News

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Undergraduate heads into the lab (and the marsh) to protect our coastlines

Salt marshes, often overlooked, provide critical ecosystem services to coastal communities. They protect against damaging storm surge by attenuating waves, and they guard against algal blooms and oxygen depletion by intercepting watershed nitrogen before it can prompt eutrophication in coastal waters. In recent decades, numerous anthropogenic sources have increased nitrogen inputs to these salt marsh ecosystems. Yet, many of the effects of these nitrogen inputs on the carbon and nitrogen cycles,…
July 06, 2023
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Diving in to Science Communication to Protect Our Ocean: Q&A with Alumna Sophia Troeh

Sophia Troeh, a recent graduate of Northeastern University’s Three Seas program, is dedicated to protecting our oceans and their ecosystems for future generations. Sophia was chosen for the prestigious 2023 Sea Grant Knauss fellowship, where and her work showcases the vital intersection of science and advocacy in safeguarding our marine resources. Her passion for science outreach and a commitment to environmental conservation were influenced by her time in the Three…
July 06, 2023
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How We Can All ‘Accelerate Change’ This World Water Day: Q&A with Professor James Dennedy-Frank

James Dennedy-Frank, assistant professor of marine and environmental sciences and civil and environmental engineering, sat down to speak about World Water Day, which falls on March 22. Professor Dennedy-Frank leads the Water Resources Ecohydrology Lab at Northeastern — their work helps us understand the function of watersheds as they bring together meteorological forcing, geological settings, […]
March 21, 2023

The fungal zombies in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ are based on real, horrifying biology

In the premiere of HBO’s big budget video game adaption “The Last of Us,” a scientist on a 1960s Dick Cavett-like talk show raises the idea that a fungal, not viral, infection will spell the end of humanity. On the surface, it’s laughable, and the idea is met with bemused laughter by the host and audience. But as the scientist explains his theory, the energy in the room slowly shifts…
January 18, 2023