Research and stories

A new study published in Cell uncovers the deep evolutionary roots of flint and dent maize, commonly known as corn, two foundational varieties central to modern maize breeding and cultivation. Eighteen samples came from Ozark rockshelters and provide the first ancient maize DNA from east of the Rocky Mountains.

Can improved nutrition during pregnancy help prevent stunted growth in children around the world? With partners in Ecuador, Lora Iannotti studies the effects of maternal diet on infant brain development.

WashU sophomores work with villagers in rural Madagascar to conserve biodiversity.

Bird wing shape is a trait that influences biodiversity patterns on islands around the world, according to research from WashU biologists.

Assistant Professor Seth Denizen was awarded a Global Incubator Seed Grant for his collaborative project on wastewater urbanism with Christina Seibe at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

From the icy ends of the Earth to the tropics, scientists across disciplines are using radar, big data, and other tools to help us better understand our changing planet.

Maddy Frank, science writer at WashU, chronicles her adventures funded by the Newman Exploration Travel Fund (NEXT), where she set off to South Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico to discover more about our current relationship with caverns.

Students in the “Geospatial Field Methods” course used drones to map flooding along the Meramec River.

WashU engineering professor Joshua Yuan and University of Missouri professor Susie Dai along with collaborators created biodiesel with electrocatalysis and bioconversion.

WashU biologists investigate inner workings of DNA methylation in plants.