Research projects to reduce the impact of carbon emissions on climate

The correlation between carbon dioxide emissions and global climate change is a critical issue that has significant impact on society, communities, and economies. Yet, the capacity to store carbon dioxide in underground geologic formations — also known as carbon sequestration…

Anti-psychotic medication linked to adverse change in brain structure

February 26, 2020 (Toronto) – In a first-of-its-kind study using advanced brain imaging techniques, a commonly used anti-psychotic medication was associated with potentially adverse changes in brain structure. This study was the first in humans to evaluate the effects of…

New book on tracking, monitoring disease outbreaks, including COVID-19

A Virginia Tech statistician has co-authored a timely new book that touches on the recent novel coronavirus outbreak known as COVID-19 that has rattled many nations, particularly China. Ron Fricker, a professor in the Department of Statistics, wrote the 200-page…

Study analyzes impact of switch from nuclear power to coal, suggests directions for policy

Since incidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, many countries have switched from nuclear power to electricity production fired by fossil fuels, despite the environmental consequences of burning fuels such as coal. A new study used data from the…

Freshwater flowing into the North Pacific plays key role in North America’s climate

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Massive freshwater river flows stemming from glacier-fed flooding at the end of the last ice age surged across eastern Washington to the Columbia River and out to the North Pacific Ocean, where they triggered climate changes throughout…

Kessler researchers test trunk-strengthening program for hemiplegia post stroke

Rakesh Pilkar, Ph.D., will conduct a pilot study of the AllCore360º device for improving core strength, posture and balance in individuals with hemiplegia following chronic stroke

Roberts Individualized Medical Genetics Center Outlines Framework for Centralized Approach to Genetic and Genomic Testing

In a special report published today in the journal Pediatrics, Roberts Individualized Medical Genetics Center researchers, physicians, and genetic and financial counselors describe the success of the model, their plans to build on that success for the future, and the important lessons learned from their first four years in operation.

Medication Treatments Led to 80 Percent Lower Risk of Fatal Overdose for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder than Medication-free Treatments

Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving treatment with opioid agonists (medications such as methadone or buprenorphine) had an 80 percent lower risk of dying from an opioid overdose compared to patients in treatment without the use of medications.

Study Finds Picking up a Pingpong Paddle May Benefit People with Parkinson’s

Pingpong may hold promise as a possible form of physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease. People with Parkinson’s who participated in a pingpong exercise program once a week for six months showed improvement in their Parkinson’s symptoms, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 72nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April 25 to May 1, 2020.

Using biology to explain social psychology of cultural differences wins theoretical prize at SPSP

The idea of using principles from biology as a theoretical framework for social psychologists to understand societal differences has won the 2019 Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Scientists from Arizona State University and the University of California, Irvine, used adaptive phenotypic plasticity, or how the environment of a living thing affects development and behavior, as a model for how people act in different societies.