Wolf spiders may turn to cannibalism in a warming Arctic

Wolf spiders may turn to cannibalism in a warming Arctic

A study by biologist Amanda Koltz in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis suggests that as female wolf spiders become larger and produce more offspring, competition among them increases — triggering higher rates of cannibalism and reducing the number of young spiders that survive to adulthood.
Close encounters in the forest: western lowland gorillas

Close encounters in the forest: western lowland gorillas

New research led by anthropologists at Washington University in St. Louis shows that encounters between gorilla groups were much more frequent, and that they had more varied social exchanges than expected. The effort is part of a long-term collaboration with the Congolese government and Wildlife Conservation Society that is changing perspectives on gorilla behavior, ecology and health.
Mathematical model predicts COVID-19 hospitalizations for those with underlying conditions

Mathematical model predicts COVID-19 hospitalizations for those with underlying conditions

Mathematician Steven G. Krantz in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis is using a mathematical tool called wavelets to combat underreporting in the COVID-19 pandemic. His latest model predicts the number of near-term hospitalizations for older adults with one or a combination of underlying conditions: hypertension, cardiovascular disease and lung disease.
Lizards develop new ‘love language’

Lizards develop new ‘love language’

Free from the risk of predators and intent to attract potential mates, male lizards relocated to experimental islets in Greece produce a novel chemical calling card, according to new research from biologists in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.
Fossil discoveries rewrite our family history

Fossil discoveries rewrite our family history

An international team of researchers that includes anthropologists at Washington University in St. Louis has unearthed the earliest known skull of Homo erectus, the first of our ancestors to be nearly human-like in their anatomy and aspects of their behavior. The effort was led by La Trobe University in Australia.
Weedy rice is unintended legacy of Green Revolution

Weedy rice is unintended legacy of Green Revolution

Weedy rice is a feral form of rice that infests paddies worldwide and aggressively outcompetes cultivated varieties. A new study led by biologists at Washington University in St. Louis shows that weed populations have evolved multiple times from cultivated rice, and a strikingly high proportion of contemporary Asian weed strains can be traced to a few Green Revolution cultivars that were widely grown in the late 20th century.
View More Stories