The realms of Mordor

What gives Mordor Macula, the red dusted polar region of Pluto’s moon Charon, its color? New Horizons scientists, including Washington University’s Bill McKinnon, answer the question in the current issue of Nature.

Lang named chair of NIH study section

Catherine Lang photo
Catherine Lang, a professor of physical therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, will serve a two-year term as the chairperson of the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review.

Hidden green skills

What have plant scientists learned in the laboratory in the past three to five years that could be used to reduce inputs of water, chemical fertilizers and herbicides to agricultural fields?

Flu shots available on campus

Free seasonal flu vaccines are available for Washington University employees starting next week.

Who Knew WashU? 9.13.16

Question: Since the beginning of the university’s participation in the University Athletic Association, the Bears have won 19 NCAA team championships. How many of those were achieved by women?

Ebola focus of $13 million grant

A $13 million grant to study how the Ebola virus replicates has been awarded to a team led by Gaya Amarasinghe, associate professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Med school study examines firearms in the home

A survey of parents in Missouri and Illinois reveals that about half of the children in the families queried spent time in homes that have firearms. However, few reported talking about gun safety with their children’s pediatricians.

WashU Expert: Why Monsanto needed to accept the Bayer deal

Pharma giant Bayer has acquired St. Louis-based Monsanto. After months of negotiation, the German company went back to the bargaining table this week, and on Sept. 14 the seed firm’s board approved the $66 billion cash offer. Radhakrishnan Gopalan, associate professor of finance at Olin Business School, said Monsanto needed to accept the deal.