Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ

Skip to content

The latest news from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ

September 10, 2024

Thanks to humans, Salish Sea waters are too noisy for resident orcas to hunt successfully

New research led by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has revealed how underwater noise produced by humans may help explain why southern resident orca populations have not recovered from historic lows. In a paper published Sept. 10 in Global Change Biology, the team reports that underwater noise pollution — from both large and small vessels — forces northern and southern resident orcas to expend more time and energy hunting for fish. The din also lowers the overall success of their hunting efforts. Noise from ships likely has an outsized impact on southern resident orca pods, which spend more time in parts of the Salish Sea with high ship traffic.

September 9, 2024

COVID-19 lockdowns prematurely aged teenage brains, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ study shows

New research from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ found lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unusually accelerated brain maturation in adolescents. This maturation was more pronounced in girls. When measured in terms of the number of years of accelerated brain development, the mean acceleration was 4.2 years in females and 1.4 years in males.

August 30, 2024

New discoveries about how mosquitoes mate may help the fight against malaria

An international team led by researchers at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ has uncovered surprising details about mosquito mating, which could lead to improved malaria control techniques and even help develop precision drone flight. In a paper published Aug. 30 in the journal Current Biology, the team revealed that when a male Anopheles coluzzii mosquito hears the sound of female-specific wingbeats, his eyes “activateâ€� and he visually scans the immediate vicinity for a potential mate.

August 29, 2024

Scientists will study nearby galaxies to uncover galactic formation history and dark matter

NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will look for “fossils� of galaxy formation by conducting high-resolution imaging studies. Through a grant from NASA, astronomers are designing a set of possible observations called RINGS — the Roman Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey — that would collect these images, and the team is producing publicly available tools that the astronomy community can use once Roman launches and starts collecting data.

August 28, 2024

Large language models can help detect social media bots — but can also make the problem worse

A team led by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researchers found that large language models, such as ChatGPT, can make social media bots more sophisticated at evading detection. But these models can also improve systems that detect bots.

August 21, 2024

Human-wildlife overlap expected to increase across more than half of Earth’s land by 2070

The overlap between humans and animals will increase substantially across much of the planet in less than 50 years due to human population growth and climate change, according to a collaborative study by scientists at the University of Michigan, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and University College London. By 2070, the overlap between humans and more than 22,000 vertebrate species will rise across nearly 57% of Earth’s land, according to the team.

August 20, 2024

New independent venture capital fund accelerates and enhances innovation ecosystem at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ

Pack Ventures, a new venture capital fund that is collaborating with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, aims to help entrepreneurs launch new innovations and grow startups that emerge across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, while also giving Husky alumni access to investment opportunities.

August 16, 2024

Why isn’t Colorado’s snowpack ending up in the Colorado River? New research suggests the problem might be the lack of spring rainfall

The Colorado River and its tributaries provide water for hydropower, irrigation and drinking water in seven U.S. states and Mexico. But since 2000, water managers have struggled to predict how much water will come from the snowpack. The problem lies with the lack of rainfall in the spring, according to new research from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ.

August 14, 2024

Galaxies in dense environments tend to be larger, settling one cosmic question and raising others

A new study has found galaxies with more neighbors tend to be larger than their counterparts that have a similar shape and mass, but reside in less dense environments. In a paper published Aug. 14 in the Astrophysical Journal, the team, which used a machine-learning algorithm to analyze millions of galaxies, reports that galaxies found in denser regions of the universe are as much as 25% larger than isolated galaxies. The findings resolve a long-standing debate among astrophysicists over the relationship between a galaxy’s size and its environment, but also raise new questions about how galaxies form and evolve over billions of years.

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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, 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 8, 2024

Many survey respondents rated seeking out sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ as more acceptable than creating or sharing them

In a survey of 315 people conducted by researchers at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and Georgetown University, respondents largely found creating and sharing sexually explicit “deepfakesâ€� unacceptable. But far fewer respondents strongly opposed seeking out these media. Previous research has shown that other people viewing non-AI image-based abuse harms the victims significantly.

August 7, 2024

Using photos or videos, these AI systems can conjure simulations that train robots to function in physical spaces

Two new studies introduce AI systems that use either video or photos to create simulations that can train robots to function in the real world. This could significantly lower the costs of training robots to function in complex settings.

August 5, 2024

Randy Hodgins, vice president of the Office of External Affairs, to retire in June 2025

After more than two decades with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, Vice President Randy Hodgins announced today that he will step down from his role leading the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Office of External Affairs and retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. During his upcoming final year as Vice President, Hodgins said he will remain committed to advancing the University’s mission and ensuring a smooth transition.

August 1, 2024

15 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ professors among new class of members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences

Fifteen faculty members at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 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.â€�

July 29, 2024

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ model shows cortical implants like Elon Musk’s Blindsight unlikely to ‘exceed normal human vision’

New research from Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ professors of psychology, shows Elon Musk’s projection for the latest Neuralink project rests on the flawed premise that implanting millions of tiny electrodes into the visual cortex, the region of the brain that processes information received from the eye, will result in high-resolution vision.

