A new study finds that suicide is twice as common as homicide in the US, but most Americans don't know it. The research suggests that public perceptions are skewed by media and entertainment portrayals of gun violence, leading to a gap between reality and informed discussion.
A team of scientists has reconstructed the 3D shape of a Neandertal ribcage, revealing an upright individual with a straighter spine and potentially greater lung capacity. The study offers new insights into ancient human anatomy and biomechanics.
A long-term study by University of Washington researchers found that sockeye salmon carcasses fertilized White spruce trees on one side of Hansen Creek, leading to faster tree growth. The study, which spanned 20 years, used tree core samples to measure growth rates and found a significant increase in growth on the side with carcasses.
A multiyear clinical trial found that patients who chose their form of treatment, whether medication or therapy, improved more than those who were simply prescribed one or the other. Patients who received prolonged exposure therapy showed a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms and were more likely to lose their diagnosis over time.
Researchers developed Prescience, a system that uses patient charts and sensor data to predict hypoxemia. The system provides explanations for its predictions, enabling anesthesiologists to better understand patient risks and prevent complications.
A new study found that while polar bears relied on whale carcasses in the past, this resource will not be enough to sustain most bear populations in the future due to climate change. The Arctic is expected to become ice-free by 2040, making it difficult for bears to find alternative food sources.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed 3D printed devices that can track bidirectional motion and store data using a backscatter method. These devices can monitor how patients use prosthetics or insulin pens, providing valuable insights for assistive technology development.
A new study using high-resolution data for 24 ocean regions found that 14 percent of the overall seafloor shallower than 1,000 meters is trawled, with significant variations across different continents and seas.
Researchers found nutmeg residue on ceramic potsherds at a 3,500-year-old archaeological site in Indonesia. The discovery provides new insights into the early use of nutmeg and its impact on international trade.
Researchers found that plants with thicker leaves under high CO2 levels may exacerbate climate change by reducing carbon sequestration. This response could lead to an extra 5.8 petagrams of carbon in the atmosphere per year, similar to human-generated emissions.
A team of researchers discovered that flowering plants exhibit a morning peak of gene activity, contrary to the previously established evening peak theory. The study, conducted in natural environments, suggests that artificial growing conditions used in labs may have influenced earlier findings.
Researchers linked 11 large ivory shipments to the same networks using DNA testing, revealing connections between isolated seizures and identifying key trafficking hubs. This breakthrough helps officials track and build evidence against those responsible for the bulk of illegal ivory trade.
A new study links rapid deoxygenation in Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence to large-scale climate change, specifically the shift of the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current. The research confirms that warmer water from the Gulf Stream is entering the St. Lawrence Seaway, causing oxygen levels to drop.
A study by University of Washington researchers has discovered a new clue to the behavior of a region in West Antarctica, where a volcano under the ice sheet is leaving an almost 6,000-year record of glacier motion. The data suggests that the current thickening trend may be short-term and not indicative of long-term changes.
Researchers project that insect activity will increase along with temperatures, boosting worldwide losses of rice, corn and wheat by 10-25 percent. For a 2-degree Celsius rise in surface temperatures, median losses in yield due to insect activity would be 31% for corn, 19% for rice and 46% for wheat.
A study by University of Washington researchers found that policies in Puget Sound are shifting toward restoration projects that engage multiple social groups and offer various benefits. These projects, such as the Qwuloolt project, have been successful due to their inclusive planning processes and collaborative nature.
A long-term study found that drought helped ecological underdogs by stressing dominant species, while carnivores suffered when their prey became scarce. The Carrizo Plain National Monument revealed patterns relevant for climate change, with implications for conservation efforts.
A new study using data from diving robots reveals that Antarctic winter seas exhale significantly more carbon dioxide than previously believed. The Southern Ocean is currently near neutral with respect to removal of carbon from the atmosphere, contrary to previous studies.
Scientists at the University of Washington discovered ferroelectric switching in the 2-D form of tungsten ditelluride, a metal that can be applied to memory storage and capacitors. The discovery reveals a spontaneous electrical polarization that can be flipped by an applied electric field.
A University of Washington study found that children use repetition, increased volume, and variation to communicate with nonresponsive voice technology. Parents often recognize their child's intended message and fill in the gaps, but a device could also be designed to engage in partial understanding.
The Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (CSSAS) brings together researchers to understand how molecular interactions control assembly and create new materials with revolutionary properties. The research focuses on protein-based building blocks, inorganic nanoparticles, and hierarchical synthesis.
A team at the University of Washington has developed a sustainable method to remove color from dyes in water using a sponge-like material created from wood pulp and palladium. This process can alter the dye structure and change its color to clear, allowing plants to grow normally again.
Scientists at the University of Washington have developed a method to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells by surface passivation, which significantly boosts their efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to thinner and more flexible solar cells with higher power conversion efficiency.
A new study by the University of Washington shows that winter air pollution levels in the eastern US have remained high due to complex chemical processes, rather than reduced emissions. The study highlights the need for further emissions reductions to improve wintertime air quality.
The Atlantic Ocean circulation is slowing down due to natural fluctuations, but this slowdown will lead to more rapid surface warming in coming decades. The study suggests that the current's speed determines how much surface heat gets transferred to the deeper ocean, and a quicker circulation would send more heat to the deep Atlantic.
