In a new study, a team of scientists determined the minimum natural habitat on agricultural land that will allow insect pollinators —  including bumble bees, solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies — to thrive. UW News reached out to co-author Berry Brosi, UW professor of biology, to learn more about these results and how habitat is important to two types of bees native to Washington.

MIT researchers identified mucins that defend against Salmonella and other bacteria that cause diarrhea. They now hope to create synthetic mucins that could help prevent or treat Salmonella and other foodborne infections.

The project will transform sponge restoration in Florida Bay using advanced genetic tools to build ecological resilience. By analyzing genetic diversity in four key sponge species, the research aims to strengthen restoration efforts that currently rely on clonal transplants with limited adaptive potential. This marks the first genetic assessment of sponge recovery in the region, with broad implications for ecosystem health and fisheries. Sponges are essential to water quality, habitat structure, and the survival of economically important species like the spiny lobster.

Just as life pulsates in big vibrant cities, it also prospers in crowded environments inside cells. The interior of cells is densely packed with biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids. How is all this material distributed within a cell and what regulates its distribution? In a recent study published in Nature Communications researchers measure subcellular densities across a wide range of organisms. Their aim is to better understand biomolecular processes ranging from yeast cells to human cells.