Most-read research stories of 2021
As the pandemic dragged into its second year, Washington State University research that grabbed the most media attention either provided some comfort and hope or warned of more dangers ahead.
CAS faculty featured in four of the top 10 most popular stories—including the number one spot—and were well-represented in the next 76 press releases tracked by WSU News.
Two stories focusing on the benefits of man’s – or really woman’s – best friend made the top ten this year. And even amid the pandemic, people still wanted to read about climate change impacts to animals and humans alike as well as the negative aspects of cannabis and shift work.
WSU News staff analyzed 86 research press releases from 2021 using Meltwater media tracking software for its total potential audience reach. “Potential reach” numbers are usually large but were a bit smaller this year partially due to a change in Meltwater’s circulation ratings of some media outlets. Reach numbers are based on each media outlets’ circulation or viewership added together, so they contain duplicates since many news consumers may be counted more than once. Essentially, they tell us how many times research coverage may have been seen by a reader or viewer. Still, they provide a rough idea of how much public exposure WSU’s research enterprise is receiving.
As in previous years, all the stories that did the best highlighted novel or surprising findings and demonstrated a real-world impact in keeping with WSU’s land-grant mission.
Below are the most-read CAS research stories of 2021. The top four include potential reach numbers, a sample of the resulting media articles, and possible reasons for their success, followed by a list of other popular CAS research stories in order of their reach.
Women influenced coevolution of dogs and humans
1.17 billion
Daily Mail, Discover Magazine, New York Post, Seattle Times
Nothing like destroying a cliché to catch attention. The news that dogs are likely women’s best friend did just that. A cross-cultural analysis led by anthropology Ph.D. student Jaime Chambers and Professor Robert Quinlan found that when dogs had a special relationship with women, people were more likely to regard dogs as a type of person, treat them with affection and see them as a member of the family. The news hit more than 250 outlets, including more than 80 radio and TV broadcasts.
Rare footage captured of jaguar killing ocelot at waterhole
423.1 million
CNET, The Telegraph, Gizmodo, IFLScience
Predators don’t usually prey on other predators, so the unusual imagery of a jaguar killing the smaller ocelot grabbed a lot of attention. WSU wildlife ecologist Dan Thornton also noted that the event occurred at a waterhole during a drought-stressed period in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, raising questions of whether climate change had an influence on the wild cat conflict.
Melting sea ice forces polar bears to travel farther for food
354.76 million
BBC, Billings Gazette, The London Economic, Yahoo News
Another major predator, the polar bear, is feeling the heat from climate change as this study led by WSU ecologist Anthony Pagano shows. The shrinking traditional arctic hunting grounds for polar bears in the Beaufort Sea area has contributed to an almost 30% decrease in their population. The polar bear plight gathered a wide range of interest from a small paper in Billings, Montana to the worldwide media juggernaut BBC.
Concurrent heatwaves seven times more frequent than 1980s
258.55 million
Washington Post, Buffalo News, St. Louis Today, Yahoo News
Climate change has become a renewed focus in the media as some of its real effects are being felt — including the unprecedented heatwave in the Pacific Northwest last summer. This study led by climate scientists Cassandra Rogers and Deepti Singh uses observational data to show large heatwaves are happening on Earth at the same time, posing additional threats. It was picked up by not only national news outlets but more than 230 local outlets across the country.
Other CAS research stories among those most-read in 2021:
- WSU scientists identify contents of ancient Maya drug containers
- Ethiopian monuments 1,000 years older than previously thought
- Prehistoric Pacific Coast diets had salmon limits
- New biomarkers could predict rheumatoid arthritis
- Lab-made hexagonal diamonds stiffer than natural diamonds
- Cannabis use both hurts and helps entrepreneurial creativity
- Novel study of high-potency cannabis shows memory effects
- Seeds of economic health disparities found in subsistence society
- Populous regions bear brunt of increasing humid‑heat
- Clinical trial shows alcohol use disorder recovery can start without sobriety
- Social tensions preceded disruptions in Pueblo societies
- Sleep loss does not impact ability to assess emotional information
- Biomarkers in fathers’ sperm linked to offspring autism
- Soft X‑ray method promises nanocarrier breakthroughs for smart medicine
- Greenhouse gas emissions from water reservoirs higher than previously expected
- Toxin-adapted fish pass down epigenetic mutations to freshwater offspring
- Big name corporations more likely to commit fraud
- More bullying of LGBTQ+ students in politically conservative districts
- Workplace pandemic protocols impact employee behavior outside work
- Big gaps in quest to sequence genomes of all animals
- Low-income parents receiving universal payments spent more on kids
- Plastic waste has some economic benefit for developing countries
- Open source tool can help identify gerrymandering in voting maps
- Atom laser creates reflective patterns similar to light
- Systems approach assesses public health impacts of changing climate, environmental policies
- Hatchery conditions linked to lower steelhead trout survival
- Rapid evolution may help species adapt to climate change and competition
- Wildfire changes songbird plumage and testosterone
See the full list of most-read research stories of 2021 at WSU Insider.
Top photo: A cross-cultural analysis led by anthropology Ph.D. student Jaime Chambers (with her dog Priya) and Professor Robert Quinlan found that when dogs had a special relationship with women, people were more likely to regard them as a type of person and see them as a member of the family. Photo by Bob Hubner, WSU Photo Services.
Compiled by WSU News.