Natural Sciences Division

Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, talks about the mental health challenges people are experiencing during the winter amidst the pandemic. [Segment begins at :25.]

The Conservation Canines program, which is part of the UW Center for Conservation Biology, trains dogs in what might seem at first to be unusual detective work: tracking wild animal scat. Deborah Giles, a research scientist at the center, and Sam Wasser, research professor of biology at the UW and director of the center, are quoted.

There’s no doubt that 2020 has been a strange year. So strange, in fact, that the idea of an obstacle-dodging, autonomous cyborg drone that uses a real live moth antenna to track down smells doesn’t sound too much like weird science fiction. That’s probably a good thing, too, because it’s something that researchers from the University of Washington have actually built. And they’ve called it "smellicopter," because … why the heck not? The UW's Melanie Anderson, a doctoral student of mechanical engineering, and Thomas Daniel, professor of biology, are quoted.

NASA reported last week that the Stingray Nebula, which is 18,000 light-years from Earth and located near the southern constellation Ara, has dimmed remarkably fast, fading over just 20 years. Bruce Balick, professor emeritus of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Thomas Daniel, a UW professor of biology, is the co-author of a study on the newly developed Smellicopter: an autonomous drone that uses a live antenna from a moth to navigate toward smells.

The Stingray Nebula, a shroud of gas around an aging star, was already unusual: It is by far the youngest such object in space. But scientists say that it is now getting dimmer as rapidly as it appeared. Its brightness has dropped by a factor of nearly 1,000 over 20 years, and the bright tendrils that once wrapped around its edges are gone. Bruce Balick, professor emeritus of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Amid the dispiriting surge of coronavirus cases around the United States, seven states in the Midwest appear to have a reason to be hopeful: They have all seen a sustained decrease in case numbers over the past two weeks. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted. [This is part of updates for Dec. 5.]

After analyzing a snapshot of the Stingray Nebula NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took in 2016, astronomers found that the magnificent-colored nebula has drastically changed since 1996 when it still boasted bright blue colors and a very distinguishable shape. Bruce Balick, professor emeritus of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said researchers are still investigating whether people who have been vaccinated can spread the novel coronavirus. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, explains why this is important. [This is part of the Dec. 4 issue of "Health 202."]

Roy Black, affiliate professor of chemistry and of bioengineering at the UW, writes a letter to the editor in response to a review of "The Genesis Quest" by Michael Marshall.

Bruce Balick, an emeritus professor of astronomy, explains the results of his new study on planetary nebula.

Alan Marlatt, a leading addiction researcher and professor of psychology at the UW, is mentioned in this article about applying the principle of harm reduction to COVID-19.

A team led by scientists at the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego has discovered that cowpeas — a type of bean plant — harbor receptors on the surface of their cells that can detect a compound in caterpillar saliva and initiate anti-herbivore defenses.

UW Tacoma alum Omari Amili speaks with formerly-incarcerated UW alumni and faculty.

Affective Software Inc., is releasing a new portal and products to harness technology in assessing and improving relationships. Affective Software was co-founded by John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at the UW, and Julie Gottman, who found fame with their research-based love and therapy institute and the so-called “Love Lab,” which opened in 1986 at the UW.