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Opinion: NASA needs to rename the James Webb Space Telescope
"Without the knowledge of [James] Webb’s silence at State and his participation in making psychological warfare a tool of the military industrial complex, perhaps our gratitude for his work was sufficient. With that knowledge, we think it is time to rename JWST [James Webb Space Telescope] because the name of such an important mission, which promises to live in the popular and scientific psyche for decades, is a reflection of our values," write Sarah Tuttle, assistant professor of astronomy at the UW; Chanda Prescod-Weinstein of the University of New Hamphsire; Lucianne Walkowicz of the Adler Planetarium; and Brian Nord of the University of Chicago.
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39 Under 39 profile: Elese Washines
Elese Washines, who studied mathematics at the UW, is the current program manager for the Yakima Nation Higher Education Program and featured as one of the Yakima Herald's 39 under 39.
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United Nations: Countries’ pledges to cut emissions are far too meager to halt climate change
A study by Adrian Raftery, statistics professor, is cited in this article about how much global emissions must fall to halt climate change.
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Washington researchers find the phase of the moon affects how long we sleep
Despite the option of “extending the end of the day” with artificial lighting in highly urbanized Seattle, UW biology professor Horacio de la Iglesia said UW students slept shorter hours in the days before a full moon, as did indigenous Argentinans with no electricity.
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New-Found Oldest Primate Ancestor Watched the Dinosaurs Die
In a new study, a team of paleontologists analyzed tooth samples found in Montana and determined plesiadapiforms, an ancient taxon including primates’ oldest ancestor, likely emerged 65.9 million-years-ago and lived alongside dinosaurs. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
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If Perseverance finds life on Mars, this is what it will look like
Dr. Michael L. Wong, a research associate in the astrobiology program and astronomy department, explains what life on Mars could be.
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The Coronavirus Is Threatening a Comeback. Here’s How to Stop It.
Many scientists are expecting another rise in infections. But this time the surge will be blunted by vaccines and, hopefully, widespread caution. By summer, Americans may be looking at a return to normal life. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
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People sleep less before a full moon
Researchers led by UW biology Professor Horacio de la Iglesia have found that whether you live in a rural or urban environment, your sleep patterns are affected by a full moon. On the nights leading up to full moon, people fall asleep later and sleep less overall.
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Mystery of Spinning Atomic Fragments Solved at Last
New experiments have answered the decades-old question of how pieces of splitting nuclei get their spins. George Bertsch, professor emeritus of physics at the UW, is quoted.
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Paleontologists use fossilized teeth to flesh out ancient tale of earliest primates
The shapes of fossilized teeth from 65.9 million-year-old, squirrel-like creatures suggest that the branch of the tree of life that gave rise to humans and other primates flowered while dinosaurs still walked the earth. The UW’s Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology, and Brody Hovatter, a graduate student in Earth and space sciences, are quoted.
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There's a rare yellow penguin on South Georgia island, and biologists can't quite explain it
Black-and-white tuxedos may be the conventional dress code in the penguin world, but one dashing individual is breaking the status quo with an à la mode yellow coat. Dee Boersma, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
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People are more likely to believe sexual harassment claims from women who are young and ‘conventionally attractive,’ UW study says
When two University of Washington researchers asked people to draw two women — one likely to be sexually harassed, and one who would never find herself in such a position — the results were clear: Looks are everything. The UW's Cheryl Kaiser, professor of psychology, Bryn Bandt-Law, a doctoral student in psychology, are quoted. Jin Goh, a former postdoctoral researcher at the UW now at Colby College, is mentioned.
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The 27-year-old who became a COVID-19 data superstar
In the contest over who could make the most accurate coronavirus forecast, it was global institutions versus a guy living with his parents in Santa Clara. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the UW Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, is quoted. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is mentioned.
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Faculty/staff honors: Polymer Physics Prize, anthropology dissertation award
Ian Kretzler, a Ph.D. anthropology graduate, and Samson Jenekhe, professor of chemical engineering and chemistry, have been recently awarded honors.
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Carbon emission cuts need to be 80 pc more ambitious to meet Paris Agreement targets: Study
A new study says that carbon emission cuts need to be about 80% more ambitious to stay below 2 degrees Celsius global warming — considered a threshold for climate stability and climate-related risks such as excessive heat, drought, extreme weather and sea level rise. The UW's Adrian Raftery, a professor of statistics, and Pieran Lu, a doctoral student in statistics, are quoted.