Natural Sciences Division

During her time at the UW, Ava Kloss-Schmidt (BS, Biology, 2022) has surrounded herself with plants — in a lab, in a greenhouse, and on mountaintops.

A novel algorithm developed by University of Washington researchers to discover asteroids in the solar system has proved its mettle. The first candidate asteroids identified by the algorithm — known as Tracklet-less Heliocentric Orbit Recovery, or THOR — have been confirmed by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center, according to a May 31 announcement by the B612 Foundation.

The cosmos has reserved for you a moment, in the early hours between May 4 and 5, to just let go and immerse yourself in the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. Jessica Werk, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

With a gift to Speech & Hearing Sciences, Lacey Berns is creating community for those caring for children facing communication challenges — and honoring her daughter.

When Sam Wasser, professor of biology at the UW, was a young biologist studying baboons in Tanzania, he never imagined he would one day lead an international force cracking down on the smuggling of illegal goods, from elephant ivory to pangolins and timber. Yet fighting transnational criminal organizations is exactly what he’s doing today, all because of his passion for animals.

Astronomers have issued an Earth Day call for environmentalism to be extended more fully to the final frontier, and for companies such as SpaceX and Amazon to dial back their plans for mega-constellations. Meredith Rawls, a research scientist in the UW Department of Astronomy, is quoted.

Patricia Kuhl, co-director of I-LABS and a UW professor of speech and hearing sciences and Yael Weiss-Zruya, a research scientist at I-LABS, explain how their virtual "Research Camp" program has been effective in teaching kids to read in an online setting.

A new generation of scientists is challenging the biased, hierarchical status quo in astronomy. The UW's Jessica Werk, Sarah Tuttle, and Emily Levesque, discuss.

By some accounts, Seattle is among the most stressed and sleep-deprived metros in the nation, but let’s forget about that for a moment. New reports find Seattle, and Washington as a whole, rate high on the happiness scale. Milla Titova, assistant teaching professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

Gray Rybka, associate professor of physics, explains the difference between WIMPS and axions, both of which are hard-to-spot theoretical, subatomic particles.

Karly Cohen, a doctoral student in biology, discusses the curious Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker, "one of the cutest fish that you can find."

Sam Wasser, professor of biology, explains how DNA tests of seized elephant tusks can reveal ivory trafficking networks.

Billie Swalla, professor of biology, explains how sea squirts are relevant to discussions about the evolution of the heart and head.

Sam Wasser, research professor of biology, explains how a genetic investigation technique can be used to catch wildlife poachers.

Thanks to a UW internship, students are contributing content about Black leaders in the sciences on BlackPast.org.