Natural Sciences Division

A single fossil jaw is forcing scientists to rethink the timeline of one of natures most agile hunters. Found in Spain, the tiny bone suggests that the ancestors of modern weasels were already on the move more than six million years ago far earlier than expected. Chris Law, a principal research scientist of biology at the UW and an affiliate curator at the UW Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, is quoted.

Explore recent research from the University of Washington: how sunbirds sip nectar through straw-like tongues, why the Seattle Fault might not pose as great a risk as previously thought, how to gauge landslide dam risk in the PNW, what marine microbes use for making meals and when the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will spot small inbound asteroids.

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. 

A research team led by the UW has identified a new species of an ancient rodent-like creature. The new species, named Cimolodon desosai, was about the size of a golden hamster, the researchers said. It likely scampered on the ground and in the trees and ate fruits and insects.

UW News spoke with Paul Wiggins, a University of Washington associate professor of both physics and bioengineering, to learn about a surprisingly relatable behavior prompting bacteria to stockpile huge reserves of essential proteins.

David Hertzog, a University of Washington professor of physics, is a recipient of the 2026 Breakthrough Prize for Fundamental Physics. The award is shared among roughly 400 scientists and celebrates decades of work to better understand the muon a subatomic particle with anomalous properties.

A Nigerian scientist's "personal experience" with a wildfire, its threat to endangered bats she discovered just days before, and her campaign to protect them, has won her the global Goldman Environmental Prize. Iroro Tanshi, postdoctoral scholar of biology at the UW and recipient of the award, is quoted.

David Hertzog, professor of physics at the UW, cant wait to find out how hundreds of researchers who worked on a geeky project known as the Muon g-2 Collaboration will react when they hear theyve each won thousands of dollars for that work. Hertzog is quoted. The UW's Eric Adelberger, professor emeritus of physics; Blayne Heckel, professor emeritus of physics; Lukasz Fidkowski, associate professor of physics; Jens Gundlach, professor of physics; and David Baker, professor of biochemistry in the UW School of Medicine and director of the UW Institute for Protein Design, are mentioned.

New research published in Current Biology reveals sunbirds use their long tongues as a kind of makeshift straw to hoover up nectar in flowersthe first vertebrates known to do so. Alejandro Rico-Guevara, associate professor of biology at the UW and curator of birds at the UW Burke Museum, is mentioned.

Strange data from a star about 11,000 light years away led researchers to hypothesize that two planets had collided in front of the star, blotting out the light but emitting a lot of heat. Such an event is one theory for how planets like Earth are created. Anastasios Tzanidakis, a doctoral student, and James Davenport, research assistant professor, both of astronomy at the UW, are interviewed.

At the brand-new Quantum Technologies Training and Testbed lab, researchers from across the UW probe the spooky mysteries of quantum phenomena.

A new study doubles the evolutionary history of the weasel family. Researchers, including Chris Law, a UW principal research scientist in the biology department, have determined that a fossil that was discovered in Spain belongs to a new species dating back to around 6.5 million years ago. This new species was likely similar in size to the smallest living weasel species today, the least weasel.

Thousands of asteroids including hundreds of distant worlds located out beyond the orbit of Neptune and dozens of previously unknown near-Earth objects have been detected by astronomers. Mario Juri, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The University of Washingtons graduate and professional degree programs again were recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Reports 2026 Best Graduate Schools released late Monday.

A simple act like drinking nectar can hide an unexpected scientific story. Sunbirds, small and colorful birds found in many parts of the world, have surprised researchers with a completely new way of feeding. This discovery shows that even well-known animals can still teach us something new about nature. Scientists continue to study such behaviors to better understand how animals adapt and survive. UW research is mentioned.