A new international study finds that black carbon, a byproduct of smoke and smog, contributes twice as much to global warming as previously estimated. The research suggests that controlling emissions can deliver more immediate climate benefits than reducing carbon dioxide.
A University of Washington-led study found that the potential harvest of most fish stocks is largely unrelated to abundance, with only 18% controlled by abundance. Environmental conditions and regime shifts play a significant role in determining productivity, highlighting the need for improved management methods.
New research reveals that salmon stocks varied greatly on centuries-long time cycles, with fluctuations lasting up to 200 years. The study found that natural variations in salmon abundance were as large as those due to human harvests, and that some regions showed different changes over time.
Researchers discovered that Tip-dendritic cells activate naive CD8+ T cells to recognize myelin protein, leading to autoimmune reactivity. This finding sheds light on the complex role of CD8+ T cells in multiple sclerosis pathology.
Researchers at UW and PNNL will collaborate on advanced computer system designs, accelerating data-driven scientific discovery and improving computational modeling and simulation. The institute aims to solve pressing problems like climate change, energy management, and disease determination.
Researchers discovered that babies differentiate between native and foreign languages just hours after birth, indicating they absorb language while still in the womb. The study shows fetuses learn prenatally about specific speech sounds of a mother's language.
A team of scientists discovered that the ancient piranha relative Megapiranha paranensis had a bite force that could crush bone and pierce through thick shells, rivaling even the mighty T. rex. The study, published in Scientific Reports, used computer simulations to estimate the bite forces of living and extinct piranhas.
Scientists detected over 2,100 unique microbial species in two large dust plumes originating in Asia, significantly higher than the 18 found using traditional culturing methods. The discovery challenges existing understanding of the atmosphere as a conveyor belt and highlights its potential as an ecosystem.
Researchers discovered how Yersinia pestis avoids triggering the immune system's early alarm, establishing a stronghold without self-destructing. This finding may lead to new vaccine development and treatments for inflammatory disorders, such as stroke, heart attack, lupus, and autoimmune diseases.
The University of Washington has been awarded a $4 million grant to develop bacteria that can turn methane in natural gas into diesel fuel. The team aims to capture wasted natural gas and use bacteria to convert it into energy-rich molecules, which will then be converted into diesel.
Researchers found no significant improvement in traumatic brain injury treatment with intracranial pressure monitoring, suggesting a need for more focused and less unnecessary treatment. The study's findings bring new energy to the management of traumatic brain injury, an 'orphan disease' that affects millions worldwide.
A crowdsourcing site has compiled a new lexicon of signs for scientific and technical terms in American Sign Language (ASL). The ASL-STEM Forum, launched by the University of Washington, allows members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to build their own guide to the evolving lexicon of science.
New research from the University of Washington suggests that a decrease in nitrogen-15 levels in Greenland ice core samples is linked to increased atmospheric acidity. The decline in nitrogen-15 has been attributed to sulfur dioxide emissions, which form sulfuric acid in the atmosphere.
Researchers discovered that moths use two distinct olfactory channels to navigate their food sources. The first channel governs their innate preferences for certain flowers, while the second allows them to learn about alternate sources of nectar. This study provides insights into how moths survive in changing floral environments.
Researchers uncover fossils of a previously unknown species, Nyasasaurus parringtoni, that is believed to be the earliest dinosaur or closest relative yet. The discovery pushes back the origins of dinosaur lineage by 10-15 million years and reveals characteristics common to early dinosaurs.
Research in the Russian Far East has revealed a seismic and volcanic hotbed, with potential to trigger tsunamis that affect the entire Pacific Basin. Thousands of people were killed in tsunamis due to earthquakes in the region, highlighting the importance of studying these hazards.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a versatile platform to offer contraception and prevent HIV using electrically spun cloth with nanometer-sized fibers. The fabric can dissolve to release drugs, providing immediate or sustained protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
A new international study has reconciled measurements of ice sheet changes in Antarctica and Greenland, providing a more consistent estimate of their contribution to sea-level rise. The results show that the planet's two largest ice sheets have been losing ice faster during the past decade, causing widespread concern.
New research suggests that planets orbiting white or brown dwarfs are unlikely to support life due to the cooling and shrinking of their habitable zones. The study's findings indicate that such planets would have had to undergo a 'sterilization phase' in the past, making them dead for hosting life.
Researchers develop principles to generate ideal protein structures by consistently favoring specific folding patterns. This allows for the creation of robust and stable building blocks for engineered functional proteins, which could be useful in drug development, vaccine creation, and industrial applications.
A study of over 1 million DNA variations reveals most harmful protein-coding mutations emerged during the past 5,000 to 10,000 years. This finding highlights the profound impact of recent human evolutionary history on contemporary genetic disorders.
A review of existing studies found vitamin D associated with a significant reduction in tooth decay incidence in children. The findings support the importance of vitamin D for dental health and suggest a potential preventive role.
A study led by University of Washington researchers identifies unusual weather patterns that contributed to the 2010 India flood, which killed 193 people. The findings suggest that organized clouds in high mountains can tap into additional moisture from nearby bodies of water, leading to severe flash flooding.
Researchers identified a new mechanism allowing the toxic DUX4 protein to be produced in skeletal muscle, causing progressive muscle weakness. Mutations in the SMCHD1 gene cause chromatin relaxation, leading to DUX4 production.
