A group of chemicals known as PFAS have become a growing concern for human health, agriculture and the environment. Because they resist breaking down, these “forever chemicals” can accumulate in soil, water and food systems and expose people to a range of adverse health conditions. From nonstick cookware and disposable tableware to everyday items like […]
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Last summer, Sofia Diaz Flint spent her days working on a Maine oyster farm, hauling cages and tending shellfish that would not reach the market for another year. Seeing firsthand how much farmers depend on their crop surviving the winter shaped the direction of her senior capstone project at the University of Maine. “I worked […]
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A new teaching and research vessel at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center is expanding student access to the largest ecosystem on Earth: the open ocean. The new 45-foot vessel is the biggest in the center’s fleet. Previously used as a commercial tuna fishing platform, the boat will support student training, faculty research and […]
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Wild blueberries — the iconic Maine crop dotting hillsides, decorating sweatshirts and adding personality to local menus — is more than a cultural symbol. Over 20 years of preclinical and clinical studies suggest that regularly consuming wild blueberries supports gut and heart health and may reduce risk factors associated with chronic disease. Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, professor […]
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From potato farms to global shipping lanes, ideas from Maine’s R&D department are making an impact Mainers are known for their Yankee ingenuity, and researchers at the University of Maine are no exception. Our knack for making do and inventing better ways of doing things embodies the resourceful culture of the Pine Tree State. For […]
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More than 70% of Maine’s fishing value comes from American lobster. The fishery has delivered prosperity for decades, but it also leaves coastal communities exposed if lobster populations falter, ocean conditions shift or markets change. That pattern is not unique to Maine. For more than 20 years, University of Maine professor of marine sciences Heather […]
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In Maine’s warmer waters, oysters grow briny and firm, feeding on algae and plankton. Their cycle from hatchery to bay is only as successful as their location. Known as filter feeders, oysters’ size and flavor is fully reliant on the nutrients available in the water surrounding them. Water depth, temperature and circulation set the stage […]
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Whether it’s conducting cutting-edge research, commenting on current events or receiving that diploma, University of Maine faculty, students and leaders made headlines locally, nationally and internationally in 2025. From research labs and classrooms to commencement stages and championship arenas, UMaine was featured in more than 18,000 stories published from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. […]
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Jordan Ramos first stepped into a wild blueberry field the summer before her sophomore year at the University of Maine. What started as environmental research transformed into the beginning of an artistic path rooted in Maine’s working landscapes. Raised in Bristol, Rhode Island, Ramos was familiar with New England’s history but had never spent time […]
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From the gardens to the farms and forests, Eddie Nachamie has dedicated his undergraduate career toward protecting the environment. At the University of Maine, he has worked on projects to reduce food waste, preserve wild blueberries and mitigate the spread of a group of chemicals known as PFAS. As a result of his efforts, Nachamie […]
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