Author: Talia Ogliore

WashU biologists, led by Xuehua Zhong in Arts & Sciences, investigated the inner workings of DNA methylation in plants. Their findings could help engineer crops that are more resilient to environmental changes, like heat or drought stress.

Paul Byrne, an associate professor of earth, environmental and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at WashU, was featured in “Volcano Worlds,” a PBS Nova documentary about the powerful volcanic eruptions that have shaped worlds across our solar system.

Biologist Elizabeth Carlen, a postdoctoral fellow with the Living Earth Collaborative at WashU, received a 2024 Spark Award from the Association for Women in Science. The Spark Award highlights students or early-career leaders in STEM who are visible and vocal advocates for diversity and inclusive scientific practices.

Europa Clipper will conduct a detailed survey of Jupiter’s moon Europa to determine whether there are places below the moon’s surface that could support life. WashU’s William B. McKinnon, a member of the Europa Clipper science team, has studied Europa for more than 40 years.

Archaeological surveys led by scientists at WashU suggest coastal and underwater sites in southern Sicily contain important clues that could reveal how modern human ancestors migrated to the island.

Leslie Paige, a graduate student in Arts & Sciences, is using geospatial tools to map the habitat of a critically endangered primate. She presented her work at the Geo-Resolution conference in St. Louis.

Crickette Sanz, a professor of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, was installed as the James W. and Jean L. Davis Professor in Arts and Sciences Sept. 4. Her installation address was titled “Learning From Great Apes About Rank.”

Timothy Wencewicz, an associate professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences at WashU, is the winner of the American Chemical Society’s Saint Louis Award. Wencewicz’s research focuses on drug discovery to address the antibiotic resistance crisis.

A WashU-led team successfully launched the DR-TES mission Sept. 24 from NASA’s balloon launch facility in New Mexico. Physicists in Arts & Sciences are using this mission to test quantum X-ray and gamma-ray detectors in near-space conditions.

The Europa Clipper mission is the first to specifically target Jupiter’s ocean moon for detailed science investigation. In this Q&A, WashU’s William B. McKinnon, a science team member, describes what’s at stake when it launches next month.