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Arts and entertainment | News releases

March 20, 2026

ArtSci Roundup: April 2026

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time or From Your Own Home Video | Katz Distinguished Lectures Playlist (Simpson Center for the Humanities) From “Mourning across…

Expert quotes | News releases

Q&A: UW professor on Iranian regime, US-Israeli strikes and a divide among the Iranian diaspora

The U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, which triggered hundreds of retaliatory missiles from Iran. The war is now entering its third week, with Iran reporting more than 1,200 civilians have been killed. Aria Fani, a professor of Persian and Iranian studies at the UW, researches modern Iranian and Afghan histories. He spoke with UW News about the U.S.-Israeli strikes, the impact on Iranians and more.

Environment | News releases | Research | Science

March 19, 2026

Earthquake scientists reveal how overplowing weakens soil at experimental farm

In a new study, University of Washington researchers examine the impact of tilling on soil moisture and water retention using methods designed for monitoring earthquakes. They show that tilling disrupts important soil microstructures and highlight the potential utility of this method for precision agriculture and more.

News releases | Research | Social science

American Indian and Alaska Native peoples face increased risk for fatal police violence in and around reservations

Indigenous people in the United States are at higher risk of fatal police violence in and around American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) reservations, according to the first comprehensive national study on the subject from researchers at the University of Washington and Drexel University. The researchers found that roughly 73% AIAN people killed by police violence were on or within 10 miles of a reservation.

News releases | Research | Science

A built-in warning system: How mosquitoes detect a common compound in plant-based mosquito repellent

Mosquitoes are increasingly becoming resistant to current insecticides, leading to a pressing need for new methods to prevent mosquito bites — and the potential transmission of disease. New research by an international team, including researchers at the UW, reveals that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use a specific sensory receptor to detect and avoid borneol (pronounced “bor-nee-ohl”), an organic compound found in several aromatic plants, including camphor trees, rosemary and other aromatic herbs.

Environment | News releases | Research | Science

March 12, 2026

Instead of tracking wolves to prey, ravens remember — and revisit — common kill sites

Researchers tracked ravens and wolves in Yellowstone National Park for two and half years to show that ravens do not follow wolves to scavenge their prey but instead remember where wolves often kill and monitor these sites for fresh meat.

Honors and awards | UW Notebook

March 9, 2026

Faculty/staff honors: Lifetime achievement award, Plyler Prize, Rome Prize fellowship

Affiliate professor of biology receives 2026 Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award  Sue Moore, a research scientist and affiliate professor in the Center for Ecosystem Sentinels in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington, was honored with the 2026 Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Marine Mammalogy. The award recognizes exemplary lifetime contributions to science and society through research, teaching, and service in marine mammalogy.  Over a 40-year career, Moore’s research has focused on cetacean ecology,…

Official notices

March 5, 2026

Determination of non-significance: Chemical Sciences Building

Description of Proposal: The proposed University of Washington Chemical Sciences Building is intended to create a new academic building in Central Campus for student and faculty laboratories, collaboration spaces, and classrooms. Location of proposal: 3919 West Stevens Way NE. The site is generally bounded by Okanogan Ln to the north and east, Benson Hall to the south, and West Stevens Way NE to the west. Title and description of document being adopted: University of Washington 2018 Seattle Campus Master Plan…

Health and medicine | News releases | Public Health

March 4, 2026

Q&A: How the Dobbs decision and abortion restrictions changed where medical students apply to residency programs

New research led in part by the University of Washington found that state-level abortion restrictions enacted after the Dobbs ruling are not only affecting the current medical workforce — they may be shaping the next generation of physicians.

Engineering | Environment | News releases | Research | Science

Selective forest thinning in the eastern Cascades supports both snowpack and wildfire resilience

Forest managers in the eastern Cascades selectively thin forests to promote wildfire resilience. New research from the UW shows that the same process can also increase seasonal snowpack, providing some relief to drought-prone areas throughout central Washington.

Environment | News releases | Research | Science

February 27, 2026

Stress-testing the Cascadia Subduction Zone reveals variability that could impact how earthquakes spread

A new study examining 13 years of ground motion data from sites near the Cascadia Subduction Zone shows that the entirety of the fault may not be as tightly locked as researchers thought, which could change our understanding of how a big earthquake might hit the Pacific Northwest.

