Research

Any Star Wars fan will recognize an iconic shot of two suns glowing in the skies of Tatooine — Luke Skywalker’s home planet. But new research shows this strange world isn’t as far from reality as you might think. Siegfried Eggl, a research scientist in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The debate over the habitability of Venus continues to burn as hot as the planet’s scorching temperatures. Michael Wong, a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Research from the UW Center for Human Rights has confirmed disturbing human rights violations at the Northwest Detention Center. 

Dr. Meredith Rawls, astronomy research scientist, discusses the issue of space debris.

David Hertzog, professor of physics, explains the results of new research on muons, a type of particle.

Evidence is mounting that a tiny subatomic particle called a muon is disobeying the laws of physics as we thought we knew them, scientists announced on Wednesday. David Hertzog, professor of physics at the UW, is mentioned.

A 6-mile-wide space rock and colossal eruptions racked Earth at the same fateful moment. Scientists have tried for decades to determine the primary suspect behind the Cretaceous extinction. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, Burke Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology and professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Particles called muons are behaving weirdly and it could mean a huge discovery. David Hertzog, professor of physics at the UW, is interviewed on the “60-Second Science” podcast.

Some people are born to spend or to save. It may actually just be in your genes. With an interest in individual investor behavior, Stephan Siegel, professor of finance and business economics at the University of Washington, set out to understand how people develop their financial habits.

New research quantifies the health of democracy at the state level — and Republican-governed states tend to perform much worse. Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

The oldest known primate fossils were dated to just after the extinction event 66 million years ago —suggesting some primate ancestors lived even longer ago. Gregory Wilson Mantilla, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

An unexpected superconductor was beginning to look like a fluke, but a new theory and a second discovery has revealed that emergent quasiparticles may be behind the effect. Matthew Yankowitz, assistant professor of physics at the UW, is quoted.

A new study from a research team led by Munira Khalil, professor and chair of chemistry, explains the role of solvent molecules in light-driven electron transfer.

UW Physics Professor Miguel Morales has penned a math-free tour of quantum mechanics and technology

A new study by psychology researchers at the UW has found that a mindfulness program they created improves students' mental health. Liliana Lengua, psychology professor and director of the Center for Child and Family Well-Being, and Robyn Long, director of community programs and training for the Center for Child and Family Well-Being, are quoted.