Researchers at Virginia Tech found that people with 'slow' life-history strategies, focusing on future rewards, exhibited positive behaviors and were more likely to be in remission. In contrast, those with 'fast' life-history strategies, prioritizing immediate rewards, faced greater challenges during recovery.
Researchers found that levitating ice requires a significantly higher temperature threshold than liquid water, with the meltwater layer creating a temperature differential that consumes most of the surface's heat. This results in a larger temperature window for boiling, leading to better heat transfer compared to using a liquid alone.
Researchers aim to develop a biopolymer-based material to replace conventional cement in construction projects. The material has the potential to reduce environmental footprint, minimize dust, and improve soldier health. Biopolymers are naturally produced by living organisms and are safe for human consumption.
Lipedema is a chronic condition characterized by a build-up of fat in the legs and arms, causing pain, swelling, and easy bruising. Researchers at Virginia Tech and Temple University will study its causes and treatments using innovative techniques and computational models.
Researchers at VTC have developed a promising three-pronged approach to treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain cancer. By inhibiting two specific proteins with temozolomide, they created an effective 'triple combinational therapy' that overcame chemoresistance.
A multi-institutional team led by Virginia Tech is developing new theories on socio-environmental diversity and its impact on effective groundwater self-governance regimes. The research aims to identify promising stakeholder-driven solutions to groundwater depletion, which threatens farmers' livelihoods and national food supplies.
A team led by Dr. Stamps will investigate the physics of continental rifting in Uganda's East African Rift System, where magma-poor rifts form without surface volcanoes. The research aims to answer how strain is accommodated during upper crustal extension and what role fluid-filled faults or pre-existing structures play.
A new study aims to improve diabetes management in rural and urban communities with a low-cost, psychological intervention called episodic future thinking. The technique helps patients value future rewards over immediate gratification, leading to healthier lifestyle changes and improved disease management.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are exploring microfluidics with the help of grant money from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. The project aims to develop 3D-printed microfluidic devices that can simulate biological environments and test treatments for medical issues.
A new study predicts that future tsunamis will become more destructive as sea levels rise, particularly in the US West Coast. Rising sea levels will amplify tsunami heights even from smaller earthquakes, making coastal cities more vulnerable to devastation.
A new artificial intelligence framework called TinNet combines machine-learning algorithms and theories to identify new catalysts for efficient energy production. By understanding how catalysts interact with different intermediates, researchers can design robust catalytic processes that improve daily life.
Scientists at Virginia Tech have identified a critical modification in the protective molecular bag of the Lyme disease-causing bacterium, allowing it to move effectively and cause disease. The discovery, published in Nature Microbiology, reveals that the bacteria acquires this unique sugar modification from ticks.
Researchers identified behavioral adaptations in Antarctic fish, including fanning and breathing at the surface, to cope with increasing temperatures. These responses may help them survive global warming, but little is known about their impact on predation habits and food availability.
Researchers at Virginia Tech and Arizona State University develop strategies to recycle polyurethane foams, exploring life cycle thinking and stakeholder engagement. They aim to create viable systems for recovering, recycling, and redistributing these materials as part of a circular economy.
Shima Shahab, a Virginia Tech assistant professor, is studying acoustic holograms to manipulate sound waves and their effects on physical surfaces. Her research aims to improve non-invasive treatment of neurological disorders using this technology.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs using psychedelics to treat mental illnesses such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Studies have found that these substances can induce profound effects on perception, behavior, and gene expression, with long-lasting epigenomic changes detected in mice.
Researchers at Virginia Tech uncover two types of microorganisms that produce amorphous carbon, a form of elemental carbon thought to be formed under extreme conditions. This discovery challenges existing knowledge and raises questions about its impact on the Earth's carbon cycle.
Virginia Tech researchers have developed a miniature optical fiber treatment device that delivers cancer immunotherapeutic antibodies while monitoring tumor impedance to track treatment efficacy. The device elicits sustained anti-tumor immunity with complete tumor shrinkage in multiple tumor models.
Researchers at Virginia Tech explore mitochondrial differences in CA2 neurons, which encode social memories in the hippocampus. They found unique mitochondrial characteristics in individual neurons, influencing plasticity and behavior.
The project aims to evaluate how artificial intelligence can be used to improve analytical processes in urban planning, focusing on data and analytical tools that enable human stakeholders to interact with AI algorithms. The research also seeks to shed light on the broader impacts of automation in urban life, such as workforce.
Researchers have discovered a protein interaction that helps guide cells from the eye to a tiny midbrain processing hub during brain development. The absence of this beacon molecule, called nephronectin, leads to improper visual layer formation and hunting difficulties in mice.
A multi-university study found that higher doses of intensive therapy improve upper arm and hand abilities in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy, while a lower dosage produces fewer gains. The therapy can be life-changing for children, increasing their willingness to tackle new activities.
Scientists have developed an improved technique to trace brain connections between neurons in zebrafish using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), enabling the visualization of connected neurons up to five days after infection. This breakthrough could provide insights into brain network connectivity repair after injury or disease.
A recent study by Shilpa Madan found that the salience of choice fuels independence and makes individuals more self-interested. This can lead to a range of positive consequences, including increased tolerance for harassment and discrimination, but also negative consequences for collective action.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a way to quantify electron-electron interactions more precisely than ever, expanding upon existing physics theories. This breakthrough could lead to improvements in electronic devices and quantum computers, as well as a deeper understanding of fundamental physics theories.
