Experts available: Record tornadoes, more solar storms, Mexico's historic election, and more
The Virginia Tech media relations office has the following experts available for interviews this week surrounding issues in the news. To schedule an interview, please contact mediarelations@vt.edu.
Virginia Tech experts available to discuss headlines in the news
Why we’ve had more severe weather this spring and what’s to come
The U.S. saw more tornadoes in May than in any single months in the last five years. One contributing factor this year is an unusually strong jet stream in the American South. “That stronger than average jet stream across the southern U.S. is more common in El Niño years, so what’s called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation could be playing a role here,” says meteorologist Stephanie Zick. She notes that we've seen eastward trends in tornado climatology studies, including her own recent paper with Mohamed El Khouly and Marco Ferreira from the Virginia Tech Department of Statistics. “Importantly, a shift in tornado activity farther east generally means that the tornadoes are moving through more populated areas,” she says. “The expanding bull's-eye is also a factor, as urban and suburban areas grow in size and the tornadoes have a greater chance of encountering populated areas.”
With more solar activity, are additional storms — and auroras — on the way?
In May, powerful solar storms delivered stunning auroras to latitudes that rarely experience them. But Solar Cycle 25, the current surge in the sun’s storm activity, isn’t set to peak until summer of 2025, meaning we may well see more appearances of the northern lights in places not used to seeing them, as well as other potential impacts. “Geomagnetic storms can produce northern lights in lower latitudes,” says Kevin Sterne, senior research associate with the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) at Virginia Tech. “But they can also increase the radiation exposure to communication and other satellites. This increase in radiation can damage or increase the degradation of satellite electronics, which could shorten the life of these satellites.” More here.
Mexico elects first woman president in the country’s history
Mexico just broke the presidential glass ceiling, having elected the first woman in its history. Political expert Farida Jalalzai, associate dean for global initiatives and engagement in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, can address how this was possible, and what patterns this watershed event breaks or continues when thinking about women’s ability to gain the presidency across the globe.
Got mosquitos? Expert details how to get rid of them
You’re settling down in your patio chair when a mosquito settles down on your arm. And another lands on your leg, while another buzzes right by your ear. Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day says that when it comes to controlling mosquitoes, there aren’t easy short cuts. “You’re going to have to be doing your due diligence, check in your outdoor containers, put the ladder up the side of the house to check the gutters,” he says. “Find the water where these mosquitoes are breeding, tip over that water.” Read more here.
For summer travel season, expert offers tips on how to plan ahead
With the summer travel season officially underway, we’ve already seen how unexpected weather can upend vacations and send trips into disarray. If you’ve got travel plans, Mahmood Khan preaches patience above all, and has tips on how to navigate crowds and delays, as well as how to best plan ahead to avoid headaches.
Sun safety tips for Skin Cancer Awareness month
Dr. Stephanie Lareau with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine can discuss the many ways to protect yourself from too much ultraviolet radiation outdoors with tips ranging from how to choose sunscreen, how to dress for best sun protection, and more. “Studies have shown that people typically do not apply enough sunscreen for it to be fully effective, typically putting on about half or less of the amount needed,” Lareau says. Read more here.
2024 Summer Olympic Games
The Olympic Games in Paris are rapidly approaching, and there is no shortage of stories. Did you know that the gold medals are also, really, silver medals? Or whether we should all be eating as much protein as Olympic athletes? Experts can speak to all that and more as the Games approach. More here.
Research Highlights
Virginia Tech researcher creates "invisible tweezers" to move tiny bioparticles
Undergoing surgery is seldom a pleasant experience, and it can sometimes be highly invasive. Surgical procedures have evolved steadily over the centuries, growing with the knowledge of anatomy and biology. Innovative methods have also been bolstered with new tools, and a growth in the use of robotics since the 1980s has moved health care forward significantly. Assistant Professor Zhenhua Tian has pressed forward another step in the march of progress using robotics and noninvasive acoustics, and his team’s work has been published in Science Advances. More here.
