Research

Anthony Greenwald, professor emeritus of psychology at the UW, discusses how the Implicit Association Test can be used as an educational and informational tool for better understanding.

The unexpected atmospheric detection of phosphine, a smelly gas made by microbes on Earth, could spark a revolution in astrobiology. Michael Wong, a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Sven Haakanson Jr., a curator at the Burke Museum and faculty member in Anthropology and American Indian Studies, is interviewed in the films "A Kayak To Carry Us: Lived Knowledge" and "Stories in Stone" about his efforts to preserve the past on Kodiak Island, a place where he grew up.

As a kid growing up in Kennewick, Danielle Reed (BA, Psychology, 1984), was drawn to eating kale, dandelion and other sharp-flavored greens—but their bitter taste repelled most of her friends. That made her wonder why. When she was a student at the UW in the 1980s, she learned about the study of physiological psychology, or the biological explanations for how our minds work. Next came the opportunity to conduct research that examined animals’ food intake and what drove their approach to food.

After 9/11, "Americans grew more suspicious of and outwardly hostile to Muslims. Research shows that these views increased in the years that followed. Our recently published paper in the Public Administration Review shows that — even 19 years later — public officials in the United States discriminate against Muslims," write Steven Pfaff, professor of sociology at the UW; Charles Crabtree of Dartmoth College; Holger L. Kern of Florida State University; and John B. Holbein of the University of Virginia.

SpaceX’s attempts to dim the spacecraft in its megaconstellation fall short of eliminating disruptions to the world’s ground-based observatories. Meredith Rawls, a research scientist in astronomy, is quoted.

Margaret O’Mara, professor of history, discusses the relationship between science, technology, and the national defense.

In a paper published July 23 in Population and Development Review, Daphne Liu, a doctoral student in statistics at the UW, and Adrian Raftery, a UW professor of statistics and sociology, explore two nuanced questions: Is increasing contraceptive use or reducing demand more effective in family planning? And, is it the number of years girls attend school or the overall enrollment of children in school that makes education a factor in fertility?

Several missions this year are seeking out life on the red planet. But would we recognize extraterrestrials if we found them? Michael Wong, a postdoctoral astronomy researcher, is referenced.

With two months before the general election – and amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – mail-in voting has taken on a greater importance, and drawn more political attention, than in elections past.

Emeritus research psychologist Michael D. Beecher discusses the complex calls of song sparrows.

The UW has been given $12.5M in federal funding to lead a cohort of institutions tackling foundational challenges in the field of data science.

Christian Sidor, biology professor, discusses the history of hibernation.

The UW has received $12.5M of federal funding to lead a group of institutions tackling data science challenges.

Jayadev Athreya, associate professor of mathematics, explains research into the Dodecahedron, a shape formed with twelve pentagons.