Latest News from: Virginia Tech

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Released: 6-Oct-2023 1:05 PM EDT
Sam Bankman-Fried trial shines light on the rise and fall of cryptocurrency and concerns about its use in white-collar crime
Virginia Tech

The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is underway in New York. Some are calling his crimes one of the biggest financial frauds in decades. The 31-year-old former crypto mogul is charged with orchestrating a conspiracy to use $10 billion that FTX’s customers had entrusted to him for venture capital investments, political donations and luxury real estate purchases.

Released: 5-Oct-2023 10:45 AM EDT
Taylor Swift Is Good for the NFL, Says Virginia Tech Sports Media Expert
Virginia Tech

Taylor Swift’s Swifties and professional football fanatics typically do not rub elbows. But in the past two weeks, they’ve been finding some common ground.   When the pop superstar attended a Sunday night prime time NFL match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets, her appearance set in motion a frenzy of attention and situated the league in front of a new fan base.

Newswise: New Edgar Allan Poe Netflix adaptation set to premiere; expert discusses his legacy
Released: 28-Sep-2023 4:05 PM EDT
New Edgar Allan Poe Netflix adaptation set to premiere; expert discusses his legacy
Virginia Tech

As Netflix prepares to release a new streaming miniseries, "The Fall of the House of Usher," Ashley Reed, an associate professor of English at Virginia Tech, discusses author Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy and the evolving impacts of his work on literature and film.

Released: 25-Sep-2023 11:05 AM EDT
"Barbie" is strong on entertainment value, soft on social change, says Virginia Tech expert
Virginia Tech

The “Barbie” buzz continues, even months after the blockbuster movie’s release. The box office record-breaking film now is available to rent or buy through various video on demand platforms, including Prime Video and Apple TV.

Newswise: Certain dog breeds will suffer from climate change, says expert
Released: 25-Sep-2023 11:05 AM EDT
Certain dog breeds will suffer from climate change, says expert
Virginia Tech

Bulldogs, pugs, and boston terriers all have one thing in common - their short snouts, and experts say as climate change worsens, they are going to suffer.

Released: 19-Sep-2023 1:05 PM EDT
Google on trial: Virginia Tech expert explains why it matters
Virginia Tech

The first big tech trial in decades is underway as the Department of Justice takes Google to court, arguing it abused power as a monopoly to dominate the search engine business.   According to Virginia Tech expert James Ivory, the case hinges on claims that Google illegally orchestrated business dealings so that its search engine would be people’s first option on their devices.

Released: 18-Sep-2023 12:05 PM EDT
Future of mining outlook inspired by new King Coal documentary, says expert
Virginia Tech

The acclaimed documentary “King Coal” mediates on the legacy of coal mining, exploring its influence on tradition and culture, and examining its impact on health and the environment.

Newswise: Ongoing actor and writer strikes will cause major disruptions for television shows and movies in the year ahead, explains experts
Released: 14-Sep-2023 11:05 PM EDT
Ongoing actor and writer strikes will cause major disruptions for television shows and movies in the year ahead, explains experts
Virginia Tech

James Ivory, a Virginia Tech media technology expert, answers questions about the consequences of the ongoing strike for viewers, producers, actors and writers — and for those who appear to defy the strikes.

Released: 14-Sep-2023 12:05 PM EDT
Tree expert on the best times to view fall colors
Virginia Tech

With autumn set to start Sept. 23, leaf peepers won’t have long to wait for forest leaves to turn and produce spectacular color displays. The vistas to be found in Southwest Virginia are just about guaranteed to be jaw-dropping regardless of the upcoming weather.

Released: 14-Sep-2023 12:05 PM EDT
Public health expert offers advice re: new COVID-19 variants and fall vaccines
Virginia Tech

A late summer increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and the emergence of new coronavirus variants raises concerns about how best to counter infection and who should receive the newly-approved vaccines.

Released: 14-Sep-2023 12:05 PM EDT
Extreme environments expert discusses causes of recent wildfires
Virginia Tech

Wildfires in Hawaii have devastated the island of Maui and leveled the historic town of Lahaina. As federal and local authorities investigate the causes of the disaster, questions have arisen about the effectiveness of government responses to the crisis.

