Latest news from Virginia Tech on News en-us Copyright 2025 News 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/expert-explains-consequences-of-tariffs-for-virginia-agriculture/?sc=rsin /articles/expert-explains-consequences-of-tariffs-for-virginia-agriculture/?sc=rsin Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:15:52 EST Virginia farms could face economic consequences because of tariffs imposed by the United States on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, and because of tariffs imposed on U.S. goods by those countries in return. Virginia Tech agricultural trade policy analyst Xi He shared an overview of the challenges that the commonwealth's agricultural industry might have to anticipate and navigate. Virginia Tech /articles/experts-explain-signal-cybersecurity-and-how-a-journalist-was-sent-high-level-military-intelligence/?sc=rsin /articles/experts-explain-signal-cybersecurity-and-how-a-journalist-was-sent-high-level-military-intelligence/?sc=rsin Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:55:08 EST A journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat on the encrypted app Signal between high-level U.S government officials planning a military operation. Virginia Tech cybersecurity and social platform experts France Belanger, Aaron Brantly, Jimmy Ivory and Anthony Vance explain what Signal is, how it works, and how such a breach of national security could happen. Virginia Tech /articles/experts-explain-u-s-fascination-with-st-patrick-s-day-dyeing-rivers/?sc=rsin /articles/experts-explain-u-s-fascination-with-st-patrick-s-day-dyeing-rivers/?sc=rsin Thu, 13 Mar 2025 21:00:53 EST The world's largest St. Patrick's Day celebration isn't in Ireland. It's in the U.S. It's no secret that Americans have an affinity for the holiday. Many Americans -- even those with no Irish descent -- choose to celebrate by wearing green clothing, drinking green beer, and eating dishes like corned beef and cabbage. Some major cities, like Chicago, even dye their rivers green for the day. Virginia Tech /articles/measles-resurgence-q-amp-a-epidemiologist-explains-why-cases-are-surging-and-how-to-stop-the-spread/?sc=rsin /articles/measles-resurgence-q-amp-a-epidemiologist-explains-why-cases-are-surging-and-how-to-stop-the-spread/?sc=rsin Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:55:58 EST Virginia Tech infectious disease epidemiologist Lisa M. Lee explains why new measles cases are being reported around the country, not just in Texas, despite the illness being declared eliminated in the U.S. in the early 2000s due to rigorous vaccine uptake. What factors have contributed to the recent measles outbreak, and why is it spreading so quickly? "Measles is back because of falling vaccination rates. Virginia Tech /articles/expert-explains-latest-spacex-starship-explosion-debris-progress/?sc=rsin /articles/expert-explains-latest-spacex-starship-explosion-debris-progress/?sc=rsin Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:05:55 EST On the evening of Thursday, March 6, a SpaceX Starship test ended when the upper stage rocket failed and exploded, raining down debris over parts of the Caribbean. Virginia Tech aerospace engineer Ella Atkins explains both the progress and fallout from the incident. Virginia Tech /articles/tariffs-could-have-significant-impact-on-packaging-says-expert/?sc=rsin /articles/tariffs-could-have-significant-impact-on-packaging-says-expert/?sc=rsin Thu, 06 Mar 2025 09:55:40 EST Walk into any store, and nearly everything -- except produce -- comes in some sort of package. Bottled water, cheese, electronics, even large appliances are wrapped in protective material to ensure that items are not damaged in transit. Changes, such as tariffs in the global marketplace, have a ripple effect on packaging, says Laszlo Horvath, an associate professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech and director of the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. Virginia Tech /articles/experts-offer-insight-on-u-s-ukraine-deal-european-relations/?sc=rsin /articles/experts-offer-insight-on-u-s-ukraine-deal-european-relations/?sc=rsin Thu, 06 Mar 2025 09:40:31 EST From the U.S. halting military support to Ukraine to America's role in the NATO, questions have arisen about how the United States' role on the international stage might be changing. Virginia Tech foreign relations experts Dimitris Tsarouhas, visiting professor of political science, and Yannis Stivachtis, professor and director of the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, share their insights on the country's handling of foreign affairs. Virginia Tech /articles/don-t-leave-all-your-airport-security-to-tsa-cybersecurity-expert-says/?sc=rsin /articles/don-t-leave-all-your-airport-security-to-tsa-cybersecurity-expert-says/?sc=rsin Thu, 06 Mar 2025 09:40:21 EST Whether they're planning to snorkel a barrier reef or just walks on the beach, all travelers face risks -- starting when they connect to the internet via airport Wi-Fi. Fraudsters troll free airport Wi-Fi signals and even impersonate those networks to get access to sensitive information such as credit card numbers and banking passwords transmitted through passengers' laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Virginia Tech /articles/expert-analyzes-trump-s-address-to-congress/?sc=rsin /articles/expert-analyzes-trump-s-address-to-congress/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:45:27 EST President Donald Trump's first address to Congress during his second term celebrated his administration's swift actions during its first six weeks. Virginia Tech political communications expert Cayce Myers shares his analysis of the significance of the president's speech and the Democratic Party's response. Virginia Tech /articles/health-researcher-daylight-saving-time-messes-with-our-biological-clocks/?sc=rsin /articles/health-researcher-daylight-saving-time-messes-with-our-biological-clocks/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:55:12 EST As clocks spring forward for daylight saving time this weekend, a Virginia Tech expert warns that the time change can have serious health consequences. "Research shows that daylight saving time messes with our biological clocks by reducing morning sunlight exposure, which pushes our sleep schedules later and can have negative effects on health," says Carla Finkielstein, a professor at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and an expert in circadian clocks and cancer biology. Virginia Tech /articles/novel-research-reveals-how-adversity-shapes-the-developing-brain-and-its-connection-to-future-health-risks/?sc=rsin /articles/novel-research-reveals-how-adversity-shapes-the-developing-brain-and-its-connection-to-future-health-risks/?sc=rsin Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:00:58 EST While researchers have long spotlighted the role childhood abuse, poverty, and substance use play in human development, Virginia Tech's Jungmeen Kim-Spoon is pulling back the curtain on what actually happens inside the brains of the young adults affected.  