All Stories

Thanks to a School of Drama connection, an 19th-century illustrated Shakespeare edition with an interesting backstory is now part of UW Libraries Special Collections. 

Using preliminary data from the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the NSFDOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, scientists have discovered over 11,000 new asteroids in our solar system. The findings include hundreds of distant worlds beyond Neptune as well as 33 previously unknown near-Earth objects.

New research reports that sunbirds use suction from their tongue to sip nectar. The find is the first example of any vertebrate drinking through suction generated by the tongue alone, rather than by changing the shape of its mouth. A UW research project is mentioned.

New research at the University of Washington could help scientists develop better mosquito repellents as mosquito season grows longer in parts of the Northwest. Jeff Riffell, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted. This story was republished in numerous outlets.

A University of Washington-led team discovered that modern Nautilus and Allonautilus species inhabit deeper waters than their extinct ancestors did over 500 million years ago, with juveniles living at twice the depth of mature adults.

On display now at the University of Washingtons Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Woven in Wool: Resilience in Coast Salish Weaving examines the traditional art form and its importance to Coast Salish communities. Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse, associate professor of art history at the UW and curator of Northwest Native American Art at the Burke Museum, is quoted.

Chemistry professor Matthew Golder and his research team are exploring ways to alter the chemical structure of plastics to keep them out of landfills.

A fireball lit up western Washington skies on Saturday night, traveling across Pierce County. The American Meteor Society said over 100 people submitted reports that they saw the meteor at 8:34 p.m. The sightings were reported across Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Chris Laws, teaching professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

UW Department of Communication Professor LeiLani Nishime shared her expertise on the current cultural discourse around “Wasians” (those of mixed White and Asian descent) for NPR’s It’s been a Minute podcast, “Welcome to ‘The Republic of Wasia.”

A strange crocodile relative once grew up in a very surprising way. As a young animal, it walked on four legs. As it became an adult, it stood on two legs like a bird. Research from the UW is referenced.