There’s Lots of Water in the Most Explosive Volcano in the World
Shiveluch, an active volcano located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia, has had more major eruptions than any other volcano in our current period…
Washington University In St. Louis
Common Brain Malformation – Affecting About 1 in 100 Children – Traced to Its Genetic Roots
Discovery could aid early screening, shed light on how Chiari malformation arises. About one in 100 children has a common brain disorder called Chiari 1…
Changing the Game for Space Exploration: New Tech Can Get Oxygen, Fuel From Mars’s Salty Water
An electrolysis system that doesn’t need pure water may change the game when it comes to exploration. When it comes to water and Mars, there’s…
Proven Model Shows COVID-19 Cases Could Nearly Double Before Biden Takes Office
Proven model developed by WashU predicts 20 million infected Americans by late January. Presumptive president-elect Joe Biden has signaled that fighting the COVID-19 pandemic will…
The United States May Have Set Itself Up for the Spread of a Pandemic Without Even Knowing It
Pollution and Pandemics: A Dangerous Mix Research from Chakrabarty lab finds that as one goes, so goes the other — to a point. The United…
Newly Discovered Fossil Shows Evolutionary Changes in an Extinct Human Species
Fossil cranium suggests environmental conditions drove rapid changes. Males of the extinct human species Paranthropus robustus were thought to be substantially larger than females —…
“Honey Bee, It’s Me” – Gut Bacteria Is Key to Bee ID
For a honey bee, few things are more important than recognizing your nestmates. Being able to tell a nestmate from an invader could mean the…
Vicious Cycle: Climate Change Spreading Infectious Diseases, Which Contribute to Climate Change
Sicker livestock may increase climate woes: More parasites means higher emissions of potent greenhouse gas. Climate change is affecting the spread and severity of infectious…
Looking Skin Deep at the Growth of Neutron Stars to Solve Key Puzzles for Nuclear Physicists
In atomic nuclei, protons and neutrons share energy and momentum in tight quarters. But exactly how they share the energy that keeps them bound within…
New Insight on How to Build a Better Flu Vaccine – For Long-Lasting Immunity Against New Influenza Strains
Flu season comes around like clockwork every year, and sooner or later everyone gets infected. The annual flu shot is a key part of public…
Global Pollution Estimates Reveal Surprises, As Well as Opportunity
Researchers’ hybrid dataset includes satellite images, modeling, and air samples. It is not unusual to come across headlines about pollution or global warming and find…
Unexpected Findings Result in New Origin Theory for Earth’s Water
Enstatite chondrite meteorites, once considered ‘dry,’ contain enough water to fill the oceans — and then some. A new study finds that Earth’s water may…
Storing Electrical Energy in Red Bricks – Walls Could Act As Huge Batteries
Imagine plugging into your brick house. Red bricks — some of the world’s cheapest and most familiar building materials — can be converted into energy…
How’s the Weather on Mars? Electrically Charged Dust Storms Drive Martian Chlorine Cycle
How’s the weather on Mars? Tough on rovers, but very good for generating and moving highly reactive chlorine compounds. New research from Washington University in…
Ancient Micrometeoroids Carried Specks of Stardust, Water to Asteroid 4 Vesta – What About Earth?
Researchers wonder: Could they have delivered water to the early Earth? The formation of our solar system was a messy affair. Most of the material…
Newly Developed Nanotechnology Biosensor Being Adapted for Rapid COVID-19 Testing
Federal funding awarded for rapid COVID-19 test based on a new biolabeling technology called plasmonic-fluor. Engineers at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University…
Meteorite Chunk Contains Unexpected Evidence of Solid Interstellar Material Formed Before the Sun Was Born
‘Curious and Curiouser!’ – Meteorite Chunk Contains Unexpected Evidence of Presolar Grains An unusual chunk in a meteorite may contain a surprising bit of space…
De-Domesticated Weedy Rice Is Unintended Legacy of Green Revolution
A new global study reveals the extent to which high-yielding rice varieties favored in the decades since the “Green Revolution” have a propensity to go…