Population Health

  • As teens scroll, WA lawmakers weigh school phone restrictions

    About 75% of public schools in Washington state have implemented some limitations on cell phones. Gov. Bob Ferguson would like to see limitations at all of them.Luca Magis-Weinberg, assistant professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.
    07/14/2026 | Cascade PBS
  • Q&A: Study warns rising temperatures could push rice beyond historical heat limits

    A new study from Jade d'Alpoim Guedes, UW associate professor of anthropology, warns that the future of rice arguably the most important crop on Earth is in danger. Due to rising temperatures driven by climate change, projections show that Asias major rice-producing regions may soon pass the thermal limits that have remained consistent throughout the crops history. This would create unparalleled challenges in a region where more than a billion people rely on rice cultivation for their livelihoods.

    07/01/2026 | UW News
  • June research highlights: Air quality inequity, ultrafast chemistry, cigar galaxy, more

    Explore recent research from the University of Washington: low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately impacted by air pollution, an unfathomably fast chemical reaction, ups and downs in the methane record, and the cigar galaxy pictured at high resolution.

    06/30/2026 | UW News
  • Counting Those Living Unsheltered: UW and the 2026 Point-in-Time Count

    The Seattle Homelessness Count is a UW Department of Sociology project led by Professor Almquist with graduate students and UW partners. It develops and pilots new methods for counting unsheltered people experiencing homelessness, with particular attention to individuals who do not actively engage with services and are most likely to be missed by conventional enumeration.

    06/24/2026 | Department of Sociology
  • Humans are changing how nature smells, with risks for wildlife

    A growing body of research shows how air pollution, fertilizers and fungicides are altering the chemical signals that plants and animals use to communicate. Scientists warn that insect reproduction, foraging, navigation and even the pollination of crops could be affected. Jeff Riffell, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

    06/22/2026 | Popular Science
  • UW study: Police disproportionately kill Native people near reservations

    Fatal police violence against Indigenous people in the United States is significantly concentrated in and around reservations, a new study found.Theresa Rocha Beardall, associate professor of sociology at the UW, is quoted.
    04/08/2026 | The Seattle Times
  • Heart, soul and joy program helped address Black maternal health disparities

    A program designed to support Black women during pregnancy is helping shape ongoing efforts to address maternal health disparities in communities that have long faced unequal access to care. Rachel Chapman, a professor of anthropology at the UW, is quoted.
    04/08/2026 | The Seattle Medium
  • Warming climate lengthens Oregon mosquito season

    The threat of rare, butdeadly diseaseis rising alongside mosquito populations in the Northwest. In response, scientists areresearchinghow mosquitoes detect a common compound in natural repellents. Jeff Riffell, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.
    04/03/2026 | MyCentralOregon.com
  • Mosquito research in Washington could help improve future repellents

    New research at the University of Washington could help scientists develop better mosquito repellents as mosquito season grows longer in parts of the Northwest. Jeff Riffell, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted. This story was republished in numerous outlets.

    04/02/2026 | KNDU
  • American Indian and Alaska Native peoples face increased risk for fatal police violence in and around reservations

    Indigenous people in the United States are at higher risk of fatal police violence in and around American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) reservations, according to the first comprehensive national study on the subject from researchers at the University of Washington and Drexel University. The researchers found that roughly 73% AIAN people killed by police violence were on or within 10 miles of a reservation.

    03/17/2026 | UW News
  • Why sexual novelty doesnt have to overwhelm long-term couples

    Most of my clients were raised in sex-avoidant homes, where the topic wasnt discussed. It was often deflected and felt awkward when it did come up. People who grow up in such information vacuums often dont know how to approach the topic of sex with their partners when they reach adulthood. Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

    03/16/2026 | CNN
  • King County saw the most street immigration arrests across WA in 2025

    Immigration arrests in King County increased more than 300% from January to December last year. Thats according to federal records obtained by researchers at the UWs Center for Human Rights. Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies, and justice and of international studies, as well as director of the Center for Human Rights at the UW, is quoted.

    03/13/2026 | KUOW
  • The strange reason why bears are attacking people in Japan

    Its a scene from a nightmare: Youre shopping at the supermarket on a normal fall evening, and suddenly a hungry bear walks in and starts smashing things. This scene has become a reality in parts of Japan. Briana Abrahms, associate professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

    03/10/2026 | Vox
  • The seabirds of Destruction Island off WA reveal impacts of climate change

    Seabirds are among the indicator species that provide rich insight into the health of their ecosystems. In a new book, Eric Wagner, a research scientist in biology at the UW, follows a team of scientists as they seek to understand how climate change is affecting our region.

    03/02/2026 | The Seattle Times
  • Families call for increasing access to early diagnoses and interventions for autism

    Families and autism experts say that the federal government could do a lot more to support autistic children by increasing access to early diagnosis and intervention. Annette Estes, director of the UW Autism Center and a research professor of speech and hearing sciences at the UW, is interviewed.

    02/23/2026 | NPR