College of Arts and Sciences

After Iran intensified its demands over the weekend before it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump didnt threaten new strikes but instead indicated that he planned to choke Iran economically. Jamaal Muwwakkil, assistant professor of anthropology at the UW, is quoted.

A decade-long mission to capture the universe in cinematic motion has begun with UW astronomers helping lead the way. Eric Bellm, research associate professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted. eljko Ivezi, professor of astronomy at the UW, is mentioned.

UW alumni and renowned poets Derek Sheffield and Erin Malone have been recognized for their work in poetry.

Within the burgeoning realm of bird enthusiasts, fans of corvids (the family that includes crows, ravens, jays and magpies) are their own passionate and growing cohort, fueled by trending news stories and viral videos on social media. The UW's Kaeli Swift, a postdoctoral researcher of environmental and forest sciences; Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology; and John Marzluff, professor emeritus of environmental and forest sciences, are quoted.

Top leadership is shifting at the UWs Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, as Director Magdalena Balazinskas term concludes after nearly seven years. Dan Grossman, professor of computer science and engineering and vice director, will take over as interim director.

Earlier this year, state officials said they would take further action to block federal immigration agencies from tapping Washington drivers data, but arrests made using driver data have been steadily climbing, a report shows. Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies, and justice and of international studies, as well as director of the Center for Human Rights at the UW, is quoted.

A new study using data from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope found that star formation in the nearby Andromeda galaxy has undergone a 500-million-year decline, with an even steeper drop in the last 40 million years.

Kara Patajo, Communication and Political Science ’19, is a travel blogger and author of “52 Weekends in the Pacific Northwest,” a collection of year-round travel destinations.

An unusual raccoon in Seattle has become a global internet sensation. Jimothy, the raccoon with short spine syndrome, rocketed to fame after a woman in Ballard posted a video of him on Instagram in mid-July. Stephen Groening, associate professor of cinema and media studies at the UW, is interviewed.

After decades of refining her own artistic voice while navigating ever-shifting cultural, economic and aesthetic tides, Valerie Curtis-Newton is embracing her role as an elder states-artist, retiring from her UW role and looking toward the future.

Christopher Nolan's latest film, The Odyssey, has everyone talking, including classicists. UW Classics professor Olga Levaniouk, who has long studied Homer and the Odyssey, shares her thoughts about the movie in general and in particular what she liked about the figure of Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway.

Researchers at the University of Washington are investigating how genetic changes impact the severity of schizophrenia symptoms. A new study supports the idea that deletions in genes that regulate early brain and neuron development are associated with more severe features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, particularly lower cognitive abilities.

Eight University of Washington researchers have been selected as Fulbright Scholars for 2026-2027 and will pursue studies around the world. Fulbright Scholars are college and university faculty, administrators and researchers, as well as artists and professionals, who build their skills and connections, gain valuable international insights and return home to share their experiences with their students and colleagues. This years UW cohort represents a variety of disciplines, including sciences, engineering, business, environmental sciences, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science.

Researchers at the University of Washington and partners at Carnegie Mellon University are collaborating on a new project to help scientists use artificial intelligence to better understand the universe.

Rice crops are in danger amid rising temperatures, according to a UW study. Jade d'Alpoim Guedes, an associate professor of archaeology, is quoted.