UW News


October 22, 2025

New ‘liquid metal’ composite material enables recyclable, flexible and reconfigurable electronics

Gray blobs of liquid metal are scattered within a black background.

Researchers at the UW have created a recyclable, flexible and self-healing composite material that could replace traditional circuit boards in future generations of wearable electronics.


October 9, 2025

Programmable proteins use logic to improve targeted drug delivery

A series of colorful shapes are arranged into two ring structures.

Targeted drug delivery is a powerful and promising area of medicine. Therapies that pinpoint precise areas of the body can reduce the medicine dosage and avoid potentially harmful “off target” effects. Researchers at the UW took a significant step toward that goal by designing proteins with autonomous decision-making capabilities. By adding smart tail structures to therapeutic proteins, the team demonstrated that the proteins could be “programmed” to act based on the presence of specific environmental cues.


October 3, 2025

Discovery of organic compounds bolsters case that Saturn’s moon Enceladus could support life

A black and white photo showing the moon Enceladus. Bright jets of water erupt from the subsurface.

A new analysis of data from the Cassini space probe has identified organic compounds within jets of water ice erupting from Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Some of the compounds, which likely originated in Enceladus’ subsurface ocean, have never before been identified on another world beyond Earth. The study, conducted in part by a UW researcher, contributes to mounting evidence that Enceladus could support life.


September 22, 2025

Inconsistent charging stations hinder EV adoption

A row of white electric vehicles charge at a public charging station.

New research from the UW tested how much a car owner’s perception of public charger reliability influences their willingness to buy their first EV. The results were dramatic: Participants with a negative view of public charging were far less likely to choose an EV than those with a moderate view.


September 15, 2025

Webb telescope finds clues to Earth’s creation in a cosmic butterfly

An image of the core of the Butterfly Nebula.

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed new details in the core of the Butterfly Nebula, known to astronomers as NGC 6302. From the dense ring of dust that surrounds the nebula’s core to the tiny but bright star hidden within, the Webb observations paint a never-before-seen portrait of the nebula’s inner workings. Researchers at the UW and around the world are studying the imagery to learn more about the origins of cosmic dust and its role in the formation of planets like ours.


September 4, 2025

Deep beneath the French Alps, dark matter hunters narrow their search

A mountain in the Alps, a lake below, and the Milky Way galaxy visible in a starry sky above.

Physicists have floated numerous theories to explain what dark matter might be, but to date, no experiment has turned up compelling evidence to support any of them. An international team of physicists, including researchers from the UW, is now working on a new kind of dark matter detector with the goal of capturing the first direct observation of the puzzling material. Results from the detector’s prototype have already ruled out one of the leading theories of how dark matter originated.


August 11, 2025

UW researchers test common disinfectants’ abilities to fight antibiotic resistance at the genetic level

Huan He looks down at two agar plates she is holding in gloved hands.

Antimicrobial resistance is a lurking threat in hospitals around the world. As more strains of bacteria and other microbes evolve defenses against available drugs, more patients run the risk of contracting infections that defy treatment. Now, University of Washington researchers offer new insights into measures currently used to control the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and other infectious agents in health care facilities.


July 17, 2025

Seaweed-infused cement could cut concrete’s carbon footprint

A researcher in safety glasses observes a small cement cube sandwiched between two metal discs in an industrial-looking machine.

Researchers at the University of Washington and Microsoft developed a new type of low-carbon concrete by mixing dried, powdered seaweed with cement. The seaweed-fortified cement has a 21% lower global warming potential while retaining its strength.