Georgia Tech News Center

itchy skin researchers

Itch Insight: Skin Itch Mechanisms Differ on Hairless Versus Hairy Skin

By Anne Wainscott-Sargent May 21, 2021

Chronic skin itching drives more people to the dermatologist than any other condition. In fact, the latest science literature finds that 7% of U.S. adults, and between 10 and 20% of people in developed countries, suffer from dermatitis, a common skin inflammatory condition that causes itching. 

Until recently, neuroscientists considered the mechanisms of skin itch the same. But Georgia Tech researchers recently uncovered differences in itch in non-hairy versus hairy areas of the skin, opening new areas for research.

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Spotlight

Georgia Tech Celebrates Opening of New Energy Project in Midtown Atlanta

Georgia Tech partnered with Georgia Power to host the dedication of the Microgrid in Tech Square.
Forum Addresses Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Leaders in higher education, government, and venture capital gathered at Georgia Tech to look at how Atlanta can ensure and support inclusion in...
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Safety, tolerance, adherence get high scores in first human trial
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Learn how our researchers tackle some of the ocean’s biggest problems.

Campus and Community

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2,000 Miles on Two Wheels

After finishing finals in December, Ali Amirfazli hopped on his bicycle and rode 2,228.4 miles from Marietta, Georgia, to Los Angeles, California,...
The Ramblin' Rocket Club Is Taking Tech to New Heights

Steven Zhao of the Ramblin’ Rocket Club discussed his time as president, the operations of the organization, and the bright future ahead.

George P. Burdell's Permanent Mark on South Sudan

George P. Burdell’s legacy lives on as a cherished Georgia Tech tradition. Now, the mythical student is making a mark all the way in South Sudan.

Undergraduate Admission Recruits Seasonal Staff

Each year the Office of Undergraduate Admission relies on the help of nearly 40 seasonal employees to review applications to Georgia Tech and is...
Pride Month at Georgia Tech

Resources for Students and Staff During Pride Month and Beyond
Searches Begin for Enterprise Innovation Institute, Corporate Engagement

Chaouki T. Abdallah, executive vice president for Research, has convened two separate search committees tasked with selecting the new vice president...
Commemorating Memorial Day in Atlanta

This weekend, to remember those who lost their lives in service, events in the Tech community and around Atlanta have been planned for the Memorial...
Forum Addresses Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Leaders in higher education, government, and venture capital gathered at Georgia Tech to look at how Atlanta can ensure and support inclusion in...
Space Is Closer Than Ever for the Yellow Jacket Space Program

The Yellow Jacket Space Program has an ambitious goal in mind: to be the first collegiate team to send a liquid-fuel vehicle past the Karman Line,...
New Master of Science in Urban Analytics to Launch in the Fall

Urban planning, computing, and industrial and systems engineering combine to fix big city problems
Keeping Campus Connected: Meet Alana DeAngelis

Alana DeAngelis and her team make sure employees have the tools they need to do their jobs.
Finalists Chosen for Vice Provost for International Initiatives

Four finalists chosen in the search for the next vice provost for International Initiatives will present at an open seminar.
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Cheyenne Raker, Designing Her Life

Cheyenne Raker's journey to earning a graduate degree included a few hurdles, but she overcame them all.

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Isabella Sanders Earns Two More Tech Degrees

Completing two graduate degrees during the pandemic offered Sanders some opportunities that she would not have had otherwise.
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It's My Turn

Two staff members who are usually behind the scenes are taking their turn in the spotlight as they earn Tech degrees.

Students Prepare to Reflect With Peers

A select group of graduates each semester are tasked with putting years of memories, observations, and feelings into words that will inspire their...
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The Stars Aligned for This #GT21 Grad

This weekend, Emily Rowe will graduate alongside her fiancé, who she met on the day of the 2017 solar eclipse. 
SGA Welcomes New Executives For Upcoming Year

Samuel Ellis and Ajanta Choudhury will helm the undergraduate SGA, while Stephen Eick and PJ Jarquin will do so for the graduate one.
What Not to Wear: Commencement Edition…and Other Tips For Your Graduation Day

For those who are still scrambling for the picture-perfect Commencement attire, here are some tips to help out.
Goldrush Wins National Championship for Hip Hop

The National Dance Association awarded Tech's dance team first place in the virtual hip hop division.

