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Science

New study finds less than 10% of Americans have antibodies against novel coronavirus

By Amit Syal

Now nearly seven months into the global pandemic, the world has seen a wide gamut of strategies to battling the coronavirus. In Sweden, the futile attempt to induce herd immunity led to a sharp increase in the number of deaths nationwide. In the U.S., despite nearly 7.5 documented infections and over 200,000 reported deaths, a new study published in The Lancet on Sept. 25 found that under 10% of Americans have antibodies against the coronavirus. Read more

UA COVID-19 Test Tracker

Daily (9/25)
944 31 3.3%
Total (8/4)
35,583 2,255 6.3%
Includes tests since August 4, 2020
Data from https://covid19.arizona.edu/updates
Updated September 25, 2020

Researchers hope to combat spread of invasive species of grass

Buffelgrass, an invasive species in the Sonoran Desert, causes wildfires to burn hotter and longer, damages the soil and its nutrients and out-competes native desert species. The grass, brought to the United States from Africa and southern Europe, was meant to revitalize the over-grazed cattle ranges of the Midwest, but once rooted, it spread to the dry Southwest, where it thrives and threatens native ecosystems.  Read more

UA program addresses youth e-cigarette use

Would you ever smoke cigarettes? What about e-cigarettes? JUUL Labs, a e-cigarette company, has exploded in popularity in the past few years, according to a report by Tobacco Control, especially with youth.  Read more

Take a peek at the red planet

The red planet is coming – closer, that is. On Tuesday, July 31, Mars will be closer to the Earth than it has been in decades. The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, in partnership with Steward Observatory and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, will be holding a “Mars Magnified” event for the public on July 31, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Read more

High school students learn importance of environmental health

The Environmental Scholars Summer Bootcamp gives high school students an opportunity to voice their concerns on environmental topics and have a hands-on approach. They can write a grant proposal that lets them carry out their projects through funding from the University of Arizona. The eight-day bootcamp is offered through the UA’s Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center and is open to all high school students seeking to become familiar with the topic of environmental health.  According to the College of Pharmacy’s website, the summer camp is modeled after successful science camps which lets students learn and create real-world connections between toxicology and the environment. Read more

New Metaphysical Shop Celebrates the First Day of Summer

Before science could explain the natural phenomenon, the summer solstice was commemorated all across the globe. Even now, many Tucsonans and cultures around the world mark the day in honor of the sun and the life it has made possible. The summer solstice, which occurs roughly around June 21, is the longest day of the year—more than six hours longer than the winter solstice in December. Read more

UA regents professor Carol Barnes elected to prestigious National Academy of Sciences

Carol Barnes, a University of Arizona Regents' Professor of Psychology, Neurology and Neuroscience, one of the world's leading experts on brain aging, has been elected a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. She was one of only 84 new members elected and the only new member from Arizona to be recognized by this private, nonprofit organization of the country’s leading researchers. Read more