In a study of climate data from 1979 to 2019, WSU environmental researchers found the number of large-area heatwaves occurring simultaneously in the mid- to high-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere was seven times greater in the 2010s than in the 1980s. On average, there were concurrent heatwaves on 143 days each year of the 2010s—almost […]
Rising as high as 20 feet, ancient stone monoliths in southern Ethiopia are 1,000 years older than scientists previously thought, according to a new study in the Journal of African Archaeology led by Ashenafi Zena (’19 PhD). “This is one of the most understudied archaeological sites in the world, and we wanted to change that,” said […]
In recent years, polar bears in the Beaufort Sea have had to travel far outside of their traditional arctic hunting grounds which has contributed to an almost 30% decrease in their population. “Having to travel farther means these bears are expending more energy which can threaten their survival,” said Anthony Pagano, a postdoctoral researcher in […]
Vivienne Baldassare, a WSU assistant professor of physics and astronomy, is part of a research team that will use NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope to determine if distant star clusters and small galaxies have black holes at their center, similar to larger galaxies such as the Milky Way. In addition to being the largest […]
Cells from a cheek swab revealed biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis that could lead to a way to diagnose and begin treatment before the disease develops, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. In the study, researchers from Washington State University and Arthritis Northwest in Spokane, Washington, identified a set of epimutations in cells from
When Climaco Abarca was 15 years old, he lost the ability to walk following a diving accident. While the event changed the course of the WSU Tri-Cities junior’s life, it did not stop him from going to college and helping others in similar circumstances. With the help of mentorship through school, Abarca discovered a career […]
In 2015, with a research portfolio focused on environmental sociology, science and technology studies, and social networks, newly minted sociology PhD Joe Astorino began working with a local nonprofit on community needs assistance. Today, he’s postdoctoral scientist at George Washington University. Learn about his journey:
When cooled to almost absolute zero, atoms not only move in waves like light but also can be focused into shapes called caustics, similar to the patterns light makes on the bottom of a swimming pool or through a curved wine glass. WSU physicists have developed a technique to see these matter-wave caustics by placing […]
Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently kicked off the new Discuss, Discourse, Disseminate with Data (D4) joint seminar series. During the coming months, faculty and scientists from WSU and PNNL will provide short synopses of their data work and host an open discussions to encourage research collaboration and knowledge exchange.
An environmental archaeologist, Molly Carney (’21 PhD) connects Native American history, wisdom, and experiences to our 21st century world and links the evolution of human life to earth’s botanical life. Carney is currently reconstructing the cultural history and plant food used by Northwest Native communities, specifically camas (Camassia quamash), a bulb plant that has been […]