UNH Today

DURHAM, N.H.— The University of New Hampshire is one of 14 universities from around the globe that have collectively been awarded $12.5 million by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a new Biology Integration Institute (BII), called EMERGE. UNH will receive $3.6 million and will collaborative with the other universities to focus on better understanding ecosystem and climate interactions—like the thawing of the Arctic permafrost—and how they can alter everything from the landscape to greenhouse gases.

DURHAM, N.H.—America’s rural population is at higher risk from COVID-19 because its people are older and have a higher rate of pre-existing health conditions, according to new research released by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. Rural areas may currently have lower COVID-19 case and death rates, but these rates are rising faster than in urban areas.

DURHAM, N.H.—Research from the University of New Hampshire found that people who are more accurate in estimating their people skills, while perhaps not as enthusiastic, emotionally positive and sociable as people who overestimate their skills, have a better understanding of themselves and those around them and may make better friends, partners or bosses.

Editor’s note: On Wednesday, August 26, at 1 p.m. the authors of this brief will host a live webinar discussing their research and its findings. Please register to attend.

DURHAM, N.H.— The University of New Hampshire will lead an outreach effort to provide informational tools to help residents better manage chronic pain and avoid the pitfalls of addictive opioids. UNH Cooperative Extension was awarded a grant for close to a million dollars from the U.S.

Editor’s Note: The researchers will host a live webinar today at 2:30 p.m. to discuss their research and finding. Please register to attend.

DURHAM, N.H.—In a new study, University of New Hampshire researchers have concluded that when assessing forest imagery collected by unmanned aerial systems, an alternative method of delineating individual forest tree crowns within those images is more accurate than the most commonly used method, the canopy height model. The research is important to New Hampshire landowners and forest managers as mapping and monitoring forests is a key component of managing natural resources.

DURHAM, N.H.— Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have identified new pathways in an RNA-based virus where inhibitors, like medical treatments, unbind. The finding could be beneficial in understanding how these inhibitors react and potentially help develop a new generation of drugs to target viruses with high death rates, like HIV-1, Zika, Ebola and SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

DURHAM, N.H.— Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have identified a quicker and less expensive way to count sperm in lobsters that could help scientists looking at any animal better understand mating, a key aspect of species survival.

“Scientists used to have to do this using a very tedious or expensive method so it was rarely attempted,” said Win Watson, professor emeritus of marine biology. “Now that DNA technology has become so accessible and affordable, we decided to try it and it worked great.”

DURHAM, N.H.—A survey of 1,549 small businesses in the state by the NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC) found more than half had seen their revenue decrease by 50% or more, especially those with few employees and those in the arts, entertainment and recreation industry or the accommodation and food service industry, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-seven percent of responding businesses had the same number of employees now as they did in February while 43% had fewer employees.