Arizona Science

Researchers studying prostate cancer have found introducing the disease in mice does not always produce accurate results.

Researchers are investigating ways to use waste from fossil fuels to create a new class of advanced plastics. University of Arizona chemistry professor Jeff Pyun talks about how scientists are changing the way companies are thinking about plastic production. He will be the final speaker for the College of Science free lecture series next Wednesday.

The University of Arizona-backed James Webb Space Telescope has opened new insight about planets outside our solar system. UA planetary scientist Sara Moran reveals the latest knowledge about exoplanets and the bizarre materials that make up their atmospheres. Dr. Moran is one of the featured presenters in the 2024 College of Science lecture series.

Each ring on a tree stump can mark a complete cycle of the seasons, dating back thousands of years. University of Arizona researcher Charlotte Pearson talks about how trees have recorded events through time, from floods to solar storms. She will give a talk on the subject next Wednesday at the College of Science free lecture series.

Scientists began developing theories about black holes more than a hundred years ago. University of Arizona professor Sam Gralla explains why the existence of black holes continues to raise questions about the basic concepts of physics. He will be the leadoff speaker for this year's College of Science lecture series next week.

Animals are filling a growing need in the field of therapy and service work. University of Arizona veterinary medicine researcher Maggie O'Haire notes it isn't always dogs who are best suited to help people with physical disabilities and mental stress.

Treatments for COVID-19 are effective, but it's better if you can avoid getting the coronavirus in the first place. University of Arizona epidemiologist Kacey Ernst discusses the challenge of keeping people aware of vaccinations against COVID and other infectious diseases.

University of Arizona forestry expert Don Falk talks about how woodlands might adapt to changes in climate.

REPEAT. Cochlear implants can open a world of possibilities by restoring a sense of sound and speech. Retired University of Arizona honors professor Ted Glattke is taking the latest research in auditory science to small towns in Mexico, helping children overcome hearing issues.

REPEAT. Studies into Alzheimer's disease have found men's and women's brains age differently, except when men develop prostate cancer. University of Arizona neurology professor Roberta Brinton discusses research on who is more likely to develop Alzheimer's and describes how menopausal hormone therapy might provide a key for treatment.

The key to better cybersecurity might be found in a beehive. University of Arizona Ecology and Evolutionary Biologist Anna Dornhaus talks about the strategies bees and ants use to direct collective behavior, and applying those methods to computer software to create better cybersecurity.

Archeologists don't always focus on stone statues and drawings on walls. University of Arizona anthropologist Ed Jolie explains why items like clothing, baskets, nets or string made from organic material can also tell us a lot about ancient civilizations.

Some experts think putting more effort into making artificial intelligence more intelligent is better than worrying about it making mistakes. University of Arizona computer scientist Mihai Surdeanu talks about how keeping A. I. systems in check is creating new opportunities for people inside and outside the technology sector.

REPEAT. Recycling wastewater has proven successful in places as diverse as the International Space Station and Disneyland.

The University of Arizona built Giant Magellan Telescope is expected to start scanning the heavens within the next decade. U of A astronomer Buell Januzzi reveals how the telescope's size and scale will put it above other Earth-bound telescopes in its ability to find hidden details between the stars.

A team of University of Arizona faculty and undergraduate students are working together finding facts about exploding stars. UA Astronomy professor Brenda Frye describes what makes supernovae special and what they can tell us about our own Sun.

A devastating earthquake that struck what's now the northwestern corner of the United States 1,100 years ago is still part of native American legend in the region. University of Arizona tree ring researcher Bryan Black is leading a team discovering more about the event, and reveals how linked fault lines beneath the Earth's crust might pose a further threat to the region in the present day.

REPEAT: Researchers have found non-white Hispanics live longer and have better health outcomes than people from other ethnic and cultural groups.

Researchers continue to explore ways Arizona and the Southwest can draw water from unique sources. University of Arizona environmental engineering professor Kerri Hickenbottom discusses how what was formerly called treated wastewater plays a role in providing water for both irrigation and human consumption.

REPEAT: The U-S Surgeon General says loneliness and social isolation can have a devastating impact on mental and physical health

Cochlear implants can open a world of possibilities by restoring a sense of sound and speech. Retired University of Arizona honors professor Ted Glattke is taking the latest research in auditory science to small towns in Mexico, helping children overcome hearing issues.

Studies into Alzheimer's disease have found men's and women's brains age differently, except when men develop prostate cancer. University of Arizona neurology professor Roberta Brinton discusses research on who is more likely to develop Alzheimer's and describes how menopausal hormone therapy might provide a key for treatment.

REPEAT: The University of Arizona-backed OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will return its long-awaited sample of rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu this week.

Planetary scientists are re-targeting the Osiris-REx spacecraft for a close encounter with the asteroid Apophis in 2029. New principal investigator Dani DellaGiustina talks about plans to use the robot explorer's instruments for another spectacular mission.

With climate change already impacting much of the weather around the world, what difference will it make in the Southwest monsoon? University of Arizona environmental sciences professor Mike Crimmins talks about the weather patterns that determine monsoon activity in our region and in other spots around the world.