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Where people matter, and serious work is done. Share your experiences with #WashU and look for @ WashU on Instagram and on TikTok. WashU.edu
What if we could turn cancer's appetite against itself? WashU researchers are exploring how to use those traits against them. https://bit.ly/4uqhCWQ
Targeting tumor metabolism to fight cancer
Cancer cells are ravenous eaters. Gary Patti at Washington University in St. Louis is trying to turn their hunger against them.
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A glacier that has persisted since the last major Ice Age is now disappearing. 🏔️ Researchers at WashU found that parts of Wyoming's Sunlight glacier system are melting so rapidly that some areas could be ice-free within a decade. https://bit.ly/4bgEGA7
#ResearchSky Nearly 1 in 5 adults across 18 countries reported poor or fair #mentalhealth in a new global study. As demand for services grows, researchers say better data is needed to design care that meets people's needs. https://bit.ly/3Sbc19s
People with poor mental health report worse care worldwide
WashU researchers find adults struggling with their mental health face more unmet needs and less trust in health systems.
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#ResearchSky What if carbon dioxide wasn't just a climate challenge, but a resource? Researchers at WashU are working to turn CO₂ into fuels, chemicals, and materials used in everyday products. https://bit.ly/4wsO2CB
Thinking about mortality can feel difficult, but Dr. Brian Carpenter, professor of psychological and brain sciences, suggests it can gently help us appreciate life more and strengthen connections. https://cnn.it/4nYNoZz
Why it isn’t morbid to think about death | CNN
People often avoid thinking or talking about death in the United States, but experts say a better life may require becoming more open about your mortality.
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An investment in the future 🔬: An early-stage clinical trial found that a personalized vaccine for glioblastoma is safe, activates the immune system, and may help some patients stay cancer-free longer after surgery. https://bit.ly/49wetgI
Personalized vaccine shows promise against aggressive brain cancer
A WashU Medicine-led clinical trial has found that a personalized vaccine to treat glioblastoma appears to increase recurrence-free survival in a subset of patients after surgery.
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#ResearchSky: Nitazenes, a potent class of synthetic opioids, have been found in Missouri school wastewater, yet only 12% of survey respondents are aware of this threat. WashU research highlights the urgent need to raise awareness and take decisive action. https://bit.ly/4dahrcZ
WashU poll: St. Louisans largely unaware of deadly opioids in school wastewater
Nearly 70% of Missouri schools tested showed traces of potent synthetic opioids, as a new iHeard poll finds most St. Louis residents are unaware of the threat.
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KPop Demon Hunters is the most-watched film in @Netflix history, and WashU professor Mijeong Mimi Kim helped bring its world to life as a cultural consultant. Through her contributions, she helped ensure the film’s details felt authentic. 🎞️ https://bit.ly/3OOpR0f
Faculty Consulted on Blockbusters Like “The Pitt,” “Sinners”
From Only Murders in the Building to The Pitt, faculty members are lending their expertise to Hollywood to help tell an accurate story.
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Visual cues can’t always warn of excessive blood loss during birth. WashU engineers are designing a wrist device that monitors blood flow continuously, so doctors know immediately when a mom’s at risk. https://bit.ly/4nw5FfV
Tracking deadly and unpredictable postpartum hemorrhage
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are developing a wearable device that aims to track blood loss in pregnant women during delivery, with support from a $2.8 million grant from the Nati...
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Across 406 forest plots spanning from Brazil to Colombia, a team including WashU biologists has been tracking the fate of tropical trees in South America's forests. The findings reveal important shifts in tree biodiversity across the Amazon rainforest. 🔍 https://bit.ly/4dGMbDj
WashU scientists join 40-year study tracking changing tropical forests
WashU biologists Toby Pennington and Jonathan Myers contributed to an ambitious study on South America’s tropical forests, revealing important shifts in biodiversity.
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Pigeons know how to “wing it” in city life. St. Louis rooftops, overpasses, and busy streets become their playgrounds. Alumna Daisy Lewis tracked their flocks in St. Louis and Madrid, revealing how these urban birds thrive among humans. 🐦 https://bit.ly/467DzzT
Pigeons of St. Louis: A new look at a cosmopolitan bird
Wildlife researchers at Washington University in St. Louis tracked pigeons in two cities to see what affects their density.
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Could we one day live on Mars? 👽 🛸 Scientists say in order to terraform the Red Planet, creating an Earthlike atmosphere is just step one. https://bit.ly/3IlIdT1
Creating an Earth-like atmosphere on Mars won't be easy
Asteroid impacts, microbes, mining: These are a few tactics engineers might one day use to create an Earthlike atmosphere on Mars.
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▪️ Know the risks ▪️ Pay attention to symptoms ▪️ Stay up-to-date on screenings like colonoscopies Colorectal cancer is on the rise among people under 50, but early detection can save lives. https://bit.ly/3HGBmUd
Colon cancer is rising in people under 50. Does lifestyle have anything to do with it?
You can't change your family history of colon cancer, but could these lifestyle shifts lower your risk?
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Romance is fly 🪰: Male fruit flies follow female eyes to direct their romantic moves with precision. Using AI tracking, researchers can map their flirtation patterns and gain insights into how the brain processes sensory information in real time. https://bit.ly/4leKONX
Courtship is complicated, even in fruit flies
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have a new model for understanding fruit fly courtship behavior, which can help for other sensory models in neuroscience research.
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#ResearchSky: A breast biopsy is often the only way to rule out cancer, but up to 80% turn out benign. Researchers at WashU developed imaging that could cut unnecessary biopsies by nearly 25%, helping reduce anxiety, costs and invasive procedures for patients. https://bit.ly/4qQV7JR
Imaging technique can reduce benign breast biopsies by 25%
Ultrasound-guided diffuse optical tomography reduces breast biopsies by 25% in a new study from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis.
