The birds and the bees — and the temperature gauge
Animals will often put their lives on the line for reproduction, even if it comes at the cost of being the wrong temperature. New research from biologist Michael Moore in Arts & Sciences could help reveal the pathways that organisms might take as they adapt to a warming world.
Barnes wins grant to expand architectures of interlocking molecular rings
Jonathan Barnes, assistant professor of chemistry in Arts & Sciences, won a $450,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate and expand efficient methods for synthesizing catenane-based polymers and networked materials.
Primary voting is ‘civic duty’
Want more moderate candidates in the general election? Increasing voters’ participation in primary elections is one of the most effective ways to combat hyperpartisanship, says Daniel Butler, an expert in American politics at Washington University in St. Louis.
NSF funds training program to boost regional quantum workforce
The National Science Foundation is investing $3 million in a new graduate student training program for aspiring scientists and educators who want to explore careers in quantum science at St. Louis-area research laboratories, private companies and other facilities.
New student representatives named to Board of Trustees
The Washington University Board of Trustees has four new student representatives for the 2022-23 academic year.
Barch named vice dean of research in Arts & Sciences
Deanna Barch, chair and professor of psychological and brain sciences, has been named vice dean of research in Arts & Sciences. Her new role took effect July 1.
Best offense is a great defense for some carnivorous plants
Insect-eating plants have fascinated biologists for more than a century, but how plants evolved the ability to capture and consume live prey has largely remained a mystery. Biologist Ivan Radin in Arts & Sciences and collaborators investigated the molecular basis of plant carnivory in sundews and found evidence that it evolved from mechanisms plants use to defend themselves.
Earth’s deep mantle was drier from the start
Geoscientist Rita Parai in Arts & Sciences uses noble gas isotopes to better understand the formation and evolution of planetary bodies. Her new modeling study published in PNAS shows that the deep mantle had low concentrations of volatiles like xenon and water when it formed, setting up an internal viscosity contrast with lasting impacts.
Matar named Astronaut Scholar
Dany Matar, a rising senior, has been named an Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Astronaut Scholarships are awarded to juniors and seniors who are studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics with the intent to pursue research or advance their field upon completion of their final degree.
Social interactions tied to sense of purpose
Research from the lab of Patrick Hill in psychological and brain sciences in Arts & Sciences shows a link in older adults between social interactions and having a sense of purpose.
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