By Jacob Jenkins, science & technology reporter
Just as Blacksburg began to see warmer temperatures, it was hit with a wintry mix. St. Patrick’s Day saw freezing temperatures and even light snowfall. Locals are confused by the varying weather, which does not fit common expectations for springtime.
By Hunter Grove, science and technology reporter
Since the exponential growth of data centers in Northern Virginia and newly proposed complexes in Roanoke and Wythe County, The New River Valley, Blacksburg, and the rest of Southwestern Virginia might be next due to its available land, power capacity, and location near Virginia Tech.
by Hunter Grove, science and technology reporter
Since 2016, Virginia Tech turfgrass researchers have been studying “Bluemuda”, a grass seeding system meant to keep grass green all year. While it shows promise, managers say it can be tricky to maintain in practice.
By Jacob Jenkins, science and technology reporter
Virginia Tech’s Anderson Observatory is often unnoticed by the school’s students, but has served as a major asset for astronomical research for decades. Its high-tech telescopes and camera systems allow faculty and students to explore the cosmos. Open-house events allow astronomers of all kinds to tap into astrophotography opportunities.
By Timothy Kwon, science and technology reporter
A short video news package from Virginia Tech’s Drone Park, where students and researchers practice flying in a controlled, netted flight space. Through interviews with the Drone Park manager, a student intern, a senior emergency coordinator and a drone journalism professor, the story highlights how safety rules and training shape responsible drone use on campus.
By Hunter Grove, science and technology reporter
Fralin Hall at Virginia Tech, named for donors William and Ann Fralin. The Fralin name also represents the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke, home to Dr. Ryan Purcell’s lab. Blacksburg, Va. Feb 13 2026
For Dr. Ryan Purcell and his team at Purcell Labs, CRISPR is a key tool for understanding the genetic roots of psychiatric disorders. By engineering neurons with high-risk mutations, including the 3q29 deletion, the lab can see how tiny changes in DNA affect the developing brain, laying the groundwork for future discoveries.
CRISPR, a powerful gene-editing technology, allows Virginia Tech researchers to precisely modify DNA to uncover how it affects neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. At the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Purcell and his team engineer human neural cells that mimic high-risk genetic mutations. This process allows them to directly observe how specific DNA changes affect brain development and function. One of the lab’s major projects focuses on the 3q29 deletion, a rare chromosomal region strongly associated with schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Photo of Dr. Ryan Purcell. Photo by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute
Purcell has been studying the 3q29 deletion since 2017. In late 2025, he was awarded the Seale Innovation Fund, created by Virginia Tech alumni Bill and Carol Seale to support high-risk and innovative biomedical research. The fund provided $275,000 to six projects studying the heart, memory, and mental health.
“We continue to study that in our lab,” Purcell said. “We have a mouse model that we use because they have the same set of genes on their chromosome 16, which is useful when studying the mammalian brain.”
Purcell discovered an interest in neuroscience during classes at Johns Hopkins University but didn’t begin working in psychiatric genetics until his postdoctoral work, when he started studying the 3q29 deletion.
Inside the lab, rows of incubators quietly house developing cells while researchers move between microscopes and computer screens analyzing genetic data. The work unfolds slowly as stem cells are edited with CRISPR and compared with healthy control neurons. The goal is incremental, but the work is transformative, helping build a biological roadmap of psychiatric risk for future research.
Patience and precision are essential. Each experiment builds on the last, helping the team determine what is working and what is not. Answers often take weeks or even years to emerge.
Without CRISPR, the process would take much longer. Its technology allows the team to isolate specific DNA changes much faster than traditional methods such as selective breeding or random mutagenesis. “It’s a major convenience for us,” Purcell said. “We can generate cells that have specific edits to the genome much faster, and it allows us to address questions more efficiently.”
Currently, Purcell Labs is studying the 3q29 deletion and another variant called the 22q11 deletion, which is more common and involves a larger DNA segment. The team is exploring how these deletions affect protein levels and how environmental factors influence outcomes.
“It’s a rare disorder, but we’re still probably talking about 10,000 people in the United States alone, which is a lot,” Purcell said.
Purcell emphasizes that the goal is understanding, not immediate cures. Each experiment adds to a growing foundation for future researchers to explore how genetic changes influence brain function and development. This work could one day guide more effective diagnostics and therapies for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
“If we’re able to make progress in our cell culture work, it could translate into people having better outcomes and being able to live more productive, independent, and healthier lives,” he said. “That’s really the long-term goal.”
