University of Arizona in the News

Some prominent scientists in a variety of fields say that there are clues that life could have started on Mars. Erik Asphaug, a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona, is also an outlier, said that what we know about the oldest rocks on Earth tell us that life started "started forming on Earth almost as soon as it was possible for it to happen." If that's the case, it makes for an interesting precedent.

Scientists from Arizona's three public universities are joining forces to analyze test samples to detect dangerous COVID-19 mutations. "The concern, of course, is you get one of these mutations that take hold and there's no vaccine that can protect you," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins.

Many people are starting to report that second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can cause more side-effects than the first dose. "The second time you give a person the shot, those cells are sitting around like a clone army and can immediately start producing a very big immune response, which is what is happening when people feel like they have been kicked in the teeth," said Michael Worobey, head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona.

In a study of 48 U.S. urban areas, researchers found that the average city had underreported its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 20%. But in some cases, the report was more than 100% off. "You can imagine in something as large as a major urban area, there are literally hundreds of emission sectors," said Riley Duren, a carbon monitoring expert at the University of Arizona and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

As America faces the potential for catastrophic coronavirus spikes fueled by highly infectious variants, public health authorities remain wary of imposing the stricter measures adopted by other nations. Instead, they continue to embrace a stick-to-the-basics strategy: Wear a mask, maybe even two. Avoid crowds. And get vaccinated — fast. Colleges and universities across the country are on high alert for the viral variants as they begin the spring term. "Obviously any kind of mutation of this virus is very disturbing and problematic," said University of Arizona President Robert C.

Michael Worobey, head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona who studies the evolution of flu viruses, is interviewed about COVID-19 variants and exactly how concerned people should be.

From practicing mindfulness to spending time outdoors, experts offer some tips for overcoming what some are calling "pandemic fatigue" and avoiding burnout. David Sbarra, a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, is interviewed.

University of Arizona research indicates the state's economy has seen substantial recovery toward its pre-pandemic peak last February but that the breadth of the recovery during the pandemic has varied widely by both job sector and by geography. Professor George Hammond of the university's Eller Economic Business and Research Center reports that Arizona as of December outpaced the nation as a whole by replacing over two-thirds of the 294,600 jobs lost from February to April while remaining 90,100 jobs below the February Peak.

A new study examines the planning challenges that residents and officials in the rural mountain American West have been watching unfold for years. The researchers specifically looked at over 1,500 "gateway communities" – rural communities adjacent to national parks, forests, rivers and other outdoor recreational amenities.

Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor in the University of Arizona's Department of Immunobiology, is deeply involved in research related to COVID-19. His lab is a leader in researching how vaccines generate an adequate immune response to the virus including their safety, efficacy and role in getting us past the pandemic.