University of Arizona in the News

CBS News July 15, 2021
COVID-19 cases spike and vaccinations stall as surgeon general warns of misinformation

Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, discusses recent coronavirus developments.
The Atlantic July 14, 2021
The mystery at the base of one of biology's strangest relationships

Some 40 years ago, Rick Brusca, a marine parasitologist at the University of Arizona, discovered some spotted rose snappers whose tongues had been apparently annihilated by C. exigua. And yet, the parasitized fish seemed happy and healthy enough, their digestive tracts full of fresh food. Brusca and a colleague examined the backs of the crustaceans and found evidence that the injured fish was using its unwelcome tenant as if it was a tongue.
NPR July 13, 2021
Your trash is emitting methane in the landfill. Here's why it matters for the climate

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, landfills are among the nation's largest sources of methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide and a major contributor to global warming. Riley Duren, a research scientist at the University of Arizona, is chief executive officer of Carbon Mapper, a new nonprofit consortium. Carbon Mapper announced in April it was launching "a constellation" of methane-sensing satellites with partners that include NASA, the state of California and various universities and organizations.
NBC News July 12, 2021
Move over, Mars: Why the moons of Jupiter and Saturn may be key to finding alien life

An unknown methane-producing process is likely at work in the hidden ocean beneath the icy shell of Saturn's moon Enceladus, suggests a new study published in Nature Astronomy by scientists at the University of Arizona and Paris Sciences & Lettres University.
The Salt Lake Tribune July 12, 2021
Neighbor wasting water? Is 'water shaming' the answer?

Ladd Keith, an assistant professor of planning and sustainable built environments at the University of Arizona, acknowledged the role of social nudging in relation to water use, while also noting that "in one way, water shaming may be an excuse to put the blame on individuals instead of actually taking larger policy actions at the state or even city level."
Outside Magazine July 11, 2021
Abdi Abdirahman doesn't care about age

Abdi Abdirahman, 44, will compete against the world's best marathoners at the Tokyo Olympics. Abdirahman is one of the most decorated long-distance runners in the history of the University of Arizona.
BuzzFeed July 10, 2021
Here's why you probably won't need a booster shot against the delta variant anytime soon

Facing the threat of a more infectious Delta variant, vaccine makers Pfizer and BioNTech released a statement on Thursday saying it "may be beneficial" for people to get a third dose of their COVID vaccine within six months to a year. But U.S. health officials and other scientists have vehemently disagreed, saying our current vaccines are holding up really well – at least so far. As viral diseases go, COVID-19 is "a slow burn," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona. In its early days, when it is most contagious, people experience cold symptoms or no symptoms at all. In serious cases, after about a week, people can go on to develop dangerous lung infections, caused by our immune systems going haywire and attacking vital organs.
The New York Times July 10, 2021
In Indigenous knowledge, innovative solutions

Rachel Cernansky, the sustainability editor at Vogue Business, writes that Western-trained researchers and governments are increasingly recognizing the wealth of knowledge that Indigenous communities have amassed to coexist with and protect their environments over hundreds or even thousands of years. Indigenous scholars warn, though, that while traditional knowledge can be used to benefit the world, it can also be mishandled or exploited. Dominique David Chavez, a descendant of the Arawak Taíno in the Caribbean, and a research fellow at the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona and the National Science Foundation, says that, as Western scientists, "we are trained to go into communities, get that knowledge and go back to our institutions and disseminate it in academic journals."
The New York Times July 9, 2021
A group of scientists presses a case against the lab leak theory of COVID

In a review of recent studies and comparisons to other outbreaks, a group of virologists contends that there is more evidence to support a natural spillover from animals to humans. One of the signers of the May 2021 letter, Michael Worobey of the University of Arizona, became a co-author of the new paper arguing for a natural spillover. He said his views have evolved as more information emerges.
Arizona Public Media July 8, 2021
UA issues statement acknowledging Indigenous lands

The University of Arizona has crafted a new statement that acknowledges the university's home on the land and territories of Indigenous people. The statement lays a foundation, university leaders say, for meaningful partnerships and continued support for Native American students and communities.