Feeling Homesick? How to Manage It at College

Leaving for college – whether you are a first-year student or returning to continue your college career – is a major transition, one that can cause feelings of being lost, lonely or missing home.

Homesickness is common at this stage in life and can arise at any time during a college student’s time away, although it is most common in the first few months. Stephanie Marcello, chief psychologist at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, discusses how to manage homesickness and adjust to new surroundings.

Can a Blood Test Detect Alzheimer’s Disease?

In July, the first direct-to-consumer blood test designed to assess a user’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease hit the market.

Back-to-School: Preparing Children for a Healthy, Happy Year

The temperature feels like summer is still in full swing, yet this week, thousands of Los Angeles schoolchildren headed back to the classroom.

Cause of ‘brain freeze’ a bit of a mystery, but not to worry

You’re eating or drinking something frozen, like a snow cone, ice cream, or ice pops – probably a bit too eagerly – and you get one of those sudden-onset, painful headaches known as “brain freeze.” Man, does it hurt, but usually not for long, and it’s not harmful, according to an expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

How Scientists Are Accelerating Next-Gen Microelectronics

In a new Q&A, microelectronics expert and CHiPPS Director Ricardo Ruiz shares his perspective on keeping pace with Moore’s Law in the decades to come through a revolutionary technique called extreme ultraviolet lithography.

Economic expert explains why Halloween has already invaded retail stores

Bewildering as the premature arrival of Halloween merchandise might seem, the impetus for retailers to get the jump on a holiday can be readily explained as simple economic behavior. Jadrian Wooten, a Virginia Tech professor of economics, explained what drives these early holiday displays.

Modeling ocean to understand natural phenomena

Associate Professor Yoshi N. Sasaki, a specialist in Physical Oceanography, is involved in research into rising sea levels—particularly in coastal areas of Japan. He spoke about what he has learned so far about the relationship between ocean currents, sea level and climate change, what research he is currently focusing on, and the appeal of research that uses numerical modeling to uncover natural phenomena.

تنبيه من خبير: خيارات علاج الجنف

الجنف هو انحناء العمود الفقري من جهة إلى جهة، والذي قد يصيب طفل واحد من كل 300 طفل. يمكن أن يزداد حجم الإنحناءات أثناء نمو الأطفال، خاصةً خلال فترة المراهقة وهي الفترة التي تشهد حدوث طفرات النمو.

MSU expert: How to navigate AI and social media in education

As AI-powered technologies like ChatGPT and social media increasingly making their way into our personal lives, education and workplaces, many teachers, parents and other stakeholders have questions. Here are some things to consider for the upcoming school year from Christine Greenhow, a professor in Michigan State University’s College of Education.

MSU expert: Higher interest rates could harm low-income nations 

The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates and may curb inflation in the United States. However, for other countries, particularly developing nations, higher interest rates may create financial risks. Cristina Bodea, professor of political science at Michigan State University, shares expert insight on what this could mean.

تقليل خطورة العَدوى المنقولة جنسيًا

العَدوى المنقولة جنسيًا (الأمراض المنقولة جنسيًا) آخذة في الارتفاع في الولايات المتحدة وحول العالم. ذكرت منظمة الصحة العالمية أن أكثر من مليون إصابة جديدة من العَدوى المنقولة جنسيًا تحدث يوميًا – معظمها بدون أعراض.

Expert offers tips for combating the invasive spotted lanternfly

Virginia’s most infamous hitchhiker is on the move again: the spotted lanternfly. These insects colonize quickly, disrupt native ecosystems, and potentially cause problems to human health and agriculture. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have partnered to empower the citizens of the commonwealth to take action themselves on these most unwelcome visitors.

Support Grows For No-Strings-Attached Cash For Families To Prevent Foster Care Removals

Enthusiasm is growing for programs that provide guaranteed cash support for low-income families as a means to prevent foster care removals and decrease child maltreatment. Recent initiatives in California and New York have demonstrated promising results, and researchers like Will Schneider, a social work assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, are actively exploring the potential of cash transfers in the child welfare field.

