Newsroom Stories

Four university scientists are among the 84 members and 21 foreign associates recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Researchers at the School of Medicine have identified a marker of damage to cells in the eye that potentially could be used to monitor progression of glaucoma and the effectiveness of treatment.

Puerto Rico filed for bankruptcy protection May 3, the largest-ever American municipal debt restructuring in history. As the U.S. territory seeks forgiveness in $73 billion to assorted creditors, an expert at Washington University in St. Louis says the situation should serve as a dire wake-up call to the municipal bond market.

New guideposts developed by Carrie Pettus-Davis of the Brown School suggest that smart decarceration may be the answer to reforming America’s prison system, reducing the number of inmates and enabling a more effective approach to public safety.

In “Grieve,” Sagar Brahmbhatt depicts bereavement as a kind of delayed reaction — a time bomb that never really stops exploding. Evan Gates’ “Floor is Lava?” is a slyly pointed examination of adult responsibility. Later this month, both films, created entirely by Washington University students, will be screened as part of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

Dandelions are much-maligned weeds, with a paratrooper-like seed dispersal system that makes them difficult to eradicate. However, new research from an engineer at Washington University in St. Louis finds a great benefit in an unlikely place for the pesky dandelion: each of its tiny seeds can be used as a perfect pipette in the laboratory setting.

A prominent feature of the transformed east end of the Danforth Campus will bear the names of Washington University alumna and trustee Ann Rubenstein Tisch and her husband, Andrew. Longtime benefactors of the university, the couple is providing a lead gift in support of the project.

Washington University in St. Louis is providing all students, faculty, staff and basic service contractor employees free activation for SafeTrek, a personal safety app. SafeTrek is essentially a mobile “blue light,” providing peace of mind and protection in potentially unsafe locations, such as parking garages or dark streets.

Engineering student, start-up founder and track star Deko Ricketts calls solar power “the engineer’s energy.” Here is Ricketts’ amazing journey to WashU, how he made the most of it and how he plans to address the global energy crisis after graduation.

Meet a few more of the entrepreneurs and innovators who also happen to be graduating this spring. All of these students have launched businesses and developed innovative technologies that are improving human health, addressing global issues and helping investors achieve their goals.