UW News blog
October 23, 2024
Rocky planets orbiting small stars could have stable atmospheres needed to support life
A new study finds that rocky planets orbiting small stars do have the potential for stable, life-supporting atmospheres. The finding supports continued study of the TRAPPIST-1 system and other top candidates in the search for life outside our solar system.
October 22, 2024
Paws of polar bears sustaining ice-related injuries in a warming Arctic
Polar bears in some parts of the high Arctic are developing ice buildup and related injuries to their feet. The changes appear to be an unexpected consequence of climate change, related to changing conditions in a warming Arctic.
October 21, 2024
Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%, UW study finds
New research from the University of Washington investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.
October 15, 2024
Annual President’s Address 2024: Creating Impact through Courage, Compassion and Collaboration
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce delivered her final annual address of her term on Oct. 15. The audience was invited to attend at the Henry Art Galley and remotely via livestream.
October 9, 2024
UW ranks among best in the world, fourth among US public institutions
The University of Washington is among the best universities in the world, according to the 2025 World University Rankings published Wednesday by Times Higher Education.
October 4, 2024
Q&A: New dataset provides a robust picture of Hurricane Helene’s destruction — and could help design more resilient communities
UW researchers collaborated with people at multiple institutions to collect pre-storm data and place sensors to measure storm surge levels and wave height during Hurricane Helene’s landfall.
October 1, 2024
Q&A: UW researchers examine link between light pollution and interest in astronomy
Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, research scientist the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), and Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of I-LABS and professor of psychology, recently co-authored a study in Nature Scientific Reports showing a link between the ability to see the stars unblocked by light pollution and an interest in astronomy.
September 30, 2024
UW Climate Impacts Group contributes to new WA State Climate Resiliency Strategy
The University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group has supported a newly released plan for state agencies to address the regional impacts of climate change. The plan, led by the Department of Ecology, includes 10 state agencies’ strategies to address climate impacts.
September 23, 2024
Q&A: How the Remote Hub Lab can prepare engineering students for their future careers
The Remote Hub Lab allows students to access physical engineering equipment from anywhere in the world. A primary focus of the lab is to use a process called “digital twinning,” to create virtual models that mirror real-world systems, which enables students to experiment, learn and innovate in a risk-free, cost-effective environment.
September 18, 2024
Explaining dramatic planetwide changes after world’s last ‘Snowball Earth’ event
Some of the most dramatic climatic events in our planet’s history are “Snowball Earth” events that happened hundreds of millions of years ago, when almost the entire planet was encased in ice up to 0.6 miles thick. New research from the University of Washington provides a more complete picture for how the last Snowball Earth event ended, and suggests why it preceded a dramatic expansion of life on Earth, including the emergence of the first animals.
September 17, 2024
AI researcher discusses the new version of ChatGPT’s advances in math and reasoning
Niloofar Mireshghallah, a UW postdoctoral scholar, discusses why math and reasoning have so challenged artificial intelligence models and what the public should know about OpenAI’s new release.
September 13, 2024
In the Field: Understanding the impact of Arctic militarization on Indigenous communities
Mia Bennett, University of Washington assistant professor of geography, will spend a week this month in Norway as part of the orientation for the Fulbright Arctic IV Initiative. Bennett is one of 20 scholars selected to collaborate on multi-disciplinary research over the next 18 months.
September 12, 2024
Statement on UW Board of Regents meeting disruption and adjournment
The following is a statement from outgoing UW Board of Regents Chair David Zeeck and Incoming Board of Regents Chair Blaine Tamaki on today’s meeting disruption and adjournment: The UW Board of Regents adjourned its meeting today after disruptions made orderly conduct of the meeting impossible. Speakers addressing labor issues and those calling for divestment…
UW’s Ashleigh Theberge receives Schmidt Sciences Polymath honors for ‘boundary-pushing work’ in cell signaling, communication
Ashleigh Theberge, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Washington, has been named to the Schmidt Sciences Polymath Program, entitling her to grants of up to $2.5 million over five years to “pursue risky, novel theories that would otherwise be difficult to fund,” according to a Sept. 10 announcement from Schmidt Sciences. Theberge — one of six awardees this year — was selected from an applicant pool of 117, and is the first UW faculty member selected for the program, which is in its third year.
September 6, 2024
Statement from UW President Cauce on killing of recent UW graduate in West Bank
A statement from University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce on the killing of recent UW graduate Aysenur Eygi in the West Bank.
August 13, 2024
Q&A: Using marijuana can worsen outcomes for young adults with psychosis – how can mental health professionals help them stop?
Young adults with psychosis tend to use cannabis at extremely high rates, and their symptoms can be exacerbated by long-term marijuana use. A team of University of Washington researchers is focused on this particular group.
August 12, 2024
Report describes the barriers Pacific Northwest coastal Tribes face in adapting to climate change
The University of Washington, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and others held collaborative listening sessions with Northwest coastal Tribes to hear their experiences in adapting to climate change. A new report summarizes those experiences, while an upcoming grant program hopes to help address barriers identified in the report.
August 1, 2024
15 UW professors among new class of members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences
Fifteen faculty members at the University of Washington have been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2024. They are among 36 scientists and educators from across the state announced Aug. 1 as new members. Selection recognizes the new members’ “outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.”
July 25, 2024
Q&A: Nail salon air is filled with fragrance chemicals — could they harm workers’ health?
A study led by UW researcher Diana Ceballos is most comprehensive study to date of the specific fragrance chemical mixtures found in nail salon air, and will allow researchers to further study the potential health risks.
