Research and stories

Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis will be working to improve energy efficiency in production of that useful gas thanks to a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 

Associate Professor Jonathan Hanahan and Professor Derek Hoeferlin have been awarded Ignite Interdisciplinary Grants through WashU’s Here and Next campaign. The $50,000 grants are designed to catalyze interdisciplinary research projects that address complex, transformative problems.

A new study outlines the ways by which city life may be shaping the evolution of urban coyotes, the highly adaptable carnivores spotted in alleyways from Berkeley, Calif., to the Bronx, in New York.

Pawpaw fruits — the largest native fruits in North America — have become popular among foragers and foodies alike, with their custard-like texture and a sweet flavor often described as a cross between a mango and a banana.

Weedy rice is a close relative of cultivated rice that infests rice fields worldwide and drastically reduces yields. To combat this agricultural pest, rice growers in the southeastern United States have been planting rice cultivars that were tweaked to allow them to apply herbicides that target weedy rice without harming the crop.

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.