Science and Technology

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Early Feasibility Study Shows Flickering Lights and Sound Could Be New Weapon Against Alzheimer’s

Safety, tolerance, adherence get high scores in first human trial
Simple Robots, Smart Algorithms: Meet the BOBbots

Inspired by a theoretical model of particles moving around on a chessboard, new robot swarm research shows that, as magnetic interactions increase,...
Leveraging the 5G Network to Wirelessly Power IoT Devices

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Control System Helps Several Drones Team Up to Deliver Heavy Packages

Researchers have developed a control system that will enable teams of drones to carry heavy packages.
Georgia Tech Receives $2.2M in Toyota Research Institute Robotics Funding

Georgia Tech researchers will collaborate with TRI on two research projects: the first to advance autonomous vehicle testing and the second, to...
Collective Worm and Robot “Blobs” Protect Individuals, Swarm Together

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X-Ray Tomography Lets Researchers Watch Solid-State Batteries Charge, Discharge

Using X-ray tomography, a research team has observed the internal evolution of the materials inside solid-state lithium batteries as they were...
New Instrument Will Uncover Structure and Chemical Composition on Sub-Cell Scale

A new imaging instrument will be able to simultaneously study both the surface of a biological sample and its chemical composition.
Spontaneous Robot Dances Highlight a New Kind of Order in Active Matter

Researchers have proposed a new principle by which active matter systems can spontaneously order, without need for higher level instructions.
Georgia Tech Will Help Manage DOE’s Savannah River Laboratory

Georgia Tech is part of a team that has been selected to manage the DOE's Savannah River National Laboratory
The Tension Between Awareness and Fatigue Shapes Covid-19 Spread

Two human factors - awareness of the virus and fatigue - are battling to control the path of Covid-19.

Hydrogel Could Open New Path for Glaucoma Treatment Without Drugs or Surgery

Researchers have developed a potential new treatment for the eye disease glaucoma that could replace daily eye drops and surgery.
Shuttering Fossil Fuel Power Plants May Cost Less Than Expected

A generator-level model suggests that most fossil fuel power plants could complete normal lifespans and still close by 2035.
Machine Learning Advances Materials for Separations, Adsorption, and Catalysis

Machine learning is helping accelerate the development of highly tunable materials known as metal-organic frameworks.
Large-area Flexible Organic Photodiodes Can Compete With Silicon Devices

Flexible large-area organic photodiodes can now compete in performance with conventional silicon photodiode technology.
Dense Microgel Suspensions Reveal In-silico What Happens Under Compression

Simulations of microgel suspensions show the surprising behavior of these materials when they are compressed.
‘Programmable Medicine’ is the Goal for New Bio-circuitry Research

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E-Beam Atomic-scale 3-D ‘Sculpting’ Could Enable New Quantum Nanodevices

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RNA Information Transfer Could Be Used in Repairing DNA

Researchers have provided new insights into how RNA can help repair major DNA damage.
New Process Boosts Lignin Bio-oil as a Next-Generation Fuel

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Business and Economic Development

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Sherry Farrugia Selected by GCMI Board of Directors as CEO

Sherry Farrugia has been selected by the Global Center for Medical Innovation board of directors as the organization's CEO, effective April 1,...
Leveraging the 5G Network to Wirelessly Power IoT Devices

Researchers at Georgia Tech have uncovered an innovative way to tap into the over-capacity of 5G networks, turning them into “a wireless power grid”...
NSF Convergence Accelerator Awards Second Round of Funding to Eduworks, Georgia Tech, USG, Credential Engine for $5 Million Competency Catalyst Initiative

Over two years, Competency Catalyst will receive $5 million in funding from the NSF Convergence Accelerator.
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Georgia Tech will take a lead role in the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a public-private partnership created to foster technology access,...
Creating Tech Solutions to Fight Covid-19: The Real-World Impact of Scheller College’s CDL-Atlanta and TI:GER’s Global Technology Innovation Practicum

Scheller College’s TI:GER practicum provides students with hands-on experience to bring business solutions to real-world issues in science and...
Tracking the Effects of Covid-19 on Georgia’s Economy

