Experts Matter. Find Yours.

America at 250: CMU Experts Explore the Ideas, People and Events That Shaped a Nation

Throughout 2026, the United States will commemorate the 250th anniversary of its founding, a milestone that is prompting reflection on the nation's history, its defining moments, and the people and ideas that continue to shape its future. From the founding principles of democracy and constitutional rights to social movements, innovation, and overlooked stories from America's past, Carnegie Mellon University scholars and experts offer timely insight into the issues and events driving the national conversation. Whether reporting on anniversary celebrations, historical milestones, or the enduring impact of America's past on today's challenges, CMU experts are available to provide informed analysis and historical context. What CMU Experts Can Help You Cover From founding documents to untold histories, CMU experts can speak to the full range of topics for  America at 250. The Document in the Archive One of only five known copies of the 1792 Bill of Rights is held at Carnegie Mellon University. As America marks its 250th anniversary, this rare artifact is on public display -- and the story behind it connects directly to debates about rights, citizenship, and constitutional interpretation that are as live today as they were in the founding era. The Constitution on Trial For 250 years, the Supreme Court has been the ultimate interpreter of America's founding documents. But how justices write those decisions -- the rhetoric, the emotion, the moral grandstanding -- shapes how law is understood and applied for generations. What does the language of fundamental rights decisions tell us about American democracy? The History That Was Left Out Official celebrations tend to center on the founders. But historians have spent decades recovering the stories of enslaved people, women, immigrants, and communities whose contributions shaped the nation and whose experiences complicate the triumphant narrative. Dr. Edda Fields-Black's 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning book on Harriet Tubman and the Combahee River Raid is a reminder of just how much of that history is still being uncovered. What does a fuller American history look like at 250? Suffrage, Memory, and the Myth We Tell The story of how American women won the right to vote is one of the most retold in the country's history -- and one of the most mythologized. As the nation reflects on 250 years of democracy, what does the suffrage movement really tell us about how America progresses, and how it remembers its own progress? Covering America at 250? Carnegie Mellon University's historians, legal scholars, archivists, and subject matter experts are available for interviews, background briefings, and commentary on the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States over the past 250 years - and what that history means today.

Science Is Changing the Game: How Research Is Transforming Modern Sports

Professional sports have always embraced innovation, but today's competitive advantage increasingly comes from science. Researchers are applying advances in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, biomechanics, data analytics, and human performance to better understand how athletes make decisions, respond under pressure, recover from injury, and maximize performance. What once relied heavily on intuition and experience is now being informed by sophisticated research that can measure, predict, and improve outcomes at every level of competition. Recent studies from Carnegie Mellon University highlight the growing role science is playing across the sports landscape. Whether examining decision-making in high-pressure situations, analyzing performance strategies, or using artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes, researchers are uncovering insights that can help athletes perform at their best while extending careers and reducing injury risk. Ron Yurko is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Statistics & Data Science at Carnegie Mellon University, and the Director of the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center (CMSAC).  View his profile Scott Powers, an assistant professor at Rice University with vast front-office experience in Major League Baseball—including stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros—joined forces with Ron Yurko, a director at the Carnegie Mellon Sports Analytics Center, to analyze this cutting-edge data. Their study, published in The American Statistician in 2026, marks a significant advancement in the quantitative understanding of batting dynamics. It uses high-resolution measurements of bat speed and swing length, metrics that were publicly released for the first time in 2024, to explore how hitters modulate their swings under different pitch counts, particularly when facing two strikes. Eric Yttri is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University where his research goal is to establish how neural circuits lead to these action selection decisions.  View his profile As a neuroscientist, I have been working to uncover how the brain decides when to act and when to wait. Recent research from my team and me helps explain why this split-second pause happens, offering insight not only into elite athletic performance, but also how people make everyday decisions when the potential outcome isn't clear. We found that the key to hesitation is a response to uncertainty. This could be where a dropped hockey puck will land, when a race starts, or placing your order at a new restaurant. Eni Halilaj is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University where she directs the CMU Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab, an interdisciplinary group of engineers seeking to understand and optimize human movement mechanics. View her profile According to Eni Halilaj, an assistant professor in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and biomechanist who specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation, 60 percent of those who suffer this common knee injury also develop osteoarthritis early in life. The degenerative joint disease, which affects an estimated 32.5 million individuals in the U.S., is especially problematic for younger patients because of the longer time span during which the chronic condition can cause debilitating pain, stiffness and limited mobility. "How can we make the 60 percent have the same long-term outcome as the 40 percent?" asked Halilaj, who is working to understand the difference between those who do and those who do not develop osteoarthritis following knee trauma. Matthew Walker is a Professor, Astrophysics & Cosmology at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on the astrophysical properties of dark matter, but he is also a former collegiate D1 baseball player and lifelong, passionate fan staying apprised of advancements in the game. View his profile Carnegie Mellon University physics professor Matthew Walker said the system still has limitations, especially on pitches that are extremely close to the edge of the strike zone. "Every measurement device has a margin of error," Walker said. "ABS is, from what I can tell, somewhere around half an inch -- which means if the ABS call says that the pitch was within half an inch of the border between a ball and a strike, whether it says it’s a ball or a strike is really no better than a guess." Walker said that in those situations, the umpire’s original call should remain in place rather than letting the automated system make the final decision. The influence of science in sports extends far beyond professional athletics. Research developed for elite competitors often finds applications in healthcare, rehabilitation, education, workplace performance, and everyday decision-making. As teams continue to invest in analytics, wearable technology, artificial intelligence, and performance science, the relationship between research and sports is expected to grow even stronger. The result is a deeper understanding of how humans learn, adapt, compete, and perform under pressure. If you're covering or looking to know more, we can help! Carnegie Mellon University experts can discuss: • The growing role of science and technology in sports • Performance optimization and decision-making under pressure • Artificial intelligence and data analytics in athletics • Injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete health • The future of sports research and innovation

