Arizona Science

The saguaro cactus has been a source of study for southern Arizonans for decades. Saguaro National Park wildlife biologist Don Swann is among the scientists asking why saguaros are biologically fit to survive the ongoing drought, and looking deeper into its role in the desert ecosystem.

Our cognitive abilities change as we grow older.

Artificial intelligence is being put to work solving the challenge of feeding the planet. University of Arizona professor Murat Kucira talks about how advanced computing can help deal with issues like farming efficiency and the impact of climate change due to global warming.

Studies found that traditional farmers did not suffer from lung diseases usually caused by dust in the fields where they worked.

Researchers say people perceive sound based on where they are when they hear it.

Economists often describe how consumer confidence drives spending decisions, but scientific researchers are asking if it's the other way around.

The best way to observe the universe is with a telescope above the Earth's atmosphere, and the least expensive way to get there is using a stratospheric balloon. University of Arizona astronomy professor Chris Walker explains how he and his team are mapping the Milky Way with a balloon-mounted telescope above Antarctica.

Researchers are looking at chemistry in sea water that affects coral reefs. University of Arizona Geosciences professor Diane Thompson talks about how events recorded in corals can help investigate climate change.

Researchers studying prostate cancer have found introducing the disease in mice does not always produce accurate results.

Researchers are investigating ways to use waste from fossil fuels to create a new class of advanced plastics. University of Arizona chemistry professor Jeff Pyun talks about how scientists are changing the way companies are thinking about plastic production. He will be the final speaker for the College of Science free lecture series next Wednesday.

The University of Arizona-backed James Webb Space Telescope has opened new insight about planets outside our solar system. UA planetary scientist Sara Moran reveals the latest knowledge about exoplanets and the bizarre materials that make up their atmospheres. Dr. Moran is one of the featured presenters in the 2024 College of Science lecture series.

REPEAT. Studies into Alzheimer's disease have found men's and women's brains age differently, except when men develop prostate cancer. University of Arizona neurology professor Roberta Brinton discusses research on who is more likely to develop Alzheimer's and describes how menopausal hormone therapy might provide a key for treatment.

REPEAT. UA environmental engineering professor Andrea Achilli explains how a decentralized water recycling system could provide clean drinking water for residents.

REPEAT: Researchers have found non-white Hispanics live longer and have better health outcomes than people from other ethnic and cultural groups. University of Arizona psychologist John Ruiz talks about his lab's investigation into this phenomenon.

REPEAT: University of Arizona communication researcher Chris Segrin explains why social disconnection is turning into a public health crisis.

REPEAT: UA planetary scientist Dante Lauretta explains the logistics involved in recovering the sample and how soon researchers will be able to examine the material OSIRIS-REx collected three years ago.

University of Arizona College of Medicine professor John Galgiani discusses the research to find a vaccine for valley fever.

University of Arizona music professor and neuroscientist Molly Gebrian is studying how the brain responds to learning through repetition.

UA evolutionary biologist Dave Enard is using genomic technology to study a COVID-like pandemic that struck East Asia 25,000 years ago. Are we following the same path as the survivors of that outbreak?

University of Arizona immunologist Elizabeth Connick answers some of the questions people still are asking about the vaccine.

University of Arizona Ecology and Evolutionary Biology professor Renee Duckworth has found birds' maternal stress can be important for offspring during development.

Bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms inhabit the soil to help store carbon and keep plants healthy. University of Arizona ecosystem professor Laura Meredith is using the Landscape Evolution Observatory at Biosphere 2 to understand more about how micro-organisms interact with rock, soil, and energy to create landscapes.

University of Arizona researcher David Breshears has been investigating the frequency of large-scale tree die-offs. He says when forests fall victim to drought, they take longer to recover. When trees take longer to recover, they are slower to perform their function of storing carbon, inhibiting the fight against climate change. Hotter conditions induce more drought, causing new tree die-offs and the cycle begins again.

