College of Arts and Sciences

Beginning next year, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will use the world’s largest digital camera to give us a whole new view of the universe. Mario Jurić, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

As the weather starts heating up this week, you may be tempted to go outside—but with the outdoors comes the possibility of getting bitten by mosquitoes. And if you find yourself getting a lot of mosquito bites, it could be because of the way you smell or the colors of the clothes you are wearing, recent research has found. The UW's Jeff Riffell, professor of biology, and Melissa Leon Norena, a doctoral student of biology, are quoted.

Earlier this month, Spotify announced that it would be raising the price of its premium memberships, with its “individual” subscription going from $10.99 to $11.99 a month starting in July. This is the second price increase users have seen in a year. Gabriel Solis, professor of music and Divisional Dean of the Arts at the UW, is interviewed.

Could those irritating mosquito bite bumps soon become a thing of the past? Researchers at the UW are studying the understanding of the feeding behaviors of mosquitoes. Jeff Riffell, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

The UW is delighted to announce the recipients of the 54th annual University of Washington Awards of Excellence! The awards honor outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, students and retirees who contribute to the richness and diversity of our University community.

After more than 50 years in the classroom, Seattle Public Schools’ longest-serving teacher is retiring from the post she’s held teaching kindergartners at Orca K-8 for almost a half-century. Marletta Iwasyk, 84, started teaching in Seattle at age 28 after she graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Norwegian.

Research that drives development and national pride will take center stage for the next five years, researchers say. Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Dr. Abigail Swann, a UW professor of atmospheric sciences and of biology, led a project that combined climate projections with plant models to determine what combination of traits might be best adapted to future climates. The study used projections of weather and climate across the U.S. in 2050 and 2100 with a 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.

Black people in the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to have been raised in church. They're also less likely to leave Christianity after coming out. Jelani Ince, assistant professor of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

From "Hamburger Hill" to "The Sympathizer," veteran actor Kieu Chinh discusses how her career shaped Vietnam War memories. Linh Thủy Nguyễn, assistant professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is quoted.

A recent study from the UW has revealed some unexpected findings that might make you rethink your baby’s playlist — or lack thereof. Christina Zhao, research assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences at the UW, is quoted.

Zebrafish embryos aboard the Chinese Tiangong Space Station are the latest ‘aqua astronauts.’ Aaron van Loon, postdoctoral scholar of biology at the UW, is quoted.

New research from the University of Washington published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, shows how “microinclusions” — brief instances of positive treatment, especially from members of the dominant group — help women feel valued at work. UW News talked with lead author Gregg Muragishi, a UW postdoctoral scholar of psychology, to learn more about this research.

Jeffrey Riffell, a University of Washington 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.

As the war in Sudan unfolded with escalating intensity, its repercussions were felt far beyond the nation’s borders, impacting lives even in distant corners of the globe. For one University of Washington (UW) Seattle graduate student, whose journey was abruptly disrupted by the eruption of conflict, the experience became a harrowing testament to the unpredictability of global events and travel. Meet Yasir Zaidan, whose pursuit of knowledge on port cities led him to Sudan.