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Neuroimaging found girls experienced cortical thinning far faster than boys did during the first year of COVID lockdowns. The UW's Neva Corrigan, research scientist at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, and Patricia Kuhl, professor of speech and hearing sciences and co-director of the UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, are quoted.

COVID lockdowns, such as school closures, canceled sports activities and stay-at-home orders, prematurely aged teen brains by as much as four years, researchers from the UW found. Patricia Kuhl, professor of speech and hearing sciences at the UW and co-director of the UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, is quoted.

Using machine learning, UW scientists managed to confirm that galaxies in denser regions of the universe can be as much as 25% larger than galaxies with a similar mass and shape in less dense regions. Aritra Ghosh, a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The research team hopes to survey at least 300 middle and high school students, teachers and parents this school year at western Washington schools with bans. Lucía Magis-Weinberg, assistant professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

New research from the University of Washington 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.

A school in northwest Seattle is part of an experiment playing out in districts around the nation as educators try to rein in the widespread use of smartphones on campus. Restrictions and strategies for implementation vary. Educators have a long list of reasons for wanting cellphone-free policies, but formal research is limited on the impacts of school smartphone use and the effects of bans. Lucía Magis-Weinberg, assistant professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

"The Starbucks saga reminds us that we live in an era of heightened climate sensibilities, where corporate reputations are tarnished by small acts of CEO’s perceived climate transgressions," write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.

"But these excellent art shows featuring celebrated artists from Seattle and beyond ease the transition into the colder months. Here’s what not to miss." The Henry Art Gallery is mentioned.

A ‘mosquito flight simulator’ reveals a potential weakness in one species that carries malaria. Saumya Gupta, a postdoctoral researcher of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Researchers say males can see other mosquitoes flying around, but give chase only when they hear female buzzing. Saumya Gupta, a postdoctoral researcher of biology at the UW, is quoted.