REPEAT. Astronomer Tod Lauer is on the research staff for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and is considered to be an expert in processing data images from space missions. Dr. Lauer has worked on the Hubble Telescope and has conducted observational searches for black hole. He joined NASA's New Horizon Mission of Pluto to apply his extensive experience with deep space images to the New Horizon's data yielding significantly clearer and mathematically accurate images of Pluto. Lauer explains that the process for data imaging has made major technological advances since the early 1980's. An asteroid, 3135 Lauer was named in his honor in 1981. In this episode: Tod Lauer, UA Astronomer and staff member at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

This year's College of Science Lecture Series begins on Monday, January 22nd and will focus on Humans, Data and Machines. The first speaker is Stephen Kobourov, a professor of Computer Science at the UA. In this episode, Tim Swindle and Professor Kobourov preview Monday night's lecture which deals with modern day computers, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have a significant impact on all aspects of our lives which raises new mathematical and engineering challenges. Can we now solve previously unsolvable problems? Can machines think and can they be more objective than humans? Professor Kobourov will address all these issues in his kick-off to the 2018 College Lecture Series. In this episode: Stephen Kobourov, Professor of Computer Science; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. Using a combination of physiological and engineering approaches, Andy Fuglevand studies how the brain controls muscles to produce smooth, precise movements. One of the surprising findings of his research is the complex orchestration across the many muscles that is needed to produce even seemingly simple movements. He is now using concepts derived from his basic research to develop methods to restore useful movement in paralyzed individuals. He finds that elaborate patterns of artificial stimulation of multiple muscles can simulate aspects of natural movement in ways that previous methods have not been able to do. In this episode: Andy Fuglevand, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology in the College of Medicine; Leslie P. Tolbert, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in Neuroscience

A study by researchers at the UA provides evidence that a massive planetary object may be lurking in the outer reaches of our solar system. The Mars sized planet seems to be disrupting the orbits of other, smaller bodies within the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt lies beyond the orbit of Neptune and hosts a number of smaller planets, mostly small icy bodies and a few dwarf planets. One reason the researchers have not yet located the object is due to the fact that they have not been able to view the entire sky for distant solar system objects. The upcoming launch of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, a new telescope that will survey the entire sky, should help identify the planet should it exist. In this episode: Kat Volk, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Planetary Sciences at the UA; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Head of the Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. Gene Hall manages the UA Insect Collection which is home to some 2 million insect specimens. About 20 thousand of those specimens are from Arizona alone. Currently, the Collection is in the process of digitizing the specimens along with all the discovery information so that researchers around the world can access the information without having to travel to Tucson. Hall explains how the collected is stored and the different types of research that takes place at the facility on almost a daily basis. In this episode: Gene Hall, Managing Director of the UA Insect Collection; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director of the UA Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change at any age, specifically during early life. Brain circuits are shaped by early experiences. Neural pathways allow us to learn new things and memorize new information. This flexibility is an important role in our brain development and after a certain age, this "critical period" ends. Dr. Bao uses the mouse auditory system to explore how plasticity occurs. The main goal of this research is to find different methods to artificially re-create high levels of plasticity that may help correct developmental brain disorders in adults. In this episode: Shaowen Bao, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology; Leslie P. Tolbert, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in Neuroscience

REPEAT. Although aerosol particles in the air are microscopic in size, their effects are all around us every moment of our lives. They affect public health, mostly owing to their deposition in the respiratory tract; in fact, of all environmental threats, particles are responsible for the most deaths globally. Particles also have huge effects on climate and rainfall. Because they last only a few days to weeks in the atmosphere and are constantly changing in size and composition, their effect on the planet's energy balance is among the largest uncertainties in estimates of climate change. Amin Sorooshian's research team is investigating the nature of airborne particles with field measurements, satellite remote-sensing data, and models. His groups is especially invested in trying to unravel the complexities associated with how particles affect the reflectivity of clouds and how and when the produce precipitation. In this episode: Armin Sorooshian, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemi cal and Environmental Engineering, and Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences; Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in Neuroscience

