What are ocean worlds like? Is life possible inside a planet? What might a faraway technological civilization look like from here? Which planets warrant closer study, and why? And above all: Are we alone? Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe and of the terrestrial environments and planetary and stellar processes that support it. To study astrobiology is to ask questions that cut across multiple disciplines and could take lifetimes to answer.
Read more at UW News »Spend time outdoors this summer to reap health benefits
Fresh air, lush foliage, open space and sunshine. Time spent outdoors isn’t just good for the soul—research at University of Washington EarthLab is showing it’s also good for the mind and body. Even in the Pacific Northwest, where the weather is often, let’s say, less than optimal, getting out into nature brings with it a host of health benefits. And there are plenty of options in the Seattle area, even in the heart of the city.
Read more »Deep submersible dives shed light on rarely explored coral reefs
Just beyond where conventional scuba divers can go is an area of the ocean that still is largely unexplored. In waters this deep — about 100 to at least 500 feet below the surface — little to no light breaks through. Researchers must rely on submersible watercraft or sophisticated diving equipment to be able to study ocean life at these depths, known as the mesophotic zone.
Read more at UW News »First book published on fishes of the Salish Sea
The first book documenting all of the known species of fishes that live in the Salish Sea is now available. “Fishes of the Salish Sea” is a three-volume book and is the culmination of more than 40 years of research by authors Theodore W. Pietsch, curator emeritus of fishes of the Burke Museum and University of Washington professor emeritus of aquatic and fishery sciences, and James W.
Read more at UW News »Warming climate in the Bering Sea leads to mass seabird die-off
A new study involving University of Washington researchers examine the events leading to a mass die-off of an estimated 3,150 to 8,800 seabirds on the shores of St. Paul Island, an Alaskan volcanic island located in the Bering Sea.
Read the full study »