Researchers are using geological history to better understand tsunami hazards and improve predictions of future events. A recent study in north-central Chile found geologic evidence of a 1922 tsunami, providing valuable insights into the region's tsunami risk.
Research from Virginia Tech found that women report greater fear of health risks from COVID-19, while men express more concern about economic implications. The study suggests that emphasizing both health and economic benefits can encourage people to take preventative measures.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a scalable method to harvest exosomes from unpasteurized cow's milk, enabling the production of purified exosomes for oral drug delivery. The new protocol advances pharmaceutical applications for fragile drugs and opens up a wide range of clinical applications.
Researchers use high-frequency kinematic data and machine learning algorithms to identify risky behaviors, drivers, and conditions prior to crashes. The study aims to develop proactive countermeasures to improve safety and prevent crashes before they happen.
Researchers have found that improved learning processes are associated with reduced symptoms of depression. By using brain imaging and mathematical modeling, the team identified distinct paths to depression symptoms and proposed a new approach for treating clinical depression.
A team of researchers from Virginia Tech has created a novel de-icing method that exploits the growth of frost on pillar structures to suspend ice as it forms. By trapping air pockets under forming ice, the approach reduces adhesion, making it easier to remove ice from aircraft surfaces.
Researchers found that alphaCT1 molecule improves scar appearance by influencing fibroblast behavior, causing them to stretch and change direction. This can lead to more pliable tissue, reducing scarring in surgical procedures. The findings have potential to revolutionize plastic surgery and advance wound healing treatments.
The Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory developed a novel test for COVID-19, targeting three regions of the gene for increased accuracy. The lab has processed over 130,000 tests since April 2020, expanding public health lab testing capacity in Southwest Virginia.
Researchers have created live cell models that mimic mitochondrial disease cells, allowing for drug studies and further research into the disease. These cell lines have the potential to support upcoming research and provide relief to patients and their families.
The beetle's exoskeleton features a microstructure with alternating material compositions that selectively reflect light, producing its brilliant colors. This structural coloration is more efficient than mechanical reinforcement, allowing the exoskeleton to achieve damage resistance and strength.
Researchers at Virginia Tech created soft electronics that can sustain damage without losing electrical conductivity. The materials are stretchy, recyclable, and reusable, making them ideal for emerging technologies like wearables and soft robotics.
Researchers are exploring the mechanisms of CASK loss-of-function mutation associated epileptic encephalopathy. A new mouse model suggests that deleting the CASK gene impairs mitochondrial function and energy supply to the brain, potentially causing seizures.
Gabriel Isaacman-VanWertz will measure concentrations of reactive organic gases in a forested field site and simulate rain events to quantify the removal of pollutants from the atmosphere. His research may provide fundamental insights into the chemistry of the atmosphere and improve air quality predictions.
A $2.2 million NIH grant will support the development of mitochondrial uncouplers, small molecules that can help burn fat in the liver, potentially treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The research team aims to create effective drugs with a long half-life and test them in animal models simulating NASH.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have identified a novel gene, Per2AS, that controls the sleep/wake cycle in mice, revealing the importance of non-coding genes in regulating biological processes. The study's findings could lead to breakthroughs in understanding internal body clocks and their role in various diseases.
Plant diseases can spread globally without borders, threatening food security. Researchers call for a One Health approach to safeguard staple crops from pandemic outbreaks.
Researchers at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute will advance noninvasive brain and cancer treatments with the new MRI-guided focused ultrasound facility. The technology, already used to treat movement disorders and solid tumors, aims to deliver precise energy to alleviate symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
A team of researchers discovered the method ducks use to suspend water in their feathers while diving, allowing them to shake it out when surfacing. They found that by using multiple layers of feathers, ducks can create air pockets that prevent irreversible wetting, enabling them to shake off excess water.
Researchers used structural brain imaging to detect developmental effects of linguistic and cognitive stimulation on infant brains. They found that high-quality educational experiences in early childhood were associated with increased brain size, particularly in males.
A Virginia Tech research team has identified a protein called NapA associated with peptidoglycan, a lingering cell wall component of the Lyme disease-causing bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The protein plays an amplifying role in causing inflammation by acting as a molecular beacon that antagonizes the immune system.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a wearable headset that measures brain activity in real-time, allowing for the study of social interactions, humans of all ages and sizes, and people in motion. The optically pumped magnetometry technology enables movement-tolerant brain imaging simultaneously with two research volunteers.
Researchers found that shallow wastewater injection is linked to widespread deep earthquake activity in the Delaware Basin. The study used data analytics and computer modeling to mimic fluid extraction from shale reservoirs and identified a causal link between deep stress increases and shallow fluid injection. This finding has signific...
Dr. Amy Azano is leading initiatives to improve rural education, including the Summer Enrichment Experience at Virginia Tech and the Appalachian Rural Talent Initiative. The programs focus on providing academic and social experiences for rural middle-schoolers and increasing access to gifted education in high-poverty schools.
Researchers discovered subtle changes in potassium, calcium, and sodium levels regulate heartbeats. Increasing sodium and calcium levels together reduces distances between cells, improving cardiac conduction.
A team of researchers from Virginia Tech and City of Hope aim to improve CAR-T cell therapy for glioblastoma multiforme by studying the impact of fluid flow on the treatment's success. They believe they can use fluid flow to encourage T cells to move deeper into tumors and kill invading cancer cells.