WSU Pullman

Helping students succeed

Senior zoology major Cassandra McElroen became a Chemistry 105 teaching assistant because she enjoys helping people and wants to provide students with a better understanding of the material. Her role as a TA includes holding office hours once a week, where students can ask questions about anything chemistry-related. She also runs a lab section, where […]

PhD research program leads to national laboratory

Batteries developed by Shuo Feng could someday revolutionize the nation’s power grid and help electric vehicles go further on one charge than ever before. Feng is one of five doctoral students who completed their doctorate program through the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Washington State University Distinguished Graduate Research Program (DGRP) in 2021.

Big gaps in quest to sequence genomes of all animals

In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from WSU and Brigham Young University warn that current efforts to sequence the genomes of the world’s animals are overlooking huge swathes of diversity and opportunity. “With genome assemblies accumulating rapidly, we want to think about where we are putting our efforts. […]

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

Q&A with alumnus Joe Astorino

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:

Two CAS outstanding seniors represent college at commencement ceremonies

An aspiring international lawyer and a budding business analyst were honored as gonfalon bearers for the College of Arts and Sciences during separate commencement ceremonies Saturday at WSU Pullman. Nicole Craze, a political science major who aims to become an attorney specializing in international law and diplomacy, carried the college’s shield-shaped banner at the ceremony […]

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 […]