Natural Sciences Division

This article highlights the Clean Energy Bridge to Research program, with special focus on Vanessa Zambrano, for whom the program helped kickstart her career.

Eli Shlizerman, an assistant professor in both the applied mathematics and the electrical and computer engineering departments, is the senior author on a new project that used machine learning to create a system that creates audio from muted piano performances.

Ecologists have shown that climate change has not been an equal opportunity stressor. As the Mojave Desert warmed by about 2°C over the past century, bird numbers and diversity declined dramatically, but small mammals like little pocket mice are holding their own. Lauren Buckley, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

The detection of phosphine on Venus, theorized to be from microbes, may have been caused instead by sulfur dioxide, which is not a clear sign of life. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other sky surveys are adopting speedy robots. They will save valuable observation time and allow the surveys to keep up with Europe’s Gaia satellite, the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile and other efforts that produce huge catalogs of objects needing spectroscopic study. Eric Bellm, research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

"Suciasaurus rex has a leg up — OK, a femur — on other dinosaurs that might have fought tooth and claw to be named the Washington state dinosaur; there simply are no other dinosaur fossils known that could challenge S. rex for the honor," writes The Everett Herald Editorial Board. Christian Sidor, professor of biology at the UW, is referenced.

Elena Erosheva, UW Professor of Statistics and Social Work has been named a member of the National Academies Committee on Increasing Diversity and Inclusion in the Leadership of Competed Space Missions by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Bijoya Das (BA, Psychology, 2006), is a trainer for the UCLA gymnastics team, where she uses her skills in dance to help highlight the personality of gymnasts in their routine.

We're all fatigued, and our resolve is slipping. But this is also the most consequential point of the coronavirus crisis so far. Susan Joslyn, associated professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

New studies knock down a controversial report observing phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted. Andrew Lincowski, a doctoral student in astronomy and astrobiology, is mentioned.

Scientists stunned the world last year by claiming to have discovered traces of phosphine in the Venusian clouds. New research suggests this gas — which, excitingly, is produced by microbes — was not actually responsible for the signal they detected. Instead, it was likely sulfur dioxide, a not-so-thrilling chemical. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted. Andrew Lincowski, a doctoral student in astronomy and astrobiology at the UW, is mentioned.

Research finds people stay up later and sleep less before full moon, and do the opposite before new moon. Horacio de la Iglesia, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Professor of Biology Horacio de la Iglesia and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology Leandro Casiraghi have conducted a study that found that sleep cycles could be disrupted by the phases of the moon.

A new study by Professor of Biology Horacio de la Iglesia and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology Leandro Casiraghi has found that sleep cycles in people oscillate during the lunar cycle.

A study by Professor of psychology Dr. Cheryl Kaiser concluded that women who don't look or act stereotypically feminine are less likely to be believed when making claims of sexual harassment is mentioned.