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News from the Media

  • Humans Tamed the Microbes Behind Cheese, Soy, and More

    June 29, 2022

    Research by John Gibbons, food science, is mentioned in a story on how humans have learned to tame the microbes behind cheese, soy and more

  • Is It Safe to Spin-Dry Leafy Greens in a Washing Machine?

    June 29, 2022

    A viral TikTok that shows a user placing home-grown kale into a washing machine to clean the vegetable references research from UMass Amherst, which examined whether the common practice among small farmers is safe.

  • Top-Rated Dairy-Free and Vegan Ice Cream

    June 28, 2022

    D. Julian McClements, Distinguished Professor in food science, comments in an article rating dairy-free and vegan ice cream. McClements says no one thinks a bowl of ice cream is a healthy snack and making it vegan really doesn’t change that, but considerable research shows that plant-based foods are better for the environment than animal-based ones.

  • Psychologist Focuses on Tackling Climate Change

    June 27, 2022

    Ezra Markowitz, environmental conservation, is interviewed about the psychological and social factors behind individual and group decision-making related to environmental issues.

  • Massachusetts Summer Expected to Be Hotter, Wetter Than Average, but as Climatologists Say: ‘Normal Has Changed’

    June 27, 2022

    This summer is expected to be warmer and wetter than average, but Michael Rawlins, geosciences, says, “What we consider normal weather — temperature and precipitation — has been changed. We are in a new normal as a result of increasing greenhouse gases.”

  • Geoscientist Colin Cleasom Awarded $2.1M Grant to Create Global Open-Source Sofftware System for Tracking Water and Sediment in Earth’s Rivers

    June 27, 2022

    Colin Gleason, geosciences, has received a $2.1 million grant from NASA to create a cloud-based software system to provide public access to satellite data on Earth’s water quantity and quality.

  • Protein from Plant-Based ‘Meat’ May Be Less Well Absorbed by the Body

    June 22, 2022

    David Julian McClements, Distinguished Professor in food science, is quoted in an article about research questioning whether protein from plant-based meat is absorbed as well as real meat protein.

  • New Research Shows Climate Change Impacts on Whale Habitat Use in the Warming Gulf of Maine

    June 13, 2022

    There is coverage of a study led by the New England Aquarium that includes researchers from UMass Amherst finding climate change is having an impact on how large whale species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, use habitats in the warming Gulf of Maine. It shows that right whales’ use of Cape Cod Bay has shifted significantly over the last 20 years.

  • Portable Sensor Tech Aims to Quickly Detect Foodborne Contaminants

    June 6, 2022

    An international team led by Matthew Moore, food science, has received a $750,000 USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture partnership grant to develop and test portable, rapid biosensors capable of detecting noroviruses and mycotoxins in foods and agricultural products.

  • Making Room for Wildlife: 4 Essential Reads

    June 6, 2022

    A roundup of articles about observing and photographing wildlife includes a 2019 article about black bears by Kathy Zeller, environmental conservation.

  • How South Dakota's Inability to Track Soil Erosion is Putting Farmers at Risk

    June 3, 2022

    An article about the dangers that soil erosion may cause farmers in South Dakota cites research led by Isaac Larsen, geosciences, which found that due to agricultural practices the midwestern U.S. has lost 57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil, about 35% of its topsoil overall, reducing crop yields and resulting in about $2.8 billion in annual economic losses to the agriculture industry.

  • Why Confronting Invasive Species Is One of the Best Ways to Prepare for Climate Change

    June 1, 2022

    New UMass Amherst-led research, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that the ecological effect of invasive species alone is comparable to the combined effects of invasives plus warming temperatures, drought or nitrogen deposition. This suggests that a critical preparation for climate change is to manage invasive species at the local level.

  • Kestrel Land Trust Raising $5 Million to Conserve 5,000 Acres of Undeveloped Land

    May 23, 2022

    Scott Jackson, environmental conservation and a member of the Kestrel Land Trust board of trustees, is quoted about the trust unveiling its $5 million fundraising campaign to conserve as much as 5,000 acres of undeveloped land in Western Massachusetts.

  • Poison Ivy In MA Is Emerging Now: How To Avoid The Rash

    May 19, 2022

    Tips from UMass Extension about how to spot poison ivy and how to identify snakes are cited in news articles about safely enjoying the outdoors in spring and summer.

  • Bagworm Moths Build Tiny Houses and Take Them on the Road

    May 16, 2022

    Tawny Simisky, Extension entomologist, is quoted in an article about bagworm moths' creation of tiny movable homes.

  • This Fermented Meat Alternative Could Help Halve Global Deforestation Rates

    May 11, 2022

    Lutz Grossman, food science, is quoted in an article about the prospects of fermentation-derived microbial protein becoming a viable alternative to meat in our diets as a way to slow global deforestation rates and biodiversity loss.

  • Annual Holyoke Farm Festival Promotes Urban Farming

    May 10, 2022

    The annual Holyoke Farm Festival, a day devoted to promoting urban farming, is scheduled for May 21. The event is and co-sponsored by UMass Amherst Extension.

  • Oat and Soy Milks Are Planet Friendly, but Not As Nutritious As Cow Milk

    May 6, 2022

    David Julian McClements, Distinguished Professor of Food Science, is quoted in an article about the growth of the plant milk industry and what differentiates plant milks from traditional dairy milk, especially in the transmission of nutrients.

  • A Landscaper's Guide to Saving Water: Ideas For Your Yard and Garden

    May 5, 2022

    An article about ways to conserve water while watering gardens cites tips provided by the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program.

  • California Regulators Banned Fracking Wastewater for Irrigation, but Allow Wastewater From Oil Drilling. Scientists Say There’s Little Difference

    April 24, 2022

    Thomas Zoeller, emeritus professor of biology, is quoted in an article examining the dangers posed by chemicals present in the wastewater of oil and gas drilling.

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