Washington University anthropologist Michael Frachetti is leading groundbreaking research on an ancient city in Uzbekistan. Lost and abandoned for a thousand years, the medieval city of Tashbulak lies buried beneath an isolated pasture high in the mountains. Before being discovered by Frachetti and his Uzbek co-investigator, Farhod Maksudov, in 2011, the well-preserved site was unknown […]
The common dandelion is cursed the world over for its ability to infest lawns and crops. But a Washington University engineer has found a surprising use for the pesky weed: the pappus of the dandelion — the white, fluffy materias surrounding the seed — can be used as a perfect pipette in the laboratory setting. […]
The Silk Road has long held intrigue for modern historians and archaeologists who wish to understand the origins of the world’s most complex ancient overland trade system. New research from Washington University suggests that long before the vast east-west trade routes were traversed by Marco Polo, their foundations were being carved by nomads moving herds […]
By the year 2050, the number of Chinese citizens over the age of 65 is expected to reach 329 million. About 120 million of those people will be over age 80, with some 20 percent suffering from dementia. If life expectancies continue to rise as expected, Alzheimer’s disease could be not only one of the […]