Experts available: Israel, Hamas exchange hostages, government shutdown, campaign ads, 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
No end in sight yet for federal government shutdown
As day 13 of the federal government shutdown begins, President Donald Trump has made good on his threat to proceed with more job eliminations, while announcing that military personnel will continue to receive paychecks. Flights are being delayed and museums are closing. The U.S. Senate is set to hold another vote Tuesday on whether to end the shutdown. Political scientist Karen Hult and political communications expert Cayce Myers can discuss the ongoing impasse.
Israel and Hamas prepare to enter indirect peace talks
A ceasefire is in effect between Israel and Hamas as President Trump’s proposed peace deal goes forward. Hamas has released the last surviving hostages who were still in custody, and Israel is releasing about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Trump has traveled to Israel and spoken to parliament there. Middle East political experts Ariel Ahram and Joel Peters can discuss where this new development could lead.
What Alaskan typhoon says about evolving hurricane season
Typhoon Halang slammed into western Alaska with winds up to 100 miles per hour over the weekend, bringing a massive storm surge that swept some houses into the Bering Sea. While such extreme weather events are rare in that part of the world, they have been increasing in recent years. Natural hazards expert Robert Weiss and meteorologist Stephanie Zick can speak to the forces that led to these events and how they are connected to broader global hurricane activity.
Political expert on the proliferation of negative campaign ads
As election day approaches, it may well seem to Virginians that negative ads are flooding the airwaves, cable commercial breaks, and even mailboxes. In fact, the statewide elections this year are on track to break new records in spending on political advertising. Political communications expert Cayce Myers shared his analysis of the motivations that both sides have to frame their opponents in increasingly negative terms. More here.
Expert: Leave your lawn unraked
This fall, Virginia Tech turfgrass specialist, Mike Goatley, is challenging the conventional wisdom of leaf cleanup with a simple—but counterintuitive—recommendation: let the leaves lie. Rather than raking and bagging, mulching fallen leaves back into your lawn can improve soil health, suppress weeds, and return valuable nutrients, while saving time, effort, and disposal costs. Goatley is available to explain how this low-effort approach aligns with sustainable lawn care practices and offer other seasonal tips. More here.
Podcast: Developing new drugs
Webster Santos joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the intricate process of drug discovery and the rigorous multidisciplinary approach required to develop new pharmaceuticals. Santos is exploring a new weight loss compound that has the potential to help people lose weight without exercise and retain muscle.
Santos is a professor of chemistry and the Cliff and Agnes Lilly Faculty Fellow in the College of Science. He also directs the Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, which is affiliated with the Fralin Life Sciences Institute.
Research Highlight
Unraveling the secrets of ‘chemo brain’
Cancer is a challenging enough diagnosis, but many patients are dealt a second blow, even as they heal: “chemo brain.” Also called “brain fog,” this mix of cognitive issues — memory problems, struggling to find words, an inability to concentrate — affects up to 3 in 4 cancer patients, according to multiple studies. For many, the effects last years beyond cancer treatment. The new study, published this morning in Communications Biology, offers new models for studying causes of chemo brain and points to the effects of chemotherapy drugs on the brain’s lymphatic system, which is a network of tiny vessels in the brain’s protective membranes that help remove waste and transport immune cells. The study highlights considerations for cancer treatment beyond eradicating the cancer itself. More here.
