University of Arizona in the News

In rich countries, the momentum is growing for giving additional doses to the fully vaccinated, though many experts say the focus should be on getting first doses to people around the world. "The problem here is, we're just sort of going on immunological priors, rather than really great data to justify things one way or the other," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona. "I totally understand the decision, but I think we have to acknowledge that there's a wide range of uncertainty on what it’s going to do."

University of Arizona alumnus Rory Sabbatini won the silver medal in golf in the Tokyo Olympics. His final round score of 61 is the best single-round score in Olympic history.

University of Arizona professor emerita of Mining and Geological Engineering Mary M. Poulton appears in this feature story examining how copper became so important to the world economy, and the green energy revolution. Poulton discusses the market during a previous high point in demand, just before the 2008 financial crisis and the prospects for a new "bull market" for the metal.

The Delta variant outbreak among vaccinated beachgoers in Cape Cod was "a pivotal discovery" leading to new mask recommendations, said CDC chief Rochelle Walensky. "The long-term outlook is that it will be very difficult to avoid getting infected by Delta or even more transmissible future variants if you are unvaccinated," said University of Arizona immunologist Deepta Bhattacharya. "At some point, you are very likely to get infected if you aren't vaccinated."

As the Department of Defense continues to expand its partnerships with institutions of higher education and the private sector, Network Enterprise Technology Command and Fort Huachuca are partnering with the University of Arizona to leverage technical expertise and further accelerate the innovation of emerging technologies.

University of Arizona engineering researchers, led by biomedical engineering professor and Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow Philipp Gutruf, are creating new tools for a method called optogenetics, which shines light at specific neurons in the brain to excite or suppress activity. Optogenetics experiments are aimed at increasing understanding of how the brain works, allowing scientists to develop and test potential cures for illnesses such as neurodegenerative diseases.

A newly discovered disk of cosmic dust around a faraway exoplanet could one day become a moon. "To actually be able to see an image – not a model, not an interpretation, but an image – with high-enough resolution that you can point at this one spot … is really exciting," said astronomer Kamber Schwarz, who studies planet formation at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.

Some astronomers suggest setting up a "SatHub" to address the growing threat that satellite megaconstellations pose to the night sky – but funding and support are necessary to make it happen. One way of mitigating the megaconstellation issue might be for those involved in satellite constellations to anticipate impacts long before satellites launch, said Richard Green of the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, director of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory and chair of the SATCON2 policy working group.

The water levels of two major water bodies – including a major reservoir – have reached historic lows in recent days amid extreme drought conditions in the western United States. The historic lows in Lake Mead and Lake Powell suggest "water users throughout the Colorado River Basin, particularly the Lower Basin, must prepare for lower Colorado River water deliveries over an extended period of time," said Sharon B. Megdal, director of the University of Arizona’s Water Resources Research Center.

American diving duo Delaney Schnell and Jessica Parratto took silver in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform, becoming the first U.S. women to medal in the event since its Olympic debut in 2000. Schnell, who competes for the University of Arizona, is appearing in her first Olympics.