Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 22h

Introducing Allen. 🧡🐾

Allen is a therapy dog providing comfort and stress relief to #VirginiaTech graduate students in the D.C. area.

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 1d

#VirginiaTech researchers are leading an effort to develop an easily usable, Virginia-specific tool, to forecast which strategies can move commuters out of cars and onto buses, trains, and bikes. 🙌

Researcher develops tool to boost transit ridership in Virginia

Sami Hasnine, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, is identifying and testing transportation demand managem...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 1d

This new #VirginiaTech study unveils how we can make submarine and aircraft parts more precise and produce less waste.

Metal, melted, mastered

A new research study led by Prahalada Rao shows that additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence promise more precision and less waste for much-needed submarine and aircraft components.

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 2d

Researchers at the #VirginiaTech National Security Institute used active open source intelligence techniques to gain a better understanding of how presidential campaigns use email addresses. 📧

Researchers investigate how political campaigns use and abuse email addresses

Researchers at the Virginia Tech National Security Institute recently used active open source intelligence techniques to gain a better understanding of how presidential campaigns use email addresses.

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 3d

Each fall, the mountains surrounding the New River Valley come alive with colors of orange and maroon, drawing visitors from across the region. 🍁

John Seiler, professor at #VirginiaTech, shares some of his go-to fall drives for catching peak color across Southwest Virginia. ⬇️

Favorite fall foliage locations around Southwest Virginia

Oct. 25 through Nov. 1 will likely be this year's peak time to see the reds, oranges and yellows on the trees. Whether you're looking for a quiet stroll around Pandapas Pond or a day trip to Mountain ...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 7d

New research from #VirginiaTech finds that consuming processed meats and sugary beverages, compared with all other ultra-processed foods, is linked to poor memory and cognitive issues.

Certain processed foods and beverages linked to declines in brain health

Think twice before reaching for processed meats and sugary beverages. Researchers found that these ultra-processed foods can be linked to poor memory and cognitive issues in a new study published in t...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 7d

This Hokie is digging into the future of our forests.🌲

Brenn Kurtz, a graduate student in Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, is conducting research on Red Spruce trees. Her work connects directly to the future of our mountains and our climate.

Two people tending to small red spruce seedlings in yellow containers inside a greenhouse. Their hands are visible carefully adjusting the plants from above.

A researcher in a greenhouse carefully examining potted red spruce seedlings, each labeled with colorful tags.

A close-up of a researcher adjusting a red spruce seedling under a machine emitting red light during a lab experiment.

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 9d

153 years ago, Addison Caldwell walked 26 miles to enroll as the first student at what is now #VirginiaTech. Since then, we've not only helped plan for a secure future, we’ve shaped it. 🙌

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 13d

New #VirginiaTech Helmet Lab ratings just dropped. 🙌

Seven years after a deadly bridge collapse inspired a call for change, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has released the first-ever safety ratings for construction helmets.

First-ever construction helmet ratings show modern designs can save lives

The lab's first safety helmet rating system is based on data from worksite falls and draws a sharp distinction between traditional “hard hats,” known as Type I helmets, and Type II helmets that featur...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 14d

From predicting pandemics and advancing drone defense to developing new treatments for traumatic brain injuries, research awards secured by Virginia Tech faculty will drive a wide range of discoveries with a shared goal of improving society.

Learn more. ⬇️

Research awards strengthen communities, Virginia, and the nation

From predicting pandemics and advancing drone defense to developing new treatments for traumatic brain injuries, new research awards secured by faculty in fiscal year 2025 will drive a wide range of d...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 14d

Can the invasive spotted lanternfly actually do some good? 🪰🤔

#VirginiaTech researchers are testing if a native fungus, verticillium, can be spread by spotted lanternflies from infected to healthy tree-of-heaven. Suppressing these invasives could reduce their impact.

A researcher holds a spotted lanternfly between their fingers, showing its open wings with bright red and black coloring. The background is blurred greenery.

A close-up of a mesh trap wrapped around a tree trunk, filled with spotted lanternflies. A researcher is blurred in the background among the forest vegetation.

Four researchers stand and kneel in a wooded area, smiling at the camera. They are surrounded by trees with black mesh traps attached to the trunks. One person wears an orange safety vest, while the others wear fieldwork clothing.

A Spotted Lanternfly clings to the rough bark of a tree. The insect has black legs and body, with grayish wings covered in black spots and hints of pink. The background is blurred, drawing focus to the insect and tree bark texture.

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 15d

New research findings from #VirginiaTech could make mosquito control faster, cheaper, and easier to scale. 🦟

A smarter way to control mosquitoes

Scientists have developed a new method to separate nonbiting male mosquitoes from disease-carrying females, a breakthrough that could make mosquito control faster, cheaper, and easier to scale.