Neonatologist Travels to China to Share ECMO Experience

This spring, Rachel Chapman, MD, traveled to two cities in China to share expertise on one of the most complex lifesaving interventions for critically ill newborns: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Dr. Chapman, Associate Division Chief of Neonatology and Medical Director of the Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, was invited to speak at two meetings: the National Conference of the Chinese Neonatologist Association, held March 24-26 in Beijing, and the Guangzhou Newborn and Infant ECMO International Forum, held March 31-April 2 in Guangzhou.

COVID-19 Vaccines: What Parents Need to Know Now

The coronavirus pandemic is no longer a national emergency, but the virus that causes COVID-19 isn’t gone—and neither is the risk of getting the disease. For parents, navigating when to get their child vaccinated and knowing how to best protect their child from COVID-19 can be complicated. We spoke to Michael Smit, MD, MSPH, Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to get an update on the latest COVID-19 vaccine information and precautions.

Urology Insights: Vision, Research and Education

Hyung L. Kim, MD, a leading urologic oncologist, skilled surgeon and accomplished researcher frequently funded by the National Institutes of Health, was recently selected to be the inaugural chair of the Department of Urology at Cedars-Sinai.

Be wary of low-acidity vinegar options when preserving food at home, Virginia Tech food safety experts say

Pickled vegetables in a mason jar. Homemade salsa. Craft ketchup. Each summer, people use a variety of home food preservation methods to make their garden harvest last all year, and many of them involve acidifying food with vinegar.  But with low-acidity vinegars becoming increasingly prevalent, consumers can’t just grab any bottle from the shelf.

USA Women’s National Team Pursues Third Consecutive Championship in World Cup, Despite Some Players Sitting Out With Injuries, Experts Available To Discuss Why Women Are More Prone To ACL Injuries Especially In Soccer

Hackensack Meridian Health orthopedic experts available to discuss ACL injuries, prevention, recovery and new procedures to treat the injury that is common in female athletes including in this World Cup

Medical expert offers 11 outdoor safety tips to shield against summer hazards

Cranking summer fun up to 11 first requires sensible safeguards against summer hazards. Dr. Stephanie Lareau, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, shares 11 safety tips for keeping summer plans fun and safe.

U.S. has leg up in growth of women’s soccer

Patrick Ridge couldn’t help but fall in love with the game of soccer. He played the sport growing up, and he remained hooked by the game’s excitement when he attended matches and World Cup watch parties in Latin America and Spain while studying, teaching, and researching. “I saw the fervor,” said Ridge, now an associate professor of Spanish at Virginia Tech who studies soccer for a living.

Misleading food labels? Illinois experts provide guidelines for legal cases

Court decisions provide little unifying guidance on food labeling for manufacturers, with judges applying idiosyncratic reasoning to lower-court opinions. That’s why a team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign analyzed hundreds of court documents and labeling laws to provide a set of guidelines courts can follow for more consistent verdicts, which could, in turn, influence food labeling practices. Their article, published in Loyola Consumer Law Review, was recently cited by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in a product labeling case.

Less is best with caffeine, energy drinks during pregnancy

Millions of people drink coffee, soda, and/or tea daily, making caffeinated beverages the most commonly consumed stimulants in the world. Highly caffeinated energy drinks also have been a hugely popular pick-me-up for more than two decades, especially among younger adults and teens. But pregnant individuals should be careful regarding energy drinks and their overall intake of caffeine, according to an expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Fruit consumers might notice larger strawberries this year, expert explains why

Grocery shoppers may have recently noticed that strawberries seem to be closer to the size of small apples. According to one Virginia Tech expert there are reasons for this change and it doesn’t include injecting them with chemicals to get the larger than life fruit. Jayesh Samtani, a small fruit expert at Virginia Tech, researches how to optimize berry production and determine the kinds that grow best in certain regions.