With continued support from initiatives like the Seale Innovation Fund, Purcell Labs continues to push the boundaries of what CRISPR can reveal about the brain. By modeling the 3q29 deletion in human stem cells and mouse models, his team is uncovering how missing DNA segments disrupt neuron growth, communication, and other cognitive and physical functions. Studying these mutations in detail contributes to shifting psychiatric diagnoses from symptom-based assessments to more biologically informed approaches, helping with early detection, risk assessment, and understanding how these disorders develop.
by Caroline Rogers and Ryan Radulski–
Wearable technology is starting to get a whole new look. It is no longer just counting steps and tracking heart rates. In this podcast episode, we take a look at the new and emerging Meta glasses and Oura rings that are the talk of the town right now in technology.
We discuss how people across the world are using the new glasses to gain a following on social media, and how there are people on our very own campus doing the same thing. Then we dive into the Oura ring and the new health craze among Gen Z. Does it really work? Is the health tracking worth the mental craze it might cause? College students seem to think so, as it’s all people are talking about.
By Jacob Jenkins, science & technology reporter
After a year of design and preparation, the Virginia Tech Motorsports Formula SAE team is currently in the process of manufacturing their vehicle for the 2026 competition year. The student design team will soon face off against 120 teams nationally to try and prove their vehicle ranks highest in regard to dynamic ability, superior design, and reliable technology.
The Virginia Tech Formula team, which is based at the school’s Ware Lab, has been competing in Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competitions since 1985, which offers an incredible hands-on learning experience. Students across majors are tasked with designing, manufacturing, and racing a small formula-style race car. The Virginia Tech Formula team has consistently delivered since its conception, establishing itself as a powerhouse nationally. A strong performance last year earned the team 15th place in the ‘25 competition. With three months until the ‘26 competition, it is officially crunch time for the team as they ramp up their building phase in pursuit of first place.
What many might not know is just how much work goes into planning and developing a miniature race car. Eighty engineers and 10 business leaders work diligently throughout the school year to ensure final products will perform at competition and amplify Virginia Tech’s status as a premier team. There are strict timelines, various sub-teams, funding needs, and interdisciplinary work that make for a complicated and rigorous process.
Hank Pete, the Formula SAE ‘26 and ‘27 Chassis Lead, shed light on navigating the challenges of the competition and what it takes to keep Virginia Tech’s team at the forefront. “Our team runs a two-year cycle, so the ‘26 car was designed through the last year and is being built this year through 25 fall, 26 spring,” said Pete. “While that’s happening, the 27 car is also in tandem, being designed as the 26 is being built.”
It’s not as simple as working on one car at a time. The team is constantly balancing design and manufacturing, contributing to multiple projects at once. Since the ‘26 and ‘27 competition builds include internal combustion and electric variants, the team is essentially working on four different vehicles at once while modifying previous models for testing platforms. “We’re consistently having meetings trying to ensure that everyone stays on the same page,” said Pete. “It’s so much project management. That’s the one thing in engineering that they never really go over a lot. We’re consistently trying to get this car funded, make sure that our timelines align, and make sure that the weather is permitting [for testing].”
In the midst of all the hecticness and challenges, the team’s end goal is to achieve first place. Competition consists of three categories, including technical inspection, static analysis, and dynamic testing. Technical inspection ensures that the vehicle can operate safely in real-world conditions. There are three static events which involve a design portion, business presentation, and cost analysis. The dynamic events are where the vehicle is pushed to its limits, testing acceleration, cornering, speed/handling, and endurance.
“I feel confident. We got 15th last year [nationally] and are ranked 25th internationally out of about 370,” said Pete. With last year’s competition bringing unexpected hiccups, Pete believes the team can improve on last year’s placement. “The hope is a top 10 finish this year. Last year, because of some issues with testing and overall verification, the aerodynamics package was basically rendered useless by the time of testing. So we were the highest placed team without an aero package on our car.”
While the main focus is competition ‘26, the team is constantly reviewing past performances and learning how to best approach new vehicle design and development. Nick Carneiro, the suspension lead for competition ‘27, discussed the importance of intentional design and applying past experiences to improve at competition. “Leading a team through design, we start off the first semester mainly brainstorming and researching, looking at data from the previous years, seeing what could be improved, what could stay the same,” said Carneiro. “That’s the end goal, we are designing this car to win. What will make us the most points that we missed last year, right?”