July 23, 2024
Q&A: UW researcher aims to understand common women’s sports injuries
Several common injuries seem to haunt women’s sports. Jenny Robinson, a University of Washington assistant professor, is interested in designing better methods to help female athletes train to prevent and recover from injuries.
July 16, 2024
Q&A: The climate change toll on roads — two UW professors weigh in
Two University of Washington researchers are investigating how to mitigate the effects of climate change on common road pavements, such as asphalt and concrete.
July 1, 2024
Q&A: How the H5N1 bird flu outbreak could become humanity’s problem
A major outbreak of a new strain of bird flu — formally named Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 — has killed millions of wild birds and infected poultry, dairy cattle, domestic cats and a small number of humans. UW experts explain how bird flu evolves and what it could mean for humans.
June 27, 2024
UW ranks in the top 10 on a US News & World Report list of best global universities
The University of Washington tied for No. 7 on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings, released on Tuesday. The UW maintained its No. 2 ranking among U.S. public institutions.
June 20, 2024
Changes to WaNPRC protocols, procedures following recent incidents
The University of Washington’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) was informed on Thursday of recent significant incidents at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC), which have prompted changes to protocols and procedures to ensure high standards of animal welfare and research integrity.
June 14, 2024
Statement on leadership change for the Washington National Primate Research Center
After careful consideration, the University of Washington ended the appointment of Dr. Michele Basso as Director of the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC), effective May 31. Her scientific leadership and contributions to neuroscience are appreciated, and Dr. Basso will continue her work as a core scientist in the Center.
June 13, 2024
Q&A: Finding varieties of corn that are adapted to future climates
Research led by the University of Washington used computer models to pinpoint varieties of corn that will be best adapted to produce high yields in future U.S. climates. The study combined weather and climate projections across the U.S. for 2050 and 2100 with a plant model that simulates corn’s growth to find the mix of traits that will produce the highest, most reliable yield under future conditions across the country.
June 3, 2024
Q&A: Microinclusions improve women’s workplace belonging and commitment
New research from the University of Washington published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, shows how “microinclusions” — brief instances of positive treatment, especially from members of the dominant group — help women feel valued at work.
May 30, 2024
Infants hear significantly more speech than music at home, UW study finds
A new University of Washington study, published May 21 in Developmental Science, is the first to compare the amount of music and speech that children hear in infancy. Results showed that infants hear more spoken language than music, with the gap widening as the babies get older.
May 28, 2024
In the Field: UW researcher headed to Alaska to study factors that lead to permafrost thaw and to educate foster care youth
UW doctoral student Joel Eklof has been investigating which environmental factors contribute to permafrost thaw and the release of methane into the atmosphere. For years, Eklof has traveled to a field site southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.
May 17, 2024
UW atmospheric scientist participating in field campaign to improve Western snowfall, drought forecasts
A UW atmospheric scientist will participate in a campaign to study winter storms and snowfall in northwestern Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Like Seattle, this area depends on winter snow for its summer water supplies, so improving mountain snow forecasts will improve projections for summer drought and wildfire risks.
May 15, 2024
Thirteen UW students receive Fulbright exchange awards for study, research and teaching positions around the world
Thirteen UW students and recent alumni were awarded Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships this year, joining about 2,000 students and recent graduates from around the country to study and teach abroad.
May 9, 2024
UW files Unfair Labor Practice Complaint following ASE union’s harassment of Dean and staff
The University of Washington on Tuesday filed an Unfair Labor Practice Complaint with the Washington State Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) against UAW 4121 after more than 100 union members harassed and engaged in intimidation tactics toward the Dean and staff in the College of Arts & Sciences on May 2.
May 3, 2024
Video: Washington students learn about engineering at Discovery Days
This University of Washington College of Engineering event brings thousands of elementary and middle school students from all over Washington to campus to be engineers for a day.
April 23, 2024
UW is No. 3 for schools that produce most Peace Corps volunteers
The Peace Corps announced that the University of Washington is again No. 3 on a list of top volunteer-producing institutions over the past two decades.
Video: UW professor on ‘The Boys in the Boat,’ Nazi Germany and the 1936 Olympics
The film version of “The Boys in the Boat,” released on Dec. 25, was inspired by the University of Washington men’s rowing team that won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics. It’s based on the 2013 book by Daniel James Brown. But there is more to the story than the improbable victory by UW student-athletes from…
Author Daniel James Brown and MIT atmospheric chemist Susan Solomon to receive honorary degrees at UW’s 2024 Commencement
The University of Washington 149th Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. This year, the UW will recognize best-selling author Daniel James Brown and Susan Solomon, a professor of environmental science and chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Both will receive honorary degrees for their contributions to the humanities and sciences.
April 15, 2024
Q&A: How claims of anti-Christian bias can serve as racial dog whistles
A new University of Washington study showed that white and Black Christians perceived a politician concerned about anti-Christian bias as caring more about anti-white bias, being more willing to fight for white people and as less offensive than one concerned about anti-white bias.
April 12, 2024
Statement on allegations involving a student-athlete
The following is a statement from the University of Washington on the allegations involving a student-athlete.
April 10, 2024
Ranking: UW recognized as among the best in the world
The University of Washington has been named one of the world’s top universities, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject released Wednesday.
April 5, 2024
Q&A: The growing trend of environmental, social and governance assurances in corporate America
Voluntary reports that discuss environmental, social and governance issues — or ESG issues — have become a major trend in corporate America over the past decade. Shawn Shi, University of Washington assistant professor of accounting in the Foster School of Business, is conducting ongoing research on the topic.
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