University of Arizona in the News

Daily Mail (UK) Today
Amazing footage shows the fascinating 'Strange Slope' optical illusion in China where cyclists freewheel 'uphill'

The "Strange Slope" – a hill about 20 miles northeast of the city of Shenyang in China's Liaoning Province – creates an optical illusion in which it appears traffic going downhill is going uphill and vice versa. Jose Sasian, professor of optical sciences and astronomy at the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, believes that the effect is created by the building in the background appearing to be seen from above. "The near vanishing point also contributes to the illusion," he added.
The Guardian May 15, 2022
What made America's COVID death toll even worse: The gnawing pain of human separation

From social distancing to vaccine disputes to the inability to be with loved ones in their final hours, isolation was a key symptom of the pandemic. "Many people have not been able to spend time at the bedside in a hospital or long-term care facility, and that is very unusual for human beings – not to be able to provide that care," said University of Arizona associate professor of psychology Mary-Frances O'Connor. "People I have been doing research with just tell me, 'It feels like it hasn’t sunk in. She was here, and now she's not here, and I didn't get to see anything in between.'"
Arizona Daily Star May 13, 2022
How this U of A grad found her passion for environmental justice

Aria Bernal graduated this week with a degree in environmental science from the University of Arizona. Bernal competed on the swim team and plans to attend graduate school to earn a master's degree in environmental science and continue swimming.
The Arizona Republic May 12, 2022
What has Phoenix done to make its roads safer for pedestrians? Nearly 30 mid-block crosswalks installed

Arizona ranks as the fifth deadliest state for pedestrians in the United States, with a reported pedestrian fatality rate of 2.91 for every 100,000 people as of 2019. In an attempt to make its streets safer for pedestrians, Phoenix began installing "High-Intensity Activated CrossWalks," – HAWKs – which include increased signage and traffic lights signaling drivers to slow down and stop for pedestrians. University of Arizona assistant professor of transportation engineering Alyssa Ryan said HAWK crossings reduce pedestrian crashes by at least 50% and work especially well in roadways with multiple lanes and a speed limit exceeding 30 miles per hour.
The New York Times May 12, 2022
What your dog wants

Dogs excel at reading human emotions, but humans often misread dog behavior. University of Arizona evolutionary anthropologist and comparative psychologist Evan MacLean said dogs lick faces not out of affection but they hope to get a taste of what someone recently ate, a behavior similar to that of young wolves, who lick their mothers' mouths so that their moms regurgitate food for them to eat.
The Conversation May 12, 2022
Say hello to Sagittarius A, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy

University of Arizona Distinguished Professor of Astronomy Chris Impey explains how astronomers on the Event Horizon Telescope team obtained an image of Sagittarius A and why it is such a big deal.
NPR May 12, 2022
This is the first image of the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way

The first image of the black hole located at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy, called Sagittarius A*, was unveiled today by the international Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. The discovery would not have been possible without the groundwork and heavy lifting provided by UArizona scientists and facilities. Feryal Özel, a professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Arizona and a founding member of the international Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, joined a panel of EHT researchers in describing and answering questions about this new scientific discovery.
The New York Times May 12, 2022
What your dog's behavior means

Dogs excel at reading human emotions, but humans often misread dog behavior. University of Arizona evolutionary anthropologist and comparative psychologist Evan MacLean said dogs lick faces not out of affection but they hope to get a taste of what someone recently ate, a behavior similar to that of young wolves, who lick their mothers' mouths so that their moms regurgitate food for them to eat. Which explains why dogs do gross things like eat people's vomit.
The Conversation May 12, 2022
What is dead pool? A water expert explains

University of Arizona Regents Professor and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law and Public Policy Robert Glennon explains what happens when water in a reservoir such as Lake Powell or Lake Mead drops so low that it can not longer flow downstream from the hydroelectric dam holding it in.
The Washington Post May 12, 2022
Supermassive black hole seen at the center of our galaxy

The first image of the black hole located at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy, called Sagittarius A*, was unveiled today by the international Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. The discovery would not have been possible without the groundwork and heavy lifting provided by UArizona scientists and facilities. Feryal Özel, a professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Arizona and a founding member of the international Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, joined a panel of EHT researchers in describing and answering questions about this new scientific discovery.