Scheller College of Business students create a database showing the pandemic's real-time impact on 11 industries.
Redesigning Hand Sanitizer and Donating 7,000 Gallons to Fight Covid-19

It was so obvious the country was going to have a hand sanitizer crisis, but few wanted to acknowledge it.
Why Restarting the Global Economy Won't be Easy

Supply chain disruptions and other operational factors will affect the ability to restart the world's economy.
Georgia Tech Professor Uses Virtual Reality to Move Major Conference Online

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Remote worker using laptop at kitchen table. Coping with COVID-19 overlaid in text.
Top Tips for a Successful Transition to Remote Work

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Modify Hurricane Relief Strategies, National Academies Report Recommends

Hurricane devastation calls for heavy government relief, but a counterintuitive shift toward restoring private sector supply lines would help more...
Creative Destruction Lab Joins Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business

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Atlanta Regional Commission Calls Kendeda Building ‘Groundbreaking Example of Sustainability Leadership’

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GT Lorraine receives the Crystal Peach Award for economic development work.
Georgia Tech’s Technology Square Phase III to Include Scheller Tower

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Georgia Tech’s Economic Impact on Atlanta Clocks in at $3.3B in 2018

Annual analysis shows the Institute's impact grew 8.5% and contributes 27,000 jobs to the region.
Forum Addresses Tech’s Role in Economic Development

Entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and political leaders gathered at The Biltmore Wednesday afternoon for an economic development forum.

Earth and Environment

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Georgia Tech Leading in the Quest for Ocean Solutions

Learn how our researchers tackle some of the ocean’s biggest problems.
Leveraging the 5G Network to Wirelessly Power IoT Devices

Researchers at Georgia Tech have uncovered an innovative way to tap into the over-capacity of 5G networks, turning them into “a wireless power grid”...
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Georgia Tech is part of a team that has been selected to manage the DOE's Savannah River National Laboratory
Shuttering Fossil Fuel Power Plants May Cost Less Than Expected

A generator-level model suggests that most fossil fuel power plants could complete normal lifespans and still close by 2035.
Statewide Climate Solutions Powered by Georgia Tech Research Debut

Drawdown Georgia and its research team, led by the School of Public Policy's Marilyn Brown, rolls out its list of 20 climate solutions this week...
Fossil Pollen Record Suggests Vulnerability to Mass Extinction Ahead

Reduced resilience of plant biomes in North America could be setting the stage for the kind of mass extinctions not seen in 13,000 years.
Membrane Technology Could Cut Emissions and Energy Use in Oil Refining

New membrane technology could reduce carbon emissions and energy intensity associated with oil refining.
‘SlothBot in the Garden’ Demonstrates Hyper-Efficient Conservation Robot

Visitors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden can observe the testing of SlothBot, a new high-tech tool in the battle to save some of the world’s most...
Volcanic Activity Does Not Contribute to El Ninos, Hard Evidence Says

Physical evidence has spoken, and it clearly says that volcanic activity does not push El Nino and La Nina events.
Regional Sustainability Network Receives Two United Nations University Awards

RCE Greater Atlanta was among the recipients of the eighth RCE Awards.
Robotic Submarine Snaps First-Ever Images at Foundation of Notorious Antarctic Glacier

These are the first-ever images taken at the foundations of the glacier that inspires more fear of sea-level rise than any other - Thwaites Glacier.
Georgia Tech Energy Policy Researcher Writes About ‘Green New Deal’ in ‘Scientific American’

The article focuses on the jobs impact of the proposed environmental legislation.
El Nino Swings More Violently in the Industrial Age, Hard Evidence Says

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Exoplanet Axis Study Boosts Hopes of Complex Life, Just Not Next Door

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Reframing Antarctica’s Meltwater Pond Dangers to Ice Shelves and Sea Level

There's a speed limit on the damage surface ponds can do to ice shelves, but that doesn't mean the ponds aren't dangerous.
Energy Regulation Rollbacks Threaten Progress Against Harmful Ozone

This is what could happen if all endangered regulations that help in the fight against harmful ozone go away.
Georgia Tech Dedicates the Most Sustainable Building of Its Kind in the Southeast

The Kendeda Building goes beyond sustainability to be a regenerative building that gives back more than it takes from the environment.
Georgia Tech Included in Major Water Desalination Research Initiative