Environment | Science | UW News blog

February 26, 2026

Q&A: For World Seagrass Day, UW professor explains the ‘prairies of the ocean’

Jennifer Ruesink, University of Washington professor of biology, studies the relationship between the environment and marine organisms, including eelgrass, the primary species of seagrass that resides in the oceans surrounding Washington. In honor of World Seagrass Day, UW News asked Ruesink to explain what seagrass is and what makes the seagrasses in Washington unique.

Engineering | News releases | Research | Technology

DopFone app can accurately track fetal heart rate using only a smartphone

A team led by University of Washington researchers has created DopFone, a system that uses an off-the-shelf smartphone’s existing speaker and microphone to accurately estimate fetal heart rate. The phone mimics a Doppler ultrasound, emitting a tone and listening for the subtle variations in its echo caused by fetal heart beats. A machine learning model then estimates the heart rate.

Global | News releases | Research | Science | Technology

February 25, 2026

Rubin Observatory launches real-time monitoring of the sky with thousands of alerts

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has issued its first real-time alerts of changes in the night sky. The ultrafast alerting system, developed at the UW, will eventually detect up to seven million changes in the cosmos every night and notify scientists around the world.

News releases | Soundbites

February 24, 2026

UW and Microsoft expand relationship to enhance AI learning and research with aim to prepare Washington’s workforce for the future

The University of Washington and Microsoft have announced the expansion of their long‑standing partnership uniting world-class academic research with world-leading technology. UW and Microsoft aim to accelerate AI discovery, prepare students and workers for an AI-driven economy, and help communities understand and use AI responsibly.

Expert quotes | News releases | Research | Science

Q&A: Researchers discuss potential solutions for the feedback loop affecting scientific publishing

The peer review process in scientific publishing has reached a critical point where there are too many manuscript submissions and not enough peer reviewers. UW News asked Carl Bergstrom, University of Washington professor of biology, and Kevin Gross, North Carolina State University professor of statistics, to describe this self-perpetuating cycle and potential interventions.

Expert quotes | Research | Science | UW News blog

February 20, 2026

Q&A: UW researcher discusses how plants know when it’s time to bloom in the spring

Last December was the warmest on record for Washington, according to the Washington State Climate Office. Now many plants in our gardens are beginning to bud, even though it’s only February. UW News asked Takato Imaizumi, UW professor of biology, to talk about the mechanisms behind blooming and how warmer winters might impact flowering plants.

Expert quotes | Research | Science | UW Notebook

February 19, 2026

Q&A: ‘MELA’ documentary demonstrates how art and local communities can enhance scientific projects

A recent documentary about the breeding habits of antelopes in India includes the story of how engaging with artists and local communities can help researchers share the importance of their work. UW News asked Vivek Hari Sridhar, a UW assistant professor of biology and one of the leaders of the project, for details about the project and the documentary.

UW News blog

February 5, 2026

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funds 16 UW postdocs across the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering and the College of the Environment

The University of Washington was awarded $2.5 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to fund 16 postdoctoral fellows in a number of fields across the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering and the College of the Environment.

Engineering | News releases | Research | Technology

February 4, 2026

In a study, AI model OpenScholar synthesizes scientific research and cites sources as accurately as human experts

A UW and Ai2 research team built OpenScholar, an open-source AI model designed specifically to synthesize current scientific research. In tests, OpenScholar cited sources as accurately as human experts, and 16 scientists preferred its response to those written by subject experts 51% of the time.

Arts and entertainment | News releases

February 2, 2026

ArtSci Roundup: March 2026

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time Exhibition | 2026 Jacob Lawrence Legacy Residency | indira allegra: The Book of Zero (School of Art + Art History…

Engineering | Research | UW News blog

January 21, 2026

Q&A: A UW materials lab probes the mysteries of toughness at the nano scale

Lucas Meza, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington, started his lab to build a new generation of tough and light nanomaterials inspired by natural materials like wood, shell and bone. Instead, he discovered “big gaps” in our basic understanding of what makes a material tough or brittle. Meza spoke to UW News about his strange and surprising journey into the nano realm.

Arts and entertainment | News releases

January 16, 2026

ArtSci Roundup: February

Come curious. Leave inspired. While February might be just 28 days, the UW offers an exciting lineup of more than 40 in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. In addition, take a look ahead at what’s happening in March. In addition, sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On…