Rising freshwater salt pollution poses a significant threat to ecosystem health and human water security, with predicted increases over 50% in US streams by 2100. Researchers have identified opportunities to reduce salt pollution through watershed management, industrial regulation, and household product adoption.
Researchers developed a broadly protective COVID-19 vaccine using an innovative platform that targets a highly conserved genomic region of coronaviruses. The vaccine offers advantages in terms of ease of storage, transportation, and production, making it ideal for pandemic response.
Researchers developed a new approach to sound location using bat-inspired technology, outperforming human ears. The system uses a single frequency and receiver, creating Doppler shift signatures that are interpretable with machine learning algorithms.
A recent study found that a higher percentage of people in Appalachia are unlikely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine compared to national numbers. The researchers also tested interventions to stop the spread of misinformation, finding that subtle warnings from trusted health influencers can make a difference.
Cells migrating along networks of fibers exhibit different behavior than in a flat environment, with increased speed and altered interactions when encountering other cells or dividing. This study provides new understanding into cellular behavior and its relevance to drug delivery and wound healing.
Researchers found a strong correlation between stream conditions and human demographics, particularly along racial lines. Stream quality is linked to mortality rates and cancer rates, highlighting the need for environmental justice. Understanding how people interact with nature is crucial to drawing conclusions about health outcomes.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a new species of millipede, Nannaria hokie, living on campus and in nearby woods. The discovery highlights the importance of preserving native habitats and showcases the diversity of these often-overlooked creatures.
Studies on non-human species reveal that forager ants, vampire bats, mandrills, and others exhibit social distancing behaviors when infected. These observations provide valuable lessons on how to reduce disease transmission and offer a unique perspective on human behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that a specific bacterium in mom's milk can educate an infant's antibody response, potentially strengthening their immune system. The findings suggest that probiotics could be used to protect infants from enteric infections and autoimmune diseases.
Researchers surveyed over 900 coffee-drinking bird-watchers and found that only 9% purchased shade-grown coffee due to lack of awareness about its impact on bird habitats. Increased advertising, availability, and collaborations may help raise awareness about the benefits of bird-friendly coffee.
A team led by Associate Professor Jonathan Boreyko at Virginia Tech has developed a potential solution for frost removal using electrostatics. By creating an electric field, the negatively-charged top of the frost sheet attracts positively charged ions in water, causing frost particles to jump towards and break away from their substrate.
Lauren Childs and her team have developed a mathematical model that shows providing multiple blood meals to female mosquitoes can increase the transmission of malaria. The study suggests reducing mosquito egg production could also accelerate parasite growth, shortening the incubation period.
Scientists at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute have identified a zebrafish model that can help advance glioblastoma multiforme research. The study shows similar observations in zebrafish and highlights the potential of zebrafish as an additional platform for cancer drug discovery.
Researchers found that lead levels in songbirds' drinking water impaired their ability to produce normal vocalizations and attract mates. The study suggests that even low levels of lead can have negative effects on the brain and learning abilities of these birds.
A team of scientists discovered a 635 million-year-old fungi-like microfossil in South China's Doushantuo Formation, which predates the oldest dinosaurs. The fossil provides evidence of fungi's role in recycling nutrients and influencing biochemical weathering during the Ediacaran period.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that clicking beetles use a unique hinge-like tool in their thorax to generate extreme accelerations, reaching 300 times the Earth's gravitational acceleration. The snap-through unbending motion enables the beetle to launch itself into the air and move quickly between locations.
A 42-million-year-old partial skull discovered in West Texas sheds new light on the evolutionary history of caimans and their relationship with alligators. The fossil's braincase features suggest that it belonged to a caiman, contradicting earlier assumptions.
A team of Virginia Tech scientists has identified a new link between seizures and connexin 36 deficiency in zebrafish models. The study found that connexin 36 deficiency altered the susceptibility to neuronal hyperactivity, which may contribute to the onset of subsequent seizures.
A recent study found that bats infected with white-nose syndrome continue to roost in warm and deadly sites, leading to higher mortality rates. Researchers suggest that altering these sites may be crucial for conservation, but interventions must consider the complex physiology of bat species.
Researchers have discovered a strengthening mechanism in biological ceramics by studying the shells of bivalve mollusks. The shell's microscopic structure features nanoscopic defects that improve its structural strength and damage tolerance.
A recent NSF grant aims to address salt pollution in freshwaters, a growing environmental threat. The project seeks to develop new infrastructure designs and everyday choices that reduce salt use.
A research team led by Michael Fox has identified the type of interneuron that produces collagen 19, a protein essential for healthy synapse formation and inhibitory circuit development in the brain. This discovery provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying healthy brain development.
Researchers found that low oxygen levels increase methane concentrations by 15 to 800 times, leading to more global warming. The study suggests that preventing low oxygen concentrations could prevent large methane producers.
Researchers discover lagerpetids, small wingless reptiles, as the closest relatives of pterosaurs, filling a 200-year-old gap in their evolution. The study reveals similarities between lagerpetid brains and sensory systems and those of pterosaurs.
