Tag: science
Virginia students improve in reading, math, science on 2015-2016 SOLs
The percentage of students achieving at the proficient or advanced level on SOLs in reading, mathematics and science increased by one-point statewide.
Ear stones provide clues to researchers studying migratory habits of Amazonian fish species
Four researchers published a study that reports on the use of chemical analysis of ear stones as a way to tease out a fish’s life story.
Wayne Theatre science lecture looks at life after mass extinction
The Wayne Theatre’s monthly science lecture “Life after Mass Extinction: Reptile Evolution after the Dinosaurs” is offered on Tuesday, April 12.
Virginia Tech alum on team to record sound of colliding black holes
Scientists have recorded the sound of two black holes colliding, a blockbuster moment in the science community that proves Albert Einstein’s century-old theory of relativity.
Virginia Tech scientists discover way to track, stop human, agricultural viruses
A Virginia Tech scientist has found a way to not only track viral hijackers, but also potentially stop them from replicating.
Governor McAuliffe announces Virginia’s Outstanding STEM Awards
Governor Terry McAuliffe and Science Museum of Virginia Chief Wonder Officer Richard C. Conti announced the 2016 Outstanding STEM Awards recipients.
UVA discovery among 2015’s biggest, say Scientific American, Science
A discovery about the human brain made at the UVA School of Medicine is being hailed as one of 2015’s scientific breakthroughs by numerous year-end lists.
UVA brain discovery named finalist for Science’s Breakthrough of the Year
A major discovery about the human brain made at the UVA School of Medicine has been named a finalist for Breakthrough of the Year by Science.
Computational thinking will help students become better scientists
A team of researchers led by a Virginia Tech faculty member has received $1.25 million from the National Science Foundation to introduce computational approaches to help students learn chemistry in an environment that encourages scientific discussion.
Virginia Tech researchers take cue from spider glue in efforts to create new materials
A taut tug on the line signals the arrival of dinner, and the leggy spider dashes across the web to find a tasty squirming insect. The spider, known as an orb weaver, must perfectly execute this moment, from a lightning-fast reaction to an artfully spun web glistening with sticky glue.
Free science talk at JMU to focus on dark matter, dark energy
Dr. Ted Bunn from the University of Richmond will discuss dark matter and dark energy at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 at James Madison University.
UVA astronomers track stars in our galaxy as they change orbit
Right now, in a galaxy right here, stars are changing their orbits. Scientists from the University of Virginia and other schools, working with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, have created a new map of the Milky Way and determined that 30 percent of stars have dramatically changed their orbits.
Virginia Tech scientists work to help save the Amazon rainforest and its biodiversity
The Amazon Basin’s vast tropical rainforests, rivers, and soils are rich ecosystems vital to the basic functioning of the planet. They churn moisture into the atmosphere, sequester global carbon, regulate climate patterns, and house much of the world’s biodiversity.
Missing link found between brain, immune system: With major disease implications
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have determined that the brain is directly connected to the immune system by vessels previously thought not to exist.
Scientists find that saline solution composition can affect cardiac response differently
Saline solution is a staple of every hospital. No matter the ailment, doctors have known for more than a century that saline is key to keeping patients hydrated and maintaining their blood pressure levels.
Gear up for bikes: Science on two wheels
The Science Museum of Virginia opened Bikes: Science on Two Wheels on Saturday. Get into gear with hands-on exhibits as you explore energy, force and motion, aerodynamics and engineering. Put on the brakes to take a closer look at the materials that make a bike – from rubber and alloy to foam and plastic.
Letter writer gets it wrong on climate change questions
Pete Kuntz’s letter smearing Tom Harris repeated the false Greenpeace accusation that astrophysicist Willie Soon“got caught secretly taking over a million dollars from oil corporations for his climate science denial services and lying about it.” Dead wrong.
VCU researchers identify functions in the determination of height for a gene expressed in sperm
An interdisciplinary research team led by the deans of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Schools of Medicine and Engineering has for the first time explained the association between human height and a specific protein-coding gene that is found in sperm.
Nearly indestructible virus yields tool to battle diseases
By unlocking the secrets of a bizarre virus that survives in nearly boiling acid, scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have found a blueprint for battling human disease using DNA clad in near-indestructible armor.
Virginia Tech bat research could make for better submarines, drones
The U.S. Navy has found that it pays to listen to Rolf Mueller carry on about his bat research. From unmanned aerial systems to undersea communications, practical applications flow from the team headed by Mueller, an associate professor of mechanical engineering.
Virginia Tech scientists to examine antibiotic resistance in food chain from farm to fork
Growing evidence suggests that agricultural practices, especially widespread antibiotic use, could be contributing to the increasing antibiotic resistance problem in humans.
Scientists embark on expedition to Antarctica to study temperature effects on the brain
A team of scientists with the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute will travel to Antarctica to find out, for the first time, how rising temperatures affect the brains and hearts of the icefish – and what it means for the rest of the world.
