Top WSU research stories 2020

From “murder hornets” to life on other planets, the most popular Washington State University research coverage in a year dominated by COVID-19 was largely tangential to the pandemic—playing on questions of how things could get worse, or how we might leave this troubled planet altogether. Other stories that saw wide audiences involved the pandemic more directly or research so novel it could not be ignored like the creation of the first-ever surrogate sires, male livestock able to pass on the most-desired genetics of donor animals.

This was not a typical year, but the news stories about WSU research that did the best still had a focus on real world impact. Health-related stories, in particular, did well, such as whether parents should hide their stress from kids, the potential benefits of cannabis or whether exercise helped people deal with their pandemic fears.

WSU communicators produced more than 100 research-related press releases in 2020, helping disseminate the knowledge gained while elevating WSU’s national and international profile as a leading public research university. WSU News staff analyzed each story using Meltwater media tracking software for its total potential audience reach. These reach numbers are quite large as they are based on each media outlets’ circulation or viewership added together. While the numbers contain duplicates, given that many people consume news and information from multiple outlets that might report on the same developments, it can give a sense of how far and wide a story travelled.

Below are the top 10 research stories of 2020 with press release links, potential reach numbers, a sample of the resulting media articles, and some possible reasons for their success. Following that is the rest of WSU research stories ranked by their reach.

1. Scientists predict potential spread, habitat of invasive Asian giant hornet

   3.52 billion

   USA Today, BBC, CNN, People magazine

   This story started quietly when a call went out to Washington state residents to keep an eye out for the invasive giant hornets known for decapitating whole hives of honeybees, the world’s critically important pollinators. The story exploded after the New York Times dubbed the insects “murder hornets” and a morbid hilarity ensued in the news and on social media mainly on the theme of “what could be worse about 2020?” By the end of the year more than 1,500 articles mentioned the hornets and the work of WSU scientists who were collaborating with state officials to track and remove the destructive bugs.

2. Some planets may be better for life than Earth

   2.22 billion

   CNN, Fox News, Forbes, Gizmodo

   The idea of “superhabitable” planets, worlds that might be better than our own, caught a lot of people’s imaginations across the globe. Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch, an adjunct WSU professor also with the Technical University in Berlin, and his colleagues came up with a set of characteristics that are better for life and found 24 of these potentially wonderful planets.

3. Gene-edited livestock ‘surrogate sires’ successfully made fertile

   1.39 billion

   BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Yahoo News

   In an advance that promises to improve food production worldwide, male pigs, goats and a bull were gene-edited to be born sterile but able to pass on the implanted genetic material containing the desired traits from donor animals. These special livestock animals were born right here at WSU Pullman in a project led by reproductive biologist Jon Oatley. Buoyed by strong interest in Europe, media from all over the world ran stories on these so‑called “super‑dads.”

4. Study: Organic molecules discovered by Curiosity Rover consistent with early life on Mars

   980 million

   Daily Mail, Daily Beast, CNET, NY Post

   The possibility of life on other planets is always a big draw as is proven again by this story based on another paper led by Schulze-Makuch that came out even before COVID‑19 lockdowns started making life on Earth a bit difficult.

5. Tasmanian devils may survive their own pandemic

   728.34 million

   U.S. News & World Report, Smithsonian, Science magazine, MSN.com

   In a dark year, a bright spot of good news for the iconic Tasmainan devil gained a lot of attention. The method used to trace the evolution of the transmissible cancer afflicting the devil may also help scientists learn more about other genetically complex pathogens. The work led by WSU biologist Andrew Storfer and recent WSU Ph.D. Austin Patton not only made the prestigious journal Science but was featured in their podcast as well as numerous mainstream media sites.

6. Everything is not fine: Kids can tell when parents suppress their stress

   436.74 million

   CNN, Healthline, Consumer Affairs

   Parents don’t need to stress about hiding stress – that was welcome information for parents during the pandemic. The research led by human development assistant professor Sara Waters had a large reach, driven primarily by an article in CNN that was picked up by many of their affiliates.

7. Cannabis reduces OCD symptoms by half in the short-term

   361.91 million

   Forbes, International Business Times, Consumer Affairs

   Cannabis is a notoriously difficult thing to study in the U.S. and that has created a real craving for news about its potential benefits. The analysis that psychologist Carrie Cuttler did using self-reported data from the Strainprint app provided some real-world information about this understudied drug.

8. COVID-stress may be hard to beat even with exercise

   327.96 million

   WebMD, U.S. News & World Report, Times of India

   The pandemic has been a continual focus in the news during 2020, and this twin-study led by Glen Duncan in the College of Medicine addressed a question a lot of people wanted to know about whether they could manage their COVID‑19 stress with exercise.

9. New study to examine benefits, risks of breastfeeding during COVID‑19 infection

   245.98 million

   Daily Mail, MSN Health

   While it is rare for the start of a study to make news, a similar recently completed study in China was making headlines at the same time that this WSU call for study participants went out, resulting in a surprise mention from the widely circulated Daily Mail in the UK, among other places.

10. Decline in plant breeding programs could impact food security

    223.51 million

    Medium, Forbes, The Farmer

    This study related to agriculture education attracted attention outside of the agriculture media as it showed a real-world effect. The story was particularly boosted by an article in Medium, whose membership community gives it a potential audience of over 120 million.

