UW News


April 25, 2014

Online ‘Legislative Explorer’ uses big data to track decades of lawmaking

John Wilkerson, creator of the Legislative Explorer

University of Washington political scientist John Wilkerson has matched data visualization with the study of lawmaking to create a new online tool for researchers and students called the Legislative Explorer. Think of it as big data meeting up with How a Bill Becomes a Law. “The goal was to get beyond the ‘Schoolhouse Rock’ narrative…


April 22, 2014

Doug Underwood scouts border between fiction, journalism in new book

Cover of The Undeclared War Between Journalism and Fiction by Doug Underwood, UW professor of communication

Doug Underwood, UW professor of communication, discusses his latest book, “The Undeclared War between Fiction and Journalism: Journalists as Genre Benders in Literary History.”


April 21, 2014

‘Upside-down planet’ reveals new method for studying binary star systems

An image of the Sun used to simulate what the sun-like star in a self-lensing binary star system might look like in a self-lensing binary star system.

What looked at first like a sort of upside-down planet has instead revealed a new method for studying binary star systems, discovered by a UW student astronomer.


April 15, 2014

Astronomers: ‘Tilt-a-worlds’ could harbor life

Tilted orbits such as those shown might make some planets wobble like a top that's almost done spinning, an effect that could maintain liquid water on the surface, thus giving life a chance -- according to new research by UW astronomer Rory Barnes.

A fluctuating tilt in a planet’s orbit does not preclude the possibility of life, according to new research by astronomers at the University of Washington, Utah’s Weber State University and NASA. In fact, sometimes it helps.


April 14, 2014

When job security becomes insecurity: Inequality the topic of April 25 conference

Economic inequality will be the topic when activists, academics and policymakers meet the public for a conference presented by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies titled “Working Democracy: Labor and Politics in an Era of Inequality.”


April 2, 2014

New book explores ‘frontier’ metaphor in science

"On the Frontier of Science" by Leah Ceccarelli, UW professor of communication.

Leah Ceccarelli, professor of communication, discusses her well-reviewed new book “On the Frontier of Science: An American Rhetoric of Exploration and Exploitation.”


March 28, 2014

Documents that Changed the World: Mental disorder diagnostic manual, 1952

Three little words fittingly kick off the latest installment of Joe Janes’ Documents that Changed the World podcast series: “Are you crazy?”


March 24, 2014

Stellar names in classical music part of collector’s gift to UW Music Library

Judy Tsou, head of the UW Music Library, with a copy of Benjamin Britten's opera "Peter Grimes." The score is part of a large donation to the UW by the estate music collector William Crawford III.

Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Gershwin — the names alone are enough to quicken the pulse of any classical music lover. Those greats and many more are represented in a gift of rare classical music scores to the University of Washington Music Library.


March 4, 2014

‘Dimer molecules’ aid study of exoplanet pressure, hunt for life

An artist's concept of an exoplanet, or planet outside the solar system.

UW astronomers have developed a new method of gauging the atmospheric pressure of exoplanets, or worlds beyond the solar system, by looking for a certain type of molecule. And if there is life out in space, it may one day be revealed by this method.


March 3, 2014

UW astronomer Eric Agol’s seven-planet system part of major NASA discovery

An artist's illustration of multiple-transiting planet systems. The planets eclipse or transit their host star from the vantage point of the observer.

UW astronomer Eric Agol played a key role in the windfall of 715 new exoplanets recently announced by NASA. Agol was on a team that found seven of those worlds, all in orbit around the same star.


February 25, 2014

Joel Migdal book ‘Shifting Sands’ considers American role in Middle East

Book cover for Joel Migdal's book "Shifting Sands"

Migdal, UW professor of international studies, discusses his latest book, “Shifting Sands: The United States in the Middle East.”


February 19, 2014

Seminar will celebrate courageous UW alum Gordon Hirabayashi

Gordon K. Hirabayashi, whose Presidential Medal of Freedom comes to the University of Washington on Feb. 22, 2014.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom bestowed posthumously on UW alum Gordon K. Hirabayashi will come to the UW on Feb. 22 in an afternoon-long seminar and celebration of the man and his legacy.


February 18, 2014

Personal stories behind Exxon Valdez spill in book ‘Red light to Starboard’

"Red_Light_at_Starboard," by Angela Day, University of Washington doctoral student in political science.