These combined efforts across sub-teams to put the team in a position to succeed have created a strong community for Virginia Tech’s team. There is a collective passion that brings its members together even when presented with rigorous tasks and unexpected hurdles. “It’s definitely a labor of love, right? At the end of January, I had a week where I pulled 110 hours in the lab,” said Pete. “This is the stuff that I’m really passionate about. I get to be on the cutting edge of technology that college students are able to work on.”
The team also acts as a second home for many of its members and serves as a place to make new friends over shared passions. “I made most of my friends on this team coming into tech,” said Carneiro. “There are new faces every year, new freshmen, new sophomores that come in, and we all have common interests in building this race car. It’s a massive community. We all have to support each other.”
The Virginia Tech Motorsports Formula SAE team is hoping for a stellar performance at this year’s competition in May. Along the way, the team will continue to overcome challenges, push the boundaries of Formula development, and build their community.
By: Josie Sellers, health and wellness reporter
BLACKSBURG, Va. (Feb. 13, 2026)- Researchers at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech are testing a new approach to treating brain tumors using the drug verteporfin in combination with photodynamic therapy.
Led by Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Virginia Tech, Dr. John Rossmeisl, the study will test three dogs diagnosed with brain tumors over 180 days to determine a safe and effective dose of the photosensitive verteporfin, “NanoVP.”
The trial specifically targets glioblastomas, which are extremely aggressive and infiltrative. In the United States, about 12,000 people are diagnosed each year, and they account for 14% of brain tumors. They are especially hard to remove because they lack a clear border.
Hopefully, the findings from the trial will aid in research on tumors in humans, once again giving reason to believe dog is a man’s best friend.
Cancerous cells in brain tumors, especially glioblastomas, can travel from the tumor that is visible using diagnostic techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because it is difficult to see the invasive cells, it is a challenge to remove the entire mass. As a result, it often recurs.
Rossmeisl is collaborating with the University of Maryland Associate Professor Dr. Joe Huang, who developed NanoVP. He compares it to an eraser at the end of surgery, where cells that are not removed by hand are eradicated.
“The goal of this particular study will be to administer the drug and then shine the light into the resection cavity after the main tumor mass is removed, with the goal of the drug in the photodynamic therapy killing any remaining cancer cells that remain behind that we can’t see,” said Rossmeisl.
NanoVP differs from other photosensitizing drugs because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is a wall of cells that defends the brain from harmful substances, preventing about 98% of small-molecule drugs from entering.
Because of the relatively small size of the drug, it can cross the barrier to reach tumors.
Already, data from previous trials on mice show that the drug effectively kills tumor cells. In preclinical trials, it extended the life of the mice beyond other treatments. The current study will determine effective doses with limited side effects for the dogs.
The target doses will be based on the data they already have from the mice. Because dogs are much bigger than mice, they will likely need more.
However, because of the photosensitization, the patient may have complications when they are exposed to light. This study aims to research the ideal amount of injection.
While the dogs are under anesthesia, as much of the tumor as possible will be removed through surgery. Then, NanoVP will be injected through a vein. Once the tumor is removed, a laser will shine to activate the drug, killing the remaining tumor cells.
Within the next two hours, five blood samples from each dog will be collected for research.
For the next six months, they will have follow-up visits, and owners may withdraw them at any point.
This trial differs from conventional animal testing, which involves generating a disease. Instead, his study focuses on dogs who already have brain tumors, which Huang says is a more ethical approach.
“If we give the drug with no drug-associated side effects in this trial, we’ll consider the trial successful,” said Rossmeisl. “It’s a very early-stage trial, so we’re not trying to prove that it’s going to totally eliminate cancer. That’ll be later on down the road.”
Rossmeisl hopes that in the future, this treatment will be used more frequently in combination with other forms of more traditional cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation.
While this trial specifically works with brain cancer, the drug is effective against any kind of tumor.
In fact, Dr. Huang has already used the drug for various kinds of tumors.
“You might need certain doses for certain types,” said Rossmeisl. “You might have to tweak the dosage or the exposures to light for certain types of tumors. But then again, those are details that would be answered in a different study.”
Researchers also want to utilize findings from the trial to improve treatment for humans, giving hope to those who may benefit.
“As a patient who has a brain tumor- and actually has had a couple- and has undergone two surgical interventions for it, I am really glad that they are doing this experiment, and it’s going through the phases of clinical trials before it approaches the patient,” said Virginia Tech student Sydney Hill. “It seems like a really good therapy, and I hope that it has some promising results.”
