News from the Media

Research by Tricia Serio, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, might lead to a cure for a group of fatal diseases, including mad cow disease. (Feedstuffs, BioSpace, 5/8/20; Sound Health and Lasting Wealth, News Office release 5/6/20)

Hang Xiao, food science, has received a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to expand his research into health benefits of strawberries. Xiao’s earlier studies suggest a strong scientific basis for using strawberries to support colon health and suppress, reduce or prevent, inflammation of the colon. (MassLive, Phys.org, 4/30/30; News Office release)

The number of ticks being submitted for testing at the UMass Amherst Laboratory of Medical Zoology is on the rise, says Stephen Rich, microbiology. This is because people are enjoying the outdoors more since many are working and schooling from home. (WWLP – Mass Appeal, 4/27/20; News Office assistance)

University of Massachusetts Amherst ecologists are concerned about a new climate change challenge.  Lead by Bethany Bradley, they are offering a new analysis that narrows a large list down to five priority species with the greatest potential impacts of more than 100 new invasive plant species that could expand into the area. (News Office release 4/17/20)

The Waltham city council has agreed to the purchase and sale of the formerly active UMass Field Station and Farm. UMass will use some of the sales proceeds to establish a permanent endowment for scholarships for Waltham students attending UMass Amherst. (Wicked Local Waltham, 4/14/20)

During the coronavirus outbreak, people are looking at outdoor activities as a way to manage stress. That’s prompting Barnstable County Entomologist Larry Dapsis to remind the public to be mindful of ticks.  “Ticks have not read the book on social distancing,” Dapsis said. (capecod.com 4/13/20)

We can expect to see little or no evidence of gypsy moth caterpillars this year. According to Tawny Simisky, an extension entomologist, the decline in the gypsy moth population is mostly due to the recent surge in Entomophaga maimaiga, an airborne fungus that kills gypsy moth caterpillars. (Hampshire Gazette 4/5/20)

David Julian McClements, food science, discusses his life as a vegan, going from meat, to veggie, retreating back to animal products and finally, settled on a vegetarian diet. He is working on research to expand the variety of tasty, nutritious plant-based products that provide protein and other ingredients necessary for a healthy diet. (Mass Live, 4/6/20)

Andy Danylchuk, environmental conservation, is quoted in an article about the return of  fly-fishing to the Bahamas after the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. (Fly Fisherman, 2/27/20)