National Tick Collection Provides Front-Line Defense Against Emerging Health Threats

A recently published article in Grice Connect highlighted the national importance of the U.S. National Tick Collection, housed at Georgia Southern University's Statesboro Campus. Home to more than one million specimens representing nearly every known tick species, the collection serves as a critical resource for researchers, public health agencies, and disease surveillance efforts studying the spread of tick-borne illnesses. The collection, owned by the Smithsonian Institution and curated at Georgia Southern University, is one of the largest and most comprehensive tick collections in the world. Researchers use it to identify emerging threats, track changes in tick populations, and better understand the diseases these parasites can carry. As concerns about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses continue to grow, the collection provides scientists with an invaluable resource for monitoring species distribution, studying disease vectors, and supporting public health preparedness. It also plays an important role in training future researchers in a field where specialized expertise is increasingly needed. Lorenza Beati, Ph.D., is curator of the U.S. National Tick Collection and associate professor at Georgia Southern University.  Her research focuses on tick taxonomy, genetics, evolutionary relationships, and the role ticks play in transmitting diseases that affect both humans and animals. View her profile The article underscores the collection's growing importance as researchers work to better understand the complex relationships between ticks, pathogens, wildlife, and human health. As environmental conditions change and tick populations expand into new regions, resources like the U.S. National Tick Collection are helping scientists stay ahead of emerging public health challenges. The collection has been entrusted to Georgia Southern since 1990 and includes more than 1 million specimens and more than 125,000 accessioned lots. Beati said the collection is probably the largest curated tick collection in the world. While she said there may be a larger collection elsewhere, she said Georgia Southern’s collection remains especially important because it is active, used for research, and supported by curatorial work. “By having two curators here, we really keep the collection very active,” Beati said. “We publish a lot, we do a lot of research on our samples. We have visitors coming from all over the world to work with us.”  June 13 - Grice Connect Covering? We can help! Lorenza Beati is available to speak with media about tick-borne diseases, tick identification, vector ecology, disease surveillance and the critical role scientific collections play in protecting public health. Her expertise can help audiences better understand the growing impact of ticks on human and animal health, as well as the research efforts underway to address these challenges.

