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Super bugs
New technique makes corn ethanol process more efficient
| Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are proposing to borrow a process used in breweries and wastewater treatment facilities to make corn ethanol more energy efficient. They are exploring the use of oxygen-less vats of microorganisms that naturally feed on organic waste produced from the ethanol fermentation process.
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First strings first
Case is made that high school physics should be taught first
| Physics has a reputation for being the toughest of the high school science courses. But visual models of motion, acceleration, waves, projectiles and other principles help students of all ages build an understanding of physical science concepts. For Jack Wiegers, biology instructor, and Patrick Gibbons, Ph.D., professor of physics, these ideas are a key part of science for students from kindergarten through grade 12. The pair instructs four Science Outreach graduate courses in physical science designed for K-8 teachers. They've also worked with high school teachers in short workshops and in year-long professional learning communities.
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Unrest in Russia
Russia views U.S. missile defense in Poland as antagonistic, says expert
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| James Wertsch |
Russia's leaders and its population tend to view current developments in Poland through the lens of a basic Russian national narrative that focuses on Russia as a target of invasion by foreign enemies, claims James V. Wertsch, an expert on post-Soviet democracy movements at Washington University in St. Louis. Wertsch was interviewed on this subject and on the Georgia/Russian conflict recently on KMOX radio. The interview is available here.
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Man the Hunted
New book further supports controversial theory
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Despite popular theories to the contrary, early humans evolved not as aggressive hunters, but as prey of many predators. "Humans are no more born to be hunters than to be gardeners," argues Robert W. Sussman, Ph.D., professor of anthropology in Arts & Sciences, in the newly-updated version of the controversial book "Man the Hunted: Primates, Predators and Human Evolution."
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Be prepared
Seminar to address ways to lessen earthquake damage
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| What should the Midwest do before and after a major earthquake? |
The earthquake that hit the lower Midwest on April 18 of this year was a hearty 5.2 on the Richter scale and got the attention of the St. Louis region. What if a larger quake — occurring either in the New Madrid Fault or Wabash Valley Fault — were to hit the region? How would we respond? To address these concerns, the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Structural Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis is presenting a series of seminars and workshops on the topic of reducing the damage that could occur if a strong earthquake strikes the area again.
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Rising costs
High food and fuel prices could affect school lunches this year
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| Diekman |
With food and fuel costs far above what they were a year ago, school children can expect to see some changes in menu offerings this academic year, says a nutrition expert at Washington University in St. Louis.
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What about the Whigs?
Electoral system imposes formidable barriers to minor parties and drives politics to the center, says election law expert
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| Magarian |
"Minor political parties' inability to gain traction in the United States does not reflect natural facets of our national character," says Gregory P. Magarian, election law expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, home of the 2008 vice presidential debate. "Rather, our legal system imposes formidable barriers to minor parties' electoral viability. The use of plurality voting (the candidate with the most votes gets the only prize) and single-member districts in congressional and most state legislative elections drives voters to coalesce around only two electoral options, marginalizing any candidate who lacks a major-party brand." Magarian is available to discuss general election law and electoral system issues.
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Bush regulatory spending breaks records
Annual report shows spending continues to spiral higher
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After eight years in office, President Bush is on track to be one of the biggest regulatory budget spending presidents in history, according to a new study from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and the Weidenbaum Center at Washington University in St. Louis.
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Back-to-school
WUSTL experts available for comment on issues children and parents face each fall
| Your kid just got beat up by the fifth-grade bully. Or perhaps you aren't sure the lunches are healthy enough for your child to be eating. Maybe you've even noticed a change in your child's behavior after returning to school. Washington University has several experts that can comment on any one of these concerns, as well as many others that arise when children are going ... back to school, whether it's kindergarten, high school or college.
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Fighting childhood obesity with fruits and vegetables
Parents shape whether their children learn to eat fruits and vegetables
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Providing fruits for snacks and serving vegetables at dinner can shape a preschooler's eating patterns for his or her lifetime. To combat the increasing problem of childhood obesity, researchers are studying how to get preschoolers to eat more fruits and vegetables. According to researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, one way is early home interventions — teaching parents how to create an environment where children reach for a banana instead of potato chips.
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