Warm as a polar bear in the Arctic? UMass Amherst researchers have engineered a lightweight, bi-layer synthetic textile modeled after polar bears' fur and skin, which efficiently traps heat from the sun to keep the person wearing it warm. bit.ly/3AyfClS

Congratulations to the 9 UMass Amherst researchers named among the top 100 researchers and academics in their fields in Research.com's 2023 lists of Best Scientists in the U.S., including 2 ranked in the top 20. bit.ly/3VwRJF3

#ICYMI In April, UMass Amherst broke ground on a new $125M facility, the state-of-the-art Sustainable Engineering Laboratories, designed to inspire interdisciplinary innovation and expand research in sustainable, equitable technology and transportation. bit.ly/42IyATh

New ECo at UMass Amherst research sheds light on links between changes in land use and changes in the hydrological cycle in eastern Mass. By 2100, it predicts forests will decrease by 51% while roads & parking lots will increase 75%, leading to a 69% incr in runoff. bit.ly/42G0y2c

Congrats to Elizabeth Vierling in @UMassBMB on being elected to the Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences section of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)! Vierling leads a research group that studies the role of mitochondria in plant productivity. bit.ly/41xEkhu

As home to the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, UMass Amherst is leading a multi-university research group studying critical questions about preventing and treating Lyme and other vector-borne diseases. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth bit.ly/45787jW

Research co-authored by a UMass Amherst resource economist finds new evidence in historical beauty pageant results that media-driven comparisons play a big role in shaping preferences & altering health behaviors, particularly among young women & girls. bit.ly/45gknig

Writing in The Conversation U.S., UMass Sociology PhD candidate Derek Siegel shares findings from their research on trans parenting, illuminating the realities of trans joy & family bonds often missed by media coverage focused on violence & legislative attacks. bit.ly/3MUdvjG

Why do some people enjoy eating spicy foods despite the accompanying burning sensation? UMass Amherst food scientist Alissa Nolden shares different theories with Live Science, including genes and associations with risk-taking behaviors. bit.ly/3MRX9I3

Thanks for following us! While you’re getting to know all about UMass Amherst research, we want to learn more about you in order to deliver the best content. What’s your relationship to UMass Amherst?

Researchers are exploring electricity generation using humid air. “Humidity is a vast, sustainable reservoir of energy that, unlike solar and wind, is continuously available,” said the team led by Jun Yao UMass Amherst Research @umassengin. Find out more 👇 ow.ly/QjC750OIVY3

Congrats to Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences Prof. Ramesh Sitaraman & Kevin Spiteri ’21 Ph.D. on receiving the 2023 IEEE Communications Society William R. Bennett Prize for inventing an algorithm that allows videos to play continuously at high quality without freezing. bit.ly/43sJQUa

Carbon markets have become a critical policy tool to combat climate change. New UMass Amherst research shows how an exchange rate could link fragmented carbon markets, a potentially significant step toward forming a global climate policy. bit.ly/3oFgjYs

Research led by UMass Amherst sheds new light on the slimy outer layer of fungi and bacteria, known as the extracellular matrix (ECM), with implications for everything from antibiotic resistance to clogged plumbing and fouled medical instruments. bit.ly/45FnikF

Nuts about yogurt? You may be interested in new research from a UMass Amherst food science lab that found almond milk-based yogurt led the pack in a nutritional comparison of over 600 plant-based and dairy yogurts. bit.ly/3q9pLDN

Love to dance? Want to contribute to science? Tickled by the idea of dancing solo in a research lab? LAB:SYNC is seeking participants aged 18–85 for its latest study. Learn more about the study and eligibility: bit.ly/3J93FYH

#DidYouKnow UMass Amherst researcher Lisa Chasan-Taber developed the first validated Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) in 2004? Now her research group has used novel and innovative tools to assess, update and improve performance of the PPAQ. bit.ly/3J2Tsgt

New UMass Amherst research strongly affirms the benefits of gender-affirming care for transgender people, finding that initiating hormone therapy between the ages of 14-17 was associated with a 14.4% decrease in the risk of attempting suicide. #PrideMonth bit.ly/3X1GJR4

Take the Project ITCH survey to help researchers at UMass Amherst improve understanding of best practices for individuals and families to protect themselves from ticks at home. bit.ly/45787jW