Page 380 – The Source | Washington University in St. Louis

Microbially produced fibers: stronger than steel, tougher than Kevlar

Close up image of a Polymeric amyloid fiber

A new fiber, made by genetically engineered bacteria in the lab of Fuzhong Zhang, is stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar.

Sociology

Mothers may face increased workplace discrimination post-pandemic, research warns

Inflexible schedules and biased hiring practices, combined with gendered cultural norms around breadwinning and caregiving, lead to discrimination against mothers and perpetuate existing gender inequalities in the workplace, finds two new studies from Arts & Sciences.

Supply Chain Management

Don’t cry over spoiled milk, incentivize supply chain for longer shelf life

Research provides blueprint for development of sustainable milk production supply chain, where milk waste is reduced in a way that is cost-effective, socially acceptable and environmentally sound.

Science & Technology

‘Cool flames’ ignited in space

Image of a hot flame on the left and a cool flame on the right

Richard Axelbaum in the McKelvey School of Engineering and collaborators have documented a new type of flame — created in space — that may help engineers design cleaner-burning combustion engines.

Public Health

Promoting physical activity is key to achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goals

New evidence supports the integration of physical activity promotion strategies as a key part of the action plan for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, finds a new study led by Brown School researchers.

Athletics

Two Bears make it to the big leagues

Washington University Bears Caleb Durbin and Ryan Loutos woke up Tuesday with high hopes and nervous jitters. By the end of the day, both would score deals with Major League Baseball teams.

Humanities & Society

Self-reliance index offers opportunity to track sustainable, longer-term progress for refugees

To help address gaps in measurement and provide organizations with a tool to track the self-reliance of refugees and other displaced populations over time, researchers at the Brown School have developed a Self-Reliance Index.

Cancer Research

Distance from hospital impacts cancer diagnosis, survival in young adults

Adolescents and young adults living in rural versus metropolitan U.S. counties and those living farther from the hospital where they were diagnosed generally have worse outcomes than those living in metropolitan counties and closer to the reporting hospital, finds a new study from the Brown School.

Awards & Notables

Dining Services receives Horton Dining Award

Washington University Dining Services received a gold 2020 Loyal E. Horton Dining Award from the National Association of College & University Food Services.

Diversity & Inclusion

Immunologist joins Colonna lab as Pew Latin American Fellow

Brazilian immunologist José Luís Fachi will join the laboratory of Marco Colonna, MD, the Robert Rock Belliveau, MD, Professor of Pathology at the School of Medicine, as a Pew Latin American Fellow in Biomedical Sciences. Fachi plans to study how metabolites produced by healthy gut bacteria promote intestinal immunity.