University of Arizona in the News

New research claims at least 50 turtle species vocalize, along with several other types of cold-blooded vertebrates previously assumed to be silent. It's important to note, however, that sound production and hearing are different things. Snakes, for example, are famous for their hissing sounds. But they aren't thought to be able to hear themselves – or each other – hissing. And a turtle making sounds doesn't necessarily mean that it is communicating that way, says John Wiens, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona.

Most of the U.S. will enjoy a government-sanctioned 25-hour Sunday as Daylight Saving Time transitions back into standard time. According to University of Arizona clinical assistant professor of psychiatry Denise Rodriguez Esquivel, people never fully adjust to DST. They remain off-kilter for eight months.

Understanding asteroids is quickly becoming one of humanity's chief priorities in space exploration. Erik Asphaug, a planetary science professor at the University of Arizona and a co-investigator on NASA's mission to the metal-rich space rock Psyche points out studying asteroids also has both an economic and a practical value. "I look at the devastation of mining on the Earth and I think it's very short-sighted," he said.

The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies, or CAMI, received a strong vote of support from Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who designated $150 million in new funding for the Phoenix-based center.

University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy professor Samara Klar discusses issues motivating voters and key races in the battleground state of Arizona.

This story reports on the experience of a man diagnosed with a type of cocci bacterium whose physician followed a course of treatment suggested by the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.

A team of researchers from The Geological Society of America identified nine of what they believe to be the most livable caves on the surface of Mars – spaces large enough that they could give future explorers much-needed protection from the harsh environment of the planet's surface. "Everything at the surface is subject to harsh radiation, possible meteorite or micrometeorite bombardment and really large day-to-night temperature swings," said University of Arizona geoscientist Nicole Bardabelias.

Senate Republican staffers have produced a report asserting the coronavirus pandemic "most likely" originated in China, following safety lapses at a laboratory in the city of Wuhan. Michael Worobey, a professor at the University of Arizona who has co-authored studies that point to the Huanan seafood market as the epicenter of the outbreak, describes it as "political misinformation" wielded to shut down important biomedical research. Critics allege a member of the Senate team mistranslated Chinese correspondence.

Beyond making tough moments a little easier, cultivating levity is good for your health and there's evidence that purposely creating amusing experiences has the same benefits as spontaneous amusement. "The capacity to experience amusement and levity is one of the ways that people can change," said University of Arizona professor of marketing Caleb Warren.

Elon Musk, who spent months alternately courting and criticizing Twitter, ultimately acquired one of the world's largest social media platforms days before the U.S. midterm elections. Among his first acts was firing many of the company's top executives, an indication of his lack of experience in the industry. "It is a bit concerning considering that it is his very first time running a social media service," said University of Arizona professor of communication Dam Hee Kim, who studies social media platforms.