The Record

Plant-inspired natural coatings can beat forever chemicals

WashU McKelvey Engineering researchers have developed a PFAS alternative that serves as an effective waterproof coating. Using plant waste, it provides waterproof seals without the toxic effects on human and environmental health.

WashU Expert on Callais’ impact beyond the midterms

The 2026 midterm results may have softened the immediate political impact of the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision, but they don’t diminish its long-term consequences for minority representation, says WashU Law’s Travis Crum.

Common gut virus infects bacteria, not human cells

WashU Medicine researchers have rewritten the story on a group of viruses once thought to directly infect human tissue and play a role in gastrointestinal disease. They found that the common virus actually infects gut bacteria.

Research Wire

WashU Medicine researchers led by Nardhy Gomez-Lopez have helped identify the factors behind chronic placental inflammation, a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication.

Notables

Ziqi Xu, a doctoral student in computer science and engineering at the WashU McKelvey School of Engineering, has been selected for Anthropic’s AI for Science program.