This trial is working with a European glioblastoma study using the same photodynamic therapy approach in people. Both trials are funded by the same company, Modulight, using a translational approach where the data from the trials are shared to improve both studies.
As of now, there are no dogs enrolled in the study. Those interested in the trial can find more information here.
By Savannah May, Politics & Government reporter
As Northern Virginia fills with massive data centers, tech companies are increasingly turning to rural counties for land. Places like Montgomery County, Va., may not have proposals yet, but experts warn that land-use decisions like these can affect communities for generations.
Nearly every Google search, social media post or online purchase passes through a data center somewhere. Companies rely on these facilities to store information, run websites and apps and manage internal operations like payroll, human resources and sales.
Data centers operate at different capacities. Hyperscale facilities differ from traditional data centers in their ability to host and operate at least 5,000 servers and cover at least 10,000 square feet of physical area.
“The number of operational hyperscale data centers continues to grow inexorably, having doubled over the past five years,” according to John Dinsdale, a chief analyst at Synergy Research Group. Not only will numbers increase, but so will their size. Advances in AI (artificial intelligence)-focused, GPU (graphics processing unit)-powered infrastructure are expected to roughly double the computing capacity of the next generation of hyperscale centers.
Companies like Google build at such a massive scale due to the demand for AI, data storage and other big-data computing pursuits. Hyperscale facilities are expanding rapidly across the United States. The number of hyperscale data centers doubled between 2019 and 2024, with more than 135 coming online in 2024 alone.
Virginia has the largest concentration of data centers in the world, hosting 35 percent of known hyperscale data centers worldwide. Northern Virginia, known as “Data Center Alley,” is at the forefront of this market.
Today, local constituents in these communities are pushing back against projects once considered “guaranteed approvals,” due to economic and political resistance.
For residents like Carlos Balvin, a cinema major at Virginia Tech, the impact is visible. “They’re a real eyesore and a stain on what would often otherwise be a beautiful day,” he says.
With this ongoing growth, companies are shifting to locations that offer large tracts of cheap land compared to dense urban areas.
Jurisdictions in Northern Virginia heavily invested in fiber-optic and network infrastructure to build a higher network capacity, which has helped attract data center development. Many companies in the region overlap with the defense and logistics industry. By developing near Washington D.C., a strategic decision, companies are closer to that infrastructure.
“In many ways, data centers are probably taking advantage of the fact that the infrastructure was prioritized here and developed here,” says Margaret Cowell, associate professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech.
Rural communities offer reliable grid connections for resource adequacy and open terrain, making line-of-sight transmission easier. Areas with less development become easy targets, potentially swayed by financial incentives.
“In the past, there were debates about whether it was fair to site landfills in poor, rural communities that didn’t have much economic opportunity,” says Cowell. “Waste management companies would approach them and say, ‘You’ve got land, you could make money off it.’” While landfills and data centers are quite different, weighing their strategic approaches may offer insight into the industry’s next moves.
For Montgomery County, the primary operating data center facility is located in Blacksburg. Brush Mountain Data Center, located within the Corporate Research Center at Virginia Tech, is a subsidiary of Advanced Logic Industries, a Virginia-based company. Brush Mountain is a smaller-scale data center compared to the majority of facilities located in Northern Virginia.
Planning commissions approve development for several reasons. Developments could be seen as a way to increase the tax base or improve the economic conditions within your community.
“If you’re doing smart economic development, you’re concerned with the workforce. If you’re going to say yes to one of these companies, ideally, there would be a guarantee of a certain number of jobs being created,” says Cowell.
Michael Cary, research assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, wrote in an email, “The one area of research that does have some preliminary results that I am aware of is labor markets. There is no evidence of job creation beyond temporary spikes in construction jobs.”
This means that as research further develops, local politicians will still consider these impacts in making economic decisions for their constituents. As data centers continue to grow across the United States, including Virginia, it’s important to remember that if constituents are loud enough, they can have a real influence on what does or does not develop in their communities.
The Montgomery County Planning Commission said there are currently no proposals or zoning changes under consideration for data centers, and the Board of Supervisors has only discussed the issue. Planning staff said no formal action has been taken beyond preliminary discussion.
“Montgomery County probably doesn’t draw much benefit from a data center, but it could be persuaded by promises of revenue,” says Cowell. “There’s a real tension about whether we should allow this in our backyards, because, in some ways, it feels exploitative.”
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