Georgia Tech is part of a new effort to address water security issues in the United States.
Warming Impedes a Coral Defense, but Hungry Fish Enhance It

Corals exude defenses against bacteria associated with bleaching, but warming disadvantages the defense. Conservation offers limited hope.
Metal Oxide-infused Membranes Could Offer Low-Energy Alternative For Chemical Separations

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Society and Culture

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Georgia Tech Study Finds More SNAP Retailers in Rural Areas Lowers Rates of Child Maltreatment

Practical access to food benefits helps reduce stress and financial strain, the researchers say. on parents.
Why Covid Conspiracy Theories Spread: Understanding the Human Behaviors Behind the Pandemic

Spotlight on Covid-19 research in the School of History and Sociology.
Georgia Tech Shares $15M From NASA to Advance Deep Space Exploration

New Space Technology Research Institute brings together multiple universities to tackle the challenges associated with electric propulsion ground...
Ivan Allen College Researcher Shows Many in U.S. Faced Economic Hardship Due to Covid-19

New research has found almost 25% of people surveyed experienced some form of deprivation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Home for the Holidays: Know the Travel Risks Before You Go

Researchers have developed a tool that shows the risk someone with Covid-19 will be present at gatherings from 10 to 5,000 people anywhere in the U.S.
People Think Robots Are Pretty Incompetent and Not Funny, New Study Says

Good thing humanoid robots don't have feelings because people think they are pretty incompetent.
Will Smartphones Help Us Keep COVID-19 Under Control?

Smartphones could provide a critical service of automating contact tracing to control future COVID-19 outbreaks.
Ilya Kaminsky Wins Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for ‘Deaf Republic’

The awards “recognize books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity."
Georgia Tech Historian Co-Authors Book on Sports, War, and Pandemic

Georgia Tech historian Johnny Smith writes about the influence of pandemic flu and war on sports in 1918.
When Coeds Came to Georgia Tech

Historian Amy Bix explores the hurdles women have overcome — and still face — in engineering and STEM education.

Music Technologists Find Inspiration, Community at Guthman

In its 12th year, musical instrument competition showcases the newest and most innovative ideas in music.
Modify Hurricane Relief Strategies, National Academies Report Recommends

Hurricane devastation calls for heavy government relief, but a counterintuitive shift toward restoring private sector supply lines would help more...
STEM Diversity Scholarships Subject of Husbands Fealing Grant

Kaye Husbands Fealing will study the effectiveness of a program to increase the number of minority graduate students in STEM fields.
Georgia Tech Professor Produces 'The Nerdiest Study of 2019'

Prof. Joseph H. Saleh uses his engineering perspective to decode political history
Atlanta Honors College Namesake, Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., through Newly Dedicated Bridge in Downtown Atlanta

The Path Bridge connecting downtown to the Westside highlights the legacy of Mayor Ivan Allen Jr.
Natural Disasters Contribute to Holiday Travel Delays

Natural disasters and severe weather are unusual factors in planning for travel around the Thanksgiving holiday.
llya Kaminsky is One of the World's Top Poets, and He Teaches at Georgia Tech

Ilya Kaminsky, professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, is a finalist for the National Book Award in Poetry.
Poetry@Tech Works to Increase Diversity in Literary Criticism, Publishing

Poetry@Tech is partnering with poets and scholars in the UK on a program meant to increase diversity among poetry critics in the United States.
Study Probes Gender Pay Gaps in U.S. Federal Science Agencies

The researchers, including Kaye Husbands Fealing, set out to understand the reasons behind gender pay gaps at U.S. federal science agencies.
New Partnership with Georgia State Looks for Computing Solutions to Social Challenges

Georgia Tech computer science researchers are collaborating with social scientists from GSU thanks to a new $180K grant.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

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Itch Insight: Skin Itch Mechanisms Differ on Hairless Versus Hairy Skin

Georgia Tech has uncovered differences in itch on hairy versus non-hairy skin that could lead to more effective treatments for patients with...
Zhu Lab Explains the Inhibitory Role of World’s Most Famous Molecule

New research teases apart the mechanisms behind the checkpoint protein PD-1
The Science of Sound, Vibration to Better Diagnose, Treat Brain Diseases