A $2.6 million NSF-funded study will investigate the impact of a redesigned Advanced Placement (AP) science curriculum on student outcomes and educational progress. The research, led by University of Washington's Associate Professor Mark Long, aims to inform educators and policymakers in strengthening STEM teaching.
An autism intervention program that emphasizes social interactions has been found to improve cognitive skills and brain responses to faces, a building block for social skills. The program improved attention and cognition brain activity to social stimuli, making the brain function patterns more similar to typical developing children.
A new study by Katie Davis finds that digital media helps teens foster a sense of belonging and share personal problems, but the impact on autonomous self-development is unclear. Digital connectedness may support an outward-looking self, reliant on others for affirmation.
The Living Voters Guide has expanded to include fact-checking by Seattle Public Library staff, providing voters with credible information and signals as to what's believable. This initiative aims to promote constructive online debate and informed voting through a collaborative and user-friendly platform.
Researchers found that being married or having graduated from high school can buffer the severity of symptoms for adults who experienced child abuse. Childhood abuse was linked to lower scores on measures of well-being, such as self-esteem and life satisfaction.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a novel method for containing hot plasma using mug-handle-like coils, which require less energy than current methods. The new approach stabilizes the plasma, enabling more efficient fusion energy production.
A University of Washington bioengineer has developed a way to make regular paper stick to medically interesting molecules using a chemical trick. The new technique uses minimal equipment and can be used for any type of medical test, making it a potential cheap and easy solution for global health research.
A new regulator for heart formation has been discovered by studying DNA packaging in embryonic stem cells. The researchers found that specific genetic regulators are activated at distinct times during the process of transforming stem cells into heart muscle cells, revealing potential insights into human development and organ repair.
The tool analyzes a person's online reading habits for a month, calculating the political bias in their behavior. It then suggests sites that represent a different point of view and continues to monitor reading behavior, offering feedback.
Scientists found evidence that early microbes colonized land 2.75 billion years ago, producing oxygen and weathering minerals. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that life was limited to oceans during this period, suggesting a more significant role for microorganisms on land.
A new study using the UW tags recorded over 28,000 interactions among 34 crows, showing a surprising number of contacts between non-related crows. The technology allows researchers to study animal social interactions on an incredibly fine scale, revealing key insights into bird behavior and social networks.
A new tool allows people to monitor their lung function at home or on the go by blowing into their smartphones. The app, SpiroSmart, uses a phone's microphone to analyze sound wave frequencies and detect lung problems with accuracy within 5 percent of commercial devices.
A new study found that the area with sufficient snow cover for ringed seals to reproduce will disappear by almost 70% this century. The researchers anticipate that the loss of sea ice will lead to insufficient snow depth, causing caves to collapse and hindering the seals' ability to raise their pups.
A new study shows that crows react to threats in a human-like way, with brain regions activated similarly to those in mammals. The research used a novel approach to study bird behavior, involving awake crows wearing masks, and has implications for reducing stress in captive animals.
A study published in Science reveals that genetic changes associated with diseases impact the genome's regulatory circuitry, affecting gene expression rather than genes themselves. The research exposed previously hidden connections between different diseases and offers a new approach for pinpointing specific cell types involved in dise...
Scientists discovered two closely timed extinctions, one triggered by massive volcanic eruptions and another by an asteroid impact. The eruptions, which occurred 300,000 to 200,000 years before the asteroid hit, warmed the planet and killed marine life.
Researchers created detailed maps of regulatory DNA switches that dictate gene expression and developed a dictionary of the genome's programming language. The findings greatly expand our understanding of how genes are controlled and how this control may differ between normal and diseased cells.
Researchers have identified a conserved class of genes responsible for the development of double flowers in plants like Thalictrum thalictroides. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of flowering plants and their ability to coevolve with pollinators.
Researchers found that clonazepam alleviated autistic-like behavior in mice with a sodium ion channel defect. The study reveals how the mutated gene leads to overly excited brain circuits and impaired social interactions, shedding light on Dravet syndrome's underlying mechanisms.
Researchers at University of Washington suggest testing the concept of marine cloud brightening through a small-scale experiment. The study aims to investigate the feasibility and potential climatological impacts of adding sea salt particles to clouds over oceans, which could create a cooling effect on Earth.
A new statistical model predicts a significant increase in the number of people over 85 worldwide by 2100, outpacing previous estimates. This will result in fewer working-age adults supporting elderly populations, posing challenges for social security systems globally.
A 2010 survey found married moms spent more time between jobs and earned less after re-employment compared to married dads. The study suggests a 'motherhood penalty' in the workplace, where women's family decisions may signal a lack of commitment to work.
Scientists have identified biomarkers that predict rapid onset of liver damage in hepatitis C patients after a liver transplant. These markers appear soon after the transplant and before clinical evidence of liver damage, offering new hope for personalized monitoring and treatment options.
Researchers trained detection dogs to locate northern spotted owl pellets and feces, achieving a 87% detection probability compared to 59% for vocalization surveys. The cost-effective approach has potential as a complementary method for spotting owls in forests invaded by barred owls.
Researchers from the University of Washington's Polar Science Center have made a prediction for Arctic sea ice, expecting 4.4 million square kilometers of remaining ice, barely more than the 2007 record low. They improved their ability to predict by including new NASA sea ice thickness data collected by airplane.
Researchers have made a major advance in efforts to regenerate damaged hearts by transplanting human cardiac muscle cells that electrically couple and beat in sync with the heart's own muscle. These grafts reduced the incidence of arrhythmias in a guinea pig model of myocardial infarction.