The WIC program provides families food in specific categories. New research finds that households who redeem more of their benefits in the most popular food categories are more likely to remain in the program long-term.
December 15, 2025
The latest news from the UW
December 11, 2025
AI can pick up cultural values by mimicking how kids learn
A new University of Washington study suggests that AI could learn cultural values by observing human behavior, similar to how children learn by watching and interacting with adults. Researchers had AI systems observe two cultural groups playing a video game. The AI systems were able to learn each group’s degree of altruism and apply this to a new situation.
December 10, 2025
Social media highlights: UW News 2025
This year, the UW News social media team shared stories from the University of Washington community with reporters, news outlets and our social media followers. We also promoted special events happening around campus. Here are some of favorite moments from 2025. Welcome President Jones! The Board of Regents named Robert J. Jones the 34th President of the UW. Jones visited campus a few days later and talked about his excitement to join the University. Snow days on campus Students took…
December 9, 2025
AI headphones automatically learn who you’re talking to — and let you hear them better
Researchers at the UW have developed AI-powered headphones that automatically isolate conversation partners in a noisy soundscape. The system employs AI models that listen for the back-and-forth pattern of conversation and mute voices that aren’t following the established rhythm.
December 3, 2025
Video: The UW’s 2025 storytelling highlights
Choosing highlights from 2025 for a video roundup is a tough task. UW video producers meet students, faculty and community members during some of the most exciting moments of their lives — from earning a degree to finding answers that will impact the world.
Social media research tool can reduce polarization — it could also lead to more user control over algorithms
A web-based method was shown to mitigate political polarization on X by nudging antidemocratic and extremely negative partisan posts lower in a user’s feed. The tool, which is independent of the platform, has the potential to give users more say over what they see on social media.
November 26, 2025
Los Angeles wildfires prompted significantly more virtual medical visits, UW-led research finds
Research led by the University of Washington and Kaiser Permanente Southern California sheds new light on how the 2025 Los Angeles fires affected people’s health, and how people navigated the health care system during an emergency.
Counting salmon is a breeze with airborne eDNA
In a new study, University of Washington researchers collected salmon DNA in air filters near a stream, showing that eDNA can move between air and water, a possibility scientists hadn’t accounted for that opens new avenues for monitoring aquatic species.
November 25, 2025
In a new documentary, UW researchers investigate when Greenland was ice-free
“The Memory of Darkness, Light and Ice” — a documentary film featuring Eric Steig, a UW professor of Earth and space sciences — tells the story of a U.S. military and research base established in Greenland during the Cold War, and how the samples collected there are driving modern climate science. The film is now available on YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list includes 56 UW faculty and researchers
The University of Washington is proud to announce that 56 faculty and researchers who completed their work while at UW have been named on the Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list from Clarivate.
November 24, 2025
Traumatic events in communities can make organizations more risk-averse
A new study from Abhinav Gupta, professor of management in the University of Washington Foster School of Business, reveals that traumatic events can significantly dampen organizational risk-taking.T he findings challenge the long-standing view that decision-makers are largely rational, emotionless actors. The research instead shows that emotional experiences in the broader community can spill over into the workplace.
November 21, 2025
Sharper, straighter, stiffer, stronger: Male green hermit hummingbirds have bills evolved for fighting
The green hermit hummingbird, which lives primarily in mountain forests of Central and South America, fights to win a mate. New research found that these fights have shaped the species’ evolution, yielding significant differences in bill shape for male and female green hermits.
November 18, 2025
$10M gift from Charles and Lisa Simonyi establishes AI@UW to advance artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
The University of Washington today announced a foundational $10 million gift from philanthropists Charles and Lisa Simonyi to support groundbreaking work in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
November 17, 2025
Hasoni Pratts named chief of staff to the president
University of Washington President Robert J. Jones today appointed Hasoni Pratts to the position of Chief of Staff to the President. In this pivotal leadership role, Pratts will serve as a senior advisor to the President and play a critical role in advancing the university’s strategic priorities and institutional goals.
November 14, 2025
ArtSci Roundup: December
Come curious. Leave inspired. For those near and far, we invite you to end the year with us through a range of events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. As you begin to shape your December plans, don’t miss the inspiring events still to come this November. In addition, sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time Henry Art Gallery Exhibitions Closing in January: Christine Sun Kim: Ghost(ed) Notes Influenced by…
University of Washington announces outside review of student conduct policies and procedures
The University of Washington will engage an outside firm to review its student conduct policies and procedures and make recommendations for improvements, President Robert J. Jones announced today.
November 13, 2025
Carbon-rich waters are becoming even more acidic as atmospheric CO2 levels rise
The Northeastern Pacific Ocean is becoming more acidic faster than other oceans as the water absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and natural processes feed carbon dioxide up from the deep. The rate of CO2 accumulation is outpacing atmospheric rises and driving acidity to new extremes.
November 10, 2025
People mirror AI systems’ hiring biases, study finds
In a new UW study, 528 participants worked with simulated AI systems to select job candidates. The researchers simulated different levels of racial biases for resumes from white, Black, Hispanic and Asian men. Without suggestions, participants’ choices exhibited little bias. But when provided with recommendations, participants mirrored the AI’s biases.
November 6, 2025
Space dust reveals Arctic ice conditions before satellite imaging
A new University of Washington-led study shows that space dust sandwiched between layers of sediment tells scientists where and when ice covered the Arctic, and what happened to marine life when it disappeared.
November 5, 2025
The chilling effect of air pollution
New University of Washington-led research attributes accelerated warming to reduced cloud reflectivity. As efforts to improve air quality have reduced pollution, clouds became less mirror-like, letting more solar radiation reach Earth and revealing the true impact of greenhouse gases.