REPEAT. NASA has selected the UA-led GUSTO mission which will send a balloon to near space to study the Milky Way galaxy. Christopher Walker is the mission's principal investigator and says "GUSTO will provide the first complete study of all the phases of the stellar life cycle, from molecular clouds, through star birth and evolution." Scheduled for launch on December 15th, 2021, the high altitude balloon will silently rise into the cold, dry air above Antarctica with an airborne observatory in tow. GUSTO's science payload consists of a 1-meter telescope and various instruments mounted to a platform known as the gondola. The payload weighs close to 2 tons and will circle Antarctica at an elevation of between 110,000 and 120,000 feet or about 17 miles above a typical airliner's cruising altitude. In this episode: Christopher Walker, Professor of Astronomy and GUSTO's Principal Investigator; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Department Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

Researchers at the University of Arizona have have found a way to prevent the loss of millions of tons of crops to a fungus each year offering the potential to improve food security on a global level. Crops all over the world are susceptible to infection by a fungus that produces aflatoxins. Aflatoxins can stunt childhood growth, increase the risk of liver cancer and make people more susceptible to HIV and malaria.In the U.S., crops meant for human consumption are tested for aflatoxin and destroyed if the the toxins reach unacceptable levels but no testing is conducted in many developing countries around the world especially in Africa, where people depend on consuming what they harvest. UA Researcher Monica Schmidt, says her work has the potential to improve public health, save lives and eliminate the need to destroy millions of tons of grain because of the toxin. In this episode: Monica Schmidt, Assistant Professor in Plant Sciences; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. Swarms of ants or bees are tight-knit collaborative organizations. In her studies of how they achieve coordinated and intelligent colony behaviors, Anna Dornhaus has uncovered general patterns of optimal social organization. For example, individual social insects communicate valuable information about food resources to all of their nest-mates: in some species, the same information gets repeated and strengthened by communication, even after it has become obsolete. To combat that potential problem, ants in other species are deliberately less attentive to social information, and instead focus on independent exploration. This has direct lessons for our own lives and the degree to which we rely on social, versus independently verified information. We can also apply this knowledge to the engineering of cluster computing, device networks, robot swarms and power grids, where individual units must be built to coordinate efficiently with others. Engineers are finding that system-level performance is both more robust and more efficient when hierarchical control structures are absent, and instead, as in insects, individuals make decisions based just on their own local interactions. In this episode: Anna Dornhaus, PhD, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Leslie P. Tolbert, PhD, Regents' Professor in Neuroscience at the UA

REPEAT. Studying the aging brain's susceptibility to Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Roberta Brinton discovered dramatic differences between how female and male brains generate the energy they need as the brain ages. Brinton has discovered that the adaptive strategies that the female brain uses to address the decline in energy production may predispose women to AD. She found that, as estrogen declines around menopause, the female brain can be at risk for utilizing the brain's own lipids as a source of fuel to generate energy. The discovery has led to an effort to develop therapeutic approaches to protect the female brain against AD and which may also be relevant to intervention in the male brain. Brinton and her team are conducting a clinical trial in both women and men of the first regenerative therapeutic for AD that targets the brain's neural stem cells. Dr. Brinton currently directs UA's new Center for Innovation in Brain Science, which will apply what she has learned about neurodegeneration in AD and precision/personalized medicine to develop therapeutic approaches for other neurological disorders. In 2010, she was awarded one of the nation's highest civilian honors, the Presidential Citizens Medal, for the STEM program she developed to draw minority students in the Los Angeles public schools into careers in science and engineering in large numbers. She credits her own transformational experience doing cutting-edge research as a UA undergraduate for her decision to become a neuroscientist and for inspiring her to work with high school students who might not otherwise see a future for themselves in science. In this episode: Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and founding Director of UA's Center for Innovation in Brain Science; Leslie P. Tolbert, PhD, Regents' Professor in Neuroscience at the UA