A new machine learning approach offers important insights into catalysis by providing a tool to design efficient catalytic processes. The Bayeschem model explains how catalysts interact with different intermediates and determines the optimal bond strengths.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that potentially harmful use within the Tor system clusters disproportionately in liberal democratic regimes. Only 6.7% of users globally employ Tor for malicious purposes on an average day, with most users using it for benign web content.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that observing safe peers can encourage young people to make healthier decisions. The research team found that substance-naïve teens were more likely to follow their safe peers' choices, leading to safer outcomes.
Researchers discover endogenous viral elements from giant viruses are common in chlorophyte green algae, suggesting a potential beneficial relationship between hosts and their viruses. The findings challenge current understanding of host-virus interactions and may shed light on the early evolution of plants.
Researchers developed an antibiotic resistance surveillance approach by applying DNA sequencing techniques to detect the spread of disease in watersheds impacted by large-scale storms. Baseline levels of antibiotic resistance genes in Puerto Rican watersheds prior to Hurricane Maria are unknown, but the study identified single gene tar...
Researchers at Virginia Tech prove that the mixture of sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, urea, and bicarbonates in sweat can clog sweat ducts naturally, replacing metallic salts. A lab experiment demonstrates this concept using artificial sweat and a microchannel, showing a gel-like plug forms to seal the duct.
A new study has revealed that the East African Rift System is slowly breaking away, with Madagascar splitting into pieces. The research, led by D. Sarah Stamps of Virginia Tech, found that the break-up process is more complex and distributed than previously thought.
Pumas and culpeo foxes can successfully coexist due to distinct diets, with pumas primarily feeding on introduced hare species and foxes on smaller mammals. This study sheds light on predator interactions and ecosystem balances in the Andes.
A newly discovered 220-million-year-old cynodont, Kataigidodon venetus, has been found in Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park. The discovery provides insight into the early evolution of mammals and their closest relatives.
A new research study examines how people's willingness to undertake certain behaviors changes over time during the pandemic, influenced by digital information. Researchers found that individuals differ in their attitudes towards risk, with those exposed to high-quality digital information more likely to make informed decisions.
A three-year $591,000 NSF grant will help geoscientist Ben Gill solve the riddle of the Triassic mass-extinction event. The study aims to determine the longer-term timeline of changes in life and environment before and after the extinction, as well as assess the role of oxygen content changes in the oceans.
Virginia Tech researchers are exploring the biomechanics of snake flight, focusing on undulation patterns that allow the snakes to glide through the air. They aim to uncover the fundamental fluid mechanics underlying this complex behavior, which could lead to advancements in robotics and aerodynamics.
Researchers found that chronic jet lag alters the microenvironment surrounding tumor cells, making it favorable for tumor growth, while hindering the body's natural immune defenses. This study adds to the growing scientific field of circadian disruption on health and wellbeing.
The report highlights the need for improved disease and pest management systems to address the vulnerability of lower-middle and low-income countries to pandemic-scale outbreaks. Agricultural producers face significant challenges, including reduced labor availability, supply chain disruptions, and under-funded research programs.
Researchers have found that dopamine and serotonin, traditionally linked to reward processing, also integrate perceptions with actions, influencing how people perceive the world. This discovery could provide new insights into psychiatric and neurological disorders.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that astrocytes are crucial for maintaining the blood-brain barrier's health. The finding has significant implications for understanding and treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and traumatic brain injury.
Cuttlebone's unique chambered 'wall-septa' design optimizes weight, stiffness, and damage tolerance, allowing for controlled failure and energy absorption. The structure's wavy walls induce fractures at the middle of walls, limiting external impact.
Shengfeng Cheng aims to control the movement and distribution of substances dissolved into a solvent as a solution is dried. His research could lead to new methods of fabricating particulate materials, such as thin film coatings and drug-loaded particles.
Researchers discovered a complex chemical system in the neotropical shrub Piper sancti-felicis that helps it balance attraction and repulsion from wildlife. The plant produces alkenylphenol compounds with antifungal properties, which protect its fruit from harmful fungi but also make it less appealing to seed dispersers like bats.
A new study led by Assistant Professor Rana Ashkar of Virginia Tech Department of Physics finds that cholesterol actually does adhere to biophysical principles and causes membrane stiffening.
A Virginia Tech chemistry lab has successfully split water molecules into hydrogen fuel and oxygen gas, paving the way for a renewable energy future. The team's new technique reassembles a catalyst to improve efficiency and stability, solving a key barrier in the process.
Research using a mouse model of DiGeorge syndrome found misfiring motor neurons responsible for tongue movement, leading to swallowing difficulties. The study aims to improve function in young children with difficulty eating or making sounds.
Josef Uyeda aims to bridge the gap between short-term evolution studies and long-term outcomes using computational tools and resources. He will analyze existing datasets to understand how species adapt to climate change and extinction.
Researchers are developing a novel, noninvasive method to target and kill cancerous cells in breast tissue using nanoparticles and ultrasound. This approach, nanoparticle-mediated histotripsy (NMH), aims to improve the safety of treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients by reducing harsh side effects associated with chemotherapy....
Researchers have developed a novel approach to thermal management using bridging-droplet diodes, which can efficiently conduct heat in one direction. The device uses a wick structure to absorb heat and produces steam that condenses on the opposite side, allowing for improved heat conduction and reduced thermal resistance.
The Studies To Advance Recovery Support (STARS) Network will focus on Central Appalachia's urgent need for recovery support services. Researchers aim to advance understanding of treatment services, particularly those using medication-assisted treatment and counseling.