Faculty

Concurrent heat waves becoming more frequent

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 […]

Radiocarbon dating adds a millennium to Sakaro Sodo stelae

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 […]

Melting sea ice forces polar bears to travel farther for food

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 […]

Studying black holes with the new Webb telescope

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 […]

New biomarkers could predict rheumatoid arthritis

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

Atom laser creates reflective patterns similar to light

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 […]

Joint seminar series on data science

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.

Cougar Cage funding advances CAS projects

Research into cancer in Tasmanian devils and a design internship program were two of the six WSU projects that received a combined $125,000 in funding in the second round of the Cougar Cage competition. Launched last January, Cougar Cage matches private donors with projects pitched by WSU faculty, staff, and students. This fall, a mix […]

Analysis: No systematic agency bias in WSP traffic stops

In an analysis of five years of traffic stops conducted by the Washington State Patrol, researchers with WSU’s Division of Governmental Studies and Services (DGSS), with support from faculty from the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, found no evidence for intentional, agency-level racial bias. “This research connects the expertise of Washington’s land-grant university to […]

WSU’s first Fulbright-Hays scholar

Anthropology doctoral candidate Daphne Weber is headed to Thailand as WSU’s first recipient of a Fulbright-Hays award, part of the renowned Fulbright suite of awards. Weber will spend a year living with and interviewing Thai female monks, formally known as bhikkhuni. She will conduct extensive research for her PhD dissertation on the healing effects of […]