Could climate change cause more lightning — and spark more wildfires?
Dimitri Kalashnikov (’24 PhD, environment) on the conditions that prompt dry lightning on CBC News and The Weather Network.
Published research/scholarship/creative work
Lesser-known cannabinoid found to reduce anxiety without intoxicating side-effects
Carrie Cuttler, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, on the first human clinical trial on cannabigerol (CBG) in The Lewiston Tribune.
Scientist releases ‘distressing’ map showing cities at risk of summer heat
Deepti Singh, founder of the Climate Extreme Labs at WSU Vancouver, on our new complicated relationship with summertime and extreme heat events on TCD: The Cool Down.
Local fire growth slows while t-storms start new fires
Research on “holdover fires” by environmental studies graduate student Dmitri Kalashnikov is part of a story on fires in Montana in The Missoula Current.
Cannabigerol shows promise in reducing anxiety and enhancing memory without side effects
A review of a research study published in Scientific Reports led by Carrie Cuttler, associate professor of psychology at WSU.
Wolves’ return has had only small impact on deer populations in Washington state, study shows
Co-authors of the study included Lisa Shipley, professor of mammalian ecology in the WSU School of the Environment.
Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil
Some soil bacteria can acquire sets of genes that enable them to pump the heavy metal nickel out of their systems, a study has found. This enables the bacteria to not only thrive in otherwise toxic soils but help plants grow there as well. A Washington State University-led research team pinpointed a set of genes […]
Teachers’ growth mindset appears more important than warmth
Students tend to like friendly teachers, but they like those who believe they can improve even more, new research indicates. Students in a study still responded positively to instructors described as being cold but who also had a growth mindset, meaning they felt students’ ability in a subject could improve by working hard and trying […]
Polar bears unlikely to adapt to longer summers
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.
Some have speculated that polar bears might adapt to the longer ice-free seasons due to climate warming by acting like their grizzly bear relatives and either rest or eat terrestrial food. The polar bears in this study tried versions of both strategies — with little success.
Potential link found between high maternal cortisol, unpredicted birth complications
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 […]
