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

Papal conclave to meet starting May 7

The papal conclave, the group of 135 cardinals responsible for selecting the new pope, will meet beginning on May 7. Though the selection of a new pope is a historical process, it also brings questions about how a new Catholic leader will approach decisions in light of world views and events, says religion expert Matthew Gabriele. “The question the cardinals selecting the new pope must face is whether to open up the doors to the church or reinforce the walls,” Gabriel says. More here.

A divisive first 100 days under a ‘disrupter’ president

Tuesday, April 29, marks the first 100 days of Trump’s second term. Political scientist Karen Hult can give context to how Trump compares to his predecessors in the same time period, and how the fallout from administrative actions appears to be negatively affecting his poll numbers. “Many view Trump — like FDR and Ronald Reagan — as a ‘transformative’ president, a ‘disrupter.’ For many voters seeking ‘change,’ this was an attractive description,” Hult says. “At the outset, the speed and the diverse nature of the actions of the new administration took some off-guard, with others trying to decide how to prioritize responses. Over time, anger and resistance emerged both in the U.S. and around the world, lawsuits mounted, and citizen protests began to be organized.”

The Trump factor in Canada’s federal election

At the start of the year, conventional wisdom held that Canada’s conservative party would triumph handily in today’s federal elections. President Trump’s declarations of intent to make Canada “the 51st state” may have completely upended that outcome, with voter outrage granting new life to the liberal party formerly led by Justin Trudeau. Political scientist Karen Hult can discuss what the election outcome will mean for the U.S. and our northern neighbor.

How monopoly ruling will impact tech giants

Following last summer’s ruling that Google is a monopoly, the tech giant continues its three-week hearing over its future this week in Washington. The Justice Department is angling to force Google to sell off its Chrome browser, an outcome that could have a more widespread impact across the tech world. James Ivory, an expert in new media technology, can speak to how the precedents set in this trial might ripple through the rest of the industry. More here.

Fungus-fueled zombie apocalypse returns with ‘The Last of Us’

The massive hit show “The Last of Us” has returned, featuring a zombie plague caused by a fungal infection that exists in nature. Jordan Metzgar, curator of the Massey Herbarium at Virginia Tech, can talk about what that particular fungus does and whether humans have any reason to be fearful of real-life fungi. “The cordyceps fungi are a group of fungi that target insects as their prey. If a spore from the fungus lands on a caterpillar, it can begin to grow thread-like mycelia that penetrate the caterpillar’s body,” he says. “The caterpillar will reach a zombie-like state when the fungus has grown all the way into the caterpillar’s head.” More here.

Trouble in 'Paradise'? What the hit show gets wrong about life underground

The setting for the TV series "Paradise" is an idyllic small town with its parks, schools, and nicer-than-average single-family homes bathed in golden sunlight. The bombshell twist comes at the end of the first episode: This pleasant community exists entirely underground. Virginia Tech mining engineer Nino Ripepi and electrical engineer Ali Mehrizi-Sani look at just how realistic "Paradise" actually is and discuss what doesn’t stand up to science — and what might. “Most of what 'Paradise' portrays is grounded in engineering but extrapolated quite a bit from what is available today,” Mehrizi-Sani says. More here.

Looking for a lush lawn this spring? Virginia Tech expert recommends patience, restraint

With spring seemingly here to stay, Virginia gardeners and lawn care enthusiasts are looking forward to the revival of their lawns after a particularly cold winter. While many have their own spring lawn maintenance routines, there are many practices that are untested or outright misconceptions. Mike Goatley, Virginia Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist and professor in Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, offers some scientifically proven tips to get the healthiest lawn possible. More here.

Podcast: “The Magic School Bus” rides on

Matt Wisnioski and Michael Meindl joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the enduring impact of “The Magic School Bus,” which is best known as a long-running educational television show for children. Wisnioski and Meindl shared the insights they’ve gained while working on a National Science Foundation-supported research project aimed at understanding why the content worked and how it influenced the worlds of science, education, and entertainment. They discussed the television show’s origins and the importance of the collaborative nature that led to its success.

About Wisnioski and Meindl
Wisnioski is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Science, Technology, and Society. Meindl is an associate professor in Radford University’s School of Communication and a Ph.D. student in Virginia Tech’s Department of Science, Technology, and Society.

The pair are co-investigators on a National Science Foundation-supported research project aimed at understanding why “The Magic School Bus” worked and how it influenced the worlds of science, education, and entertainment.

Research Highlights

Flood risk increasing in Pacific Northwest

The next great earthquake isn't the only threat to the Pacific Northwest. A powerful earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could significantly increase flood risks in the Pacific Northwest, impacting thousands of residents and properties in northern California, Oregon, and Washington, according to new Virginia Tech research.

A study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that a major earthquake could cause coastal land to sink up to 6.5 feet, expanding the federally designated 1 percent coastal floodplain, an area with a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, by 35 to 116 square miles.

“The expansion of the coastal floodplain following a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake has not been previously quantified, and the impacts to land use could significantly increase the timeline to recovery,” said researcher Tina Dura, lead author of the study and assistant professor of geosciences in the College of Science.

Updated equestrian helmet ratings system adds racing, high-speed events

Falling off a horse at high-speed changes the impact to the rider’s head and the parameters for a quality helmet, according to new research from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.  

Published on April 28 in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, the findings from researchers Steve Rowson and Lauren Duma indicate that head impacts during falls at high speed generate unique head rotation, which in turn, directly affects helmet behavior. 

“Rotational motion of the head is very important,” said Rowson, helmet lab director. “While our testing already incorporated rotational head motion, falling off a horse at high speed can put a large force across the helmet and generate rotation in a different way than our previous testing. This means that the helmets behave a little differently during low-speed and high-speed impact scenarios.” More here.

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