A change in Jupiter's orbit could make Earth even friendlier to life

UCR Earth and planetary scientists Pam Vervoort and Stephen Kane simulated alternative arrangements of our solar system, finding that when Jupiter's orbit was more flattened  —  or 'eccentric'  —  it would cause major changes in our planet's orbit too. And these changes could impact Earth's ability to support life for the better. 
Space | September 14, 2022

DRIED UP: In Utah, drying Great Salt Lake leads to air pollution

David Lo, School of Medicine senior associate dean for research, finds negative health impacts from dust emanating from the shrinking Salton Sea. As hotter temperatures cause more lakes to dry up, people all over the world could face similar problems.
The Hill | September 13, 2022

Life On Earth Is Good, But It Can Be Better

If Jupiter's orbit changes, a new study led by UCR astrophysicists Stephen Kane and Pam Vervoort shows Earth could be more hospitable than it is today.
Forbes | September 10, 2022

Column: Has a UC Riverside researcher created the Holy Grail of drought-tolerant lawns?

Jim Baird, head of UC Riverside’s Turfgrass Research & Extension program, has been developing grass that needs 50% less water than most lawns in Southern California, is soft enough to use for recreation, attractive enough for customers to want to buy, and keeps a healthy green tone during the winter, when most other lawns go dormant.
LA Times | September 9, 2022

People should still be cautious about COVID-19 ahead of possible fall surge

Richard Carpiano, UCR public policy professor and medical sociologist tells KCBS Radio's "Ask an Expert" that the best ways to beat a fall surge of COVID-19 infections are not to get lulled into a false sense that the pandemic is over, and to get an updated booster shot.
MSN / KCBS Radio San Francisco | September 9, 2022

Scientists think they have found a solution to one of the oldest problems in the universe

Yanou Cui, UCR professor of physics and astronomy and Zhong-Zhi Xianyu, assistant professor of physics at Tsinghua University, China, may have found a way to answer a fundamental question. Since matter and antimatter annihilate each other on contact, and both forms of matter existed at the moment of the big bang, why is there a universe made of matter rather than nothing at all? 
Yahoo News | September 9, 2022

If you think your preparation will help you later, you will probably be right, a new study says

A UCR study showed that happy people are more satisfied with their jobs and report having greater autonomy in their duties. Additionally, they perform better than their less happy peers and receive more support from coworkers. These attributes, in turn, can prolong life. 
CNN Health | September 5, 2022

Weevil pheromones could save California’s avocado orchards

Avocado weevils can destroy entire avocado orchards. A team from UCR, including entomologist Mark Hoddle and insect pheromone expert Jocelyn Millar, are working to create a scent that can be used to disrupt the weevils' mating patterns, and prevent reproduction. 
Earth.com | September 3, 2022

Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet leader who paved way for end of Cold War, dead at 91

Political scientist Paul D'Anieri is quoted in an article on the legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet president who died this week. 
USA Today | August 30, 2022

Scientists Discover New Trigger for Mass Extinction of All Deep Ocean Life

A UCR-led study of ocean currents spanning 540 million years, the largest timeframe ever for a study of this kind, shed light on the impact of continental configurations in ocean oxygen circulation. The results revealed that the position of continents can cut off the oxygen supply to the deep sea, sparking mass die-offs in these habitats.
Vice | August 17, 2022

Perspectives in Black Health: No One is Going to Save Us, We Must Save Ourselves

Director of Community Engagement and Outreach for the Center for Healthy Communities at UCR, Michelle Burroughs, created a film to encourage people to take charge of their health by becoming active participants. She also hopes it will change the narrative from emphasizing health disparities and disproportionality to highlighting how the Black community can forge health equity and empowerment. 
The IE Voice | August 17, 2022

Formosan Termites Confirmed in Two New Southern California Locations

Formosan subterranean termites, a non-native species, continue to be on the radar of pest management professionals in Southern California following confirmation of two more infestations – confirmed by Dr. Chow-Yang Lee and researchers from his lab at UCR's Department of Entomology. 
Pest Control Technology | August 12, 2022

Water Week: Access To Clean Drinking Water

More than 25 million Americans don't drink water that meets federal health standards according to a study conducted by The Guardian. Native American households are 19 times more likely to lack indoor plumbing. Kurt Schwabe, professor of public policy, is interviewed about the push to help improve access to clean water for all Americans. 
National Public Radio | August 8, 2022

As More People Use Cannabis, Doctors Need to Learn How to Diagnose and Treat Cannabis Allergies

Senior Associate Dean of Research at UCR's School of Medicine, David Lo, comments on the need for clinicians need to learn how to diagnose and manage cannabis allergies.
Medscape | August 5, 2022

Does Palm Springs have a windy season? And are windstorms becoming stronger?

Though Palm Springs does have a windy season, William Porter, assistant professor of atmospheric dynamics and modeling, hasn't seen a trend over the past 10 years toward increasingly big windstorms.
Desert Sun | August 4, 2022

Campus program for Latine students expands to UC Riverside

The Daily Californian interviews Laura McGeehan, director of academic preparation, recruitment and outreach with UCR's Graduate Division regarding the program that will allow more Latine students to conduct environmental research at UCR.
The Daily Californian | August 4, 2022

The Coronavirus Has One Strategy We Can’t Vaccinate Against

As new coronavirus variants arise, they may be steadily improving their ability to resist interferons, our bodies' immune defense system. However, UCR Virologist Juliet Morrison explains that there's likely a ceiling to how interferon-resistant the coronavirus can become. 
The Atlantic | August 4, 2022

Officials drafting plan for oak-killing beetle in San Bernardino National Forest

Mark Hoddle, director of UCR’s Center of Invasive Species Research, says a certain beetle has been ruinous to the Cleveland National Forest northeast of San Diego, where dead trees increased the risk of fire, limbs dropping and resulted in the closure of hiking trails and campsites.
Victorville Daily Press | August 3, 2022

What Language Reveals About the Quality of Relationships

Research from UC Riverside psychologist Megan Robbins has established a strong correlation between the frequent use of pronouns like ‘we” and “us” and the quality of romantic relationships.
Medium | July 29, 2022

Is THIS the cure for baldness? Researchers discover protein at the root of hair loss ... and believe it can be manipulated to regrow a lost head of hair

Mathematical biologist Qixuan Wang said her research has moved scientists one step closer to 'controlling' the mechanisms causing baldness.
Daily Mail | July 28, 2022