New research shows that as winters get warmer, more icy crusts may form within snowpacks in much of the Pacific Northwest, increasing the risk of avalanche in some areas and changing the behavior of wildlife across the region.
March 23, 2026
The latest news from the UW
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. And as April comes to a close, see what’s happening in May. 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 |…
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.
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.
March 17, 2026
Video: How do plants know when to bloom? Spring flowering explained by UW chronobiologist
Plants, like people, have a circadian clock and they sense seasonal changes to light and temperature. Plants that bloom in the spring use the longer days and warmer temperatures as seasonal cues that it’s time to bloom.
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.
March 16, 2026
New faculty books: Ordinary people and the global legal order, imperial policing, making of modern Taiwan, and poetry
Recent books from University of Washington faculty and staff include those from legal studies at UW Tacoma, international studies, political science, history and Asian languages and literature.
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.
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.
March 11, 2026
UW astronomers collect rare evidence of two planets colliding
An oddly-behaving star led two UW astronomers to capture rare evidence of a collision between two planets in a distant solar system. The discovery could aid scientists in their search for worlds similar to our own.
March 9, 2026
Faculty/staff honors: Lifetime achievement award, Plyler Prize, Rome Prize fellowship
Recent recognition of the University of Washington includes the Kenneth S. Norris Lifetime Achievement Award, the Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics, the inaugural Trevisan Prize in the Theory of Computing, the John Gaus Award from the American Political Science Association, the Washington Governor’s Award for Outstanding Leadership, and the Rome Prize Fellowship in Environmental Arts & Humanities.
March 6, 2026
Peak bloom predictions are in for UW’s cherry trees
Spring is here, which in Seattle, means cherry blossoms. The UW’s iconic display — featuring 29 Yoshino cherry trees — is set to peak around March 20 this year. Check out the cherry blossom visitors’ website to learn more.
New marine energy tech is put to the test at Harris Hydraulics Lab
Researchers at UW and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are simulating something in the lab that they hope will rarely happen in the wild: a collision between underwater turbines and marine animals.
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…
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.
March 3, 2026
UW statement on criminal charges filed in the IEB occupation
A statement from the University of Washington regarding gross misdemeanor trespassing charges being filed Tuesday against the 33 individuals who were arrested in connection with occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building in May 2025.
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.
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.
University of Washington and Tohoku University Japan announce expansion of their collaboration with the “Q-DREAM” framework
Tohoku University and the University of Washington, two leading academic research institutions of the Pacific Rim, announced “Q-DREAM,” a significant expansion of their decades-long collaboration.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
February 17, 2026
Five UW scientists named Sloan Fellows
Five University of Washington faculty members have been awarded early-career fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
February 11, 2026
Q&A: UW course uses the Olympic Games as a historical lens
Kyle Haddad-Fonda, a part-time lecturer of history at the University of Washington, is teaching “Modern Olympic Games” this quarter. The course covers subjects ranging from ideology and national identity to race and the position of women in society.
February 10, 2026
NASA selects UW-led STRIVE and EDGE teams for satellite missions
NASA announced on Thursday last week that both the University of Washington STRIVE team and the UW-affiliated EDGE team were selected to lead satellite missions to better understand Earth and improve capabilities to foresee environmental events and mitigate disasters.
February 9, 2026
UW researchers use satellite data to quantify methane loss in the stratosphere
A University of Washington study shows that existing models underestimate methane loss in the stratosphere and generate uncertainty in the global methane budget — a key metric for tracking climate change.
Q&A: How repeating decades-old experiments can help us understand how organisms change over time
UW News spoke with Lauren Buckley, University of Washington professor of biology, to learn about “functional resurvey” experiments and what they can tell us about how organisms change over time.
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.
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.
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…
January 29, 2026
Astronomers discover ancient barred spiral galaxy
New research supported by Yingjie Cheng, a University of Washington postdoctoral researcher in astronomy, uncovered a contender for one of the earliest observed spiral galaxies containing a stellar bar — a notable visual feature that can play an important role in the evolution of a galaxy.
January 27, 2026
Q&A: UW researchers create a smart glove with its own sense of touch
A new smart glove from the UW Wearable Intelligence Lab could help physical therapy patients track progress and train robotic hands to grasp.
January 22, 2026
UW astronomers spot record-breaking asteroid in Rubin Observatory data
A team led by University of Washington astronomers has discovered the fastest-ever spinning asteroid with a diameter over half a kilometer.
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.
Q&A: Wildfire in protected NW Forests highlights need for strategy updates
University of Washington researchers show that wildfire is increasingly impacting lands managed under the Northwest Forest Plan, a seminal measure enacted in 1994 to preserve habitat for endangered species.
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…