Natural Sciences Division

As telescopes of ever-greater power scan the cosmos looking for life, knowing where to look — and where not to waste time looking — will be of great value.

New research by UW astronomer Rory Barnes and co-authors describes possible planetary systems where a gravitational nudge from one planet could have a mild to devastating effect on the orbit and climate of another, possibly habitable world.

Five University of Washington students were selected as 2015 Sloan Research Fellows. The awards are presented to early-career scientists and scholars who are selected as the next generation of leaders in the sciences, mathematics, and economics.

Once a homeless youth with a devastating addiction to drugs and alcohol, Mark Bennett is on his way to earning his bachelor's in mathematics at the UW - all while giving back to the community that saved him and raising his 9-year-old son.

Imagine printing out molecules that can respond to their surroundings. A research project at the University of Washington merges custom chemistry and 3-D printing.

"Each wine is a story of my life," says winemaker Angela Jacobs ('03, '10), owner of WineGirl Wines in Lake Chelan, Washington.

On the 315th anniversary of a massive earthquake off the coast of Washington and Oregon, UW scientists are helping prepare the region for a repeat event that could come at any time.

An international team led by the University of Washington has discovered fossilized pieces of plants that could tell a detailed story of what the Earth looked like 50 million years ago.

In an op-ed piece, Stephanie Fryberg, associate professor of American Indian studies and psychology, writes about the impact of the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting on students and families, as well as on local tribal communities and Marysville.

Thunderous stadium noise is exhilarating for sports fans—and harmful for their ears. A class project aims to protect hearing without sacrificing team spirit.

New research led by an astronomy graduate student at UW indicates planets orbiting close to low mass stars may have lost their chance at hosting life because of intense heat during their formative years.

UW alum Carlos Estrada Alamo thinks people should be grateful that President Obama is brightening the futures of thousands of children by finally acting on immigration reform, in a special contribution to the Seattle Times.

Recovering from a stroke is an arduous process, but thanks to four UW students and their project, virtual reality video games could transform the way patients experience therapy.

Thanks to UW professors of computer science and engineering and psychology, the team's latest study, "great minds think alike" is no longer just a phrase, but a fact.

The University of Washington Astronomy Department is taking starry nights to the schools, inflating its portable planetarium in classrooms across the Seattle area.