University of Arizona in the News

Nature Thursday
How quickly does COVID immunity fade? What scientists know

Three years into the pandemic, the immune systems of the vast majority of humans have learned to recognize SARS-CoV-2 through vaccination, infection or, in many cases, both. New evidence suggests that "hybrid" immunity, the result of both vaccination and a bout of COVID-19, can provide partial protection against reinfection for at least eight months and protection against severe disease or hospitalization for between six months and a year. But the durability of immunity is much more complex than the numbers suggest. "And that has more to do with the virus and how much it mutates," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
USA Today Thursday
What is Valley fever? Fungal infection from the Southwest may spread with climate change.

A person gets Valley fever by inhaling fungal spores from soil that's typically kicked up in the air, according to the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence.
Axios Thursday
The humanities mount a comeback

Some experts claim the pro-STEM movement has gutted high school and college humanities programs, but there is some evidence of a post-pandemic revival afoot. A handful of schools have seen a rise in students declaring humanities majors. For example, at the University of Arizona, "applied humanities" is a new, fast-growing department that includes programs in business administration, fashion studies, game studies and public health.
Reuters Wednesday
U.S. states struggle to share dwindling waters of Colorado River

Seven states that depend on the Colorado River for water missed a deadline set by the Department of Interior to come up with a plan on how to stretch their dwindling supplies. California refused to sign the agreement. "I think people would like to believe that we can somehow figure out a way to keep these economic activities, keep our kind of economies and livelihoods, going. But it's going to be a drier future," said Sharon Megdal, director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center.
Arizona Daily Star Tuesday
Raytheon to open new Tucson office at the UA's south-side tech park

Tucson-based Raytheon Missiles and Defense plans to into new office space at the University of Arizona Tech Park at the Bridges on the city's south side. The defense firm this fall will occupy 14,000 square feet of space at The Refinery.
Reuters Monday
From ashes to fly larvae, new ideas aim to revive farm soil

As extreme weather and human activity degrade the world's arable land, scientists and developers are looking at new and largely unproven methods to save soil for agriculture. Preliminary data from a five-year trial showed injecting liquid clay into desert fields trapped moisture, resulting in romaine lettuce hearts 21-53% larger on average than romaine grown under the same conditions without clay, said Robert Masson at the University of Arizona Yuma County Cooperative Extension, who grew the plants.
NBC News Monday
Valley fever, historically found only in the Southwest, is spreading. It can have devastating consequences.

Scientists have been trying to develop a vaccine for Valley fever since the 1960s. Tests of one candidate in the 1980s didn’t work well. However, in recent years, University of Arizona researchers led by Lisa Shubitz at the Valley Fever Center for Excellence developed a vaccine that's highly effective in dogs. While an approved Valley fever vaccine for humans remains years away, clinical trials may not be far off. "I'm really quite hopeful," said Dr. John Galgiani, director of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence. "In my view, right now, we do have a candidate that deserves to be evaluated and I think will probably be effective, and we'll be using it."
Inverse Jan. 29, 2023
How to take advantage of a bad mood

A new study led by University of Arizona assistant professor of psychology and cognitive science Vicky Lai finds when people are in a negative mood, they may be quicker to spot inconsistencies in things they read.
CNBC Jan. 27, 2023
Why desalination won't save states dependent on Colorado River water

States dependent on the drought-stricken Colorado River may consider desalination to meet their demand for water. However, desalination plants come with a high price tag, require enormous amounts of energy, and pose problems for the environment. "Ocean water desalination has tremendous allure," said Robert Glennon, a Regents Professor Emeritus of Law and a water policy scholar at the University of Arizona. "The thought is that if we can just get the salt out of the water, everything can be fixed. But it's a kind of siren song that will turn bad."
The New Yorker Jan. 27, 2023
How Native Americans will shape the future of water in the West

Tribal nations hold the rights to significant portions of the Colorado River. In the increasing drought, some are showing the way to sustainability. Arizona law incentivizes underground water storage, which replenishes the state's aquifers, by allowing those who do it to sell water credits on the open market to developers and municipalities. "They essentially turned their water rights into a marketable asset," said Sharon Megdal, the director of the University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center. "It's the best example I've seen of a fully integrated water-management plan. They take care of the economy, the environment, the water management. It's all there."