News

The final four candidate sample collection sites shown on a map of asteroid Bennu. They are designated Nightingale, Kingfisher, Osprey and Sandpiper. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

NASA Mission Selects Final Four Site Candidates for Asteroid Sample Return

Aug. 12, 2019

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has mapped Bennu to identify the best spots for the spacecraft to collect a sample. The final two sites – a primary and backup – will be selected in December.
The Hubble Space Telescope took this image of Abell 370, a galaxy cluster 4 billion light-years from Earth. Several hundred galaxies are tied together by gravity. The arcs of blue light are distorted images of galaxies far behind the cluster, too faint for Hubble to see directly. (Image: NASA, ESA, and J. Lotz and the HFF Team/STScI)

Virtual 'Universe Machine' Sheds Light on Galaxy Evolution

Aug. 8, 2019

By creating millions of virtual universes and comparing them to observations of actual galaxies, a UA-led team present a powerful new approach for studying galaxy formation.
University of Arizona researchers designed a fleet 35 of space telescopes dubbed Nautilus that will search a thousand worlds for the chemical signatures of life. (Image: Daniel Apai)

A New Lens for Life-Searching Space Telescopes

Aug. 6, 2019

UA researchers have designed a telescope that is a cheaper, lighter and more powerful option than creating telescopes using ever-larger mirrors.
From left: Senior Research Scientist Xiangxia Luo and Andrew Capaldi, associate professor of molecular and cellular biology, examine cell lines they built that allow them to turn the TOR and PKA pathways on and off using drugs. (Photo: Michele Vaughan)

Control Theory: Mother Nature is an Engineer

Aug. 6, 2019

Engineering principles developed only 150 years ago were found to have evolved first in biological circuitry that controls cell growth, according to new UA research.
Astronomers think that the expansion of the universe is regulated by both the force of gravity, which acts to slow it down, and a mysterious dark energy, which pushes matter and space apart at faster and faster speeds. In this artist's conception, dark energy is represented by the purple grid above and gravity by the green grid below. Gravity emanates from all matter in the universe, even dark matter. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Dark Matter, Dark Energy Focus of Early Career Research Award

July 31, 2019

Two UA astronomers received Early Career Research Awards from the Department of Energy to to investigate the nature of the expanding universe and other dark mysteries.
Kennedy Nyairo, Tech Launch Arizona licensing manager for the College of Optical Sciences, gets a demo of the eSight system from inventor Hong Hua. (Photo: Paul Tumarkin/Tech Launch Arizona)

UA Inventions Help Legally Blind to See

July 30, 2019

Low vision can have an immense impact on quality of life for individuals who are legally blind or have impaired eyesight. Thanks to technology developed in the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, a system from eSight Corporation is allowing people to see.
UA Tech Park at Rita Road

UA Fueling Rapid Tucson Tech Growth

July 28, 2019

Tucson has enjoyed a 90% jump in technology jobs over the last five years, making it one of the top up-and-coming tech markets in North America, according to CBRE.
A wood engraving by Eduard Riou depicts a landscape view of the Pliocene. The image was etched in the late 1800s, when CO2 levels hovered around 295 ppm. (Image: Welcome Library/CC BY 4.0)

Ancient Plankton Help Researchers Predict Near-Future Climate

July 28, 2019

Temperature data from the Pliocene, an era with CO2 levels similar to today's, could be used to understand the climate shifts of the near future, according to UA geoscientist.
A traditional phoropter.

Automated Eyesight Testing May Make 'Better One or Better Two?' Obsolete

July 23, 2019

Using phoropter technology developed at the UA James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, startup iCrx aims to shorten and ease visits to the eye doctor.
Andean bear cub (Photo: Angela Parra)

UA Researchers Aid in Andean Bear Conservation Efforts

July 23, 2019

UA Ph.D. student Ivan Mauricio Vela-Vargas led an effort to collar an Andean bear nicknamed Xué. The bear's movements will help scientists learn more about the vulnerable species.
Future space tourists take in the view during a "Saturnset tour" on one of Titan's lakes of liquid methane (Image: NASA/JPL)

Travel to Alien Moons with UA Expert Guides

July 21, 2019

Humans first explored the Earth’s moon 50 years ago, an impressive feat for sure. But what would it be like to visit some of the other moons in our solar system?

$3M in NASA Funding to Help Students Build CubeSats

July 16, 2019

Thanks to $3 million in NASA funding, underrepresented students will have the opportunity to build miniature satellites to help scientists study the surface of asteroids.