Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing e-textiles with embedded sensors and electronic components to create wearable computers and sensing systems. These fabrics can detect sounds, chemicals, and pick up satellite signals, enabling various industrial and military applications.
Jenny LaGesse is studying ancient North Carolina coastlines by analyzing cores and outcrops to understand rock types, stacking patterns, and changes over time. Her research aims to produce models with worldwide applications in environments similar to the Paleogene of North Carolina.
A study by Jennifer Stempien explores the geographic influences on species variation in ancient bivalves. She found that specimens from different locations exhibited wide variability in physical characteristics, suggesting a strong geographic influence over time.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are conducting a large-scale aquifer test to improve groundwater management. They are using GPS antennas and remote-sensing radar satellites to measure land subsidence with millimeter accuracy, which will help managers maintain the elastic range of the aquifer and prevent land subsidence.
Thomas Wynn is creating a three-dimensional map of West Virginia's subsurface using well cuttings from 200 wells. He aims to find oolites that contain natural gas and better understand the transition from greenhouse to ice-age conditions during the Mississippian Age. The study has significant implications for accessing natural gas rese...
A recent study on Brazilian brachiopods has provided valuable insights into the life and times of ancient creatures. The research, led by David Rodland, sheds light on the encrustation patterns of modern brachiopods and their potential to estimate water depth and plankton productivity in ancient oceans.
Researchers have found that fossils in storm beds are not randomly distributed, but instead follow a non-random pattern, preserving the original structure of ancient sea floor habitats. This study provides valuable insights into understanding ecological relationships and movement of organism habitats through space and time.
A preliminary study of the Paleobiology Database reveals that fragile fossils occur as frequently as durable ones, contradicting the expectation that tough skeletons would be more common. This finding suggests that the fossil record may be a more reliable source of information than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a method to measure spring output and analyze groundwater flow in the Blue Ridge province. The technique helps determine how much water is available for wells, addressing a pressing issue in Virginia due to drought and rapid growth.
A Virginia Tech research project suggests that body size may not be directly related to evolutionary or ecological success. Early findings indicate that diversity and body size increased together during the history of life, but this relationship broke down at the end of the Ordovician period, around 440 million years ago.
Virtual Jamestown aims to shape the national dialogue on the founding of Jamestown colony. The project will allow researchers and teachers to compare it with other colonial efforts and examine American culture origins.
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Bioinformatics Institute will sequence the genomes of two Phytophthora species, including one that causes over $1 billion in soybean losses annually. The project aims to understand how these pathogens operate and develop strategies to control them, with potential benefits for marine species like diatoms.
Researchers found ways to incorporate microbe/mineral interactions into high school science lessons, including physics, math, biology, chemistry, and earth sciences. The project aims to bring nanotechnology out of the lab and into secondary school classrooms through teacher training and lesson development.
Researchers have discovered transposable elements in the malaria mosquito genome, which can be used to introduce new genes to block disease transmission. These elements can also serve as markers to distinguish between populations of mosquitoes with varying resistance levels.
Using a unique land-based population research technique, Dr. Vaughan improved the accuracy of bighorn sheep counts in the Grand Canyon by analyzing lamb-to-ewe ratios and survival rates. The innovative method allows for helicopter counts while minimizing disruptions to wildlife habitats.
Weaves technology enables scalable network emulation, allowing for large-scale testing without requiring software rewrites. The system creates a virtual world to mimic real-world conditions, ensuring equivalence between test and actual results.
Despite a state budget crisis and terrorism, Virginia remains positive in its assessment of the state's qualities. Virginians report satisfaction with friendships, family relationships, education, medical care, retirement options, and vacations.
Researchers aim to compress images for small mobile agents, reducing power requirements and enabling wireless data transmission in confined spaces. Successful technology advances could benefit search and rescue operations, soldiers' field communications, and micro-air vehicles.
The Darwin Correspondence Project has published 12 of a projected 32-volume set of Darwin's letters, shedding light on his evolutionary ideas. The project is sending these volumes back to the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos, where Darwin's research began.
Researchers found that neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic status have more diverse bird populations, while lower-income areas tend to have fewer birds. The study analyzed data from 15 Phoenix-area community parks and suggests that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in shaping the local bird population.
Virginia Tech and ICSRC used Internet2 technology to create a live virtual classroom environment where students from Seattle interacted with teachers on the east and west coast. The ThinkQuest conference explored emerging technologies and educational ideas, with participants debating future possibilities for K-12 audiences.
Researchers have developed a new microscope technology to study the interaction between biomolecules and minerals. The study focuses on Azotobacter vinelandii, a bacterium that releases siderophores to acquire iron from minerals. The findings suggest that these molecules can also dissolve minerals and potentially remove toxic metals, l...
Researchers are using nature's existing engineering networks to develop more efficient and sustainable methods for engineering organisms. This approach allows for the introduction of desirable traits without stressing the organism, making it a promising area of research for biosensors, enzyme development, and future medical applications.
A new NSF grant aims to evaluate the costly impacts of corrosion on water quality, drinking water tastes and odors, and home plumbing. Researchers will focus on economic, consumer, and biochemical dimensions of potable water infrastructure corrosion.
Researchers John Tyson and Bela Novak are developing mathematical models of yeast cell growth and division to better understand the molecular mechanisms controlling cell behavior. Their work aims to extrapolate findings from yeast cells to humans, with potential implications for cancer research and other cell-based diseases.