11. Centenarian study suggests living environment may be key to longevity
12. Researchers use origami to solve space travel challenge
13. Researchers advance fuel cell technology
14. Fear of missing out impacts people of all ages
15. Scientists document collapse of key Central American forest engineer
16. Rural areas have fewer mental health services for young people
17. Researchers develop viable sodium battery
18. Social media use increases belief in COVID-19 misinformation
19. Researchers call for new approach to some mental disorders
20. New research sheds light on potentially negative effects of cannabis
21. Where you live may influence your baby’s behavior
22. Depressed, rural moms face greater health challenges–and so do their kids
23. Exercise during pregnancy reduces obesity among offspring
24. Water splitting advance holds promise for affordable renewable energy
25. Study shows cannabis temporarily relieves PTSD symptoms
26. Tasmanian devil research offers new insights for tackling cancer in humans
27. Facebook political ads more partisan, less negative than TV
28. Invisible plastics in water
29. Discrimination increases against Asian and Asian American population, affecting health
30. Study shows rising age of first drug use in teens, young adults
31. No honor among cyber thieves
32. Restaurant customers frown on automatic gratuities, particularly after good service
33. More economic worries mean less caution about COVID-19
34. Football-loving states slow to enact youth concussion laws
35. Ancient blanket made with 11,500 turkey feathers
36. Canada lynx disappearing from Washington state
37. Study finds fatty acid that kills cancer cells
38. Nurse practitioners play key role in opioid addiction treatment in very rural areas
39. Teen boys link marijuana use with more, better sex
40. Cannabis ads and store location influence youth marijuana use
41. Wording of vaccination messages influences behavior
42. War songs and lullabies behind origins of music
43. Researchers develop method for earlier detection of Alzheimer’s Disease
44. Response to fire imapcts water levels 40 years into the future
45. Researchers find connection between household chemicals and gut microbiome
46. Small towns have highest risk of intimate partner violence
47. Increasing sleep time after trauma could ease ill effects, study says
48. Non-tobacco plant identified in ancient pipe for first time
49. Jails that don’t change operations due to COVID-19 put all at risk, WSU study finds
50. Changes to drylands with future climate change
51. Microscopic partners could help plants survive stressful environments
52. Discovery enables adult skin to regenerate like a newborn’s
53. Alcohol use changed right after COVID-19 lockdown
54. Seductive details inhibit learning
55. Glyphosate can create biomarkers predicting disease in future generations
56. In-person college sports can create campus COVID-19 spikes
57. Medicine-carriers made from human cells can cure lung infections
58. Researchers develop software to find drug-resistant bacteria
59. Cannabis use blunts stress reactivity in female rats
60. Amphibian study shows stress increases vulnerability to virus
61. Antibiotic-resistance in Tanzania is an environmental problem
62. Pregnancy stereotypes can lead to workplace accidents
63. Paper-based technology advances earlier cancer detection
64. New technology helps reduce salt, keep flavor
65. Men less likely to see food as national security issue amid pandemic
66. New model gives wineries better data from existing tests
67. Twinkling, star-shaped brain cells may hold the key to why, how we sleep
68. Researchers advance solar material production
69. Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to cognitive deficits, altered behavior
70. Information technology played key role in growth of ancient civilizations
71. Study suggests biological clock is key to reducing heart damage from radiation therapy
72. UV light may be a greater risk for melanoma than suspected
73. WSU study aims to prevent adverse drug reactions in dogs
74. WSU scientists discover new, simple way to classify marine biomes
75. Not-so-dirty birds? Not enough evidence to link wild birds to food-borne illness
76. Study paints picture of marijuana use in pregnant women
77. A key to cheaper renewable fuels: keeping iron from rusting
78. Privatized prisons lead to more inmates, longer sentences, study finds
79. Glacial stream insect may tolerate warmer waters
80. Bat research critical to preventing next pandemic
81. Researchers show advance in next-generation lithium metal batteries
82. Discovery of a mechanism plants use to toggle on photosynthesis chosen by top journal
83. A compound unlike any other
84. Cracking the Lyme disease code
85. Research identifies critical protein in cancer treatment-related heart damage
86. Research demonstrates a molecular dance that keeps your heart beating
87. Researchers use soy to improve bone cancer treatment
88. Researchers urge healthcare providers to routinely ask patients about cannabis use
89. Biggest holes in the system’ / WSU research shows very rural elders receive fewest services
90. Organic farm advantages in biodiversity and profits depend on location
91. Beavers may help amphibians threatened by climate change
92. Electron-producing microbes power sustainable wastewater treatment
93. Study indicates vaporized cannabis creates drug-seeking behavior
94. Finding the genes to build a better cancer treatment
95. Environmental DNA detection could cut pathogens in pet trade
96. Media literacy can improve child nutrition, family relationships
97. Nitrogen-fixing genes could help grow more food using fewer resources
98. ACA results in fewer low-income uninsured, but non-urgent ER visits haven’t changed
99. Poor hygiene is significant risk for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria colonization
100. Hospital websites lack usability for non-English speakers
101. Study reinforces drug’s potential to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
102. To help wildlife move, researchers map both natural and legal boundaries