News

Alaskan megaeruption may have helped end the Roman Republic

June 22, 2020

For ages, the shadow of a volcano has hung over the fall of the Roman Republic. Ancient historians told of the Sun’s mysterious disappearance after Julius Caesar’s murder in 44 B.C.E., which was followed by bouts of cold and crop failures. Now, a team of scientists and historians has discovered that one of the largest known eruptions in history struck in 43 B.C.E.—potentially contributing to 2 years of weird weather and famine as the republic dissolved and the empire took shape.

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UA professor’s research on Chinese rivers lands him three awards

June 20, 2020

University of Arizona history professor, UNESCO chair in Environmental History and former director of the UA's Global Studies Program David Pietz is in a class of his own, winning three prestigious titles rewarding him for his seminal research in Chinese water conservation. 

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Why are so many fires ravaging the Southern Arizona wilderness?

June 20, 2020

From the Bighorn Fire continuing to burn through the beloved Catalina Mountains to the human-caused Bush Fire near Phoenix, now deemed as the largest current fire in the U.S., fires are taking a toll on the wilderness of Southern and Central Arizona.

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Breakdown of the 'behavior' of Bighorn Fire

June 19, 2020

 number of factors that contributed to how big the Bighorn Fire has been and where it's burned on the mountains.

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Will the iconic saguaro cactus start to disappear from parts of the Southwest?

June 18, 2020

The saguaro cactus, an iconic symbol of the Southwest and a key cultural touchpoint to desert tribal peoples such as the Tohono O’odham, may one day begin to fade from some parts of the Sonoran Desert as natural and human-caused factors reshape the landscape.

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Conservation groups sue to protect habitat for imperiled Mount Graham red squirrel

June 18, 2020

Conservation groups sued the Trump administration last week saying the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have failed to adequately protect the imperiled Mount Graham red squirrel. 

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No end in sight for Asarco copper strike, but critical ruling lies ahead

June 16, 2020

The strike against Tucson-based copper producer Asarco by unions representing about 1,800 workers in Arizona and Texas is in its eighth month, with no talks underway or planned.

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Researchers say there are positive benefits to wildfires

June 15, 2020

Researchers at the University of Arizona said some fire is necessary to create habitats.

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Impact of monsoon after wildfires

June 15, 2020

Researchers at the University of Arizona said it's because stabilizing materials for the ground, like plants and trees, are burnt.

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Banner experts: How smoke from fires can affect your health

June 15, 2020

With the onset of the Big Horn and Tortolita wildfires in Pima County, Banner – University Medicine experts share tips on how to protect yourself, family and pets from smoke and reduce exposure.   

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