Top research coverage of 2024

Artificial intelligence was among the most discussed, debated, and reported science on stories of 2024.

Thanks to its varied AI research — from its potential applications to public perceptions about its value — Washington State University was a fixture of that media coverage. Three of the 10 most-seen WSU research discoveries of the past year were related to AI, rounding out a list that included coverage of the effects of climate change on polar bears as well as the myriad external factors that influence our health and wellbeing.

The potential audience reach of studies undertaken by WSU researchers regularly eclipsed 100 million, with the top two seeing estimated impact of more than 1 billion.

University Marketing and Communications staff analyzed media coverage of more than 70 scientific research press releases from 2024 using the Meltwater media tracking software. Potential audience reach, combined with an estimated audience of all media outlets that covered the developments, provides a rough estimate of how many times a story could have been seen, rather than the number of people who actually saw it.

Below are the top 10 leading research stories of 2024, alongside potential reach figures and the highest profile instances of media coverage. All of the 74 research press releases are included in the section below.

1. Polar bears unlikely to adapt to longer summers

   Potential Audience Reach: 2.62 billion with 1,260 mentions

   BBC, The Daily Mail, Newsweek, The Independent

   Polar bears appeared ill-equipped to spend more time on land as a result of climate change, Charles Robbins, director of the WSU Bear Center and his coauthors found in their study published in the journal Natural Communications. Neither resting, scavenging, nor foraging helped the 20 polar bears monitored in the study to keep weight on, leading them to rapidly loss weight. On average, the observed bears lost 2.2 pounds per day. The study was widely covered in major news outlets, particularly in the United Kingdom.

2. Using the term ‘artificial intelligence’ in product descriptions reduces purchase intentions

   Potential Audience Reach: 1.28 billion with 346 mentions

   CNN, Business Insider, Fast Company, Fortune

   Consumer’s weariness about artificial intelligence manifests can cause them to look away from products boasting about the feature. In the study, WSU’s Mesut Cicek and his co-authors surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. adults to better understand the relationships between AI disclosure and consumer behavior. Adults surveyed indicated they were less likely to purchase products advertising AI inclusion compared to those without, with the behavior stronger for products such as expensive electronics, medical devices and financial services. The study was picked up by a number of U.S. and international news outlets and say secondary mention in dozens of articles about AI in the months that followed.

3. Deadly bacteria show thirst for human blood

   Potential Audience Reach: 937 million with 459 mentions

   Daily Mail, NDTV, The Mirror, Newsweek

   Human blood draws the attention of some of the world’s deadliest bacteria in what a team led by WSU researchers described as “bacterial vampirism.” The attraction some bacteria have to the liquid part of blood, or serum, is driven by a sense for serine, an amino acid found in blood that’s also a common ingredient in protein drinks. Reporters were captivated by the bacteria’s Dracula-esque tendencies, with worldwide media reach eclipsing 900 million.

4. Study shows how night shift work can raise risk of diabetes, obesity

   Potential Audience Reach: 811 million with 429 mentions

   Hindustan Times, CBS, Newsweek, The Times of India

   Night shift worker’s susceptibility to metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity may be driven by how the schedule affects protein rhythms inside the body. And it doesn’t take a lifetime of working at night for the potential of significant health issues to arise. Researchers from WSU and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found disrupted protein rhythms even after just a few days of night shift work. These protein rhythms are connected to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation, processes that can influence the progression of chronic metabolic conditions. News of the WSU and PNNL-led team’s discovery was widely covered nationally and abroad, with more than 400 articles mentioning the project.

5. New ion speed record holds potential for faster battery charging, biosensing

   Potential Audience Reach: 700 million reach with 56 mentions

   Popular Mechanics, The Cool Down, Interesting Engineering

   Advances in battery charging, biosensing, soft robotics and neuromorphic computing could be on the way thanks to scientists at Washington State University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Research involved in the study published in the journal Advanced Materials found a way to speed up ions in mixed organic ion-electronic conductors. By creating what researchers coined “ion superhighways,” researchers were able to make ions move ten times faster, which may lead to advances across a host a biotechnology applications. Strong aggregation of industry publications led to the study reaching an audience of 700 million in just a few short months.

6. Women more likely to choose wine with feminine labels

   Potential Audience Reach: 639 million with 68 mentions

   The Telegraph, Daily Express, KIRO 7 News Seattle, Decanter

   When it comes to wine, labels with cute animals, flowers and female portraits appear to be more appealing to the majority of consumers. WSU researchers found that woman were more inclined to purchase wine with feminine gender cues and also expected that the wine found within would be more to their taste. News of the study was covered widely in trade publications as well as large international outlets such as The Telegraph and Daily Express in the United Kingdom.

7. Self-improving AI method increases 3D‑printing efficiency

   Potential Audience Reach: 586 million with 151 mentions

   Forbes, Indian Express, Interesting Engineering

   Artificial intelligence algorithms could play a key role in the 3D printing of intricate structures such as artificial kidney and prostate organs, WSU researchers concluded in a study published the journal Advanced Materials Technology. Industrial engineers have benefited from 3D printing developments in recent years, allowing for rapid production of products including wearable devices, batteries and aerospace parts. News coverage of the study in trade publications was picked up by large domestic as well as international media organizations.

