2012 | UW News

May 7, 2012

Unconscious racial attitudes playing large role in 2012 presidential vote

After the 2008 election of President Barack Obama, many proclaimed that the country had entered a post-racial era. But a new large-scale study by UW psychologists shows that racial attitudes have already played a substantial role in 2012, during the Republican primaries.

Honor: Academic counselor Clay Schwenn wins national award || Tower Green Fair May 15 features sustainability efforts || Visitors? Relatives here for commencement? Check Campus Tours Central || Seth Cooper, chief architect of Foldit, wins national doctoral dissertation award

UW researchers have discovered a problem with a climate record that is often cited by climate change skeptics.

FAQ: New research brings satellite measurements and global climate models closer

Learn more about how scientists use satellites to study atmospheric temperature and why this new research is important.

May 4, 2012

Three UW faculty members named to National Academy of Sciences

Faculty members James Bardeen and Ann Nelson in physics and Evan Eichler in genome sciences have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for excellence in their original scientific research.

The almost-silent-movie “The Artist” recently won five Oscars. The producer and stars of a video mimicking that movie-making style hope to win $10,000 to fight invasive plants and provide wildlife habitat on the University of Washington campus.

May 3, 2012

Human brain evolution tied to partial gene copy that blocks original

A brain-development gene incompletely duplicated about time of the transition of pre-human to more human-like beings.

Arts Roundup: Drama, a healing art walk — and the Harry James Orchestra

Ladies and gentlemen, the Harry James Orchestra, directed by the UW’s own Fred Radke is coming May 7 to fill Meany Hall with that great big band sound. Also, 70-some UW-related artists show their work today in the Hall Health Art Walk, a new play is read by School of Drama instructors, and more.

Changes in the speed that ice travels in more than 200 outlet glaciers indicates that Greenland’s contribution to rising sea level in the 21st century might be significantly less than the upper limits some scientists thought possible, a new study shows.

May 2, 2012

Handful of heavyweight trees per acre are forest champs

Big trees three or more feet in diameter accounted for nearly half the biomass measured at a Yosemite National Park site, yet represented only 1 percent of the trees growing there.

Now in a refrigerator section near you: Sea Grant partners on "Cows for Clean Water" cartons

Washington Sea Grant has partnered with Smith Brothers Farms of Kent, to produce a milk carton featuring “Cows for Clean Water” and offering a selection of simple steps for protecting Puget Sound.

May 1, 2012

Researchers determine Vitamin D blood level for reducing major medical risks in older adults

How much Vitamin D do older adults need to stay healthy? The level may be lower than many think.

News Digest: Roundtable on education May 2, political cartoonist speaks, entrepreneurs share insights, Honors: Bob Morgan, students

Evans School roundtable on education May 2 || Political cartoonist Aislin to speak May 10 || Bob Morgan receives leadership award || Four additional entrepreneurs share insights with UW researchers || Students An, Woelfer garner awards

Got extra stuff in good shape? Pass it forward with uSwap

Got some extra equipment in your office that you’d like to part with in a way that’s sustainable and helps colleagues? The new campuswide online classified ad service uSwap is good for anything from paper clips on up.

April 27, 2012

UW computer science students win national cyber defense competition

Last year, they were underdogs. This year, they’re a dynasty. A team of eight students from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering reclaimed the top stop at last weekend’s National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

When tooth-decaying bacteria are on the loose, destroy those oozing biofilms in a interactive School of Dentistry game.

April 26, 2012

Arts Roundup: Zydeco, Creole, organ and symphonic sounds — and a student-penned rock musical

The week in UW arts starts strong and just keeps getting better. An undergraduate has a new rock musical, the play “The Illusion” continues, the University Symphony welcomes guests and Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole conjure zydeco and Cajun rhythms in Meany Hall.

Scientists identify potential biomarker to help diagnose autism

Very high levels of porphyrins in a young child’s urine might be predictive of autism risk, a UW and Battelle study suggests.

The cells that line the pipes leading to the heart pull more tightly together in areas of fast-flowing blood. The cells’ mechanical response to their environment could aid understanding of heart disease.