REPEAT. Once flowing year round, Tucson's Rillito River now runs primarily during the monsoon season. In 1983, the biggest flood in the last 100 year's hit Tucson and ripped out stream banks along the Rillito, the Santa Cruz and many of the region's washes. Vic Baker is considered a leading expert and pioneer in the field of flood research and has spent much of his career studying superfloods. He says superfloods aren't just bigger versions of small scale floods - they behave differently. They release huge amounts of energy in a brief period of time, leading to turbulence that causes erosion and sediment transport that are vastly different from that experienced in small scale floods. In this episode: Vic Baker, Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences at the UA; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Department Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. Geological fieldwork is unlocking details of the creation of the Basin and Range Province in which Tucson sits. The Basin turns out to be an exceptional natural laboratory for studying what happens when the earth's crust undergoes profound hyper-stretching. Hyper-stretching can cause parts of the crust that were buried 10 to 15km deep to be brought to the earth's surface. Ancient rocks are abundant in the sky islands bordering Tucson, in our canyons and mountains, indicating that Southern Arizona was a high elevation plateau before the stretching began. 30 million years ago we could have rafted from a Southern Arizona 'plateau highlands' to what is now Utah! But then, earthquake-by-earthquake, from 25 million years ago to just a moment (5 million years) ago, the plateau sank. This discovery has radically undone the perception that major mountain systems result only from tectonic shortening and buckling of the earth's crust. Today, hyper-stretching like that in our region is happening in Greece, offering a new laboratory for study of this phenomenon in action. In this episode: George Davis, Regents Professor in Geosciences and Provost Emeritus at the U of A; Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in the University of Arizona's Neuroscience Department

A new study at the University of Arizona, led by Masha Fedzechkina, an assistant professor in linguistics has focused on the similarities seen across human languages. Fedzechkina and her team suggest that these similarities might be based on the brain's preference for efficient information processing. She and her team designed a study in which two groups of English-speaking-only individuals learned an artificial languages based on Japanese rules of grammar over a three day period. Both groups were then taught two ways to express the same ideas in the language. When later tested, the participants showed an overwhelming preference for short dependency length, the distance between words that depend on each other for interpretation. In this episode: Masha Fedzechkina, Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the UA; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. In the U.S., we import about 19% of the food we eat; the other 80% is grown here. More than a third of agricultural production relies absolutely on the pollination of crop plants by honeybees. When honeybee populations are threatened, so are the crops they help produce.The crops include apples, cherries, berries, melons and almonds. Almond production alone in the U.S. requires 1.6 million bee colonies! To keep pace with their needs, growers depend on a cadre of professional beekeepers, who move their hives from region to region around the country, to meet the pollination schedules of many crops, in a process that can be called "precision pollination." At this moment, bees are picking up tiny mites that infect them with viruses that can kill whole colonies - and the Carl Hayden Bee Lab, under the direction of Dr. Hoffman, is working to beat the infestation by developing pest management that is tailored to bee mites through detailed knowledge of bees' nutritive needs and the basic biology of both bees and the mites. In this episode: Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, Ph.D., Research Leader and Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Carl Hayden Bee Lab in Tucson, Arizona, and Adjunct Scientist in the UA's Department of Entomology; Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D., Regents' Professor in the UA's Department of Neuroscience

REPEAT. Minimally invasive surgeries reduce recovery time and postoperative pain. However, in these procedures surgeons lose many of the tactile and visual cues that they rely on in conventional surgery. Dr. Rozenblit, an expert in complex computer-based system design, is collaborating with surgeons to develop a computed-aided surgical trainer that will physically guide trainees' instruments during practice sessions through assistive force and augmented reality displays. They expect that, by enhancing "situational awareness," computer-guided practice will speed up learning, reinforce good "habits" and techniques, and discourage inferior ones, leading ultimately to better surgical outcomes, and improved patient safety. In this episode: Jerzy Rozenblit, Ph. D., University Distinguished Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering; Leslie Tolbert, Ph. D. Regents' Professor in the UofA's Neuroscience Department

