University of Arizona in the News

Cities and universities across the world are looking into using wastewater-based epidemiology to track the spread of COVID-19. Ian Pepper, director of the WEST Center and a BIO5 Institute member, is leading a study that uses municipal wastewater to monitor the incidence of the virus in communities across the United States.

Elections experts nationally have repeatedly cautioned that results may not be known for the presidential race on election night, given the contest could be close and many states will be voting by mail at higher numbers. "I think people actually should take solace in knowing that election officials will take their time and make sure that they get the count right," said Samara Klar, a political science professor at the University of Arizona.

While the days leading up to most presidential elections carry a certain frenzied, exhausted energy fueled by attack ads and nonstop robocalls, this election cycle has felt abnormally anxiety-inducing for many Americans. "We're certainly in the middle of a perfect storm," said Dr. Esther Sternberg, research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Humans respond physiologically to stress and those responses, Sternberg said, are essential for our survival. "It gives you the energy to fight or flee."

A week after collecting a sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will stow the sample to protect it from leaking into space on Tuesday.

University of Arizona Heath Sciences researchers developed one of the most accurate COVID-19 antibody tests available and now have shown antibodies persist for months after infection, providing long-term immunity.

A column argues in favor of the benefits of running for people working at home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers from the University of Arizona note that while exercise is beneficial in many ways, what may be especially valuable "during this pandemic is its ability to both enhance immune defense and mitigate the deleterious effects of stress on immunity."

Boeing and researchers at the University of Arizona say their experiment with a live virus on an unoccupied airplane proves that the cleaning methods currently used by airlines are effective in destroying the virus that causes COVID-19.

Cities, universities and health officials are pushing the public to avoid big parties and consider new ways of celebrating Halloween. After a Labor Day-fueled coronavirus surge at the University of Arizona, President Robert C. Robbins said the institution is putting on a massive campaign to cut down big Halloween parties with help from the local police, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, and the Pima County Health Department.

In Judith Su's Little Sensor Lab, researchers are working to sense tiny amounts – down to a single molecule – of everything from doping agents to biomarkers for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Lyme disease and COVID-19.

Boeing and researchers at the University of Arizona say their experiment with a live virus on an unoccupied airplane proves that the cleaning methods currently used by airlines are effective in destroying the virus that causes COVID-19.