Symposium to allow quinoa enthusiasts learn from leaders in the field
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
July 24, 2020
Within the last several years, quinoa has become a household grain after being a rather unknown crop in many parts of the world. Researchers will call more attention to the crop by sharing cutting-edge research at the second International Quinoa Research Symposium. The symposium will spotlight how quinoa cont...
WSU team designs masks, tests level of protection for use
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
July 17, 2020
Members of WSU faculty designed and tested facial coverings to see if they can be used by healthcare professionals as a last resort. Early in the pandemic, the team heard there was going to be a shortage of N95 masks. They wanted to design a mask a healthcare provider might use if they lacked suffic...
Bacterial compound may treat entire class of parasites
EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen reporter
July 3, 2020
A compound produced by bacteria in shipworms may help WSU researchers create a drug treatment for a class of parasites called apicomplexans. “This is the only drug we know of that targets this whole class of parasites,” said Roberta O’Connor, associate professor in WSU’s Department of Veter...
Environment, neighborhood characteristics affect people’s longevity, researchers say
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
July 1, 2020
Factors such as neighborhood walkability and socioeconomic status are correlated to a person’s likelihood of living to 100 years old, according to a study conducted by WSU researchers. It is more likely for people to live to 100 years old if they are female, white or live in areas where there is a higher perce...
Plant protein may help researchers understand drought resilience
EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen reporter
June 29, 2020
By knocking down the concentration of a protein called MAP20 in plant cells, WSU researchers determined cells with less MAP20 are less likely to recover from drought, providing insight into the function of the protein. The research delves into the vascular system of plants, which is relatively unknown...
Researchers to create robotic system for fruit flower pollination
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
June 26, 2020
Researchers at WSU and Pennsylvania State University are collaborating to create a robotic system that will artificially pollinate fruit tree flowers due to threats to natural pollination worldwide. The robotic system will be able to detect where flowers are using cameras and a computational s...
WSU researchers receive grant for new computing system design
BRADLEY GAMBLE, Evergreen reporter
June 26, 2020
The National Science Foundation gave WSU and Duke University researchers a three-year grant to develop a new computing framework, which will use 3D chips to increase the efficiency of computing and communication. Partha Pratim Pande, director of WSU’s School of Electrical Engineering and Comput...
Employment of certain groups more likely to be affected by pandemic, study says
CHERYL AARNIO, Evergreen reporter
June 24, 2020
A WSU associate professor interested in the effects of the pandemic and resulting recession authored a paper on groups of people whose employment is more likely to be affected during COVID-19. Ben Cowan, associate professor for the WSU School of Economic Sciences, conducted a study that found peop...
WSU researchers test environmental samples for coronavirus genetic material
EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen reporter
June 22, 2020
Testing environmental samples for pieces of RNA, the single-stranded genetic material of coronaviruses, may help WSU researchers determine how long the virus can persist outside a host. Researchers will collect samples of wastewater, soil and stormwater from both urban and rural areas in Washington and ...
Five bacterial proteins could be used for vaccine in cattle
EMMA LEDBETTER, Evergreen reporter
June 22, 2020
WSU researchers investigating the bacteria Anaplasma marginale have identified five proteins that could potentially be used in a global vaccine against it. A. marginale is a tick-borne bacteria that infects red blood cells in cattle, said Kelly Brayton, professor in WSU’s Department of Veterinary Micro...
Virtual study abroad program reflects on cultural influence, architecture
BRADLEY GAMBLE, Evergreen reporter
June 19, 2020
A WSU professor launched a free virtual study abroad program for students who missed out on study abroad trips due to COVID-19. Steve Austin, clinical assistant professor for WSU’s School of Design and Construction, said he created the program to help students gain a better understanding of other cult...
Research center director moves from Puyallup to Wenatchee
SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter
June 15, 2020
The director of the Mt. Vernon and Puyallup WSU research centers will take a permanent position at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center based out of Wenatchee, Washington. Chad Kruger spent much of his career at WSU; he grew up in eastern Washington and started working for the universit...
Whitman County received 19 more reports of positive COVID-19 tests this week, which brings the county’s total case count to 114. Nine cases were...
