May 17, 2007

Astronomers create rough map of planet

For the first time, astronomers have created a rough map of a planet orbiting a distant sun-like star, using a technique that eventually could allow mapping of planets with Earth-like characteristics.

April 19, 2007

Prof uncovers humanity’s dirty little secret in new book

Throughout history civilizations expanded as they sought new soil to feed their populations, then ultimately fell as they wore out or lost the dirt they depended upon.

April 16, 2007

Earth’s dirty little secret: Slowly but surely we are skinning our planet

Throughout history civilizations expanded as they sought new soil to feed their populations, then ultimately fell as they wore out or lost the dirt they depended upon.

March 29, 2007

Aging of individual boosts chances that a family line will be long-lived

It is an inevitability of life — you are born and you begin to age.

March 13, 2007

Aging boosts chances that a family line will be long-lived

It is an inevitability of life — you are born and you begin to age.

March 8, 2007

Lessons from Rita: How hurricane intensity change happens

Hurricanes can gain or lose intensity with startling quickness, a phenomenon never more obvious than during the historic 2005 hurricane season that spawned the remarkably destructive Katrina and Rita.

March 1, 2007

African carnage: One year’s seized ivory likely came from 23,000 elephants

African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a rate unprecedented since an international convention banning ivory trade took effect in 1989, a UW biologist says.

February 26, 2007

African carnage: One year’s seized ivory likely came from 23,000 elephants

African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a rate unprecedented since an international convention banning ivory trade took effect in 1989, a University of Washington biologist says.

February 15, 2007

Microsurgery and Super Glue show how antennae aid moth navigation

Two-winged insects such as houseflies and mosquitoes that are active during the light of day rely on their vision for flight control, but they also get help from organs called halteres, which grow where a second set of wings might otherwise be found and aid in navigation.

February 8, 2007

Microsurgery and Super Glue show how antennae aid moth navigation

Two-winged insects such as houseflies and mosquitoes that are active during the light of day rely on their vision for flight control, but they also get help from organs called halteres, which grow where a second set of wings might otherwise be found and aid in navigation.

February 1, 2007

Human preference for other species could determine whether they survive

As humans exert ever-greater influence on the Earth, their preferences will play a substantial role in determining which other species survive.

January 29, 2007

Human preference for other species could determine whether they survive

As humans exert ever-greater influence on the Earth, their preferences will play a substantial role in determining which other species survive.

January 11, 2007

Astronomers detect black hole in tiny ‘dwarf’ galaxy

Astronomers have found evidence of a supermassive black hole at the heart of a dwarf elliptical galaxy about 54 million light years away from the Milky Way Galaxy where Earth resides.

Earth’s winds not even a breeze on these planets

Earth’s inhabitants are used to temperatures that vary, sometimes greatly, between day and night.

January 9, 2007

Earth’s strongest winds wouldn’t even be a breeze on these planets

Earth’s inhabitants are used to temperatures that vary, sometimes greatly, between day and night.

January 8, 2007

Superstrings could add gravitational cacophony to universe’s chorus

Albert Einstein theorized long ago that moving matter would warp the fabric of four-dimensional space-time, sending out ripples of gravity called gravitational waves.

January 7, 2007

Astronomers detect black hole in tiny ‘dwarf’ galaxy

Astronomers have found evidence of a supermassive black hole at the heart of a dwarf elliptical galaxy about 54 million light years away from the Milky Way Galaxy where Earth resides.

December 14, 2006

Stardust findings override some commonly held astronomy beliefs

Contrary to a popular scientific notion, there was enough mixing in the early solar system to transport material from the sun’s sizzling neighborhood and deposit it in icy deep-space comets.

December 7, 2006

Scientists want to solve puzzle of excess water vapor near cirrus clouds

A number of researchers in recent years have reported perplexing findings of water vapor at concentrations as much as twice what they should be in and around cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere, a finding that could alter some conclusions about climate change.

December 5, 2006

UW gets major role in Energy Department project to study properties of nuclei

A University of Washington team will lead a new $15 million U.

November 30, 2006

National climate service needed, UW profs say

It’s time for the United States to have a national climate service — an interagency partnership led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and charged with understanding climate dynamics, forecasts and impacts — say six members of the UW’s Climate Impacts Group.

Scientists want to solve puzzle of excess water vapor near cirrus clouds

A number of researchers in recent years have reported perplexing findings of water vapor at concentrations as much as twice what they should be in and around cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere, a finding that could alter some conclusions about climate change.

November 27, 2006

UW researchers advocate creation of national climate service

It’s time for the United States to have a national climate service — an interagency partnership led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and charged with understanding climate dynamics, forecasts and impacts — say six members of the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group.

November 16, 2006

UW researchers mark end of a neutrino research phase in Canadian mine

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, a Canadian physics research facility with substantial involvement by UW scientists, this month will complete more than seven years of neutrino measurements using a heavy water detector core.

November 2, 2006

Insect population growth likely accelerated by warmer climate

Insects have proven to be highly adaptable organisms, able through evolution to cope with a variety of environmental changes, including relatively recent changes in the world’s climate.

October 30, 2006

Insect population growth likely accelerated by warmer climate

Insects have proven to be highly adaptable organisms, able through evolution to cope with a variety of environmental changes, including relatively recent changes in the world’s climate.

October 26, 2006

Oxygen levels: The key to land animals?

Vertebrate creatures first began moving from the world’s oceans to land about 415 million years ago, then all but disappeared by 360 million years ago.

October 25, 2006

Earthquake swarms not just clustered around volcanoes, geothermal regions

An earthquake swarm — a steady drumbeat of moderate, related seismic events — over hours or days, often can be observed near a volcano such as Mount St.

October 23, 2006

Steep oxygen decline halted first land colonization by Earth’s sea creatures

Vertebrate creatures first began moving from the world’s oceans to land about 415 million years ago, then all but disappeared by 360 million years ago.

October 19, 2006

Very long-term forecast: Northwest winters will be even wetter

If you think Pacific Northwest winters are gray and rainy now, just wait.

Despite popular belief, the world is not running out of oil, UW scientist says

PHILADELPHIA — If you think the world is on the verge of running out of oil or other mineral resources, you’ve been taken in by the foremost of seven myths about resource geology, according to a University of Washington economic geologist.

October 18, 2006

Very long-term forecast: Northwest winters will be even wetter

If you think Pacific Northwest winters are gray and rainy now, just wait.

October 5, 2006

UW ‘stellar archaeologist’ gets biggest share of Hubble observing time

It’s not unusual for UW astronomers to use the Hubble Space Telescope in their research, but for the first time a UW scientist has been granted the largest share of observation time for an entire year.

October 4, 2006

UW ‘stellar archeologist’ gets biggest share of Hubble observing time