Newswise: Poor infrastructure and rising sea levels exacerbated flooding in Libya, says expert
Released: 13-Sep-2023 11:55 AM EDT
Poor infrastructure and rising sea levels exacerbated flooding in Libya, says expert
Virginia Tech

Thousands of people are dead and at least 10,000 missing after devastating flooding in Libya. The Mediterranean storm brought heavy rains to the northeastern part of the country, already crumbling from more than a decade of conflict.   “Although Storm Daniel caused the devastating flood, a combination of factors exacerbated the nation's vulnerability to natural hazards, resulting in enormous casualties,” says Virginia Tech geophysicist Manoochehr Shirzaei.

Newswise: Extreme environments expert discusses causes of recent wildfires
Released: 28-Aug-2023 4:00 PM EDT
Extreme environments expert discusses causes of recent wildfires
Virginia Tech

Wildfires in Hawaii have devastated the island of Maui. Canada continues to experience its worst ever wildfire season, with more than 1,000 active fires. Brian Lattimer, Director of Virginia Tech’s Extreme Environments and Materials Lab, explains what the Maui and Canadian wildfires have in common.

Newswise: Trump’s mug shot expression was a calculated move for his presidential campaign strategy, says experts
Released: 25-Aug-2023 2:35 PM EDT
Trump’s mug shot expression was a calculated move for his presidential campaign strategy, says experts
Virginia Tech

For the first time in United States history, a former president has their mug shot taken and released to the public in connection to criminal charges. Donald Trump surrendered at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia last night and was booked on felony charges alleging he participated in a criminal conspiracy to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.

Released: 25-Aug-2023 2:05 PM EDT
60th anniversary of March on Washington: Political expert provides perspective
Virginia Tech

The March on Washington brought a quarter of a million people to our nation’s capital six decades ago to protest rampant discrimination and peacefully demand equal rights for Black citizens.  

Released: 23-Aug-2023 6:05 PM EDT
Researcher debunks milk misinformation surrounding opioid use disorder, pregnancy and nursing during Breastfeeding Awareness Month
Virginia Tech

One Virginia Tech researcher wants to spread awareness about the science of breastfeeding, particularly for pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their advocates.

Released: 23-Aug-2023 4:15 PM EDT
Coastal experts available to discuss hurricane emergency preparation, disaster response, and recovery
Virginia Tech

Tropical Storm Hilary packed a punch but wasn’t nearly as devastating as it could have been. Meanwhile Tropical Storm Franklin is battering the Caribbean. As we enter the height of hurricane season, Virginia Tech has a team of coastal experts available who can provide insight about hurricanes, flash flooding, storm surge, sea-level rise and emergency response.

Released: 21-Aug-2023 7:00 AM EDT
Virginia Tech psychologist offers tips for parents and schools to help address bullying
Virginia Tech

The start of a new school year can be exciting, but for some students it comes with fear and anxiety - especially for those who are victims of bullying. According to Virginia Tech psychologist Rosanna Breaux, about 1 in 4 children experience bullying in elementary school. “The hurtful behavior can happen in a variety of ways - physical, verbal, or social,” says Breaux.

Newswise: Economic expert explains why Halloween has already invaded retail stores
Released: 18-Aug-2023 12:45 PM EDT
Economic expert explains why Halloween has already invaded retail stores
Virginia Tech

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.

   
Released: 17-Aug-2023 12:20 PM EDT
Dropping your student off at college? Expert shares advice for parents.
Virginia Tech

Starting college is a big deal for students. It’s also a big deal for parents.   When students move into a campus residence hall or apartment, it may be the first time that they have lived away from home.

Newswise: Wildfire disaster and recovery in Maui will cause long-lasting community stress and trauma, says disaster resilience expert
Released: 17-Aug-2023 11:35 AM EDT
Wildfire disaster and recovery in Maui will cause long-lasting community stress and trauma, says disaster resilience expert
Virginia Tech

Hundreds of people are still missing and rubble scorched ground is all that is left after wildfires decimated parts of Maui. Lahaina is facing years of rebuilding, as very little is left of the tourist town.   Liesel Ritchie is a disaster resilience expert and associate director of the Center for Coastal Studies at Virginia Tech.

   
Released: 15-Aug-2023 4:05 PM EDT
Toxic hammerhead worms; expert provides advice for dealing with the invasive insect at home
Virginia Tech

Hammerhead worms are once again making their way to backyards across the United States. They were most recently spotted in Washington, D.C and Virginia but have been around for some time.

Released: 8-Aug-2023 12:35 PM EDT
Expert offers tips for combating the invasive spotted lanternfly
Virginia Tech

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.

