Will COVID-19 plague us forever? Here’s what the experts say

Given the ineffectiveness of vaccines against the omicron variant and the number of people worldwide who aren't vaccinated, medical sociologist Richard Carpiano believes the coronavirus isn't likely to become endemic, like the flu, any time soon. 
The Orange County Register | January 9, 2022

Mapping Teotihuacan’s Past, Present, and Future

Anthropologist Nawa Sugiyama explains how actions from the past affect decisions in present day Mexico. Thousand-year-old underground sediments made people unconsciously follow the same construction patterns through time, he found.
EOS | January 6, 2022

Let's respond like Romans to the Jan. 6 attack on the capital

History professor Michele Renee Salzman writes that politicians must publicly acknowledge their responsibility for the Jan. 6 attack on the capital, and that if they cannot acknowledge their guilt they should be removed.
Zocalo Public Square | January 6, 2022

Mystery of abandoned Mayan lost cities deepens with plant discovery

Archaeologist Scott Fedick and plant physiologist Louis Santiago demonstrate that the Maya had nearly 500 edible plants available to them, many of which are highly drought resistant. These findings cast dought on drought as the reasons for the collapse of ancient Maya civilization.
Yahoo News | January 5, 2022

Taking a step back: US colleges returning to online classes

Chancellor Kim Wilcox says a couple weeks of remote instruction at the start of the quarter is the best way to prevent the virus from spreading after students return from holiday travel.
Associated Press | January 1, 2022

Op-Ed: My people aren’t Joan Didion’s true Californians, and I have felt this so keenly

Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing Susan Straight writes about Joan Didion's passing and her perspective on the IE. 
The Los Angeles Times | December 28, 2021

Op-Ed: How my family grew with Christmas at the movies

Associate Professor of Creative Writing Michael Jayme writes about going to the movies on Christmas day, and the not-so-pleasant memories that evoke from his childhood — the ones that have shaped him into who he is as an adult.  
The Los Angeles Times | December 25, 2021

Duffy & Jennings’ THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER adaptation among the 2021 Hugo Award winners

Media professor John Jennings‘ graphic novel adaptation of Octavia E. Butler‘s The Parable of the Sower was an award winner. 
The Beat | December 21, 2021

Amazon Is Rolling Back COVID Protocols in Its Warehouses. Workers Say It’s Premature

Ellen Reese, professor and chair of labor studies, finds that the nature of Amazon warehouse work makes adhering to social distancing and sanitizing rules nearly impossible.
The Markup | December 21, 2021

What you eat affects taste preference, according to new study

Researchers Anindya Ganguly, Manali Dey, and Anupama Dahanukar find in a study performed on flies that what you eat influences your taste for what you might want to eat next. 
New Food Magazine | December 20, 2021

Mariachi icon Vicente Fernandez’s death hits Inland Empire fans hard

Assistant Professor of Music Xóchitl Chávez talks to Southern California New Group Columnist David Allen regarding Mexican singer Vincente Fernández's death and his "cross-cultural and cross-generational" influence.   
The Press Enterprise | December 15, 2021

NT/ ‘Magic wand’ reveals a colorful nano-world

Ming Liu and Ruoxue Yan, associate professors in the Bourns College of Engineering, developed a unique imaging technology that will help scientists see nanomaterials in enough detail to make them more useful in electronics and other applications.
Medium | December 15, 2021

What to know about smart devices for the garden

Southern California News Groups talks to R'Garden Manager Richard Zapien regarding smart devices for the garden. 
The Press Enterprise | December 13, 2021

‘Pollution everywhere’: how one-click shopping is creating Amazon warehouse towns

To track precisely how much the warehouse boom has impacted air pollution, non-profit organizations in the area as well as researchers from UC Riverside, have been fitting residents with wearable air quality trackers.
The Guardian | December 13, 2021

LA Times Today: Redemption for ‘Real Women Have Curves’ director Patricia Cardoso

Patricia Cardoso, UCR theater and film professor, speaks about the long overdue recognition both she and her film "Real Women Have Curves” are getting from the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The Los Angeles Times | December 9, 2021

How Elon Musk can save big on taxes by giving away a ton of his Tesla stock

Eric James Allen, assistant professor of accounting, discusses the benefits of giving away stocks directly rather than selling appreciated investments.
Yahoo News | December 9, 2021

Equilibrium/Sustainability — Wildlife officials move to feed Florida manatees

Biomedical scientist Changcheng Zhou led a study linking cardiovascular disease in humans to plastics. The study was published as environmental groups file suit, asking the Food and Drug Administration to eliminate phthalates from plastic food packaging and processing materials.
The Hill | December 8, 2021

NASA Astronaut Program Picks Bioengineer Who Taught At UCR

Christina Birch taught bioengineering in Riverside, and is now a member of NASA's 2021 astronaut class.
Patch | December 8, 2021

Water-strider-inspired robot may one day clean up oil spills

Chemists Zheiwei Li and Yadong Yin created a prototype of a sunlight-powered robot that may one day be able to swim across marine oil spills, soaking up oil as it goes. 
New Atlas | December 6, 2021

Hawaii’s Avocado Farmers Are Bracing For A New Threat

Entomologist Mark Hoddle avocado says the avocado lace bug appears to be more aggressive in tropical climates like Hawaii, and causes more damage in humid conditions than it does at cooler temperatures.  
Honolulu Civil Beat | December 5, 2021