Health

Michael Pearce, a doctoral student in statistics at the UW, talks about his study quantifying how likely it is that someone could live to extreme ages.

How long can a human live? New research predicts there's a chance that someone in the world will celebrate a 130th birthday in this century. Michael Pearce, a doctoral student in statistics at the UW, is quoted.

Are we ready to break up with our masks? Or is it hard to let go? Washington is open again (except for indoor events of 10,000-plus people) and mask restrictions have been relaxed, but with coronavirus variants still out there, people are confronting a new set of social and emotional challenges. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

Michael Pearce, a UW doctoral student in statistics, and Adrian Raftery, a professor of sociology, discuss the results of their new study.

"Trees can cushion urban areas from heat waves … This also means that trees reduce energy costs for running fans and air conditioners, a crucial issue for poor households that tend to spend a higher share of their household budgets on energy," write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.

"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in May 2021 that the nation’s total fertility rate had reached 1.64 children per woman in 2020, dropping 4% from 2019, a record low for the nation. The news led to many stories about a ‘baby bust’ harming the country ... But as a statistician and sociologist who collaborates with the United Nations Population Division to develop new statistical population forecasting methods, I’m not yet calling this a crisis," writes Adrian Raftery, professor of statistics at the UW.

Online charity drives help some in need, but don’t expect them to fill the gaps in the social safety net. Mark Igra, a graduate student in sociology at the UW, and Nora Kenworthy, an associate professor of nursing and health studies at UW Bothell, are quoted.

"On my Instagram account, where I frequently query people about their sexual ideas and attitudes, memes like 'Vaxxed and Waxed' and 'Hot Vax Summer' are flying. A lot of people, it seems, are ready to party. Can past catastrophes shed light on whether there will be a large rebound effect in people’s sexual behavior? Are we about to enter a Roaring 2021?" writes Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor of psychology at the UW.

After more than a year of wearing a mask, keeping a distance and staying home, socializing with other people again might feel a little overwhelming. Luckily, there are ways to help feel better about getting back out in public. Jonathan Kanter, research associate professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

"As social scientists and public health practitioners familiar with Nepal’s health care delivery and emergency response systems, we recognize that ultimately, the capacity to care for people suffering from COVID-19 in Nepal is severely limited, with roughly 1,500 intensive care beds and just over 800 ventilators in the country. The mountainous terrain throughout much of the country, along with a lack of infrastructure, political marginalization and poverty compound the impacts of infectious disease," write David Citrin, affiliate assistant professor of global health and of anthropology at the UW; Katharine Rankin of the University of Toronto; Galen Murton of James Madison University; and Sienna Craig of Dartmouth College.

Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology, discusses the end goal of COVID-19 management if herd immunity isn't achievable.

Washington state is on track to fully reopen by June 30, and psychologists say some people are just not ready for that. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

When you’re estranged from a parent — or have lost a parent, or are coping with infertility — holidays such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can bring up a range of complicated emotions. Not everyone wants reminders of those holidays constantly showing up in their inbox either. So several brands have taken the initiative by offering customers the option of opting out of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day emails. Kristina Scharp, assistant professor of communication at the UW, is quoted.

Daniel Promislow, professor of biology, explains the insights into longevity we can get from dogs.