Researchers found evidence of two transient oxygenation events on early Earth, with the first occurring around 2.66 billion years ago and the second around 50 million years later. These findings may help astronomers detect life on exoplanets by avoiding false negatives caused by undetectable oxygen levels.
A new study by University of Washington researchers has found that infants as young as 2 months old display a well-formed body map with distinct neural signatures for different body parts, including the lips. The research uses infant brain imaging to gauge how the hand, foot, and lips are represented in the brains of 2-month-olds.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that narwhals, beluga, and bowhead whales are most vulnerable to vessel traffic in the Arctic. The researchers identified two 'pinch points' where ships and animals are most likely to intersect, including the Bering Strait and Lancaster Sound.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that measuring beak size can accurately determine the sex of Galapagos penguins, a simple and fast method for field studies. This knowledge will help scientists study the impact of climate change on this endangered species.
A new study from the University of Washington found that consistent hours, regardless of time of day, can give families flexibility and in some cases, improve children's behavior. The study examined two-parent households with one parent working nonstandard shifts and found that rotating or split shifts were associated with more behavio...
Researchers found that adult female great white sharks spend more time in warm-water eddies than cold-water eddies, particularly at depths of 450 meters. These preferences may be driven by the abundance of fish and squid in the warmer eddies.
A new study reveals that making changes to farmed fish and livestock diets can prevent the depletion of wild forage fish populations by 2050. Eliminating their use in food for farmed carp, pigs, and poultry would be most beneficial, reducing pressure on forage fish over time.
A University of Washington study found that specialized tutoring can change brain connections and improve reading performance. After eight weeks, neural circuitry strengthened in struggling readers, leading to improved reading skills.
A new analysis finds that small, wild-caught fish and farmed mollusks have the lowest environmental impact, while industrial beef production and farmed catfish are the most taxing. The study used life-cycle assessments to compare environmental costs across various types of animal protein production.
Climate change will dramatically increase corn crop yields' variability, leading to price hikes and global shortages. This threatens food security, particularly for poor consumers.
A team of researchers has pinpointed a location where an entire million years of undisturbed ice might be preserved intact. The discovery aims to better understand natural climate changes and the history of the Ross Ice Shelf.
A University of Washington-led study reveals that children's language skills are the strongest predictor of their future academic success, including better performance in math, reading and social areas. The study found that language skills, such as vocabulary and grammar, can provide a foundation for social interaction, executive funct...
A University of Washington study reveals that forest die-offs in specific regions of the US can influence plant growth in other parts of the country. The largest impacts were seen from losing forest cover in California, leading to slightly warmer Eastern US summers and harming plant growth.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a wireless flying robotic insect called RoboFly that can take independent flaps. The insect uses a laser beam to power its wings and is controlled by a microcontroller that mimics the fluttering of a real insect's wings.
Astronomers found that planets in the habitable zone can abruptly freeze due to large obliquity variations or eccentricity changes, making a fraction of them uninhabitable. The study uses sophisticated ice sheet modeling and suggests orbital dynamics play a significant role in habitability.
A University of Washington-led team discovered that the MUTE gene regulates stomatal development in plants, controlling cell division and gas exchange. The study found that MUTE activates genes that promote cell division and repressors that prevent further division, resulting in a tightly coupled sequence of activation and repression.
Scientists have created an atomically thin magnetic device that can store data at a greater density and with improved energy efficiency. The breakthrough could revolutionize cloud computing and consumer electronics by enabling multi-bit information storage and reducing operation energy.
A new platform, CrowdFit, uses crowdsourcing to create effective exercise plans that rival those of personal trainers. Nonexperts can craft workout regimens tailored to individual preferences and lifestyles.
Thoughtfully designed content can facilitate parent-child interactions and promote beneficial play, while poorly designed apps can hinder development. Researchers recommend incorporating parental roles and decision-making options into app design.
Researchers found that communities using a coordinated approach to prevention were more likely to reduce substance use, violence, and other antisocial behaviors in young adults. The study, conducted among 4,400 youth participants, showed significant long-term effects of Communities That Care (CTC) programs.
Researchers created a tiny electro-optic modulator that translates electrical signals into light at speeds 10s of times faster than current technologies. The device uses plasmonics and has the potential to integrate photonics and electronics on a single chip, revolutionizing information technology.
Engineers at the University of Washington have developed a new HD video streaming method that uses backscatter technology to process video frames instead of transmitting them. This reduces power consumption by 1,000 to 10,000 times compared to current streaming technology.
A new approach developed by engineers at the University of Washington and Carnegie Mellon University uses the keyboard as a two-dimensional way to access tables, maps and nested lists. The tool, Spatial Recognition Interaction Techniques (SPRITEs), lets blind and low-vision users navigate these kinds of sites much more successfully tha...
Planets in short-period binary star systems are at risk of being ejected due to tidal forces, which slow down stellar rotations and expand orbital periods. This process removes at least one planet in 87% of multiplanet circumbinary systems, making them less suitable for habitability studies
Researchers at the University of Washington have designed a convenient and natural product that uses proteins to rebuild tooth enamel and treat dental cavities. The new technology restores mineral structure found in native tooth enamel, enabling daily use as part of preventive dental care routine.