Natural Sciences Division

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the “what ifs” having come true, therapists hear story after story of collective trauma, grief and loss, all through a computer or phone screen. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

Astronomers once gazed at the night sky and charted the stars using their naked eyes. Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, describes how generations of telescopes have unlocked the wonders of the universe.

Peter Kahn, professor in the Department of Psychology, discusses his new documentary about humanity's connection to the natural world.

Psychology professor Jane Simoni explains the mental health implications of the COVID-19 vaccine phase.

An unexpected superconductor was beginning to look like a fluke, but a new theory and a second discovery has revealed that emergent quasiparticles may be behind the effect. Matthew Yankowitz, assistant professor of physics at the UW, is quoted.

A new study from a research team led by Munira Khalil, professor and chair of chemistry, explains the role of solvent molecules in light-driven electron transfer.

UW Physics Professor Miguel Morales has penned a math-free tour of quantum mechanics and technology

A new study by psychology researchers at the UW has found that a mindfulness program they created improves students' mental health. Liliana Lengua, psychology professor and director of the Center for Child and Family Well-Being, and Robyn Long, director of community programs and training for the Center for Child and Family Well-Being, are quoted.

A new study authored by Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, a postdoctoral researcher at the UW Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, has found that "identification with all of humanity" preditcts whether someone will engage in "prosocial" behaviors during COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who recognize the connections they share with others are more likely to wear a mask, follow health guidelines and help people, even at a potential cost to themselves, a new University of Washington study shows.

With the COVID-19 pandemic confining many Americans to their homes, a significant number of people used the money they might otherwise have spent on travel or eating out to invest in rooftop solar systems. Daniel Gamelin, professor of chemistry at the UW, is quoted.

In-class problem solving, group discussions and similar instructional approaches collectively known as active learning are more effective for student learning than lecture-based instruction, studies have shown. But many postsecondary instructors still spend the bulk of class time lecturing. Why resistance to active learning persists has not been clear. Scott Freeman, teaching professor emeritus in biology at the UW, is quoted.

Bryn Bandt-Law, lead researcher and psychology graduate student, discusses the results of her study, which showed that traditionally feminine women are more likely to be believed when making accusations of sexual harassment.

While one would hope that cases of sexual harassment are treated very much on their merits, research from the University of Washington shows that this is sadly not the case. It finds that women who are young, who act and appear feminine, and who are “conventionally attractive” are far more likely to be believed in any accusations they make about sexual harassment.

A team from the University of Washington wanted to see if a computer vision system could learn to tell what is being played on a piano just from an overhead view of the keys and the player’s hands. The UW’s Eli Shlizerman, assistant professor in the applied mathematics and the electrical and computer engineering departments, and Kun Su and Xiulong Liu, doctoral students in electrical and computer engineering, created Audeo.