8. Better mental, physical health in older people tied to living near nature

   Potential Audience Reach: 646 million with 188 mentions

   The Spokesman Review, Money Control, CTV News

   Proximity to nature could be a critical to maintaining the mental health of older adults, with as little as a 10% increase in forest space in someone’s residential area being associated with a reduction in series psychological distress. These findings were published by WSU researchers in the journal Health and Place based on survey data from more than 42,000 people aged 65 and older who lived in urban areas of Washington state between 2011 and 2019. The study was mentioned in more than 180 media publications since publication, with widespread distribution ranging from local papers to health and finance-focused trade publications.

9. ChatGPT errors show it cannot replace finance professionals, yet

   Potential Audience Reach: 394 million with 25 mentions

   The Star, Study Finds, SciTechDaily

   Artificial intelligence-related research generated significant media interest in 2024, including a WSU-led study that looked how large language models like ChatGPT stack up against financial experts. While these models fair well on financial licensing exams, they falter when dealing with the nuanced tasks undertaken by human finance professionals, the study published in the Financial Analysts Journal. News coverage of the study reached an estimated 394 million people worldwide thanks in large part to aggregation websites as well as heavily-trafficked websites that follow the latest research findings.

10. Family, friends can be more effective health role models than celebrities

    Potential Audience Reach: 348 million with 66 mentions

    U.S. News and World Report, The Star, Free Malaysia Today

    For individuals looking to improve their health, friends, relatives or healthcare provides were better motivators to reach their goals than celebrities, according to a WSU-led study. Published in the journal Health Communication, the study involved surveying more than 400 adults about their health role models. One of the biggest reasons for someone in an individual’s life being a better role model was “perceived similarity,” the idea of their role model having equal resources to achieve positive health outcomes.

11. Potential epigenetic biomarker found for preeclampsia in pregnancy
12. New continuous reaction process can help turn plant waste into sustainable aviation fuel
13. THC lingers in breastmilk with no clear peak point
14. Study finds perceptions of parent cannabis use shape teen attitudes
15. Cannabinoid CBG reduces anxiety and stress in first human clinical trial
16. Washington coast avian flu outbreak devastated Caspian terns, jumped to seals
17. Sweat health monitor measures levels of disease markers
18. Improved AI process could better predict water supplies
19. More dense, populated neighborhoods inspire people to walk more
20. New AI hair analysis method holds promise for improved health research
21. AI method can spot potential disease faster, better than humans
22. Trust, more than knowledge, critical for acceptance of fully autonomous vehicles
23. Discovery of mechanism plants use to change seed oil could impact industrial, food oils
24. Dehydration linked to muscle cramps in Ironman triathletes
25. ChatGPT fails at heart risk assessment
26. Microfiber plastics appear to tumble, roll and move slowly in the environment
27. WSU pathologists identify plague in blind Idaho deer
28. Honey bees at risk for colony collapse from longer, warmer fall seasons
29. Many rural Washington state youth engage in socially acceptable firearm-related behaviors
30. Cannabis activates specific hunger neurons in brain
31. Mini-robots modeled on insects may be smallest, lightest, fastest ever developed
32. Robot-phobia could exacerbate hotel, restaurant labor shortage
33. Multi-generational toxicant exposures show cumulative, inherited health effects
34. Pharmacists prove effective, less costly care option for minor illnesses
35. Parasitic worm likely playing role in decline of moose populations
36. Multiple air pollutants linked to asthma symptoms in children
37. Fear of appearing prejudiced can inhibit accurate performance feedback to women
38. Teachers’ growth mindset appears more important than warmth
39. Cats with MDR1 mutation at risk of severe reactions to popular medication
40. Permeable pavements could reduce coho-killing tire pollutants
41. Communication helps parent relationships with new college students but has limits
42. Protein discovery could help solve prostate cancer drug resistance
43. Metal baseball bats still help Little Leaguers hit a little better
44. At-risk butterflies more likely to survive with human help
45. Canada lynx historic range in US likely wider than previously thought
46. Facial recognition app for dogs developed to help in fight against rabies
47. Study helps explain how children learned for 99% of human history
48. E-tongue can detect white wine spoilage before humans can
49. Same-sex marriage recognition helps countries attract, retain highly skilled workers
50. Potential solvents identified for building on moon and Mars
51. Older adults appear less emotionally affected by heat
52. Possible ‘Trojan Horse’ found for treating stubborn bacterial infections
53. Movement sensors show promise in identifying horses at injury risk
54. Anxiety reframed can make business pitches more effective
55. Long-distance friendships can provide conservation benefits
56. Winter breeding offers lifeline for monarch butterflies in Northern California
57. Election administration performance linked to counties’ economic, racial makeup
58. For Republican men, environmental support hinges on partisan identity
59. Job ads with wide pay ranges can deter applicants
60. Potential link found between high maternal cortisol, unpredicted birth complications
61. Growth mindset messages can close grade gap for first-generation students
62. Scientists discover new code governing gene activity
63. Rural and minority dementia patients face disparities in access to neurologists
64. VR can motivate people to donate to refugee crises regardless of politics
65. Customers prefer text over video to provide service feedback
66. Heat, cold extremes hold untapped potential for solar and wind energy
67. Cybersecurity education varies widely in US
68. Polyamorous youth report facing stigma, heightened levels of depression
69. Facts alone fall short in correcting science misinformation
70. Delivery robots’ green credentials make them more attractive to consumers
71. Researchers improve search for cancer drivers
72. Robot planning tool accounts for human carelessness
73. Genes identified that allow bacteria to thrive despite toxic heavy metal in soil
74. Protein discovery could help prevent cancer treatment-related heart damage