Successful ecological restoration must meet more robust standards
In a succession of international agreements, most recently the 2014 U.N. Climate Summit, governments worldwide have pledged to restore degraded ecosystems to address climate change.
Multiple sclerosis: Scientists ID cause of movement, balance problems
New research into the causes of the excessive inflammation that drives multiple sclerosis has identified a faulty “brake” within immune cells, a brake that should be controlling the inflammation.
UVA researchers aim to sneak some science into elementary school reading lessons
Mandated literacy and mathematics instruction is carving out larger and larger portions of instructional time in elementary school classrooms, often at the expense of other topics, including science.
Virginia Tech researcher shines light on origin of bioluminescence
A Virginia Tech scientist has discovered that bioluminescence may not have originated as a means to ward off predators, but instead evolved as a way to survive in harsh climates — at least in one millipede.
Science on tap: Science Museum of Virginia examines craft beer scene
A new type of festival is emerging in Richmond’s craft beer scene on Saturday, May 9. Science on Tap at the Science Museum of Virginia not only fills your cup with your favorite local brews, but adds science hops for a bold, new flavor.
Aerospace, turbine companies work with Virginia Tech for research solutions
More systems are coming on line at the Advanced Propulsion and Power Lab at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, officials said this week.
Virginia Tech student designs social media site to match young minds with scientific mentors
The Virginia Tech Science Connection Advisory Network, or VT-SCAN for short is simple but effective.
Discovery in alternative energy production by Virginia Tech researchers may be breakthrough for fueling hydrogen vehicles
A team of Virginia Tech researchers discovered a way to create hydrogen fuel using a biological method that greatly reduces the time and money it takes to produce the zero-emissions fuel.
UVA second-year trio nabs major science research awards
Research into blood vessel growth, inorganic synthetic chemistry and studying dopamine and the biological clock has netted three University of Virginia second-year students prestigious research awards.
Virginia Tech geologist leads international team to reveal how continents were generated
An international research team, led by a Virginia Tech geoscientist, has revealed information about how continents were generated on Earth more than 2.5 billion years ago — and how those processes have continued within the last 70 million years to profoundly affect the planet’s life and climate.
Richard Harris, science writer at NPR, to speak at Virginia Tech April 1
Award-winning journalist Richard Harris, who has reported on a wide range of topics in science, medicine, and the environment since he joined National Public Radio (NPR) in 1986, will be a Virginia Tech College of Engineering Visiting Scholar on Mar. 31 and April 1.
Battelle support for education in Charlottesville grows with donations, broadening purpose
Battelle sees a direct corollary between early science education and workforce development in Charlottesville. That’s why its charitable giving spans from support for preschoolers to middle-schoolers and—through scholarships— to students on the cusp their of professional science careers.
VCU researcher receives NSF grant to extend lifespan of Li-ion batteries
A VCU professor has received a five-year, $505,000 award from the National Science Foundation to make lithium-ion batteries — which power electric vehicles and portable electronic devices — far more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Virginia Tech engineer developing a self-centering beam to better withstand earthquakes
Economic losses from earthquakes are often devastating. The financial damages from earthquakes in Chile in 2010, Japan in 1995, and California in 1994 were $30 billion, $100 billion, and $20 billion respectively.
Virginia Tech scientists developing two-minute test for autism spectrum disorder
Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute scientists have developed a brain-imaging technique that may be able to identify children with autism spectrum disorder in just two minutes.
Rotunda Restoration begins at the Science Museum of Virginia
The Science Museum of Virginia begins restoration on the Rotunda dome this week as the building nears its 100 year anniversary.
Natural Bridge Zoo takes top spot on list of Ten Worst Zoos For Elephants
In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization, released today its list of the Ten Worst Zoos for Elephants for 2014.
Within Reach program to shed light on careers in health care
The next Within Reach program in Roanoke will shed light on the depth and breadth of health care career options and what it takes to get there.
House Republicans propose Classroom Success education reforms
House Republican leaders announced their education agenda for the 2015 General Assembly on a press conference call with reporters Thursday.
UNC wide receiver T.J. Thorpe transfers to UVA, eligible immediately
Wide receiver and kick return specialist T.J. Thorpe (Durham, N.C.) has announced he will transfer to UVA for his final year of football eligibility.
Taming the climate debate
The climate controversy is one of the world’s most important discussions. At stake are billions of dollars, countless jobs, and, if U.N. representatives who met in Peru are right, the fate of the global environment itself.
UVA vice president Thomas Skalak named senior official of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Thomas Skalak, vice president for research at the University of Virginia, has been named the inaugural executive director for science and technology programs at the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation in Seattle, officials announced Monday. The appointment is effective Feb. 1.
Virginia Tech wins contract from Army Research Office to develop tool to link individuals, events
Chang-Tien Lu, an associate professor of computer science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been awarded a $300,000 subcontract from the United States Army Research Office and United States Army Engineer Research and Development Center to develop an automated tool to make sense of data captured in news articles, tweets, images, and audio and video streams.
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