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Fear of flying? Here’s how to make plane rides less scary
Fear of flying affects more than 25 million Americans. If you are among them, these tools and expert tips could help make your next plane ride easier. Jonathan Bricker, affiliate professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted. -
Girls’ brains aged at an ‘accelerated’ rate during the pandemic, study finds
A new study comparing the brains of children before and after COVID-19 found that adolescent girls’ brains had aged faster than expected during the social isolation and lockdowns brought on by the pandemic. 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. -
COVID lockdowns prematurely aged girls’ brains by 4 years
New research found that teens’ brains “aged” during the COVID-19 lockdowns due to the loss of social interaction. Girls were the most impacted. 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. -
Teen brains 'aged' during COVID lockdowns, new research suggests
COVID lockdowns, such as school closures, canceled sports activities and stay-at-home orders, prematurely aged teen brains by as much as four years, researchers from the UW found. 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. -
Teen girls’ brains aged rapidly during pandemic, study finds
Neuroimaging found girls experienced cortical thinning far faster than boys did during the first year of COVID lockdowns. The UW's Neva Corrigan, research scientist at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, and Patricia Kuhl, professor of speech and hearing sciences and co-director of the UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, are quoted. -
The pros and cons of spraying pesticides to keep disease-carrying mosquito populations down
Spraying pesticides can have unintended impacts on important pollinator species. Jeff Riffell, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted. -
New discoveries about how mosquitoes mate may help the fight against malaria
An international team led by researchers at the University of Washington has uncovered surprising details about mosquito mating, which could lead to improved malaria control techniques and even help develop precision drone flight. In a paper published Aug. 30 in the journal Current Biology, the team revealed that when a male Anopheles coluzzii mosquito hears the sound of female-specific wingbeats, his eyes âactivateâ and he visually scans the immediate vicinity for a potential mate. -
The Mystery of Sugar — in Cellular Processes
Nick Riley's chemistry research aims to understand cellular processes involving sugars, which could one day lead to advances in treating a range of diseases.
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Analysis: The problem with pronatalism — pushing baby booms to boost economic growth amounts to a Ponzi scheme
"In the face of shrinking populations, many of the world’s major economies are trying to engineer higher birth rates," co-writes Win Brown, an affiliate researcher at the Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology at the UW. -
Analysis: Brain implants to restore sight, like Neuralink’s Blindsight, face a fundamental problem − more pixels don’t ensure better vision
"Elon Musk recently pronounced that the next Neuralink project will be a “Blindsight” cortical implant to restore vision...Unfortunately, this claim rests on the fallacy that neurons in the brain are like pixels on a screen. It’s not surprising that engineers often assume that “more pixels equals better vision.” After all, that is how monitors and phone screens work," write Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton, professors of psychology at the UW. -
Elon Musk's claims about brain implants for vision get a reality check
If Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain-implant venture succeeds in its effort to create next-generation brain implants for artificial vision, the devices could bring about a breakthrough for the visually impaired — but probably wouldn’t match Musk’s claim that they could provide “better than normal vision,” UW researchers report. Ione Fine and Geoffrey Boynton, professors of psychology at the UW, are quoted. -
Elon Musk's superhuman vision system looks terrible in simulations
Elon Musk's ambitious eye implants that "ultimately may exceed normal human vision" are unlikely to reach this lofty benchmark, according to scientists who have used "virtual patients" to expose the limitations of this innovative technology. Even the greatest engineering is no match for human neurophysiology in restoring sight. Ione Fine, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted. -
How science went to the dogs (and cats)
Pets were once dismissed as trivial scientific subjects. Today, companion animal science is hot. Daniel Promislow, professor of biology and of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW, is quoted. -
New Faculty Spotlight: Oliver Rollins
"I am a qualitative sociologist who works on issues of race/racism in and through science and technology. Specifically, my work is situated within a growing new area of inquiry, the sociology of the neurosciences." Oliver Rollins, assistant professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is featured.
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Babies hear far more speech at home than music
A recent study from the UW has revealed some unexpected findings that might make you rethink your baby’s playlist — or lack thereof. Christina Zhao, research assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences at the UW, is quoted.