Environment

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has a new group called the Functional Federalism Working Group. Its name suggests that the group is meant to redress an imbalance of power between Biden’s presidency and state governments, a majority of which are dominated by conservatives. Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Scientists are struggling to explain why the gray whale population plummeted by nearly a quarter between 2016 and 2020. Sue Moore, affiliate professor of biology and of aquatic and fishery sciences, is quoted.

Republican efforts to stall President Joe Biden’s climate agenda are slowly beginning to take shape. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a membership organization for state lawmakers and industry representatives that is best known for drafting model bills that are then picked up by state legislatures, is also involved. Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

"Nomadland could provide a glimpse into future politics unless decarbonization processes are made equitable ... this is why 'just transition' policies should be a top political priority in climate policy design," write Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs at the UW, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW.

As carbon dioxide continues to rise, multiple changes in the leaves of tropical plants may help these ecosystems perform better under climate change than previous studies had suggested.

The U.S. should consider leading a multilateral coalition with South American nations to push back against China’s illegal fishing and trade practices, a U.S. intelligence agency has recommended in a document obtained by Axios. Tabitha Grace Mallory, affiliate professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.

“Creating and maintaining water infrastructure is expensive. Because governments work with limited budgets, they ration money to extend or improve infrastructure. And because water access is critical to human existence, politicians have control over a valuable resource," write Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, and Sijeong Lim of Korea University in Seoul.

Aseem Prakash, Walker Family Professor of Political Science and the founding director of the Center of Environmental Politics, explains the importance of access to safe water sources.

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

This week is Nuclear Remembrance Week, a virtual forum to commemorate the 67th anniversary of “Bravo” being tested in the Marshall Islands. Members of Spokane's Marshallese community share their stories. Holly Barker, a teaching professor of anthropology at the UW, is quoted.

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.

Jawbones and an assortment of teeth found in the Hell’s Creek formation of northeastern Montana are the oldest primate fossils ever discovered, according to newly published research. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

A study by Adrian Raftery, statistics professor, is cited in this article about how much global emissions must fall to halt climate change.

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.

Gregory Wilson Mantilla, professor of biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, has co-led a new study analyzing several fossils of the earliest-known primates.