Latest News from: University of Washington

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Newswise: Fewer Than 7% of Global Hotspots for Whale-Ship Collisions Have Protection Measures in Place
Released: 21-Nov-2024 5:35 PM EST
Fewer Than 7% of Global Hotspots for Whale-Ship Collisions Have Protection Measures in Place
University of Washington

A new study has quantified the risk for whale-ship collisions worldwide for four blue, fin, humpback and sperm whales. Researchers report that global shipping traffic overlaps with about 92% of these whale species’ ranges. Only about 7% of areas at highest risk for whale-ship collisions have measures in place to protect whales.

Released: 21-Nov-2024 11:45 AM EST
Q&A: Promises and Perils of AI in Medicine, According to Uw Experts in Public Health and AI
University of Washington

In a recent paper, UW research professor describes a troubling experience asking an AI chatbot for medical information. Optimists believe artificial intelligence could help solve those problems, but the bots might not be ready for prime time.

Released: 20-Nov-2024 4:25 PM EST
In the ‘Wild West’ of AI Chatbots, Subtle Biases Related to Race and Caste Often Go Unchecked
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers developed a system for detecting subtle biases in AI models. They found seven of the eight popular AI models they tested in conversations around race and caste generated significant amounts of biased text in interactions — particularly when discussing caste. Open-source models fared far worse than two proprietary ChatGPT models.

Newswise: Q&A: UW Professor Discusses How Academia Can Help Battery Manufacturing in the US
Released: 18-Nov-2024 4:50 PM EST
Q&A: UW Professor Discusses How Academia Can Help Battery Manufacturing in the US
University of Washington

Jie Xiao, University of Washington professor of mechanical engineering, talks about batteries and how academia can help support the growing domestic battery manufacturing industry.

Released: 18-Nov-2024 4:20 PM EST
Q&A: A New Medical AI Model Can Help Spot Systemic Disease by Looking at a Range of Image Types
University of Washington

UW assistant professor Sheng Wang discusses BiomedParse, an AI medical image analysis model that works across nine types of medical images to better predict systemic diseases. Medical professionals can load images into the system and ask the AI tool questions about them in plain English.

Released: 15-Nov-2024 9:00 AM EST
One or Many? Exploring the Population Groups of the Largest Animal on Earth
University of Washington

New research shows that Antarctic blue whales are likely a single population, rather than several isolated populations -- information that will help conservationists as the whales, the world's largest animal, try to recover from historic lows due to 20th century whaling.

Released: 5-Nov-2024 9:05 AM EST
What UW Political Experts Will Be Watching for on Election Day
University of Washington

Before the results of the 2024 election start rolling in, UW News asked three University of Washington professors of political science to discuss what’s on their minds heading into the final hours.

Released: 31-Oct-2024 1:35 PM EDT
AI Tools Show Biases in Ranking Job Applicants’ Names According to Perceived Race and Gender
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers found significant racial, gender and intersectional bias in how three state-of-the-art large language models ranked resumes. The models favored white-associated names 85% of the time, female-associated names only 11% of the time, and never favored Black male-associated names over white male-associated names.

Newswise: Rocky Planets Orbiting Small Stars Could Have Stable Atmospheres Needed to Support Life
Released: 24-Oct-2024 3:15 PM EDT
Rocky Planets Orbiting Small Stars Could Have Stable Atmospheres Needed to Support Life
University of Washington

A new study finds that rocky planets orbiting small stars do have the potential for stable, life-supporting atmospheres. The finding supports continued study of the TRAPPIST-1 system and other top candidates in the search for life outside our solar system.

Newswise: From Accessibility Upgrades to a Custom Cat-Food Bowl, This Mobile 3D Printer Can Autonomously Add Features to a Room
Released: 23-Oct-2024 4:45 PM EDT
From Accessibility Upgrades to a Custom Cat-Food Bowl, This Mobile 3D Printer Can Autonomously Add Features to a Room
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers created MobiPrint, a mobile 3D printer that can automatically measure a room and print objects onto the floor. The team’s graphic interface lets users design objects in a space that the robot has mapped out. The prototype, which the team built on a modified consumer vacuum robot, can add a range of objects to rooms.

Released: 21-Oct-2024 2:10 PM EDT
Sweetened Beverage Taxes Decrease Consumption in Lower-Income Households by Nearly 50%, UW Study Finds
University of Washington

New research from the University of Washington investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia.

Released: 16-Oct-2024 4:10 PM EDT
Q&A: New Book Shows How Innovation Inequality Fuels America’s Political Divide
University of Washington

Victor Menaldo, UW professor of political science, co-authored the forthcoming book, "U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism." The book focuses on how former President Donald Trump — like other populists that came before him — exploits ‘innovation inequality," or the divide between areas that are more technologically advanced and those that aren’t.

Released: 14-Oct-2024 1:00 PM EDT
How to Steal an Election: New UW Course Examines Democracy’s Vulnerability
University of Washington

James Long, University of Washington professor of political science, launched a new course this quarter. "How to Steal an Election" highlights the types of politicians who try to steal elections, and how and what can be done to secure them.

Newswise: New Open-Access Battery Lab Aims to Boost U.S. Manufacturing and Workforce Development for Electric Vehicles and Beyond
11-Oct-2024 2:10 PM EDT
New Open-Access Battery Lab Aims to Boost U.S. Manufacturing and Workforce Development for Electric Vehicles and Beyond
University of Washington

Expansion of Washington Clean Energy Testbeds will enable fabrication of pouch cells to accelerate the next generation of faster-charging, higher-energy-density, and earth-friendly batteries.

Released: 2-Oct-2024 12:05 PM EDT
Q&A: UW Researchers Examine Link Between Light Pollution and Interest in Astronomy
University of Washington

Rodolfo Cortes Barragan, research scientist the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS), and Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of I-LABS and professor of psychology, recently co-authored a study in Nature Scientific Reports showing a link between the ability to see the stars unblocked by light pollution and an interest in astronomy.

Newswise: To Make Fluid Flow in One Direction Down a Pipe, It Helps to Be a Shark
Released: 25-Sep-2024 9:30 AM EDT
To Make Fluid Flow in One Direction Down a Pipe, It Helps to Be a Shark
University of Washington

Researchers have discovered a new way to help liquid flow in only one direction, but without using the flaps that engines and our circulatory system rely upon to prevent fluid backup.

Newswise: Q&A: How the Remote Hub Lab Can Prepare Engineering Students for Their Future Careers
Released: 23-Sep-2024 1:05 PM EDT
Q&A: How the Remote Hub Lab Can Prepare Engineering Students for Their Future Careers
University of Washington

Rania Hussein, a University of Washington associate teaching professor in the electrical and computer engineering department, founded and leads the Remote Hub Lab, which allows students to access physical engineering equipment from anywhere in the world.

Newswise: What’s for Dinner? Scientists Unearth Key Clues to Cuisine of Resident Killer Whales
Released: 19-Sep-2024 12:05 PM EDT
What’s for Dinner? Scientists Unearth Key Clues to Cuisine of Resident Killer Whales
University of Washington

Scientists have discovered the cuisine preferences of two resident killer whale populations: the Alaska residents and the endangered southern residents. The two populations show broad preference for salmon, particularly Chinook, chum and coho. But they differ in when they switch to hunting and eating different salmon species, as well as the other fish species they pursue to supplement their diets.



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