For the past 10 years, Kim-Spoon and her colleague Brooks Casas have co-led a research team that has tracked the brain function of teens. Virginia Tech /articles/after-the-flames-expert-explains-why-heavy-rain-brings-a-new-disaster-risk/?sc=rsin /articles/after-the-flames-expert-explains-why-heavy-rain-brings-a-new-disaster-risk/?sc=rsin Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:10:14 EST Heavy rain might seem like a welcome relief after a blazing wildfire, but scorched earth is susceptible to mudslides. Wildfire destroys vegetation like trees and shrubs, whose roots fortify soil and protect against these dangerous, natural events.  Alba Yerro-Colom, assistant professor in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, researches how vegetation and rainfall can predict and prevent mudslides. Virginia Tech /articles/romance-fiction-rules-the-bookshelves-expert-explains-reasons/?sc=rsin /articles/romance-fiction-rules-the-bookshelves-expert-explains-reasons/?sc=rsin Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:00:13 EST Love is in the air on Valentine's Day and so is romantic reading. The popular romance genre typically sees a significant sales bump around Feb. 14, but in general it is experiencing a renewed surge, says Netta Baker, an English instructor and expert on popular romance and romantasy. She discusses the reasons why romance rules the bookshelves. Virginia Tech /articles/valentine-s-day-and-chocolate-are-a-perfect-match-but-is-it-a-healthy-relationship/?sc=rsin /articles/valentine-s-day-and-chocolate-are-a-perfect-match-but-is-it-a-healthy-relationship/?sc=rsin Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:35:52 EST Every year, when Valentine's Day gets close, almost every store is packed with assorted heart-shaped chocolates. As companies put effort into making chocolate the candy of love, it seems that the health effects of chocolate are put in the spotlight more and more. Some studies say chocolate can have several health benefits. For example, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) article, several meta-analyses suggest chocolate consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Virginia Tech /articles/2025-academy-award-front-runners-experts-provide-context-dissect-controversies/?sc=rsin /articles/2025-academy-award-front-runners-experts-provide-context-dissect-controversies/?sc=rsin Thu, 06 Feb 2025 19:45:12 EST The slate of contenders for the 2025 Oscars for Best Picture produced some unexpected front runners among the expected candidates. Experts in music, architecture, Latin American culture, and sociology at Virginia Tech shared their thoughts on why these movies should -- or shouldn't -- stand out among their peers. Virginia Tech /articles/what-to-know-about-tariffs/?sc=rsin /articles/what-to-know-about-tariffs/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Feb 2025 18:55:22 EST Tariffs are taking center stage as President Donald Trump proposes additional tariffs on goods imported from Canada, China, and Mexico. Two Virginia Tech professors explain tariffs, break down arguments for and against them, and discuss how they may impact consumers, markets, and other nations.   Dimitris Tsarouhas is a visiting associate professor and expert on international affairs. Virginia Tech /articles/children-s-national-hospital-and-virginia-tech-expand-research-partnership-to-advance-pediatric-health/?sc=rsin /articles/children-s-national-hospital-and-virginia-tech-expand-research-partnership-to-advance-pediatric-health/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Feb 2025 09:35:01 EST Children's National, ranked among the nation's top pediatric hospitals, and Virginia Tech, a nationally leading academic research university, aim to deliver transformative advancements to enhance outcomes for children facing devastating cancer diagnoses. Virginia Tech /articles/despite-history-on-the-line-expert-says-fans-may-feel-super-bowl-fatigue/?sc=rsin /articles/despite-history-on-the-line-expert-says-fans-may-feel-super-bowl-fatigue/?sc=rsin Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:40:18 EST When the Kansas City Chiefs meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans Sunday, February 9, they will be aiming for a historic three-peat. While seven prior teams (and six different franchises) have won back-to-back Lombardi Trophies, the Chiefs can be the first ever to claim three straight. And yet, even as interest in the team and the NFL spiked last year, especially with the introduction of Taylor Swift fans to the game, that enthusiasm may be waning. Virginia Tech /articles/digital-doritos-the-taylor-swift-effect-what-to-expect-from-this-year-s-super-bowl-commercials/?sc=rsin /articles/digital-doritos-the-taylor-swift-effect-what-to-expect-from-this-year-s-super-bowl-commercials/?sc=rsin Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:30:25 EST As the Super Bowl approaches, the buzz isn't just about a rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles or Kendrick Lamar at halftime. For many viewers, it's about the commercials. Virginia Tech marketing and brand management expert Donna Wertalik provides insights into the strategies behind the ads. "There is a lot of work and money behind those converted spots, generating a rare marketing opportunity for brands," says Wertalik. Virginia Tech /articles/aerospace-expert-provides-analysis-of-circumstances-in-tragic-d-c-aircraft-collision/?sc=rsin /articles/aerospace-expert-provides-analysis-of-circumstances-in-tragic-d-c-aircraft-collision/?sc=rsin Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:50:20 EST The tragic mid-air collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., raises many questions about what led to the disaster and how it could have been prevented. Virginia Tech aerospace engineer Ella Atkins provides expert opinions based on the information available so far about the crash at Reagan National Airport. Virginia Tech