Researchers developed a formula to accurately determine water-use efficiency in typical soils, showing that no-till techniques can improve crop yields while reducing runoff and drainage losses. Soils with higher clay content and greater capacity to retain water produce better results, highlighting the importance of soil type management.
Gardner's book examines how contemporary writers are expanding and testing the idea of 'fallen poetics' explored by Dickinson. The author analyzes works by Robinson, Graham, Wright, and Howe, among others, to understand their responses to human limits and the opening out of human responsiveness.
The study found that only the Permian and Cretaceous extinction events led to significant changes in ocean ecosystem structure. The analysis suggests that life's evolution played a crucial role in shaping these ecosystems after the massive extinctions.
A recent review article reveals that horseshoe crabs have an impressive survival rate of 7.5% after undergoing biomedical bleeding, suggesting their 350 million-year-long survival is remarkable. The research also provides new information on the habitat, migration patterns, and nursery grounds of horseshoe crabs.
The project focuses on fundamental breakthroughs in nanostructured macromolecular materials, with potential applications in military uniforms, miniaturized machines, displays, sensors, and actuators. Branched macromolecules will be studied to provide information for the development of high-tech surfaces and structures.
A Virginia Tech study found that obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, and age are strongly associated with hypertension in both men and women over 40. Losing weight can reduce the risk of hypertension, particularly for African-American women, who are at a greater risk due to their body mass index and lifestyle factors.
A virtual community of 26 educators from top universities will create, evaluate, and share effective engineering teaching materials, providing resources for faculty members. The project aims to address challenges in implementing digital learning technologies, including accessibility, quality, and teacher incentives.
Curtis Finch, a renowned expert in vocational education, is awarded a Fulbright scholarship to investigate Taiwan's workforce preparation system. His research aims to understand the significance of this system in driving economic growth.
Researchers discuss using lignin, a natural polymer from wood, to replace oil-derived resources in industrial materials and make them biodegradable. Lignin can be used in various products, including automotive brake pads, wood panels, and insulation boards.
Virginia Tech researchers are studying xylan, the natural glue in wood, to develop new materials. They aim to understand the hierarchy of components assembled in composite materials by mimicking nature's structure at the nanoscale.
Biocompatible thin films have been successfully fabricated on various biomedical substrates using electrostatic self-assembly techniques. These films can inhibit restenosis, a tissue buildup that occurs in blood vessels after trauma, and have potential applications in stents and dialysis tubing.
Researchers have synthesized peptide mimics that may inhibit Pin1's action, which regulates cell division. The goal is to develop new anticancer therapies by targeting the cell-cycle-regulating enzyme Pin1.
Researchers found that iron oxide minerals are effective in removing lead from water, with synthetic manganese oxides showing high efficiency. Manganese oxides, especially the Birnessite form, also adsorb lead in similar amounts to naturally occurring iron oxides.
Researchers have successfully attached a water-soluble group to an 80-atom fullerene, creating a buckeyball with biological functionality. The aim is to get these molecules into the bloodstream for potential drug delivery. This innovation marks a first step in developing drugs and expands MRI reagents and nanotube applications.
McGrath has made significant contributions to the development of thermoplastic elastomers, which are widely used in fuel cells and other applications. His work on block copolymers and phosphorous-containing polymers has enabled the creation of materials with improved durability, reliability, and safety.
Researchers at Virginia Tech create flexible photovoltaic devices using nanometer-thick layers of self-assembling materials, increasing efficiency to up to 20% of silicon. Electrochromic films also improve response times, enabling faster color changes for applications in flat panel displays.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a technique to create nano-structured polymer films with tunable refractive index, enabling faster and cheaper conversion of electrical signals to optical signals. This innovation has the potential to speed up access to the Internet, making it more accessible and affordable for widespread use.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing a more reliable and durable wood adhesive, polymeric isocyanate, to enhance the strength and stiffness of wood composites. The new adhesive reduces undesirable swelling caused by moisture and eliminates formaldehyde emissions.
Virginia Tech researchers are attaching DNA base pairs to polymer chain ends to create new materials with improved association, leading to stronger and reversible adhesives. The study explores how base pairs influence polymer structure, properties, and flow, paving the way for unique structures and applications.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are developing 'bursting' polymer molecules that can change their architecture in response to stimuli, offering potential solutions for drug delivery and novel wound dressings. The breakthroughs are driven by responsive groups on the ends of the polymer chain.
Computers can now simulate complex molecular reactions with larger molecule sizes, expanding the capabilities of quantum chemistry. Researchers aim to reduce computation time without losing accuracy.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have successfully synthesized a higher molecular weight polymer, which promises to create stronger materials. The new end groups and synthesis of the monomer could lead to improved mechanical properties, including increased elongation and stretchiness.
Scientists have measured the constants describing self-assembly in the creation of a supramolecular assembly that can potentially important to the processing of many novel materials. Pseudorotaxanes are chemical compounds containing non-covalent linkages, and researchers have explored their possibilities and applications.
A new framework for predicting underground rock geometry has been developed, enabling coal and gas companies to better understand their drilling operations. The research uses electric logs from wells and field work to interpret the types of sandstone bodies present, which are critical for finding deposits.
Researchers studied sandstone formation in Pennsylvanian time period to understand climate, environment, and grain influences on diagenesis. They found quartz cement played a significant role in storing silica-rich fluids, potentially leading to discoveries of oil, gas, or water.