April 25, 2012

'Occupy Loneliness': A talk with David Shields about 'One Lonely Guy'

In late 2011, former UW student Jeff Ragsdale, living in New York, had hit a low point in life. Despondent, he posted a flyer around the city that said, “If anyone wants to talk about anything, call me. (347) 469-3173. He got a huge response that he ultimately shared with his former teacher, the UW’s David Shields. From that has come the book “One Lonely Guy,” edited by Ragdsale, Shields and Michael Logan of Seattle.

Attend a free UW Medicine womens health evening forum May 16 at the UW Tower

Join us for an evening on women’s health. Listen to talks, check your blood pressure, pick up educational materials, ask questions and be pampered.

Decades of research into how much plastic litters the ocean, conducted by skimming only the surface, may in some cases vastly underestimate the true amount of plastic debris in the oceans, according to a University of Washington oceanographer publishing in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

April 24, 2012

Celebrating 150th – HuskyFest slideshow

Performers, volunteers, students and neighbors joined HuskyFest April 19-21. Check out various activities as captured by News and Information photographer Mary Levin.

Global health priorities should shift to preventing risky behaviors in adolescence: UW professor

As deaths from infectious diseases have declined worldwide, policymakers are shifting attention to preventing deaths from noncommunicable causes, such as drug and alcohol use, traffic crashes and unsafe sex practices.

April 23, 2012

Theodore Roethke among 10 poets honored on new first-class stamp series

Poet and former UW faculty member Theodore Roethke is one of 10 poets from the 20th century being honored with a new first-class stamp from the United States Postal Service.

Robots fighting wars could be blamed for mistakes on the battlefield

Humans apply a moderate amount of morality and other human characteristics to robots that are equipped with social capabilities and are capable of harming humans, according to UW psychologists.

April 20, 2012

Photo Friday: A time for learning, arts, family

News and Information’s photographer Mary Levin has been capturing performers and festival goers during HuskyFest. Look for a slide show of highlights next week. In the meantime, enjoy this handful of snapshots from the festivities.

Winners of the third annual Husky Green Awards were announced Friday during Earth Day activities.

Payment innovation cuts depression time in half

When 25 percent of the payments to community health clinics were based on quality of care, patients received better care and had better depression outcomes.

April 19, 2012

Girls born in 2009 will have shorter lives than their mothers in hundreds of U.S. counties

Lifespan gap between counties grows. Life expectancies for black Americans improve greatly.

Dirty to Digital: UW introduces ‘intelligent kiosks for composting, recycling, garbage

As part of a just-launched pilot, a number of the existing outdoor garbage and recycling cans on Red Square have been will be replaced with high-tech, automated kiosks that collect more types of materials.

April 18, 2012

Arts Roundup: HuskyFest2012 the big Dawg in arts this week

HuskyFest 2012 is the big Dawg this week in the arts, with an extraordinary assortment of music, exhibits, open houses and more across campus, running Thursday through Saturday, April 19-21. It’s a party for the whole UW. The arts will shine, and with a little luck, maybe the sun will, too. See you there!

April 17, 2012

News Digest: New child care resources, police open house Wednesday, workplace giving best in state, Honor: Magnuson Scholars

New child care resources available to UW community || UW police open house Wednesday || UW has highest participation in state’s workplace giving program || Six health sciences students named Magnuson Scholars

Furniture as architecture: UW Press publishes book on course in furniture design — with slide show

A look at the new book “Furniture Studio: Materials, Craft, and Architecture,” written by Jeffrey Ochsner, professor of architecture, published by University of Washington Press.

April 16, 2012

Couple says ‘I do at UW Medical Center

Facing an uncertain future after 20 years together, a couple decides to marry on the transplant unit where the groom is hospitalized.

Faster, higher each year: UW rockets fly again in Nevada

Rockets built by students of Robert Winglee, professor and chair of Earth and space sciences, pierced the Nevada sky once again in March, flying faster and 5,000 feet higher than last year.

A Celebration of Life for Donna Gerstenberger, former head of the UW English Department and Faculty Senate, will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, at the University Club.

April 13, 2012