UConn Expert Weighs In on FIFA's Hottest New Timeout

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, every match at the 2026 tournament includes mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half. Introduced as a player welfare measure amid concerns about extreme summer temperatures across North America, the breaks have quickly become a much discussed development in the tournament. Coaches, players, broadcasters, sports scientists, and fans are all weighing in on the impact the stoppages have on player safety, game flow, strategy, and even commercial opportunities. The conversation has intensified as several matches have been played in challenging heat conditions and prominent coaches have publicly questioned whether the mandatory breaks alter the rhythm of the sport. At the same time, medical experts continue to emphasize the risks posed by heat stress and dehydration during elite athletic competition, particularly in tournaments spanning multiple climates and venues. Experts like UConn's Douglas Casa have been front and center when the media call for insight and perspective. The three-minute mandatory hydration breaks are meant to protect players, and referees, from extreme heat illness and help them maintain their physical performance. In that time, players can cool off and replenish lost water and salt from sweating, but how effective it is depends on how aggressive the cooling methods are. That could mean putting wet, cold towels on the exposed parts of a player's body, such as the neck, head, back and arms. If done well, that could reduce their body temperature by about 0.22 F (0.12 C) per minute, said Douglas Casa, CEO of the University of Connecticut's Korey Stringer Institute who also co-signed the letter to FIFA. "Some people can tolerate a little more fluids comfortably and then do intense exercise. Some people can't because it sloshes around in their stomach and they don't feel super comfortable, so they might not drink as much in such a short period of time," he added. The time, he said, dictates the volume of impact, whether from fluid or cooling, and "that's why we're suggesting doing something like five or six minutes, because it just makes such a big impact when you're dealing with a change of that magnitude." June 18 - NPR Douglas Casa is a professor of kinesiology and chief executive officer of UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute. He is a leading authority on research, advocacy, and education about exertional heat stroke View his profile While the standardized breaks represent a major step forward for player welfare, some leading heat illness experts argue the new policy does not go far enough. Dr. Douglas Casa, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and chief executive officer of the Korey Stringer Institute, expressed skepticism regarding the efficacy of such brief intervals. Dr. Casa warned that prolonged, high-intensity physical exertion causes a rapid spike in core body temperature, which dramatically degrades athletic performance and increases the risk of exertional heat illness. He noted that a mere three minutes from whistle to whistle provides insufficient time for optimal physiological cooling and active rehydration, recommending instead that tournament officials expand the mandatory breaks to five or six minutes. Faced with these demanding environmental conditions, several competing national teams are taking proactive measures to gain a competitive edge. Multiple countries have expanded their technical staffs to include specialized sports scientists tasked exclusively with designing aggressive heat-acclimatization and thermal-management strategies. According to Dr. Casa, these data-driven preparation strategies will likely play a monumental role in determining player durability and ultimately crowning the world champion. June 09 - NBC News Covering? We can help. Douglas Casa, who leads UConn's renowned Korey Stringer Institute, is available to discuss: The science behind hydration and cooling breaks in elite sport Heat illness risks facing World Cup athletes Whether mandatory breaks are sufficient to protect players How extreme weather is changing sports medicine and event management The balance between player safety, competition, and fan expectations Check out the video below featuring Doug Casa explaining what happens when the human body gets too hot. Media interested in speaking with Doug Casa can contact the UConn media relations team to arrange an interview.

Post-earthquake crisis in Venezuela: University of Delaware experts available to discuss public health, infrastructure and relief

Faculty from the University of Delaware’s renowned Disaster Research Center are available to comment on the back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela. These experts can discuss critical infrastructure failures, public health threats, emergency logistics and community-led response efforts in the region. Available experts include: From what I’ve seen, it looks like the earthquake occurred on the boundary of the Caribbean and South American plate. A strike-slip fault similar to the San Andreas. There have been a lot of nonductile reinforced concrete frame building collapses. There may be an effect of soil given that a lot of the damage has been near the coast. Jennifer Horney (Professor of Epidemiology) Focus: Public health impacts, post-disaster waterborne/vector-borne disease outbreaks and the breakdown of healthcare delivery due to damaged roads and disrupted communication networks. Tricia Wachtendorf (Co-director, Disaster Research Center) Focus: Disaster response logistics, community improvisation, neighbors as first responders and how to donate effectively to maximize impact. Sarah DeYoung (Associate Professor, Sociology and Criminal Justice) Focus: Maternal and infant health/feeding in emergencies, pet and companion animal evacuations and community-level crisis decision-making. To contact these experts directly and arrange an interview, visit their ExpertFile page and click on the contact button. Interested reporters can also email MediaRelations@udel.edu.

