Why you should divide your life into semesters, even when you’re not in school

Dividing the future into “semesters” — traditionally 15 to 17 weeks long at American colleges — can help people plan incremental objectives in service of a larger goal, according to Rachel Wu, an associate UCR professor of psychology. It can also help older people feel younger by remembering their college years. 
Vox | August 21, 2023

Why you should divide your life into semesters, even when you’re not in school

Time-management lessons learned in school can help you with setting goals, according to UCR psychologist Rachel Wu.
Vox | August 21, 2023

Why Are Avocados So Fickle?

Story features UCR botanists Mary Lu Arpaia and Eric Focht’s newly released Luna UCR avocado breed, which boasts a “sweet, sort of floral characteristic.” 
Slate | August 19, 2023

It's Not Just Earthquakes — Fracking Also Linked to Small Tremors, Study Finds

While past studies have linked fracking to earthquakes, UCR seismologist Abhi Ghosh and his colleagues now say the drilling method is also a source of even small seismic tremors.

Essay: Why British post-punk matters to U.S. Latinidad

Richard Rodríguez, a UCR professor of English, writes about post-punk music and why despite some thoughts to the contrary, the music does not erase but enhances Latinx fans' identities. 
The Los Angeles Times | August 11, 2023

Wildfires Are Threatening Beloved Joshua Trees In The Mojave Desert

Lynn Sweet, UCR research ecologist, joins the Air Talk show to discuss how wildfires increasing in frequency and severity are threatening native plants, including Joshua trees.
LAist / KPCC 89.3 FM | August 9, 2023

You Might See a New Kind of Avocado at the Grocery Store Soon

The Luna, a new avocado breed developed by UCR agricultural scientists Mary Lu Arpaia and Eric Focht, features a rind that turns a tell-tale black when ripe.
Allrecipes | August 9, 2023

Most Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans are unhappy with China, poll shows

Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and director of AAPI Data, a policy research center at UCR, says that people coming from more authoritarian regimes left for a reason, and that it is therefore not surprising they may hold negative views of their countries of origin.
USA Today | July 29, 2023

Three months ago they unionized. Now a strike by Amazon contract drivers is heating up

The model with which large employers like Amazon subcontract work to other companies is becoming increasingly common, said Ellen Reese, chair of the labor studies program at UCR Riverside. Under this structure, Reese said, it becomes more difficult for workers to exercise their rights and bargain collectively with their employers.
The Los Angeles Times | July 28, 2023

Scientists unveil new avocado variety known as the "Luna"

After a half-century of breeding and development, UCR has released the Luna avocado. Mary Lu Arpaia, a UC Cooperative Extension horticulturist based at UC Riverside and a co-inventor of the Luna UCR said the fruit has very good storage quality, and it ripens very well.
Axios | July 24, 2023

Sadly, Many Happiness Studies Are Flawed

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a UCR social psychologist, comments on the importance of making sure researchers have less room to manipulate data from studies.   
The Wall Street Journal | July 20, 2023

What we can learn from the botanical gardens of Southern California

Susan Straight, a novelist and distinguished professor of creative writing at UCR, reflects on the ways botanical garden intertwine with her family’s memories.
Orange County Register | July 19, 2023

The nostalgia of rock en español and its early fight for democracy

Jorge N. Leal, assistant professor of history, pens this in-depth look at the sociopolitical impact of Spanish-language rock music.
The Los Angeles Times | July 14, 2023

Shifting where data is processed for AI can reduce environmental harm

The environmental impact of large, power-hungry AIs could be reduced by better distributing the demands to different locations, according to Shaolei Ren, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
New Scientist | July 13, 2023

Immigrant Doctoral Candidate Manifests Value of Representation

UCR doctoral student Carlos Galan found through interview with Latinx people that they tend to find the professoriate almost by happenstance.

Why tires — not tailpipes — are spewing more pollution from your cars

Heejung Jung, a professor of mechanical engineering, explains the concern behind a previously understudied source of air pollution: tires and brakes.
The Washington Post | July 9, 2023

The Avocado Heights Vaquer@s and the preservation of a lifestyle

Alfonso Gonzales Toribio, ethnic studies professor and director of UCR's Latino and Latin American Studies Research Center, comments on the Avocado Heights activists who are mobilizing their equestrian community to fight expansion and preserve their rural way of life.
Los Angeles Times | July 9, 2023

How to Make a Staycation Feel Like an Actual Break

UCR psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky outlines the three buckets that tend to be linked to happiness in this article about making the most of your time off.
The New York Times | July 8, 2023

UC Riverside’s new entomology garden is an outdoor classroom

UCR professors Erin Wilson Rankin, Quinn McFrederick, Nicole Rafferty, and Hollis Woodard helped establish the Entomology Teaching Garden, which students will use for training and research.
The Press-Enterprise | July 5, 2023

‘Race Neutral’ Is the New ‘Separate but Equal’

Uma Mazyck Jayakumar, an associate professor in the UCR School of Education, writes about the future of college admissions in light of the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.
The Atlantic | June 29, 2023