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 17d

Many have levied theories about potential recession indicators across the economy this year. But what if the key to finding the right economic indicator is to stop thinking outside the box and to start thinking about the box itself? 📦

Why cardboard boxes may signal the next recession, expert explains

Plenty of people have levied theories about potential recession indicators across the economy this year. But what if the key to finding the right economic indicator is to stop thinking outside the box...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 17d

Happy first day of fall! 🍂

Pumpkins and colorful leaves are here, but so are strong winds and storms. #VirginiaTech experts say now’s the time to protect your property and trees. ⬇️

How to storm-proof your trees for fall

Fall in Virginia means pumpkins, crisp air, and colorful leaves — but it also brings strong winds and seasonal storms that can damage property and valuable landscape trees. Virginia Tech experts say n...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 20d

The Cognitive Development Sciences Lab explores the role technology plays in children’s development and its potential to support early learning.

Learn more. ⬇️

Technology meets early learning

Choi, the team’s principal investigator, founded the lab in 2018 and leads an interdisciplinary team of graduate and undergraduate students. The lab is housed in Wallace Hall on campus, and the group ...

liberalarts.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 21d

#VirginiaTech’s new open-source tool improves on existing artificial intelligence models for biological research and could accelerate drug discovery, fight pandemics, and shed light on diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Groundbreaking AI aims to speed lifesaving therapies

Little is known about how novel viruses like SARS-CoV-2 evolve or conditions like dementia develop at the molecular level, but an artificial intelligence model developed at Virginia Tech helps fill th...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 22d

🐾 A new Virginia Tech study helps us understand how a dog’s behavior and health are linked.

Benchmark study tracks trends in dog behavior

The Virginia Tech study, which seeks to understand the link between dog behavior and health, compiles four years of owner-reported data from over 47,000 dogs.

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 24d

This @vtengineering.bsky.social alumnus designs water systems for some of the most remote communities in the country. 🧡

Alum brings clean water and sanitation to remote Alaskan communities

Charlie Hampton ’20 followed his passion for water and wastewater engineering to Alaska, where his work improves the health and well-being of people in isolated places. He's changed his own life in th...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 24d

Autumn begins just one week from today, which means peak leaf season is around the corner. A #VirginiaTech forestry professor shares what to expect and when the fall colors will be on their most vibrant display.

Learn more ➡️ news.vt.edu/articles/2025/09/2025-fall-foliage-leaf-peepers-best-times

A colorful fall scene with vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves on trees lining a walkway. A few people are walking along the path, and street lamps line the sides. A building with stone walls is in the background. The image is paired with a headline about how a rainy summer could lead to spectacular fall foliage.

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 28d

What started as one student’s idea in 1962 became one of #VirginiaTech’s most recognizable traditions. 🧡🦃

Civil engineering student Mercer McPherson raised the funds to bring the first permanent costumed Gobbler to life, marking the beginning of the mascot we know and love today.

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · 28d

Happy birthday, HokieBird! 🧡🍰

On this day in 1987, HokieBird made his debut during #VirginiaTech’s football season opener against Clemson.

HokieBird lays on his side with his arm in the air on the Drillfield. Burruss Hall appears in the background. He is wearing a gold birthday hat and holding orange and white balloons.

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · Sep 10

To find one of #VirginiaTech’s oldest campus organizations, you’ll have to go spelunking.

Here’s a look at the VPI Cave Club. ⬇️

Diving deep into Virginia Tech's caving community

Jessica ’13 and Travis Coad discuss caving and the impact of the VPI Cave Club on their lives.

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · Sep 9

#VirginiaTech research is connecting people and wildlife across continents. Here's how. ⬇️

A rare Hawaiian bird’s history guides conservationist’s research today

Ashley Dayer’s work connects people and wildlife across continents.

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · Sep 8

One of the first brain regions affected by Alzheimer’s is the entorhinal cortex, which is critical for memory and navigation. 🧠

With new state support, @fralinbiomed.bsky.social researchers are investigating why it’s especially vulnerable.

Researchers investigate why memory circuits break down in Alzheimer’s disease

With support from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Research Award Fund, scientists Sharon Swanger and Shannon Farris will investigate the chemical culprits that contribu...

news.vt.edu

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Virginia Tech @virginiatech.bsky.social · Sep 5

#VirginiaTech researchers in the IMAGINE Lab are exploring how listening to and playing music can positively impact the well-being of people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

Tunes that turn back time

Researchers in the IMAGINE Lab are exploring how listening to and playing music can positively impact the well-being of people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

news.vt.edu

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