Angela Day, UW doctoral student in political science, discusses her book, “Red Light to Starboard: Recalling the Exxon Valdez Disaster.”


February 6, 2014

Documents that Changed the World: The Book of Mormon

1841 editon of The Book of Mormon

Joe Janes of the UW Information School discusses the famous book and its origin as part of his ongoing podcast series, “Documents that Changed the World.”


February 3, 2014

Solving a physics mystery: Those ‘solitons’ are really vortex rings

An example of a vortex ring, also called a toroidal bubble, which dolphins create under water. The concept of vortex rings lies at the heart of new University of Washington physics research.

The same physics that gives stability to tornadoes lies at the heart of new UW research and could lead to a better understanding of nuclear dynamics in studying fission, superconductors and the workings of neutron stars.


January 28, 2014

New book explores mixed success of China’s ‘Emperor Huizong’

"Emperor Huizong," a new biography of the Chinese emperor by the UW's Patricia Ebrey.

Patricia Ebrey, professor of history, is the author of “Emperor Huizong,” a new biography of a Chinese emperor who lived from 1082 to 1135 and ruled for 26 years during China’s Song Dynasty.


January 16, 2014

Improvisation gives inspiration to Dance Faculty Concert

Dancer Siena Dumas Ang in a moment from "Pony," created by Rachael Lincoln with dancers Ang and Hannah Old.

The UW Dance Program presents an eclectic evening in its annual Faculty Dance Concert, where faculty members choreograph pieces that students perform. This year features pieces created by Jennifer Salk, Jürg Koch and new faculty member Rachael Lincoln.


January 8, 2014

Astronomers measure far-off galaxies to 1 percent precision

University of Washington astronomers and colleagues have measured the distance to galaxies six billion light-years away — about halfway back to the Big Bang — to an accuracy of just 1 percent.


January 7, 2014

‘Sharecropper’s Troubadour’: The life of singer, union organizer John Handcox

"Sharecropper's Troubadour" by Michael Honey.

UW historian Michael Honey talks about his latest book, “Sharecropper’s Troubadour: John L. Handcox, the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union, and the African American Song Tradition.”


December 30, 2013

David Shields acts, James Franco directs: A report from the set

An English professor turned actor? David Shields answers a few questions about “playing himself” in a film directed by James Franco based on Shields’ forthcoming book with colleague Caleb Powell, “I Think You’re Totally Wrong: A Quarrel.”


December 17, 2013

The move’s on us: Students leave Terry, will return to new Lander Hall

Student Heather Huizenga gets ready to leave her Terry Hall room, having packed her belongings in boxes. When she comes back from holiday vacation to begin winter quarter, her stuff will await her in a room in the new Lander Hall.

Students living in the University of Washington’s Terry Hall will get a new home after the holidays without doing any moving – that part’s on the house, you might say.


December 9, 2013

Astronomers solve temperature mystery of planetary atmospheres

The sun is just below the horizon in this photo and creates an orange-red glow above the Earth's surface, which is the troposphere, or lowest layer of the atmosphere. The tropopause is the brown line along the upper edge of the troposphere. Above both are the stratosphere, higher atmospheric layers, and the blackness of space.

An atmospheric peculiarity the Earth shares with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune is likely common to billions of planets, University of Washington astronomers have found, and knowing that may help in the search for potentially habitable worlds.


December 3, 2013

New book ‘Going Viral’ explores nature, impact of Internet virality

Book cover for "Going Viral" by Karine Nahon and Jeff Hemsley of the UW Information School.

Will we of the early 21th century be remembered for Internet memes like Grumpy Cat? “Going Viral,” a new book by Karine Nahon and Jeff Hemsley of the UW Information School explores the nature of virality and impacts of virality.


November 25, 2013

Study: Greenhouse gas might have warmed early Mars enough to allow liquid water

The mystery of how the surface of Mars, long dead and dry, could have flowed with water billions of years ago may have been solved by research that included a University of Washington astronomer.


November 20, 2013

Study shines light on what makes digital activism effective

Protestors hold up a Facebook placard in Tahrir Square

Digital activism is usually nonviolent and tends to work best when social media tools are combined with street-level organization, according to new research from the University of Washington.


November 18, 2013

Documents that Changed the World: the Zapruder film, Nov. 22, 1963

A moment from the film show by Abraham Zapruder on Nov. 22, 1963.