REPEAT. A team of University of Arizona Scientists is reporting that climate change will increase the ground water deficit for four economically important aquifers in the Western U.S. The researchers found that the monsoon is changing as our temperatures rise year after year allowing the air to hold much more moisture, adding fuel to the monsoon storms. The higher temperatures mean more extreme storms, perhaps less frequent but more intense. The new report integrates knowledge about groundwater in the U.S. West with scientific models that show how climate change will affect the region. The Southwest is expected to become hotter and drier and aquifers in the southern tier of the West are all expected to see slight to significant decreases in recharge as the climate warms. In this episode: Christopher Castro, Atmospheric Science Professor at the University of Arizona; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Department Head of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. The Horn of Africa has become increasingly drier in sync with the global and regional warming of the last century at a rate unprecedented in the last 2,000 years according to new research. Since there are no permanent lake basins and scarcely any trees in the region, Jessica Tierney and her colleagues took regional temperature and precipitation records from deep-sea sediment cores in the Gulf of Aden which show that twentieth-century drying in the area is unusual in the context of nearly 2,000 years of rainfall and that is linked with recent warming trends. Tierney has also explored the Sahara region which once enjoyed regular rainfall and was covered in vegetation before drying out some 5,000 years ago in just a century or two. That finding provides evidence that climate shifts can happen suddenly. In this episode: Jessica Tierney, Associate Professor at the UofA's Department of Geosciences; Tim Swindle, Ph.D., Director and Department Head of the UofA's Lunar and Planetary Lab

REPEAT. Parkinson's disease affects more than one million people in the United States and there are no current treatments to slow or prevent the disorder. Lalitha Madhavan, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona, uses stem cell technology as a unique tool to probe the adaptive capacities of the brain. She is especially interested in harnessing the power of stem cells to stimulate brain repair in age-related neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. In this episode: Dr. Lalitha Madhavan, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona; Leslie Tolbert, Ph. D Regent's Professor at the University of Arizona's Department of Neuroscience

REPEAT. Asthma, the most prevalent chronic childhood disease, affects more than 278 million people worldwide. Environmental factors are implicated in the recent and dramatic rise in asthma cases observed in westernized countries. Growing up on farms has been linked to a significantly lower prevalence of childhood asthma, and, in a report published by the New England Journal of Medicine this week, the U of A's Donata Vercelli and her colleagues report that a key component of the farm environment is the high level of microbes present in house dust on certain farms. By comparing the environments of Amish and Hutterite farm children, who have similar genetic backgrounds and lifestyles but live on different types of farms and have different incidents of asthma, they discovered that the traditional Amish farms, where livestock is kept in barns close to the house, provide sustained exposure to microbes that stimulate the immune system in ways that decrease the susceptibility to asthma. Amish farm dust also protects experimental mice from asthma-like symptoms. The results reported this week are exciting in that they lay the groundwork for the identification of protective environmental products and the development of effective strategies for preventing asthma. In this episode: Donata Vercelli, Ph.D. and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Arizona; Leslie Tolbert, Ph.D Regents' Professor in the University of Arizona's Department of Neuroscience

REPEAT. A single cell parasite called - Toxoplasma gondii - is found throughout the world in both humans and some animals. But very few of those with the toxoplasma parasite show any signs of a disease known as taxoplasmosis because a healthy person's immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. Research now being conducted at the University of Arizona is looking into how this common parasite might help in treating brain disorders like Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimers and stroke. In this episode: Anita Koshy, Assistant Professor in the University of Arizona's Neurology Department; Tim Swindle, Ph. D., Director and Department Head of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Lab

Each ring on a tree stump can mark a complete cycle of the seasons, dating back thousands of years. University of Arizona researcher Charlotte Pearson talks about how trees have recorded events through time, from floods to solar storms. She will give a talk on the subject next Wednesday at the College of Science free lecture series.

REPEAT. Cochlear implants can open a world of possibilities by restoring a sense of sound and speech. Retired University of Arizona honors professor Ted Glattke is taking the latest research in auditory science to small towns in Mexico, helping children overcome hearing issues.

University of Arizona Landscape, Architecture, and Planning professor Ladd Keith talks about preparing for and responding to increasingly hot weather in Southwestern cities.

Researchers have found migraine headaches emerge from triggers both inside and outside the brain. University of Arizona pharmacology professor Tally Largent Milnes describes the development of new therapies in the works especially for female patients.

