the ampersand

The latest news and updates from Arts & Sciences

‘Compton effect’

11.28.22 |

Arthur Holly Compton, WashU’s ninth chancellor, conducted X-ray scattering experiments in 1922 that demonstrated the particle nature of electromagnetic radiation. At the time, the idea that light had both wave and particle properties was not easily accepted. His discovery stimulated the development of quantum mechanics and was recognized with the Nobel Prize in 1927.

11.23.22

Physicist Errando helps NASA solve black hole jet mystery

11.23.22 |

Manel Errando in Arts & Sciences is part of a team that determined that particle acceleration within black hole jets is best explained by a shock wave within the jet.

11.22.22

Forest Park Living Lab

11.22.22 |

Combining experts in wildlife ecology, animal movement and veterinary medicine, the new Forest Park Living Lab examines wildlife health, behavior and interactions in the mosaic of ecosystems in Forest Park. The project received a Living Earth Collaborative seed grant in 2020.

11.14.22

Norwitz, Oyetunji were Rhodes Scholar finalists

11.14.22 |

Seniors Sam Norwitz and Ephraim Oyetunji, both majoring in neuroscience in Arts & Sciences, were finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship, one of the world’s most prestigious academic honors.

11.9.22

An alternate route to semiconductor production

11.9.22

How to build a Qing Dynasty bed

11.9.22

Thirsty wheat needed new water management strategy in ancient China

11.9.22 |

Research from the laboratory of archaeologist Xinyi Liu in Arts & Sciences shows that a practice of purposeful water management, or irrigation, was adopted to help cultivate wheat in northern China about 4,000 years ago.

11.7.22

Benson wins Cave Canem Poetry Prize

11.3.22

Polarized X-rays reveal shape, orientation of extremely hot matter around black hole

11.3.22 |

New measurements from Cygnus X-1, reported Nov. 3 in the journal Science, represent the first observations of a mass-accreting black hole from the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission, an international collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency. The lead author of the new study is physicist Henric Krawczynski in Arts & Sciences.

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