天美传媒

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Easter wouldn鈥檛 be Easter without a bunny, egg hunts, and festive baskets. Alongside the religious significance of Easter, the story behind the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs involves a mix of pagan rituals, Christian traditions, and 19th century European folklore. Candace Buckner, assistant professor of religion and culture at Virginia Tech, shares more about the history behind these modern symbols of Easter.

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The concept of quantum is popping up everywhere these days, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to "Everything Everywhere All at Once." But what exactly does quantum mean? And what impact will it have in our multiverse?聽 For World Quantum Day on April 14, and in celebration of the United Nations designating 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, Virginia Tech quantum experts Sophia Economou, Charles Cao, and Wayne Scales share what quantum computers can do now, what they鈥檙e poised to do in the future, and why this cutting-edge research matters.

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Fans of the genre known as 鈥渢rue crime鈥� have no shortage of books, television shows, and movies to choose from. Virginia Tech English Department instructor Ingrid Johnson, who is teaching a course on the subject this semester with 500 students enrolled, answered questions about the public鈥檚 fascination with this genre and the broader societal implications.

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Global stock markets are volatile as a result of President Donald Trump鈥檚 widespread tariff announcements. The big question now: Is the United States headed for a recession?聽 The short answer from Virginia Tech economists and policy experts Jadrian Wooten, David Bieri, and Dimitris Tsarouhas is no, not yet, but we鈥檙e getting close.

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For decades, PFAS, which stands for polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been a staple in firefighting foams because of their ability to smother liquid fuel fires. But as concerns over their environmental and health impacts grow, researchers are racing to find safer alternatives.聽 Brian Lattimer, head of the Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been at the forefront of this challenge.

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Lilies might be beautiful, but for cats, they pose a significant threat that can be deadly. A veterinarian with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is urging cat owners to be extra cautious and understand the risks associated with these common household and garden plants, especially with Easter and the spring planting season.

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Severe weather events have left millions of people without power for days, sometimes weeks or months, raising questions about whether the United States power infrastructure needs an overhaul. Joseph Vantassel, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, believes moving power lines underground could be a solution.

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America鈥檚 infrastructure is cracking, according to the latest report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. In multiple categories, from aviation to roads to energy, the country鈥檚 infrastructure is earning Ds, almost-failing grades. Virginia Tech engineering experts can break down what these failing grades mean 鈥� and what needs to happen to rebuild to make our communities safer and better prepared for the future.

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If you鈥檝e noticed fewer butterflies fluttering around your garden lately, you鈥檙e not alone. Many insect populations are in decline, and butterflies are no exception. According to Virginia Tech entomologists, they face a variety of challenges, such as habitat destruction, improper use or overuse of pesticides, and climate change.

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President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on imported passenger vehicles, light trucks, and parts such and engines and transmissions. Virginia Tech global finance expert David Bieri answered questions about potential positive and negative effects of the tariffs for the auto industry, auto workers, and consumers.

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Even though Elon Musk's financial resources failed to sway the results of the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, he remains a powerful figure on the Republican side that Democrats should not take lightly. Virginia Tech political communications expert Cayce Myers explains.

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Virginia farms could face economic consequences because of tariffs imposed by the United States on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, and because of tariffs imposed on U.S. goods by those countries in return. Virginia Tech agricultural trade policy analyst Xi He shared an overview of the challenges that the commonwealth鈥檚 agricultural industry might have to anticipate and navigate.

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A journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat on the encrypted app Signal between high-level U.S government officials planning a military operation. Virginia Tech cybersecurity and social platform experts France B茅langer, Aaron Brantly, Jimmy Ivory and Anthony Vance explain what Signal is, how it works, and how such a breach of national security could happen.

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The world鈥檚 largest St. Patrick鈥檚 Day celebration isn鈥檛 in Ireland. It鈥檚 in the U.S. It鈥檚 no secret that Americans have an affinity for the holiday. Many Americans 鈥� even those with no Irish descent 鈥� choose to celebrate by wearing green clothing, drinking green beer, and eating dishes like corned beef and cabbage. Some major cities, like Chicago, even dye their rivers green for the day.

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Virginia Tech infectious disease epidemiologist Lisa M. Lee explains why new measles cases are being reported around the country, not just in Texas, despite the illness being declared eliminated in the U.S. in the early 2000s due to rigorous vaccine uptake. What factors have contributed to the recent measles outbreak, and why is it spreading so quickly? 鈥淢easles is back because of falling vaccination rates.

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On the evening of Thursday, March 6, a SpaceX Starship test ended when the upper stage rocket failed and exploded, raining down debris over parts of the Caribbean. Virginia Tech aerospace engineer Ella Atkins explains both the progress and fallout from the incident.

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Walk into any store, and nearly everything 鈥� except produce 鈥� comes in some sort of package. Bottled water, cheese, electronics, even large appliances are wrapped in protective material to ensure that items are not damaged in transit. Changes, such as tariffs in the global marketplace, have a ripple effect on packaging, says Laszlo Horvath, an associate professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech and director of the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials.

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From the U.S. halting military support to Ukraine聽to America鈥檚 role聽in the NATO, questions have arisen about how the United States鈥� role on the international stage might be changing. Virginia Tech foreign relations experts聽Dimitris Tsarouhas, visiting professor of political science, and聽Yannis Stivachtis, professor and director of the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, share their insights on the country鈥檚 handling of foreign affairs.

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Whether they're planning to snorkel a barrier reef or just walks on the beach, all travelers face risks 鈥� starting when they connect to the internet via airport Wi-Fi. Fraudsters troll free airport Wi-Fi signals and even impersonate those networks to get access to sensitive information such as credit card numbers and banking passwords transmitted through passengers鈥� laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

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President Donald Trump鈥檚 first address to Congress during his second term celebrated his administration鈥檚 swift actions during its first six weeks. Virginia Tech political communications expert Cayce Myers shares his analysis of the significance of the president鈥檚 speech and the Democratic Party鈥檚 response.