World Cup 2026: The Business Behind the Game

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across North America, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School experts are available to help media explore the business stories behind the world’s biggest sporting event, from the economics of hosting and ticket pricing to global sponsorship, player brands and the psychology of fandom. Goizueta’s World Cup 2026 Business Hub brings together faculty who can provide timely, research-backed commentary on the commercial, cultural and consumer forces shaping the tournament as it moves from match to match, city to city and story to story. Featured Topics The Economics of Hosting Infrastructure investment, tourism revenue, real estate, local labor markets and the broader financial impact of hosting World Cup matches. The Science of Fandom What drives global fan devotion, audience loyalty and engagement across stadiums, broadcasts and digital platforms. Ticket Pricing and Demand Dynamic pricing, hospitality packages, travel costs and how extraordinary demand shapes the fan experience at major global events. Brand Strategy and Global Sponsorship How companies evaluate World Cup sponsorships, build global campaigns and measure the return on major sports partnerships. The Rise of the Player Brand How star footballers build, extend and monetize personal brands that reach far beyond the pitch. Media can visit Goizueta’s World Cup 2026 Business Hub to explore available experts and connect directly with the right source for their story.

100 Years After the “Launch” of Aerospace Industry, Villanova Faculty Continue to Innovate the Sector

In 1926, Robert H. Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Mass. Goddard’s 10-foot-tall rocket was airborne for just 2.5 seconds, reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour before landing 184 feet away from the launch site. A century later, the aerospace industry is booming, with new technology and missions making headlines every day—some with incredible success, and others encountering challenges that send scientists back to the drawing board. In February 2026, NASA delayed the launch of Artemis II—its next mission to the moon—citing issues with helium flow in the rocket’s systems. By April, the mission was on track again, and Artemis II completed the first crewed flight to the moon in more than half a century. Crew members for the upcoming Artemis III mission were also recently announced, as well as a timeline and overview for Artemis IV, the first planned crewed mission to the lunar South Pole in 2028. Amid these successes and setbacks, researchers continue to innovate the field and develop new technologies designed to help expand our knowledge of the vast universe. That innovation comes from diverse and unique places, including Villanova University. Research in Flight Student interest in aerospace led to the creation of a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (MSAE) program at Villanova University, which began in the Fall 2025 semester. Sergey Nersesov, PhD, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering, was instrumental in the inception of the MSAE program and helped develop courses in space flight mechanics, applied aerodynamics, aerospace structures analysis and advanced flight dynamics and control, among others. The idea for the graduate program was inspired by the growing popularity of the College of Engineering’s Minor in Aerospace Engineering. The minor attracts students from across the university, drawing from other majors and colleges at Villanova. For example, Dr. Nersesov recently collaborated on a research project focused on spacecraft and satellite control systems with Aedan Disanto ‘26 CLAS, an astrophysics and planetary sciences major and aerospace engineering minor. “If you look up at the sky, sometimes you see satellites chasing each other,” said Dr. Nersesov. “Dynamics and control researchers develop algorithms to ensure proper spacing between the satellites so they can function correctly.” The spacing between satellites is crucial to avoid collision, which is also a potential issue when a spacecraft approaches a space station to dock. In this situation the velocities, rotation and orientation of both vehicles are carefully controlled so that docking mechanisms align correctly, which requires up to 12 variables to be coordinated simultaneously. Dr. Nersesov and Disanto analyzed the algorithms needed to guarantee perfect satellite function and built upon them, discovering more efficient ways to operate vehicles in space. This summer, Dr. Nersesov and his students will also begin designing a prototype for a new kind of drone. Typical drones use ample amounts of energy to become airborne and capture photos or video content because they rely entirely on thrust to hold themselves up. To improve effectiveness, Dr. Nersesov and his students aim to create a drone in the style of an airplane, with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability. The drone will take off vertically, like a helicopter, but then transition to flying horizontally like an airplane, allowing lift from the wings to reduce the energy needed to stay airborne. As a result, it could stay in the air up to ten times longer than a hovering drone. While the project focuses on a single aircraft design, it represents the type of forward-thinking research driving the aerospace field today. Aerospace Engineering with Biology Elsewhere, Qianhong Wu, PhD, chair of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering, is exploring a concept called super-lubrication, inspired by the way red blood cells move through the human body. Blood cells travel through capillaries narrower than their own diameter without damaging themselves or the vessel walls. A soft, porous layer called the endothelial glycocalyx within the vessels allows cells to glide through, reducing friction. In studying this biological process, an idea emerged that could potentially be translated to the aerospace field. Dr. Wu’s team is currently applying their deep understanding of biomechanical processes to applications that might reduce aerodynamic friction on aircraft surfaces by more than 90 percent. This lower friction may also improve fuel efficiency and extend flight endurance for drones or other aircraft. “Our work is an example of how thinking outside your traditional field can lead to innovation,” said Dr. Wu. “Sometimes the solution comes from a completely different subject, like biology.” A Century of Momentum One hundred years after Goddard’s brief but groundbreaking flight, aerospace innovation has expanded far beyond its earliest experiments. Today, progress in the field depends not only on major missions and milestones, but also on the steady work of researchers refining systems and exploring new ideas. At Villanova, that work is taking shape across disciplines—from spacecraft control systems to biologically inspired materials. Together, these efforts reflect how the field continues to evolve through collaboration and creativity.

