University of Arizona in the News

Phoenix is poised to break a record set half a century ago of consecutive days with 110-degree or higher temperatures. The monsoon schedule varies from one year to the next, said Michael Crimmins, an environmental science professor at the University of Arizona, so while it is not yet clear whether climate change is to blame for the heat wave’s persistence, it has very likely made the daily high temperatures even higher.

Heat waves stretching across large parts of the globe are straining power grids and shutting businesses that can't keep their workers cool. Some of the hardest-hit areas will face hotter temperatures in the coming days, forecasters say, adding to risks that infrastructure will fail. There are "pretty clear signals that the warmer years are associated with lower output," said Derek Lemoine, an economist at the University of Arizona who studies the economic consequences of climate change.

Fossils from animals including dinosaurs and stingrays more than 100 million years old were uncovered in a Maryland park in what experts said could be the widest-ranging discovery of fossils of different species on the East Coast. Bonebeds are uncommon on the East Coast, said Advait Jukar, a paleontology expert at the University of Arizona, as fossil discoveries have been mostly isolated finds, such as claws or teeth.

It took a remarkably long time for the light emitted by a group of ancient galaxies to reach the James Webb space telescope last year. Astronomers have calculated that the photons were in transit for more than 13 billion years – almost the entire history of the cosmos – before they reached the orbiting observatory. "We have observed the earliest galaxies in the universe and it has been thrilling," said Kevin Hainline, an astronomer at the University of Arizona. "It has opened an entirely new chapter in the history of astronomy.

Everything must go smoothly when the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft releases its capsule with pristine asteroid material to land in the Utah desert in September.

Climate warming and urban magnification of heat have led to nighttime lows that hover around 90 degrees, presenting a danger to both those experiencing homelessness and those who can't or don't cool their homes. Experts advise that it's a time for those at risk to seek out cooling centers, though most are not open at night.

University of Arizona professor of economics Derek Lemoine and associate professor in the School of Government and Public Policy Laura Bakkensen write about the conclusions of their new working paper, which examines how human survival depends on the accuracy of temperature forecasts, particularly during heat waves like those experienced in large parts of the U.S. in recent days.

University of Arizona associate dean for research and professor of astronomy and planetary sciences Daniel Apai writes about his work on the proposed Nautilus Space Observatory, which would replace large, heavy mirrors with  lighter, less expensive diffractive lenses.

In a new working paper, University of Arizona economists Laura Bakkensen and Derek Lemoine examine the value of heat to weather predictions. By their estimates, thousands of Americans die every year due to extreme temperatures. But, before conducting this study, Lemoine says, he wasn't confident temperature forecasts actually make a huge difference. "It's actually not obvious when forecasts have value," said Lemoine.

A high-pressure dome parked over the Southwest is elevating temperatures from Florida to California, a heat wave that forecasters say could last two weeks. When they first arrive, the monsoons can make the heat even more dangerous – at least momentarily – by adding humidity to the equation, said Michael Crimmins, a professor of environmental science at the University of Arizona.