Environment

Physics professor Gerald Seidler has been awarded an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to create waste disposal caskets for nuclear fuel byproducts.

For thousands of years, the gray whales of the eastern Pacific have undertaken one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal — starting in the cold waters of the Arctic, then down past the densely populated coasts and beaches of California before finally finding refuge in the warm, shallow estuaries of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, only to turn around and head back north a few weeks later. Starting in December 2018, this magnificent migration took a fatal turn. Sue Moore, affiliate professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

"As a marine biologist who has studied the effects of extreme weather events for decades, I expected it would be bad. The 'heat dome' brought record high air temperatures to the Pacific Northwest, and for the plants and animals living along our extensive coastlines the late June timing could not have been worse," writes Emily Carrington, professor of biology at the UW.

Rachel Roston, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, describes her new research on the evolution of blowholes.

Recent UW graduate Shanelle Wikramanayake has led a study with profound impacts for the conservation of the rough-nosed horned lizard.

"Both New York and Seattle are in the process of electing their mayors. Because these cities are very liberal, the key election to watch for is the Democratic primary. Unless something unexpected were to occur between now and November, the candidate winning the Democratic primary will become the next mayor. In both cities, mayor hopefuls are focusing on crime, policing and homelessness. Climate change does not seem to be on their agendas. Why is this surprising?" write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.

Briana Abrahms, an assistant professor of biology, explains the significance of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts.

Growing evidence suggests heat waves, droughts and other extreme events can boost lethal clashes between people and wildlife. Briana Abrahms, assistant professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

In 1920, Serbian-born inventor Nikola Tesla designed and patented what he called a "valvular conduit" — a pipe whose internal design ensures that a fluid will flow in one preferred direction, with no need for moving parts. Based on new CT scans of shark intestines, scientists have concluded that the intestines are naturally occurring Tesla valves. Adam Summers, a professor of biology and of aquatic and fishery sciences at UW Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island, is quoted.

The UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science, write about Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos: "The rich want to do stuff that the unwashed masses cannot: own the biggest yacht, the most expensive house, the masterpiece by a famous painter and so on. Add becoming an astronaut to the wish list ... Both [also] want to be recognized as climate leaders."

The heat wave in the Pacific Northwest is creating lasting damage to marine life. Emily Carrington, professor of biology at the UW, is interviewed.

Aseem Prakash, professor of political science, discusses Amazon's climate pledge.

Amid the crushing summer heat wave that has slammed the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada, Alyssa Gehman, a marine ecologist who lives by the sea in Vancouver, B.C., walked down to the shore to go for a swim. As expected, the beach was packed with others looking to beat the heat. She made her way to the edge of the water. It smelled like putrid shellfish — cooking. Emily Carrington, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

Legacy Survey of Space and Time member and Associate Professor of Astronomy Mario Jurić discusses a giant comet.

With the publication of “Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe” 20 years ago, the UW’s Peter Ward, professor of biology, and Donald Brownlee, professor of astronomy, explained why microbial life may be ubiquitous in the universe, but intelligent life may be rare indeed. They are now working on a sequel, tentatively titled “The Rare Earth Hypothesis: Assessing the Frequency of Complex Life in the Cosmos, in the Age of Exoplanet Discovery.”