University of Arizona bio sciences researcher Nirav Merchant describes how a U of A-invented program enables scientists around the world to access and manage big data sets.

University of Arizona evolutionary biologist Mike Worobey is analyzing gene sequences published by other Coronavirus researchers and tracking the source of COVID-19. His group is also taking samples from doorknobs or other surfaces to see if traces of the sickness can be found in Tucson before any clinical cases are identified.

Scientists began developing theories about black holes more than a hundred years ago.

Animals are filling a growing need in the field of therapy and service work. University of Arizona veterinary medicine researcher Maggie O'Haire notes it isn't always dogs who are best suited to help people with physical disabilities and mental stress.

Treatments for COVID-19 are effective, but it's better if you can avoid getting the coronavirus in the first place. University of Arizona epidemiologist Kacey Ernst discusses the challenge of keeping people aware of vaccinations against COVID and other infectious diseases.

University of Arizona forestry expert Don Falk talks about how woodlands might adapt to changes in climate.

The key to better cybersecurity might be found in a beehive. University of Arizona Ecology and Evolutionary Biologist Anna Dornhaus talks about the strategies bees and ants use to direct collective behavior, and applying those methods to computer software to create better cybersecurity.

Archeologists don't always focus on stone statues and drawings on walls. University of Arizona anthropologist Ed Jolie explains why items like clothing, baskets, nets or string made from organic material can also tell us a lot about ancient civilizations.

Some experts think putting more effort into making artificial intelligence more intelligent is better than worrying about it making mistakes. University of Arizona computer scientist Mihai Surdeanu talks about how keeping A. I. systems in check is creating new opportunities for people inside and outside the technology sector.

The University of Arizona built Giant Magellan Telescope is expected to start scanning the heavens within the next decade. U of A astronomer Buell Januzzi reveals how the telescope's size and scale will put it above other Earth-bound telescopes in its ability to find hidden details between the stars.

A team of University of Arizona faculty and undergraduate students are working together finding facts about exploding stars. UA Astronomy professor Brenda Frye describes what makes supernovae special and what they can tell us about our own Sun.

A devastating earthquake that struck what's now the northwestern corner of the United States 1,100 years ago is still part of native American legend in the region. University of Arizona tree ring researcher Bryan Black is leading a team discovering more about the event, and reveals how linked fault lines beneath the Earth's crust might pose a further threat to the region in the present day.

Researchers continue to explore ways Arizona and the Southwest can draw water from unique sources. University of Arizona environmental engineering professor Kerri Hickenbottom discusses how what was formerly called treated wastewater plays a role in providing water for both irrigation and human consumption.

Cochlear implants can open a world of possibilities by restoring a sense of sound and speech. Retired University of Arizona honors professor Ted Glattke is taking the latest research in auditory science to small towns in Mexico, helping children overcome hearing issues.

Studies into Alzheimer's disease have found men's and women's brains age differently, except when men develop prostate cancer. University of Arizona neurology professor Roberta Brinton discusses research on who is more likely to develop Alzheimer's and describes how menopausal hormone therapy might provide a key for treatment.

Planetary scientists are re-targeting the Osiris-REx spacecraft for a close encounter with the asteroid Apophis in 2029. New principal investigator Dani DellaGiustina talks about plans to use the robot explorer's instruments for another spectacular mission.

With climate change already impacting much of the weather around the world, what difference will it make in the Southwest monsoon? University of Arizona environmental sciences professor Mike Crimmins talks about the weather patterns that determine monsoon activity in our region and in other spots around the world.

Health policy experts say some adults are still struggling with long COVID and many of them have trouble getting the treatment they need. University of Arizona immunobiologist Janko Nikolich talks about the challenges researchers face raising funds to continue studying long COVID and its impact on society. Janko Nikolich spoke with Tim Swindle, professor emeritus in planetary science at the University of Arizona.

UA environmental engineering professor Andrea Achilli explains how a decentralized water recycling system could provide clean drinking water for residents.

UA neuroscientist and musician Molly Gebrian talks about how the human brain hears and interprets sounds and explains how it plays a role in the evolution of language skills.