Newswise: Expert offers tips for easing back-to-school transition for children
Released: 7-Aug-2023 12:55 PM EDT
Expert offers tips for easing back-to-school transition for children
Virginia Tech

There’s more to back-to-school season than snagging the latest notebooks, bookbags, and trendy jackets and jeans. A new routine, new teachers, and new schools signal a big adjustment period for some students. “Anxiety can be associated with the unknown, such as what will the teacher this year be like, what friends will be in my class, where will my classroom be, and likely other worries can pop into children’s minds,” said Cindy Smith, director of the Children’s Emotions Lab at Virginia Tech and an expert in child emotional development, parent-child interaction, and parenting behaviors.

Released: 31-Jul-2023 8:00 AM EDT
Be wary of low-acidity vinegar options when preserving food at home, Virginia Tech food safety experts say
Virginia Tech

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.

   
Released: 27-Jul-2023 3:05 PM EDT
Where Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience Converge, This Virginia Tech Scientist Takes the Lead
Virginia Tech

How are humans motivated to do what we do? That’s the fundamental question driving neuroscientist Pearl Chiu. “On a neurobiological level, each of our brains is similarly composed. We share the same general structures and cell types — yet as people, we’re all so different,” said Chiu, who the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors recently promoted to full professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the College of Science’s Department of Psychology.

   
Released: 24-Jul-2023 1:45 PM EDT
Music expert expounds on Tony Bennett’s monumental legacy
Virginia Tech

Singer Tony Bennett, dead at age 96, left behind a mountain of musical achievements over a career that spanned eight decades. Singer and Virginia Tech voice expert Ariana Wyatt expounds on Bennett’s many contributions to music and society.

Newswise: Medical expert offers 11 outdoor safety tips to shield against summer hazards
Released: 24-Jul-2023 1:20 PM EDT
Medical expert offers 11 outdoor safety tips to shield against summer hazards
Virginia Tech

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.

   
Newswise: Virginia Tech particle physicist: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ film excels at accuracy
Released: 24-Jul-2023 10:15 AM EDT
Virginia Tech particle physicist: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ film excels at accuracy
Virginia Tech

Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film “Oppenheimer,” shattered expectations on opening weekend, bringing in $80.5 million. The biopic about the so-called “father of the atomic bomb," J. Robert Oppenheimer, science director of the Manhattan Project during World War II, was Nolan’s biggest non-Batman debut. But how accurate is the science and the history behind Oppenheimer’s (portrayed in the film by Cillian Murphy) life portrayed? Virginia Tech’s Kevin Pitts, a physicist and high-energy experimentalist who previously was chief research officer at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois, weighs in.

Released: 21-Jul-2023 10:20 AM EDT
U.S. has leg up in growth of women's soccer
Virginia Tech

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.

Released: 19-Jul-2023 11:50 AM EDT
Cities need plans for extreme heat, says expert, as heat waves stretch across the globe
Virginia Tech

Extreme heat is now plaguing parts of the U.S., Europe, and Asia. A Virginia Tech expert explains what is making this one of the hottest summers on record.

   
Newswise: Expert Outlines What’s at Stake as Hollywood Actors Ally with Writers’ Strike
Released: 17-Jul-2023 3:15 PM EDT
Expert Outlines What’s at Stake as Hollywood Actors Ally with Writers’ Strike
Virginia Tech

Hollywood actors and writers are standing side by side on the picket line for the first time in more than 60 years. Future blockbusters such as the next “Mission: Impossible” and “Deadpool” movies and the fifth season of “Stranger Things” have stopped production. “More than 11,000 writers were involved in the Writers Guild of America strike.

   
Released: 17-Jul-2023 1:05 AM EDT
Fruit consumers might notice larger strawberries this year, expert explains why
Virginia Tech

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.

Newswise: Protecting your privacy on Meta’s new app, Threads
Released: 14-Jul-2023 3:25 PM EDT
Protecting your privacy on Meta’s new app, Threads
Virginia Tech

New users signing up for Threads, Meta’s response to Twitter, should be aware of the app’s data collection capabilities, says a Virginia Tech privacy expert. “Threads collects user data across 25 different categories, surpassing Twitter’s data collection capabilities,” says Donna Wertalik, a professor of practice in marketing for the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech and Voices of Privacy co-host.

Released: 10-Jul-2023 1:50 PM EDT
New social media platform Threads builds competition among rivals, says expert
Virginia Tech

Threads, the newest venture from Meta, has become Twitter’s biggest rival in less than a week, registering 100 million users within five days. “Threads has often been discussed as the app that could kill Twitter,” said Virginia Tech multimedia journalism expert Mike Horning.

