WSU Research Highlights
May 2017
News highlights
Physicists observe ‘negative mass’
WSU physicists have created a fluid with negative mass. The phenomenon is rarely created in laboratory conditions and can be used to explore some of the more challenging concepts of the cosmos. – BBC News
First cohort of PNNL-WSU graduate research students
WSU and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have selected the first group of students for the PNNL-WSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program. – Tri-City Herald
How AI will help the aging
WSU’s interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Studies in Adaptive Systems is developing sensor systems and data analysis to help aging people live safely at home longer. The goal ultimately is to develop algorithms that will be able to predict what behavior changes mean, so steps can be taken to prevent health problems or emotional issues from worsening. – Smithsonian Magazine
Secret of a good night’s sleep is in our genes
WSU researchers discovered how a specific gene is involved in the quality of sleep that is experience by different animals, including humans. They hope the discovery could be involved in sleep regulation. – The Guardian
Fruit flies offer understanding of Alzheimer’s
Fruit flies, or rather their tiny brains, can give us some clues about mysteries behind Alzheimer’s disease and how sleep loss plays a role. A WSU researcher is studying the insect’s brain and the effect of sleep patterns, and recently was able to generate physiological characteristics similar to Alzheimer’s in fruit flies. – Spokesman Review
Natural plant defense can help fight cancer
A natural defense that helps plants ward off insect predators, discovered at WSU, could lead to better crops and new treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. – Lewiston Tribune
Advancing bioproducts
Researchers at WSU Tri-Cities and PNNL have found a new way to define the molecular structure of cellulose, which could lead to cheaper and more efficient ways to make a variety of crucial bioproducts. – WSU News
Ultra light material for 3-D printing
A new way of making lightweight and incredibly strong materials that have a similar structure to wood and bone has been developed by WSU scientists in what they described as a “ground-breaking advance.” – Yahoo News
New grant expands indigenous digital archiving
A free, open-source platform developed at WSU to help tribal communities share their digital cultural heritage is expanding to regional hubs in Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, Wisconsin and Connecticut. – WSU News
WSU grad student designs map of precinct-level election results
A WSU graduate student has created what he believes is the first map showing precinct-level results for the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The map provides a detailed picture of the American electorate, providing data that can be used to inform policy development and understand voting behavior. – Spokesman Review
WSU adds to research, innovation capabilities in Spokane
WSU’s Office of Commercialization has added a new position to the university’s Spokane campus, establishing its first point of contact here for researchers hoping to develop and market new technologies in life science fields. – Spokane Business Journal
Honors and Awards
WSU’s Michael Wolcott named to DOE, USDA biomass research panel
WSU Regents Professor Michael Wolcott has been named to the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, which advises both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy. – WSU News
NSF research fellows
Five WSU students have been chosen for National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships. The prestigious awards have trained generations of American scientists and engineers, including Nobel laureates. The WSU recipients are among 2,000 students chosen from more than 13,000 applicants from across the U.S. – WSU News
National award for survey research
Matthew Strawn, study director and data manager in the WSU Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, has been awarded the 2017 John Tarnai Memorial Scholarship. – WSU News
WSU Tri-Cities I-Corps team in UW business competition ‘sweet 16’
A team from WSU Tri-Cities whose business plan is to commercialize a WSU-patented jet fuel technology has advanced to the University of Washington Business Plan Competition’s “sweet 16” round. Last month, the team placed third at the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge. The team is supported by an NSF I-Corps grant to explore the market potential of their biojet fuel research. – WSU News
2017 best enology paper & national fellowship honor
A team of WSU researchers recently received the “best enology paper” distinction from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. Student winemaker Connor Eck was also named a national Newman Civic Fellow. – WSU News
