrough expands the range of molecules that can be imaged, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and more targeted treatments for diseases.
Researchers found that abundant mRNA molecules tend to cluster together in brain neurons, driven by chance overlap rather than coordinated movement. This discovery provides insights into how neurons manage genetic instructions and supports learning and memory, with potential implications for conditions like Fragile X syndrome.
Researchers have developed a new acoustic wave-producing technology on an electronic chip, enabling customizable curved waves for trapping objects, routing wave information, and transporting fluids. This innovation has significant potential in medical applications, such as noninvasive surgery and biosensors.
Researchers used CT scans to study brain cavities in ancient reptiles and found that pterosaurs had relatively small brains compared to birds. The study suggests that flight evolved independently in these groups without requiring significant brain changes.
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are developing tools to gather high-quality brain function data during infancy, enabling studies on brain development and potential risk factors for disorders. The study aims to capture real-time brain activity during natural social interactions.
The study found that more than half of the water consumed in the basin is used unsustainably, with only 48% naturally replenished each year. The researchers suggest adopting deficit irrigation practices and repurposing farmland for habitat restoration or solar farms to address the crisis.
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are studying how fluid flow contributes to the spread of glioblastoma tumors. They will use focused ultrasound and advanced MRI techniques to build a map of fluid flow in the whole brain and test the effectiveness of drug delivery.
A study published in Obesity found that young adults exposed to a diet high in ultra-processed foods ate more calories at an all-you-can-eat meal. The researchers, led by Brenda Davy and Alex DiFeliceantonio, used a controlled feeding study to investigate the effects of ultra-processed food on eating habits.
Researchers have identified connexin 43 as a vital protein for endothelial repair in mice, which could lead to new therapies to improve recovery and reduce complications after vascular surgery. The study found that the protein helps blood vessels recover after damage, suggesting it could be a target for treatments.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new method for removing frost from surfaces using electrostatic defrosting (EDF), which can remove up to 75% of the frost without the need for heat or chemicals. The approach uses high voltage to polarize the frost, creating an electric field that detaches microscopic ice crystals.
Researchers have created a model that can handle complex mosquito behavior and its impact on human diseases. The study reveals surprising findings, such as it may be better to let a mosquito bite you in terms of overall transmission.
A recent study by Sora Shin has identified a shared brain circuit that contributes to both aggression and self-harm in individuals with a history of early-life trauma. The research found that pain, including emotional pain, can serve as a gateway for these behaviors to emerge.