Newswise: Economics expert explains potential consequences of massive UPS walkout
Released: 7-Jul-2023 3:40 PM EDT
Economics expert explains potential consequences of massive UPS walkout
Virginia Tech

Jadrian Wooten, a Virginia Tech professor of economics, answers questions about the circumstances that led to the impasse in labor negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters and what the effects could be should UPS workers strike.

   
Newswise: International security expert parses mercenary leader’s conflict with Putin
Released: 27-Jun-2023 3:05 PM EDT
International security expert parses mercenary leader’s conflict with Putin
Virginia Tech

The startling, open challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s power by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin raises questions about Russia’s future. Virginia Tech international security expert Yannis Stivachtis shares insights on factors that led to the conflict and what to pay attention to as the consequences unfold.

Released: 27-Jun-2023 3:00 AM EDT
Choose the right brews for your Fourth of July cookout: Virginia Tech food chemist offers beer and food pairing tips
Virginia Tech

Peanut butter and jelly. Fireworks and the Fourth of July. A juicy burger and a crisp German lager. Some things just go together.  With the recent rise of craft beer in the U.S., Americans now have more beer choices than ever before. While it’s tempting to serve your favorite adult beverage with every dish, pairing the right beer style with your dish of choice can elevate your Independence Day meal.

   
Released: 27-Jun-2023 2:30 AM EDT
Fourth of July story ideas: grilling safety, beer & food pairings, pets & fireworks, sun safety
Virginia Tech

Ahead of the July 4th holiday, Virginia Tech experts can speak on a variety of topics, including food & beer pairings for cookouts, pets & fireworks safety, grilling safety tips, and more. To schedule an interview, please contact the media relations office at [email protected]. Safeguarding pets on the 4th of July Summer heat and holiday travel can always be dangerous for pets, and so can the noise of fireworks.

Newswise: School’s Out for Summer: Expert Offers Advice for Parents to Avoid the ‘Summer Slide’ for Kids
Released: 21-Jun-2023 1:30 AM EDT
School’s Out for Summer: Expert Offers Advice for Parents to Avoid the ‘Summer Slide’ for Kids
Virginia Tech

While summer is a time for fun in the sun, we often hear of parents expressing their concern about the “summer slide.” It’s when the loss of learning opportunities during the break lead to regression in reading and math. Some studies suggest up to a month of learning is lost over the summer, but according to Tonya Price, a 4-H youth development extension specialist with Virginia Cooperative Extension, there are many things that can be done to keep children learning and engaged while out of the classroom.

Newswise: Experts predict ‘average’ Atlantic hurricane season, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be strong storms
Released: 20-Jun-2023 1:05 AM EDT
Experts predict ‘average’ Atlantic hurricane season, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be strong storms
Virginia Tech

The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season was among the most damaging and deadly in modern history, but that isn’t necessarily an indicator for 2023. According to Virginia Tech meteorologist Stephanie Zick most seasonal forecasts are predicting a near average season, which goes from June 1 to November 30. NOAA’s outlook predicts a 40% chance of a near-normal season, with numbers similar to last year.

Newswise: Expert: Psychologists work to understand how traffic disruptions affect stress during commutes
Released: 16-Jun-2023 11:20 AM EDT
Expert: Psychologists work to understand how traffic disruptions affect stress during commutes
Virginia Tech

Philadelphia work commuters and vacationers heading to the City of Brotherly Love or the Jersey shore are nearly a week into grappling with and sitting in stand-still traffic after a tanker truck fire collapsed part of a I-95 bridge in the northern part of the city. The fire also heavily damaged the southbound lane of I-95. How all this stress and time-waste affects commuters and their workday performance and/or their behavior at home after the commute is part of larger phenomenon that psychologists call “commuting spillover.

Newswise: CNN director’s dramatic downfall follows unrealistic expectations, says media expert
Released: 7-Jun-2023 2:05 PM EDT
CNN director’s dramatic downfall follows unrealistic expectations, says media expert
Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech media expert Megan Duncan provides context for the dramatic resignation of CNN CEO Chris Licht after 13 months as head of the cable news network.

Newswise: Political expert on Mike Pence’s historic presidential run
Released: 6-Jun-2023 4:25 PM EDT
Political expert on Mike Pence’s historic presidential run
Virginia Tech

Former U.S. vice president and Indiana governor Mike Pence is expected to announce an historic presidential run Wednesday — historic because he’ll be vying against his one-time boss, former President Donald Trump, for the Republican nomination in 2024.



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