Natural Sciences Division

A 6-mile-wide space rock and colossal eruptions racked Earth at the same fateful moment. Scientists have tried for decades to determine the primary suspect behind the Cretaceous extinction. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Particles called muons are behaving weirdly and it could mean a huge discovery. David Hertzog, professor of physics at the UW, is interviewed on the “60-Second Science” podcast.

Students across western Washington are returning to the classroom this month. After a year of isolation, mental health experts say some students may be struggling with the idea of heading back to school. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

The term “herd immunity” has been thrown around frequently as vaccinations in the United States have ramped up, with many viewing it as the end goal for the COVID-19 pandemic. But as Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, detailed in a thread posted to Twitter, it may not be that simple.

Shannon Dorsey, professor of child clinical psychology, explains how students can adjust to in-person learning.

This week at the UW, attend a meditation session, attend Curating in Conversation: A Panel Series on Sharing Northwest Native Art and Art History with the Public, and more.

A composite-overwrapped pressure vessel from a Falcon 9 rocket was recovered from a private property owner in southwest Grant County. James Davenport, a research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is referenced.

As carbon dioxide continues to rise, multiple changes in the leaves of tropical plants may help these ecosystems perform better under climate change than previous studies had suggested.

Over 100 UW graduate and professional programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report to be among the top 35 in the nation.

Statistics PhD students David Marcano, Daniel Suen, and Hassan Nasif have recieved either NSF Graduate Research Fellowships or honorable mentions.

A long streak of rocket debris from SpaceX was seen from Snohomish County to Salem, Oregon Thursday night. James Davenport, a research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

The oldest known primate fossils were dated to just after the extinction event 66 million years ago —suggesting some primate ancestors lived even longer ago. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

A long streak of lights slow-danced over the Pacific Northwest around 9 p.m. Thursday. The bright show dazzled onlookers from Snohomish County to Salem, Oregon, leaving many to wonder what caused the spectacle. While viewers speculated it could be a meteor shower, fireworks or something extra-terrestrial, scientists report the sight was actually human-made. James Davenport, a research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

Halley Greg (who graduated from UW with a double degree in biology and psychology) is on this season of The Voice.

Alexandra Velian, assistant professor of chemistry, has been named a 2021 Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science.