About The Source
The Source is a place for information, inspiration and for sharing stories about exciting discoveries and accomplishments at Washington University. Here, you’ll experience the research, scholarship and creativity that drive us every day. You’ll also get a glimpse of campus life and meet the people who inspire us: scientists, leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, artists and authors. If you’re looking to explore a remarkable place where people matter and serious work is done, this is The Source.
Eclipse chasers and new planet tracers
Long before GPS satellites and NASA, Washington University astronomers played a central role in the scientific observation of total solar eclipses — including a search for the elusive planet Vulcan in the late 1800s.
‘An element of surprise’
Over the last several months, architecture students from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts have planned, fabricated and installed a 100-foot-long public sculpture at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Birth defects, cancer linked
Some children born with birth defects may be at increased risk for specific types of cancer, according to a new review from the Brown School and the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Engineers work to fight pollution at home, globally
A group of Washington University aerosol scientists, engineers and administrators traveled to Asia this summer to address some of the important problems related to energy, environment and health that we face today. Here, four engineering faculty share their takeaways.
Crank the AC, cut in-car pollution
After conducting a new research approach using actual commutes, a group of engineers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered a simple shift in driving habits can help to reduce exposure to pollutants while out on the road.
Test uses nanotechnology to quickly diagnose Zika virus
Washington University in St. Louis researchers have developed a test that quickly detects the presence of Zika virus in blood.
Alzheimer’s risk linked to energy shortage in brain’s immune cells
A new study from the School of Medicineshows that mutations in the gene TREM2 cause an energy shortage in the brain’s immune cells, leading to their failure to protect neurons from damaging clumps of protein.
Protein-rich diet may help soothe inflamed gut
The combination of a bacterium that normally lives in the gut and a protein-rich diet promotes a more tolerant, less inflammatory gut immune system, according to new research at the School of Medicine. The findings may potentially spell relief for people living with inflammatory bowel disease.