By understanding transmission of acoustic waves through microstructure in an individual’s skull, non-invasive ultrasound imaging of the brain and...
Georgia Tech researchers discover promising new treatment for dangerous thrombosis

Georgia Tech bioengineers have discovered a promising new way to treat dangerous blood clots without the potentially harmful side effects of other...
Covid-19 Mask Study Finds Layering, Material Choice Matter

Georgia Tech researchers discuss findings of Covid-19 mask study, analyzing the filtration performance of commercially available materials.
Study Finds In-Person Sporting Events Do Not Lead to Significant Covid-19 Community Spread

A joint research project between Georgia Tech and Harvard University found that athletic events with limited attendance did not cause a spike in...
Identifying Cells to Better Understand Healthy and Diseased Behavior

Georgia Tech neuroscientists have found a way to identify cells in the brain by focusing on their relationship to other cells.
FDA Enlists Georgia Tech to Establish Best Practices for RNA-sequencing

Georgia Tech researchers have helped select the right RNA-seq data analysis tools.
The Tension Between Awareness and Fatigue Shapes Covid-19 Spread

Two human factors - awareness of the virus and fatigue - are battling to control the path of Covid-19.

Hydrogel Could Open New Path for Glaucoma Treatment Without Drugs or Surgery

Researchers have developed a potential new treatment for the eye disease glaucoma that could replace daily eye drops and surgery.
Coronavirus Vaccine Approval Will Launch Unprecedented Public Health Initiative

When one or more coronavirus vaccines receives FDA emergency use authorization, it will launch a major public health and logistics initiative.
Extraction of Largely Unexplored Bodily Fluid May Provide New Biomarkers

Microneedle patches could provide a means for extracting interstitial fluid to study possible new biomarkers.
Local Company Plays Part in Georgia Tech’s Covid-19 Surveillance Testing Program

Omni International's technology is used to separate virus from the saliva or mucous samples collected from members of the Tech community.
Covid-19 Interventions Can Cut Virus Infections, Severe Outcomes, and Healthcare Needs

Interventions such as shelter-in-place taken to control the SARS-CoV-2 virus can reduce infections and overall deaths.
Ultra-Low-Cost Hearing Aid Could Address Age-Related Hearing Loss Worldwide

Researchers have developed an ultra-low-cost hearing aid to help the hundred of millions of people with age-related hearing loss.
Map of the United States showing the Covid-19 doubling time in each county.
New Tool Can Detect COVID-19 Outbreaks in U.S. Counties

Using machine learning, the online tool can predict outbreaks in different counties across the U.S.
Researchers Redesign the Face Mask to Improve Comfort and Protection

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Wearable Device Could Help EMTs, Surgeons Assess Hemorrhage Blood Loss

A new device under development could help first responders more accurately assess the effects of blood loss due to hemorrhage.
COVID Central App Checks Symptoms, Provides Links to Key Campus Resources

COVID Central is a web app designed to help the Tech community check for Covid-19 symptoms and access key resources.
Antibody Research Could Boost Coronavirus Testing, Therapies, and Vaccines

Georgia Tech researchers are working with colleagues at the CDC to produce coronavirus antibodies that could lead to improved testing techniques.

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Expert Voices

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Feature Stories

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Ivan Allen Prize, Sweet 16, and Sculpture Dedication
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At Georgia Tech, we have women who are making new strides in a wide range of male-dominated fields, at all levels.

Featured Videos

Alana DeAngelis is the collaboration and productivity solutions manager for OIT Digital Business, a six-person team that is the service owner for all of the collaboration tools on campus. (Video by Allison Carter)

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The drive to find solutions for the biggest environmental issues on the planet often leads to our oceans, and most of the answers to these challenges will only be realized by engaging the energy and ideas from all backgrounds and all perspectives. Georgia Tech's Susan Lozier is a global leader in physical oceanography, dean of the College of Sciences, president of the American Geophysical Union, and leads the NSF-funded OSNAP: Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program. Her hope when facing the daunting task of reversing climate change lies in the commitment and dedication she sees in a diversifying pool of early career scientists. Learn more: c.gatech.edu/ocean-solutions

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Dr. Jon Duke, principal research scientist at Georgia Tech, talks about his work in health informatics. Video by Christopher Moore.

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