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Ever wonder why some plants deteriorate despite careful watering? 🍅 Harmful bacteria can “listen” to a plant’s chemical signals and strike when it’s most vulnerable. WashU scientists are studying this to protect crops and the food we rely on every day. https://bit.ly/3IodBjS
How harmful bacteria hijack crops
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified the protein involved in costly plant infestations, pointing the way to possible protections.
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#ResearchSky: What if a simple blood test could help predict when #Alzheimers symptoms might begin? 🧠 WashU Medicine researchers developed a model that estimates onset within 3–4 years, an advance that could speed research on treatments to prevent or delay the disease. https://bit.ly/4ruRcTo
Blood test 'clocks' predict when Alzheimer's symptoms will start
WashU Medicine researchers have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease using a single blood test.
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Charging your phone in the cold? That can stress the battery. 🥶 Engineers at WashU built a new way to watch what happens inside batteries in real time — insight that could lead to safer tech and smarter charging. https://bit.ly/4b3h8P5
A clear view to better batteries
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are providing guidance and maps to improve the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
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Charging your phone in the cold? That can stress the battery. 🥶 Engineers at WashU built a new way to watch what happens inside batteries in real time — insight that could lead to safer tech and smarter charging. https://bit.ly/4b3h8P5
A clear view to better batteries
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are providing guidance and maps to improve the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
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Many patients skip needed meds because of cost. According to Rachel Sachs of the School of Law, high drug prices stem from system-wide incentives meaning real affordability will require broad, coordinated reforms. 💊 https://bit.ly/4apIcZI
WashU Expert: Why prescription drug prices stay high — and what Congress can do about it
High prescription drug prices are not caused by any single company or practice, but by the system itself, said Washington University in St. Louis School of Law's Rachel Sachs. If Congress wants lower ...
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Safety first 🤝: Children already juggle school, friendships and growing up. New research from WashU shows that when young people worry about neighborhood safety, it can affect how their brains develop and how they think, learn and feel. https://bit.ly/4tF3cmF
How feelings of neighborhood safety may shape young minds
Research from psychologists at Washington University in St. Louis finds perception of neighborhood safety affects brain development.
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#ResearchSky 🧬: Researchers at WashU have received support to continue research into the genetics of families with a history of extreme longevity, seeking keys to healthy aging. https://bit.ly/4aDenDK
$80 million supports research into exceptional longevity
WashU Medicine researchers have received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue a study of families with a history of extreme longevity, seeking genetic clues to healthy agin...
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The Power of the Pout 💄: Throughout pop culture, poet and culture critic Eileen G’Sell examines how lipstick has emerged as a powerful marker of agency and artistry. Beyond satin or matte, it’s a form of expression sealed with a kiss. 💋 https://bit.ly/4rvmV6P
How lipstick became music’s most versatile symbol
From Courtney Love to Chappell Roan, lipstick has evolved into a marker of power.
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What if your clothes were powered by real muscle proteins? WashU engineers grew fibers in bioreactors that are strong, flexible, and heat-resistant and offering safer, more sustainable materials for everyday life. https://bit.ly/40gJsZn
Putting some ‘muscle' into material design
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed various muscle-inspired fiber materials for use in textiles, foods, and biomedical applications.
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Just as tree rings tell a tree's age, brain proteins can now forecast Alzheimer's symptoms. Researchers have developed a model using these "protein rings" to estimate symptom onset. This could be a major step forward in Alzheimer's research and care. #ResearchSky https://bit.ly/4ruRcTo
Blood test 'clocks' predict when Alzheimer’s symptoms will start
WashU Medicine researchers have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease using a single blood test.
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Swapping sugar for “sugar-free” sweeteners may not be the win we think. New WashU research shows sorbitol, found in gum, candy, and low-cal snacks, can be converted into fructose in the liver, raising new questions about its long-term health effects. https://bit.ly/44mHnNG
Alternative sweetener sorbitol linked to liver disease
A study from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has found connections between the alternative sweetener sorbitol and liver disease.
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After breast cancer surgery, infections can mean more pain, more surgeries, and more stress. WashU Medicine researchers found a way to spot infections early, before symptoms, so doctors can treat faster and help patients heal without losing implants. #ResearchSky https://bit.ly/3MfENU0
Method spots early signs of infection after breast cancer reconstruction
A new tool developed by Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine researchers could allow for preemptive treatment of implant-related infections that improves outcomes and reduces patients' emotional and financial burden.
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#ResearchSky A new WashU-led immunotherapy targets the root cause of dangerous artery plaque, not just the symptoms. The discovery could complement cholesterol-lowering treatments and offer hope for people whose heart disease needs more than diet or medication alone. https://bit.ly/4qnFZmd
Immunotherapy reduces plaque in arteries of mice
An antibody-based immunotherapy reduces plaque in the arteries of mice, offering a potential new strategy to treat cardiovascular disease, according to a study led by Washington University School of M...
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💪 Focus on safety 💦 Build a routine that fits you 🏋️ Tune in to your body Looking to incorporate strength training into your workouts? These tips will help! https://bit.ly/3Mlihcn
What's the Easiest Way to Start Strength Training?
Strength training offers a range of benefits, experts say. Here's how to start.
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#ResearchSky Parkinson’s affects movement, sleep, and thinking, and current treatments can’t stop it. A new study led by WashU pinpoints the brain network underlying the disease and shows that targeting it can dramatically improve symptoms without surgery. https://bit.ly/4tpIjfh
Brain network responsible for Parkinson's disease identified
A brain network first identified by Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine researchers, called SCAN, is shown in a new study to be the neurological basis for Parkinson's disease. Patients receiving treatments targeted to this brain region...
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