July 25, 2024

How iBuyers are changing real estate racial disparities and individual homeownership rates in one major city

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researchers investigated how iBuyers — companies that use automated algorithms to quickly buy and sell homes — have affected the well-documented racial bias against Black home sellers. Looking at Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, they found that on average iBuyers paid more equal prices to Black and white home sellers than individual buyers, largely because iBuyers paid white sellers significantly less on average than an individual buyer. They also discovered that iBuyers were significantly more likely to resell homes to institutions, such as large rental companies that’ve been tied to high eviction rates and rent-gouging.

Q&A: Nail salon air is filled with fragrance chemicals — could they harm workers’ health?

A study led by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 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 17, 2024

New faculty books: Traditional Syrian cuisine, Indigenous ecological knowledge, data science for researchers

Three new faculty books from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ cover the recipes and culture of the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp, traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous peoples and data science for neuroimaging researchers. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ News spoke with the authors to learn more. Documenting history and rituals of Syrian cuisine When Karen E. Fisher was invited to Zaatari, the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp, she noticed that stories of the camp rarely included women’s voices. As she learned more about their…

July 10, 2024

Wolves’ return has had only small impact on deer populations in NE Washington, study shows

Wolves returned to Washington state in 2008. A new study shows that, despite their rising numbers, wolves are not having much of an impact on white-tailed deer, one of their primary prey. In a paper published June 18 in Ecological Applications, scientists from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife report that the biggest factor shaping white-tailed deer populations in northeast Washington is the quality of habitat available, which is largely determined by human activity. Cougars were second in their impact. Wolves were a distant third.

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. Ģ¹½ÊÓÆµ experts explain how bird flu evolves and what it could mean for humans.

June 21, 2024

ChatGPT is biased against resumes with credentials that imply a disability — but it can improve

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researchers found that ChatGPT consistently ranked resumes with disability-related honors and credentials — such as the “Tom Wilson Disability Leadership Awardâ€� — lower than the same resumes without those honors and credentials. But when researchers customized the tool with written instructions directing it not to be ableist, the tool reduced this bias for all but one of the disabilities tested.

June 20, 2024

Changes to WaNPRC protocols, procedures following recent incidents

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµâ€™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

ArtSci Roundup: Summer Art Exhibitions

Throughout the summer, check out art exhibitions across campus at the Burke Museum, Henry Art Gallery, and the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. Through June 21 | DESIGN SHOW – BDES + MDES, Jacob Lawrence Gallery The Division of Design presents the work of the graduating Bachelor of Design (BDes) students from Industrial Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication Design. Free | More info June 20, 6:00 – 7:00 pm | Henry Art Gallery Association: Annual Meeting, Henry Art Gallery The Henry Art Gallery…

Statement on leadership change for the Washington National Primate Research Center

After careful consideration, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 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 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 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 12, 2024

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ President Ana Mari Cauce will step down in June 2025, following a decade in office

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ President Ana Mari Cauce announced Wednesday that she will step down from her leadership role at the conclusion of her second five-year term in June 2025 — a transition that has been planned for several years with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Board of Regents — and return to her faculty position. In her upcoming final year in office, Cauce said she is committed to advancing the work of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and ensuring a smooth transition.

June 3, 2024

Video: Before they bite — Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researcher homes in on which scents, colors make us a tempting target for hungry mosquitoes

Jeffrey Riffell, a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ professor of biology, wants to understand how female mosquitoes find find a host to bite for a bloody meal. His research has shown that hungry mosquitoes find us by following a trail of scent cues, including chemicals exuded by our skin and sweat, as well as the carbon dioxide gas we exhale with each breath. Mosquitoes also like colors, at least certain ones. His team is closing in on how the sense of smell and vision work together to help a mosquito zero in for the final strike and get her blood meal.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ celebrates Class of 2024 as thousands march in events in Husky Stadium, the Tacoma Dome and T-Mobile Park

More than 7,000 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ graduates of the Class of 2024 plan to participate in the June 8 ceremony for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Seattle. Officials expect about 40,000 family and friends to cheer the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Tacoma will hold its commencement June 7; Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Bothell’s graduation ceremonies are June 9. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ President Ana Mari Cauce will present 18,006 degrees to the Class of 2024 across all three Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ campuses’ ceremonies.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ study abroad returns to pre-pandemic participation levels, helps increase graduation rates

As the academic school year comes to an end, many students will continue their studies by packing a suitcase and heading overseas.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 3,000 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students will study abroad this school year, a number that surpasses the previous high set in 2018-2019. That means study abroad participation is back to pre-pandemic levels. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ leaders say these programs promise profound experiences and lifelong memories. and  new research shows that college students who study abroad are more likely to graduate.

May 30, 2024

ArtSci Roundup: Design Show, Grandmothering While Black Book Celebration, Astrobiology Careers Panel and more

This week, check out graduating Design students’ works at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, attend the Astrobiology Program’s careers panel, enjoy an evening of conversation at the Grandmothering While Black book celebration, and more. June 5 – 21, DESIGN SHOW – BDES + MDES, Jacob Lawrence Gallery The Division of Design presents the work of the graduating Bachelor of Design (BDes) students from Industrial Design, Interaction Design, and Visual Communication Design. Free | More info June 5, 12:30 pm | First Wednesday…

Infants hear significantly more speech than music at home, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ study finds

A new Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ 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.