University of Arizona in the News

University of Arizona Regents Professor of Linguistics Ofelia Zepeda, director of the university's American Indian Language Development Institute, was named a 2023 USA Fellow for her poetry and other writing, as well as her efforts to train and develop Tohono O'odham educators to teach the O'odham language to students and to develop the language in their communities.

Sarah Moran with the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is part of the team that used the James Webb Space Telescope to find a new exoplanet – LHS 475 b. So far, the team "can say a lot of things about what the atmosphere is not like," Moran said. "We know it's not hydrogen dominated like Jupiter or Saturn. We think it probably does not have an Earth-like atmosphere. But it could have a carbon dioxide atmosphere like Venus or Mars, or it could have no atmosphere at all like Mercury."

A recent study from the University of Arizona found botanical gardens serve as biodiversity hotspots for butterflies. The research may provide a clearer roadmap for further expanding urban green spaces. "We looked at the number of butterfly species at botanical gardens and asked, 'Is that fairly represented of all the butterfly species found in urban areas?'" said lead study author Kathleen Prudic, an assistant professor of natural resources and the environment.

The Food and Drug Administration is considering a major shift in the nation's COVID-19 vaccine strategy. The goal is to simplify vaccination against COVID and perhaps adopt an approach similar that used for the flu vaccine, with annual updates to match whatever strain of the virus is circulating. Some immunologists and vaccine researchers consider simplifying the process along the lines of the flu vaccine is appropriate at this point in the pandemic. However, many questions remain about emerging booster strategy.

Underground storage may be a key for Western states navigating water shortages and extreme weather. In 2018, the City of Tucson stored and recovered 76 million cubic meters in the same year, while an additional 76 million cubic meters was stored for long-term use. The city uses "soils as the treatment method for the surface water," said Sharon B. Megdal, director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center. "Arizona has quite an extensive history of utilizing managed aquifer recharge successfully, and yet there are still more opportunities.

The University of Arizona's adaptive athletics program currently features two swimmers and one triathlete this season, but the team should double in size this fall with two more swimmers and another triathlete signing scholarships. Arizona's program appears to be the first of its kind to recruit and offer scholarships. "We want to compete for a collegiate para-swim championship eventually – that's the goal," said Pete Hughes, Arizona's director of adaptive athletics.

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.

This past summer, Lake Mead's water levels hit a new low at 1,040 feet, the lowest since the construction of Hoover Dam across the Colorado River in the 1930s. However, recent rains have raised water levels 0.3% higher than the Bureau of Reclamation predicted in December. But even though the water levels have risen, this isn't likely to help the lake in the long term. Experts believe only a change in water policy can contribute to saving the lake.

New evidence suggests pets may have a positive effect on our guts, with links to both mental and physical health. University of Arizona researchers studying whether the sharing of bacteria between dogs and their owners can alter our microbiome – the community of microorganisms inside our bodies – and change our brain chemistry, alleviating major depression.

While scientists have determined how much heat events will threaten humans in the future, less attention has been paid to how animals will fare under these temperature extremes. A team led by University of Arizona researcher Gopal Murali reports in the journal Nature that a massive percentage of land animals will face extreme heat if nothing is done to curb climate change. "It is becoming very clear that extreme events have been increasing in recent times under climate change," Murali said.