More time stranded on land means greater risk of starvation for polar bears, a new study indicates. During three summer weeks, 20 polar bears closely observed by scientists tried different strategies to maintain energy reserves, including resting, scavenging and foraging. Yet nearly all of them lost weight rapidly: on average around 1 kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, per day. […]
A snippet of hair can reveal a pregnant person’s stress level and may one day help warn of unexpected birth problems, a study indicates. Washington State University researchers measured the stress hormone cortisol in hair samples of 53 women in their third trimester. Of that group, 13 women who had elevated cortisol levels later experienced […]
A framework for combining climate and social data could help scientists better support climate change adaptation ahead of future weather-related disasters. The Washington State University-led research draws on the expertise of climate and social scientists to show how data on different characteristics of climate variability can be used to study the effectiveness of various human […]
Seeing robots made with soft, flexible parts in action appears to lower people’s anxiety about working with them or even being replaced by them. A Washington State University study found that watching videos of a soft robot working with a person at picking and placing tasks lowered the viewers’ safety concerns and feelings of job […]
WSU School of the Environment professor Alex Fremier believes there is no substitute for students immersing themselves in the environments they study. But figuring out how to get them to those environments, feed and shelter them, and keep them safe is outside his area of expertise. That’s why, when he takes his class on a […]
Washington State University’s Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service is joining more than three dozen nonpartisan political institutes nationwide in helping promote election integrity and civic understanding as the United States prepares for next year’s presidential races. “The deeply concerning rise in threats of violence and harassment directed at election administrators and […]
A multidisciplinary humanities course is taking Washington State University undergraduates out of the classroom and into the Palouse. Part of WSU’s First-Year Focus Program, the course Landscapes of the Palouse introduces undergraduate students to the importance of the region through activities that contemplate its many histories. They engage with people who live, work, and care about […]
The latest in a series of mural projects showcasing the outstanding talent of local and regional artists, as well as the collaborative spirit of Washington State University, is being dedicated this week in downtown Pullman. A joint effort by the Pullman Arts Foundation — founded by WSU Associate Professor of Painting/Intermedia Joe Hedges — and […]
Elk treponeme-associated hoof disease, previously thought to be limited to deformations in elks’ hooves, appears to create molecular changes throughout the animal’s system, according to epigenetic research from Washington State University. The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, also suggest those changes may be heritable. It remains to be seen though whether this means subsequent […]
Quantifying soft skills and problem-solving initiative can be tricky for new graduates heading to the job market. Three new interdisciplinary certificate programs offered by the Department of Art will provide students with recognized credentials that demonstrates their interdisciplinary skills and perspective. The three certificates — business of art, eco-arts and public engagement, and graphic design — offer any WSU student the […]