Natural Sciences Division

Many mammals work together in packs to stay alive. Since reptiles don’t do this, it seems likely the first mammals weren’t social creatures, raising the question of when this important trait arose. New evidence suggests it dates back to at least the late Cretaceous period. The UW’s Luke Weaver, a graduate student in biology, and Gregory Wilson Mantilla, a professor of biology, are quoted.

During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. 

“A recent study has determined that watching nature programming on TV or via a virtual-reality headset reduces feelings of sadness and boredom. According to researchers from the University of Exeter, scenes of nature soothe us – whether they are real video footage of a coral reef, to use the study’s example, or even just computer-generated graphics of the same,” writes Adrienne Matei. Peter Kahn, professor of psychology and of environmental and forest sciences, is quoted.

The p-adics form an infinite collection of number systems based on prime numbers. They’re at the heart of modern number theory. Bianca Viray, associate professor of mathematics at the UW, is quoted.

The p-adics form an infinite collection of number systems based on prime numbers. They’re at the heart of modern number theory. Bianca Viray, associate professor of mathematics at the UW, is quoted.

Think voting is simple? A new course co-taught by statistics and philosophy faculty explores the many complexities of the voting process. 

Concerned about the lack of health coverage for undocumented individuals, UW senior Marium Raza is taking action.

A psychology course on human sexuality is the largest UW class — ever. Revising the content has been a journey.

Without preschool and playgroups, the youngest children are missing out on important educational opportunities. Patricia Kuhl, professor of speech and hearing sciences at the UW and co-director of the UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, is quoted.

The stress and uncertainty involved with COVID-19 create fertile ground for guilt to arise. SELF shares advice on when guilt is healthy, when it’s not, and how to keep it under control. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

When the pandemic hit, mental health professionals predicted lockdowns and social distancing would result in a wave of loneliness. But researchers who study loneliness say that hasn’t happened. A comment by Jonathan Kanter, research associate professor of psychology at the UW, is included.

As Washington families continue to adapt to the mess of a pandemic, they’re struggling to balance their children’s relationships with screens now that school is mostly online. Sarah Roseberry Lytle, the director of outreach and education at the UW Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, is quoted.

This five-year, $1.8 million training program at the UW will fund 25 academic-year graduate fellowships, develop a new training curriculum and contribute to methodological advances in health research at the intersection of demography and data science.

During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online.  Many of these online opportunities are streamed through Zoom. All UW faculty, staff, and students have access to Zoom Pro via UW-IT.  Curating...

Jonathan Kanter, research associate professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted, and Mavis Tsai, senior research scientist of psychology at the UW, is referenced.