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West Virginia University researchers have helped discover the most massive neutron star to date, a breakthrough uncovered through the Green Bank Telescope in Pocahontas County. The neutron star, called J0740+6620, is a rapidly spinning pulsar that packs 2.17 times the mass of the sun (which is 333,000 times the mass of the Earth) into a sphere only 20-30 kilometers, or about 15 miles, across. This measurement approaches the limits of how massive and compact a single object can become without crushing itself down into a black hole.

WVU astronomers help detect the most massive neutron star ever measured

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West Virginia University researchers have helped discover the most massive neutron star to date, a breakthrough uncovered through the Green Bank Telescope in Pocahontas County.

Dan McNeil

Looking beyond the tooth

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WVU studies impact of social support on kids’ oral health

To the casual observer, Japanese stiltgrass appears as a harmless, leafy green plant that blends into the majestic scenery of your weekend hike through the woods. Plant biologists like Craig Barrett know better.

Invasion of the Japanese stiltgrass

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WVU biologist targets plant that wreaks havoc on forest ecosystems

A rocky start in college hasn’t stopped West Virginia University alumnus Zachary Heck (BS Geology, ’16) from pursuing his prehistoric passions. As a geology student, Heck traveled to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Forest; Yellowstone National Park; Spearfish, South Dakota; and Dillon, Montana, where he gained experience in geologic mapping of rock units, hot springs and geysers. Heck’s passion for preserving prehistoric artifacts led him to a career in paleontology before he even graduated. He landed an internship with a paleontologist based in Barrackville who owns Prehistoric Planet, a web-based replica store. He spent five years with the company creating and delivering fossil replicas around the U.S.

Unearthing the art of fossils

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A rocky start in college hasn’t stopped West Virginia University alumnus Zachary Heck (BS Geology, ’16) from pursuing his prehistoric passions. 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—When Alec Neu arrived at West Virginia University as a journalism major in 2013, he never expected to end up at NASA. Now, with a degree in journalism and work experience in Greece under his belt, Neu has his sights set on the sky as he returns to WVU for a second degree. Neu, a physics major, spent the summer at NASA conducting heliophysics research, which is all about how the sun affects the solar system. He was part of a team developing a new method for predicting coronal mass ejections’ effects on Earth, or large blasting events on the sun that release light and energy.

An unexpected path to discovery

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When Alec Neu arrived at West Virginia University as a journalism major in 2013, he never expected to end up at NASA. 

2019 Ruby Fellows

WVU names 2019 class of Ruby Fellows

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Seven students pursuing doctoral degrees at  West Virginia University are receiving funding through the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows Program. Lauryn Alexander, Heather Baldwin, Elaine Christman, John Hansen, Emily Hughes, Alyssa Stonebraker and Nicholas Winch have been named to the eighth class of fellows. 

Researchers at West Virginia University are helping universities nationwide overcome barriers to STEM faculty careers for women and underrepresented minorities. While there have been increases in the diversity of faculty positions, the share of women and underrepresented minority faculty is considerably less than their share in the U.S. population or in the number of undergraduate students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math, according to the National Science Foundation. To address these challenges, ADVANCE Center Director Kasi Jackson and Center for Women’s and Gender Studies Director Sharon Bird are leading a research team in evaluating colleges and universities nationwide to make recommendations for equity reform and organizational change.

WVU project forges pathways for underrepresented faculty

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Researchers at West Virginia University are helping universities nationwide overcome barriers to STEM faculty careers for women and underrepresented minorities.

While marriage equality continues to be a big win for the LGBTQ movement since its passage in the U.S. in 2015, many activists are concerned about what’s next. Researchers from West Virginia University and the University of Kansas have spent the intervening years studying the young adults comprising the next generation of LGBTQ activists to understand their aspirations for the movement’s future.

WVU study investigates rural LGBTQ youth’s motivations for participating in activism

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While marriage equality continues to be a big win for the LGBTQ movement since its passage in the U.S. in 2015, many activists are concerned about what’s next.

The National Science Foundation has formally decided to keep open the Green Bank Observatory, a partner of West Virginia University and a key site for the University’s astronomy research. On Friday (July 26), the NSF signed a “Record of Decision” for the observatory, located in Green Bank in Pocahontas County, which acknowledges that the facility will remain open with respect to a plan that sees reduced funding from the federal agency but formed partnerships with new stakeholders. In recent years, the NSF have discussed divesting the facility.

Green Bank Observatory, site for breakthrough WVU research and teaching, to remain open

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The National Science Foundation has formally decided to keep open the Green Bank Observatory, a partner of West Virginia University and a key site for the University’s astronomy research.

WVU prepares rural students for STEM majors through new summer camp

WVU prepares rural students for STEM majors through new summer camp

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Nine first-year students arrived at West Virginia University last week to get a head start on their college experiences.