It’s the most wonderful time of the year for some, but for others, the holidays can be challenging. Instead of a time of joy and celebration, the season can be a source of sadness and depression, especially if they are missing a loved one or find themselves alone. Katie Godshall, a clinical assistant professor in social work and expert in the field of mental health, says the first step is to realize that these feelings are perfectly normal. “It’s important to know that it’s OK to not feel festive during this season, everyone has their own stressors,” said Godshall. “The holidays are a time of connecting with family, friends and cherished memories and if you’re coping with loss or loneliness it can be significantly more difficult to feel joyful. It’s important to remember to be kind to...

The holidays are in full swing and people are shopping, wrapping and packing to visit loved ones. Along with the extra fees for checked baggage and seat upgrades, some airlines are also considering weight-based pricing. A recent study out of the University of New Hampshire looked at how people felt about weighing their baggage and themselves to help reduce emissions and found while over half of travelers are not keen about hopping on the scale, some would be open to the idea — especially if it aligns with their own interests in the environment. “We wanted to explore how air travel could be made more sustainable, especially considering the weight we carry — both personal weight and baggage that often travels back and forth,” said Markus Schuckert, professor of hospitality management. “We...

DURHAM, N.H. — ‘Tis the season for giving and signs point toward an increase in gift shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Inflation has begun to cool down and the U.S. stock market has been heating up, continuing to post record highs. All good signs for consumer spending. But before shoppers open their wallets and load up their sleds, there are some factors — like post-election jitters, already tight budgets and less shopping days — that still don’t have everyone feeling the ho-ho-ho of the holidays.  “I definitely think that the stock market’s performance can impact holiday spending,” said Stephen Ciccone, an associate professor of finance at the University of New Hampshire. “The U.S. stock market has continued to maintain record highs — with a few mixed closings in recent days...

DURHAM, N.H. — Research led by the University of New Hampshire sheds light on how coyotes, North America’s most successful predators, are responding to various environmental pressures, including human development, hunting and competition with larger carnivores. Surprisingly, the study’s findings suggest that human hunting practices may actually contribute to increasing the number of coyotes.  “Intensive coyote removal can obviously reduce populations in the short-term, but removal can also result in younger coyote populations with higher reproduction and immigration rates,” said Remington Moll, assistant professor of natural resources and the environment and lead author. “In our study, we detected more coyotes in places where hunting was allowed. This trend occurred over several years,...

DURHAM, N.H. — The University of New Hampshire was awarded $24.3 million by NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to build sensors for a high-priority alert system that will monitor the effects of space weather and the solar wind — caused by explosions on the sun — for potential interruptions to key technology like satellite communications, electric power grids and GPS systems. “We are extremely excited to play a critical role in the nation's space weather alert system,” said Lynn Kistler, professor of physics and astronomy and director of UNH’s Space Science Center. “This allows us to use our scientific expertise to help address vital national safety interests and build on UNH’s long history of scientific and operational missions, expanding the...

DURHAM, N.H. — On a bright autumn afternoon, a plain wooden box crafted by a local cabinet shop containing skeletal remains was returned to its final resting place during a simple reburial ceremony in Brentwood. Researchers and students from the University of New Hampshire’s Forensic Anthropology Identification and Recovery (F.A.I.R.) Lab worked for two years with town officials and the New Hampshire state archaeologist to investigate and document the remains, which were uncovered more than 20 years ago during construction and were identified as being from a farm for paupers during the mid-1800’s, commonly known as a poor farm. “We analyzed the skeletal remains to determine their age and condition and help solve the mystery of why they were buried in the remote area in an unmarked grave...

Editor’s Note: Authors of the 2024 New Hampshire Civic Health Report will discuss their findings and assess New Hampshire’s civic health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic on Wed. Oct. 9, 2024 from 8 to 9 a.m. Register here for a link to the Zoom event. DURHAM, N.H. — Leading into the 2024 elections, the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire is releasing the 2024 New Hampshire Civic Health Report showing how civic health – behaviors, beliefs and actions related to public life – has shifted in the Granite State since 2020. Researchers found long-term data suggests that there has been declines in areas that need attention – including how much people trust each other, attend public meetings, vote and help neighbors, with more than a 30% decline in how New...

CONCORD, N.H. — The University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Plymouth State University (PSU) today announced a pilot program with Niche Direct Admissions® for the 2024-25 admissions year. Some high school seniors throughout New Hampshire, and across the country, who meet the criteria set by these institutions for admission and merit scholarships can now receive immediate acceptance based solely on their Niche Profile.     Niche, the country's leading platform connecting students with colleges, recently launched its 2025 direct admissions program for high school seniors. The company is revolutionizing the college admissions landscape by modernizing the way students and families choose their best-fit colleges, offering real-time acceptance and upfront scholarship offers. Now in its fourth...