Twin earthquakes in Venezuela raise serious concerns over humanitarian, health and infrastructure impacts

Dr Komal Raj Aryal, lecturer in crisis and disaster management at Aston Business School, has expressed serious concern following the powerful twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on 24 June 2026. "The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 and occurring within less than a minute of each other at an approximate depth of 22 km, represent an exceptionally severe seismic event," said Dr Aryal, who has more than 26 years of international research experience in earthquakes, landslides, extreme weather events and disaster risk governance. "The combination of two major earthquakes occurring in rapid succession, their relatively shallow depths, and the repeated strong ground shaking is likely to have substantially increased damage to buildings, transport networks and other critical infrastructure. Scientifically, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake releases approximately three times more energy than a magnitude 7.2 event. Experiencing both events within seconds creates an extremely complex emergency response situation." Dr Aryal highlighted particular concern for San Felipe, an important industrial, commercial and transportation centre with a population of more than 300,000 people. Built across hilly terrain, with steep streets and dense urban development, the city could face significant challenges for emergency access, search and rescue operations, evacuation and humanitarian assistance. Around 10% of the city's population is aged 65 or older, making older adults particularly vulnerable during prolonged emergency situations. "If widespread power outages occur while temperatures remain between 32°C and 35°C, communities will face compounded risks including heat stress, disruption to healthcare services, shortages of clean water, communication failures and interruptions to essential public services. These cascading impacts often become as significant as the direct earthquake damage itself." Based on the available seismic information and preliminary footage shared on social media, Dr Aryal noted that it will likely take days or even weeks before authorities fully understand the extent of structural damage across northern Venezuela. "Initial seismic information suggests a rupture along a major fault system parallel to Venezuela's northern coastline, with areas experiencing extremely intense ground shaking. If confirmed, significant cascading impacts may extend well beyond the epicentral area, affecting multiple urban centres, transport corridors and regional supply chains." Dr Aryal also expressed concern about the resilience of Venezuela's healthcare system. "Northern Venezuela contains a large concentration of hospitals and healthcare facilities. At present, it remains unclear how many medical facilities have been affected by the earthquakes. Any disruption to hospitals, combined with existing pressures on healthcare capacity, medicine supplies and emergency logistics, could significantly affect the delivery of healthcare services for both acute injuries and patients with chronic illnesses." He added that damage to airports, major highways, bridges and other transport infrastructure could delay humanitarian assistance, emergency logistics and economic recovery. "The humanitarian consequences of this disaster will depend not only on the severity of the ground shaking, but also on the resilience of critical infrastructure, the effectiveness of emergency coordination, the availability of healthcare services and the country's broader socioeconomic capacity to recover." Dr Aryal further warned that the immediate earthquake sequence is unlikely to mark the end of the crisis. "Strong aftershocks are highly likely following earthquakes of this magnitude. These may continue for months, and some could themselves be damaging. They increase risks to already weakened buildings, complicate search and rescue operations, trigger additional landslides in mountainous areas, and prolong humanitarian needs." He concluded that while casualty figures and the full extent of the damage remain uncertain, the event has the potential to become one of the most significant seismic disasters in the region in recent years, requiring sustained national and international humanitarian support.