Zika Reservoirs

Possible Zika reservoirs in the Americas

The Zika virus appeared in the Americas in 2015, but it has been present in Africa and Asia since the 1940s. Though the spread of the disease has virtually ended, Zika is a “zoonotic” virus — meaning it can be transferred from animals to humans and vice-versa. Even if it were eradicated in humans, it […]

Diverse canopy of Amazonian forest in Peru

Cracking the case of global plant biodiversity

Two Washington University researchers are furthering our understanding of plant biodiversity around the globe. The biodiversity gradient is the increase in species richness that occurs from the poles to the tropics. It is  one of the most widely recognized patterns in ecology but no one is sure exactly why it exists. Because the phenomenon is […]

Eggs

A nutritional superfood for children in developing countries

A study conducted in Ecuador found that eating eggs significantly increased growth in young children and reduced stunting by 47 percent — a much greater effect than had been shown in previous studies. The study was co-authored by Lori Iannotti, a leading child-nutrition expert at the Brown School. It was published June 6, 2017 in […]