November 3, 2025
UW-led study links wildfire smoke to increased odds of preterm birth
In mid-pregnancy, exposure to any smoke was associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth, with that risk peaking around the 21st week of gestation. In late pregnancy, elevated risk was most closely associated with exposure to high concentrations of wildfire PM2.5, above 10 micrograms per cubic meter.
October 30, 2025
Washington residents make up nearly three-fourths of incoming class as enrollment increases across all three UW campuses
Total enrollment is up across all three University of Washington campuses for the 2025-26 academic year, according to the annual census count released this month. Each year, the UW conducts an official enrollment count after the start of the fall quarter. The total number of students across all three campuses is 63,727. Enrollment increased 1.1% to 52,316 at the UW’s Seattle campus, up from 51,719 in 2024. Total enrollment at UW Bothell jumped to 6,361 students, up 4.7% from 2024….
Video: Halloween concert highlights spooky organ classics
Stephen Price, artist in residence and head of organ studies at the University of Washington, will be joined by students and colleagues on Friday, Oct. 31, to perform a concert of spooky organ classics and Halloween fun.
$7.1M commitment from Hawaii businessman and philanthropist expands Tech and IP programs in the UW School of Law
The University of Washington School of Law has received a $7.1 million commitment from Honolulu-based real estate investor Jay H. Shidler to augment the technology and intellectual property programs at the UW School of Law. The gift, which will be realized over the next 10 years, cements the School of Law’s global reputation in the fields of technology and intellectual property (IP) law. “Our students and faculty are enriched by the generosity of Jay Shidler and his commitment to supporting innovations…
October 29, 2025
Statewide effort to put more whole grains on shelves and plates gets $19M boost
The public-private partnership led by Washington State University with support from the UW targets a global health problem: the lack of whole grains in people’s diets, which contributes to widespread health problems.
Annual symposium pushes the UW, and Seattle, to forefront of space diplomacy
The 2025 Space Diplomacy Symposium at the University of Washington will be held on Nov. 7. The annual symposium, which brings together experts from across the world, aims to center diplomacy in civilian, commercial and military space activities.
October 28, 2025
All aboard: UW researchers bring expertise to inaugural ocean week events
In the wake of One Ocean Week Seattle, participating University of Washington researchers share highlights, connecting the week’s events to ongoing efforts to understand and protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
October 22, 2025
New ‘liquid metal’ composite material enables recyclable, flexible and reconfigurable electronics
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 21, 2025
Amazon launches AI PhD Fellowship program with UW
The University of Washington is one of nine universities to receive two years of funding from Amazon’s new AI PhD Fellowship program, which was announced on Tuesday. The UW will receive $2.2 million over two years, with total funding across all universities reaching nearly $10 million annually.
October 20, 2025
Canopy Foundation makes $15M grant to establish Neurodiversity and Employment Institute at the UW
The Canopy Neurodiversity Foundation awarded a $15 million grant to the University of Washington Information School to support the launch of the UW Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment.
October 17, 2025
The Paris Agreement is working, but not well enough to offset economic growth
University of Washington researchers analyzed data collected in the decade following the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed in 2015 to limit warming by cutting emissions. The treaty has helped nations reduce the amount of carbon released per dollar, but emissions are still too high due to global economic growth.
October 16, 2025
Coral skeletons left by a medieval tsunami whisper warning for Caribbean region
A new collaborative study led by scientists at the University of Washington and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science proposes that a tsunami struck the Caribbean island of Anegada between 1381 and 1391, carrying huge coral boulders inland and leaving behind a valuable record of geologic and climatic history.
October 13, 2025
ArtSci Roundup: November
Come curious. Leave inspired. We invite you to connect with us this November through a rich and varied schedule of more than 30 events, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. From chamber opera premieres and public lectures to Indigenous storytelling and poetry celebrations, there’s something to spark every curiosity. Expect boundary-pushing performances, thought-provoking dialogues on memory and identity, and cross-disciplinary collaborations—November is a celebration of bold ideas and creative energy. As you plan for the end of the year, take a look…
October 10, 2025
Q&A: UW chemistry professors explain MOFs, the materials behind the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Oct. 8 awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi “for the development of metal-organic frameworks,” or MOFs. Both Dianne Xiao, a UW associate professor of chemistry, and Douglas Reed, a UW assistant professor of chemistry, use MOFs in their research at the UW. UW News reached out to them to learn more about the significance of these structures and how researchers use them.
October 9, 2025
Programmable proteins use logic to improve targeted drug delivery
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 8, 2025
‘Much-loved’ UW collaborator John Clarke wins the Nobel Prize in Physics
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Tuesday awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics jointly to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis, “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in an electric circuit.” Clarke, a professor emeritus of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, collaborates with the Axion Dark Matter Experiment at the University of Washington.
October 6, 2025
Q&A: What to know about the UW biology degree that launched Nobel Prize laureate Mary Brunkow
The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute on Monday awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Mary E. Brunkow — an alum of the University of Washington — along with Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.” Brunkow received her bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology from the UW in 1983. UW News spoke with Martha Bosma, professor and chair…
UW alum Mary E. Brunkow awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute on Monday awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Mary E. Brunkow — an alum of the University of Washington — along with Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.”
October 3, 2025
Discovery of organic compounds bolsters case that Saturn’s moon Enceladus could support life
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 30, 2025
Q&A: How video games can lead people to more meaningful lives
UW researchers discuss their study which surveyed 166 gamers about how video games sparked meaningful changes in their lives.