University of Arizona in the News

Nature Friday
Flurry of photos capture China’s Zhurong rover on surface of Mars

Curiosity and Perseverance are sharing the planet with China's Zhurong rover, which was spotted down on the Martian surface on June 6 by a NASA spacecraft in orbit around the red planet. The University of Arizona-operated HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has already captured remarkable views of Curiosity and Perseverance, but this is its first look at Zhurong, part of the the China National Space Administration Tianwen-1 mission. The image offers the best look so far at hazards and scientific targets on the surface, said Alfred McEwen, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and principal investigator for HiRISE's camera.
CNET Wednesday
As NASA eyes asteroid Psyche, scientists question how metal it really is

The widely studied metallic asteroid known as 16 Psyche was long thought to be the exposed iron core of a small planet that failed to form during the earliest days of the solar system. But new University of Arizona-led research suggests that the asteroid might not be as metallic or dense as once thought, and hints at a much different origin story.
The Washington Post Tuesday
You're vaccinated. What are the ethics of traveling to places where locals aren't?

Health experts, bioethicists, travelers and locals share their perspectives on whether it is fair, or safe, to travel to places where locals remain mostly unvaccinated. Saskia Popescu, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and infection preventionist at the University of Arizona, said there is no magic number of vaccinations in a community to look for when thinking about what destinations are best to visit. Instead, travelers should examine the guidance that authorities are giving to locals. Those will reflect vaccinations but also community case counts, she said.
CBS News Monday
COVID vaccines lag in Southern states as Biden's July 4 deadline looms

Experts say there are mounting concerns about the slowing pace of coronavirus vaccinations in the U.S. as President Biden's July 4 goal nears. Southern states are struggling to convince people to roll up their sleeves. Dr. Shad Marvasti, an emergency medicine physician and the director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, is interviewed.
BBC Earth Monday
Can we spot a killer asteroid before it hits Earth?

Several scientists are on a quest to spot asteroids before they crash into Earth. By studying how light reflects off different kinds of rocks, such as those with higher metal content and so on, scientists can then make predictions about asteroids flying towards Earth based on the light they themselves reflect, says Alessondra Springmann, a planetary radar astronomer at the University of Arizona.
USA Today June 6, 2021
Hoover Dam, a symbol of the modern West, faces an epic water shortage

Experts say the effects of drought and climate change are seen at Hoover Dam, which will soon hold the smallest amount of water since it was filled in the 1930s. Under the 1922 Colorado River Compact and subsequent agreements, the river has long been severely overallocated. As University of Arizona Regents Professor of Law Robert Glennon said, "there are more water rights than there is water."
The Washington Post June 6, 2021
More than 200 firefighters battle massive Phoenix blaze, the largest response in department history

Fire crews were still putting out embers and hot spots Sunday of a massive blaze at a recycling yard that authorities say drew the largest response in the Phoenix Fire Department's history. Don Falk, a professor at the University of Arizona's School of Natural Resources and the Environment, said industrial fires involving materials that "do not occur in nature" can be concerning, but he said cardboard is a bit closer to plant fuels that spark wildfires.
NPR June 6, 2021
The Vatican's Space Observatory wants to see stars and faith align

The Vatican Observatory has recently launched a campaign to promote dialogue between faith and science. Scientists and space industry leaders have come for a United Nations-sponsored conference on the ethics and peaceful uses of outer space. It cooperates with NASA on several space missions and it operates a modern telescope in partnership with the University of Arizona.
BuzzFeed June 5, 2021
COVID-19 vaccines work way better than we had ever expected. Scientists are still figuring out why.

Experts say vaccinations are proving to be just as effective in the real world as they were in clinical trials, while remaining highly protective against the more contagious variants spreading worldwide. Two recent studies found that immunity to the virus could last for years. "I was always optimistic," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona. "This was an acute virus; you get it and get over it." Viruses that cause chronic infections, like HIV and herpes, which the body doesn't clear, are much harder to vaccinate against. "Here, instead, we saw there was a natural pathway to immunization we could take advantage of,” Bhattacharya said.
Popular Science June 4, 2021
'Robot swarms' could one day build underground shelters for humans on Mars

A European robotics team won a grant to study how robots could 3D-print underground shelters on Mars. The project is very much in the conceptual phase, but the technologies to make it possible are coming along on Earth, says Jekan Thanga, a robotics researcher not involved with the Delft team who specializes in off-world technologies at the University of Arizona. But, he says, "doing it off-world is another challenge."