UA cancer researcher Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski describes how an AI-powered database could improve how doctors can diagnose and predict likely outcomes for skin cancer.

UA planetary scientist Dante Lauretta explains the logistics involved in recovering the sample and how soon researchers will be able to examine the material OSIRIS-REx collected three years ago.

University of Arizona researcher Zac Guido talks about helping communities cope with extreme weather, sea-level rise and other climate impacts.

Environmental engineering scientist Kim Ogden says guayule is a low-maintenance substitute for typical rubber trees, and can be grown in Arizona for making car tires and other manufactured goods.

Researchers have found non-white Hispanics live longer and have better health outcomes than people from other ethnic and cultural groups. University of Arizona psychologist John Ruiz talks about his lab's investigation into this phenomenon.

University of Arizona astronomy professor Kaitlin Kratter discusses multiple star systems and how they can affect planetary formation.

University of Arizona researcher Manisha Shrestha explains how she and her colleagues are studying a supernova that triggered the biggest gamma ray burst ever recorded.

University of Arizona College of Medicine professor John Galgiani discusses the research to find a vaccine for valley fever.

University of Arizona communication researcher Chris Segrin explains why social disconnection is turning into a public health crisis.

Professor Sharon Megdal with the UA Water Resource Research Center talks about getting indigenous peoples involved and how their knowledge can be transferred to cities coping with water concerns.

UA neuroscientist Roberta Brinton talks about her lab's work examining how estrogen plays a role in the development of Alzheimer's in both women and men.

UA anthropologist Terry Hunt led a team that worked out a theory on how the massive figures were moved into place using just a handful of volunteers.

UA entomologist Kathleen Walker describes the public health risk caused by ticks and how to identify the tiny creatures.

UA immunobiologist Michael Kuhns describes how researchers are trying to understand how cells speak to each other to keep the human body healthy.

UA planetary scientist Tom Zega describes meteor fragments found on Earth and the tools being used to answer questions related to the origin of the planets.

UA anthropology professor Stacey Tecot is investigating what causes lemur fathers to pay as much attention to their children as their mothers do.

University of Arizona post-doctoral scholar Ellie Broadman has been investigating evidence from tree rings and ice cores over a 6,000 year period, and contrasting it with computer models to determine whether temperatures warmed or cooled.

Astronomer Tod Lauer explains much of that light comes from the Sun, but some of it also radiates from distant galaxies.

University of Arizona immunobiologist Michael Worobey returns to discuss the latest on the evolution of the coronavirus from a wet market in China to a pandemic that affected every country around the world.

University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Scientist Joe Giacalone talks about space weather and how hard it is to predict it.

University of Arizona geoscientist Jessica Tierney explains how that information fits in with the current conversation about climate change. .

University of Arizona professor Eduardo Blanco talks about the true intelligence of computers and their limitations.

University of Arizona psychologist Lee Ryan discusses cognitive changes that happen over the course of a lifetime, and previews her presentation at this year's College of Science free lecture series.

U of A astronomy professor Chris Walker describes how the mission will give students hands-on experience in space exploration.

Researcher Kai Staats describes how the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 is being used to practice long-duration stays on the moon and Mars.

Thousands of trees and plants unique to southern Arizona's semi-arid climate have a special home in Tucson. Campus arboretum director Tanya Quist talks about bringing the stories of cacti, shrubs, and saplings to the U of A from around the world.

University of Arizona biomedical engineer Philipp Gutruf talks about a pacemaker that surrounds the heart with electrical impulses to get the essential muscle back in rhythm.

University of Arizona astronomy professor George Rieke talks about the James Webb Space Telescope's success and what's ahead for the second year of the project.

Many animals blend in with their surroundings as a natural defense against predators, but others stick out with bright colors. University of Arizona evolutionary biologist John Wiens discusses why certain animals look the way they do.

Paragon Space Development CEO Grant Anderson talks about the challenges in making the new suits more flexible and resistant to lunar and planetary dust.

University of Arizona geography professor Greg Barron-Gafford describes how Agrivoltaics allows plants to thrive beneath the shade of solar panels.