He only came to get the iconic footage through a series of coincidences and later regretted what he had done. It was the last film Abraham Zapruder would ever shoot.


November 14, 2013

A decline in creativity? It depends on how you look

Recent research suggests that young Americans might be less creative now than in decades past, even while their intelligence — as measured by IQ tests — continues to rise. But new research from the UW Information School and Harvard University hints that the dynamics of creativity may not break down as simply as that.


November 6, 2013

Washington home sales surged, affordability declined in third quarter

A home with a for-sale sign in front. Story says: Washington state's housing market remained strong in the second quarter of 2016.

Washington state’s housing market continued to strengthen in the July-September quarter, registering the fifth consecutive quarterly improvement in home sales activity, according to the UW’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies.


UW scholars offer short takes on Shakespeare Nov. 14 at ACT Theatre

The UW English Dept will hold "Shakespeare Ever After," a series of short presentations on the Bard, Nov. 14 at ACT Theater.

Ten Shakespeare scholars, students and actors, most from the University of Washington, will discuss the Bard’s life and work at Seattle’s ACT Theatre on Nov. 14 — and verily, they’ll be quick about it.


November 1, 2013

Documents that Changed the World: The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone in the British Museum.

The latest installment of Information School Professor Joe Janes’ podcast series takes a look at the 2,200-year-old Rosetta Stone.


October 28, 2013

New musical theater degree begins with outreach, talent search

Student Annmarie Morro caught in motion during a class in advanced jazz and theater dance taught by Wilson Mendieta. Morro was accepted into the new musical theater degree program.

The first order of business for the UW’s new degree in musical theater is not greasepaint or tap shoes but public outreach and finding talented, committed students.


October 21, 2013

‘Pushback’: Resisting the life of constant connectivity

Two friends check their smartphones.

Researchers at the University of Washington have studied and named a trend lots of people can identify with: the desire to resist constant connectivity and step back from the online world.


October 16, 2013

Lost and Found Films: Building the Space Needle, 1961

A man works on construction of the Space Needle.

We travel back in time 52 years for the latest installment of Lost and Found Films, to the 1961 construction of the Space Needle and the Monorail in downtown Seattle.


September 26, 2013

History lecture series to explore slavery in making of America

Part of a poster for 2013 history department lecture sereis.

The UW history department will review America’s history of slavery from four different angles in its annual lecture series, which begins on Oct. 23.


September 25, 2013

Digital applications can enable or limit, say authors of ‘The App Generation’

Image from the cover of Cover of "The App Generation" co-authored by UW's Katie Davis.

There’s often “an app for that” these days, but for young people such digital shortcuts can be as limiting as they are convenient, says the University of Washington co-author of a new book titled “The App Generation.”


September 18, 2013

Documents that Changed the World: The Riot Act, 1714

The Riot Act, circa 1714

When does a gathering become a riot? According to the United Kingdom’s Riot Act of 1714, it’s when local authorities say so.


September 12, 2013

Arts Roundup: Historic photos, art exhibits — and the Burke explores New Zealand

2013Postcard

Even as the UW gears up for a new school year, interesting arts events are cropping up across campus. The Henry Art Gallery and Jacob Lawrence Gallery have new exhibits and the Burke Museum offers buggy weekend activities.


August 28, 2013

UW student archaeologists wind up summer at Tel Dor site

Students carefully excavate a complete vessel — this time, a Roman period juglet, possibly an oil container. After excavation, the soil in the interior of the vessel is sent for soil analysis at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. This analysis is then able to reveal the original contents of the vessel at the UW's Tel Dor archaeological site.

Scenes from the summer 2013 at the UW Tel Dor Archeological Excavation and Field School.


August 20, 2013

Barry Witham chronicles rustic repertory in new book, ‘A Sustainable Theatre’

"A Sustainable Theatre: Jasper Deeter at Hedgerow" by Barry Witham, UW professor of drama

Barry Witham, drama professor emeritus, discusses his new book, “A Sustainable Theatre: Jasper Deeter at Hedgerow.”


August 12, 2013

A chilly epic: Biologist Julia Sidorova’s novel, ‘The Age of Ice’

"The Age of Ice," a new novel by UW researcher Julia Sidorova.

Julia Sidorova, research scientist for the UW Department of Pathology, discusses her debut novel, “The Age of Ice.” She’ll be at the Elliot Bay Book Company at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14.



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