Meet Horst Hahn, a global leader in materials science now guiding the University of Arizona’s role in the STARFIRE Hub. He’s driving innovation in fusion tech to help make clean, sustainable energy a reality. More: tinyurl.com/3echvtay

Meet Bane Vasić, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the U of A. His quantum research reduces errors in fragile qubits, helping advance scalable quantum computing for machine learning, agriculture and cybersecurity. More: tinyurl.com/43njvwjv

In a new episode of It’s an Honor, Dean John Pollard speaks with Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, SVP for research and partnerships at the U of A, about fusion energy, AI and health, security and space science, and the mentors and persistence that shaped his career. Listen now: tinyurl.com/bdhtdr5b

A U of A–led study linked PFAS in drinking water to higher infant mortality and preterm births, costing the U.S. $8 billion each year. The findings suggest major health and economic benefits from PFAS cleanup. More: tinyurl.com/mtbkda8f

A galaxy called Virgil, seen just 800 million years after the Big Bang, looks ordinary in visible light but infrared observations uncover a dust-shrouded, overmassive supermassive black hole growing faster than its galaxy. More: tinyurl.com/48ds4t5t

After volcanic eruptions in Iceland, @uarizonalpl.bsky.social researchers studied what happens when life starts from scratch. They found that microbes quickly colonize freshly cooled lava, surviving extreme conditions and laying the foundation for new ecosystems.

New research from the U of A revisits TRAPPIST-1e, a nearby Earth-sized exoplanet in the habitable zone. Webb data showed possible methane, but follow-up analysis led by Sukrit Ranjan indicates the signal may originate from the host star. More: tinyurl.com/ycrjb8ve

The U of A Office of Research and Partnerships named John Schaibley, associate professor of physics, as its first Faculty Fellow for Quantum. He will coordinate and expand quantum research, launch a strategic planning effort and bring together researchers across disciplines. tinyurl.com/55abka77

A new @uarizona.bsky.social study in Nature Biomedical Engineering found a previously unknown immune cell type that drives fibrosis. Blocking its signaling reduced scarring and improved healing, which could lead to new fibrosis treatments.

U of A researchers are using tree-ring science to study ancient solar storms and major earthquakes. With the TIME Lab’s advanced radiocarbon techniques, the team is uncovering patterns that may improve predictions of space-weather hazards and seismic risks. More: tinyurl.com/5x3mmakh

The U of A received $917,000 to study immune-based ways to prevent keratinocytic skin cancers. The study will identify early immune signals in sun-damaged skin to guide new topical interventions that stop cancer before it begins. More: tinyurl.com/hth28r5c @uazcancercenter.bsky.social

What if a bandage could sense an infection before it becomes visible? Dr. Geoffrey Gurtner and his team are developing smart bandages that use sensors and AI to monitor wounds and guide early treatment. Learn more from his Q&A. More: tinyurl.com/4sbbnaup

The University of Arizona operated @uahirise.bsky.social camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the closest image of comet 3I/Atlas, only the third interstellar object ever detected. bit.ly/49nQ7qh

U of A researchers found that firefighters who battled the massive urban fires in the Los Angeles area in January 2025 developed physiological changes that may increase their risk of diseases, including cancer. More: tinyurl.com/58epebw5 @uazcancercenter.bsky.social

EarthScape brought astronomy and art together in an amazing, cross-campus collaboration, where faculty from science and fine arts used dance, music, and vivid visuals to tell the story of Earth’s birth and our place in its future. More: tinyurl.com/ywzahk9y

U of A researcher M. Maya Kaelberer received a $1.5 million NIH New Innovator Award to study how maternal diet shapes offspring food preferences by exploring how gut-brain signals through cells called neuropods form “nutritional memory.” More: tinyurl.com/bdfkunez

Congratulations to Joaquin Ruiz, Biosphere 2 director. He has been named chevalier in the French National Order of Merit, recognizing his leadership in science and his impact on global environmental research. More: tinyurl.com/3kywfudp

At Biosphere 2, a researcher lived for two weeks inside the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars, sharing air with 144 dwarf pea plants. The experiment measured how humanity might one day live and breathe beyond Earth. More: tinyurl.com/4xvy6au4

The U of A Superfund Research Center received a $14.8 million renewal grant from NIEHS. This funds new research into how toxic mine dust and fungal spores affect lung health in mining communities across the Arizona-Sonora border. More: tinyurl.com/35tj2ynr @uazhealthsciences.bsky.social

Countdown clock in @stewardobservatory.bsky.social for our NASA Pandora Space Telescope: T-60 days!! Our team is getting ready for the launch of this incredibly exciting mission to explore worlds beyond the Solar System! #exoplanets @uazresearch.bsky.social @uarizonalpl.bsky.social

A new refuge for the endangered Sonoyta pupfish has been established at the @uarizona.bsky.social’s Biosphere 2, where 48 fish were released into a custom desert stream to protect the species and support student research. More: tinyurl.com/47xf65uy

Welcome Linda Bixby, the University of Arizona’s new chief research partnerships officer. A national leader in innovation and cross-sector collaboration, Bixby will guide efforts to expand partnerships that accelerate research and real-world impact. More: tinyurl.com/ynz46xnf

A U of A College of Medicine - Tucson preclinical study led by Jennifer Stern finds glucagon, a hormone long known for its role in metabolism, is crucial for the benefits of calorie restriction and may help slow the aging process. More: tinyurl.com/35ya63zj

Dr. Jason A. Wertheim has been appointed associate vice president for research and partnerships – health research at @uarizona.bsky.social . He will lead health research initiatives and partnerships in AI-driven care and precision medicine. More: tinyurl.com/559n8ry9

Congratulations! Three U of A faculty have been honored by the AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association). Justin Starren was named a distinguished fellow. Jose Fernando Florez-Arango and Vignesh Subbian were elected as fellows. More: tinyurl.com/29bruh6w

U of A researchers used AI to model skin cancer and identify tumor proteins that could trigger strong immune attacks. The work could guide personalized cancer vaccines. More: tinyurl.com/2s4k89yb @uazcancercenter.bsky.social @uazhealthsciences.bsky.social

The U of A Office of Research and Partnerships has launched Convergence Point, a newsletter connecting our research community through stories of discovery and collaboration. ✔️ Read: tinyurl.com/ejf62x5a ✔️ Subscribe: tinyurl.com/t48s8uys

A new planetarium dome show has gone global! More than 100 planetariums have downloaded “Big Questions: Astrobiology,” which focuses on the University of Arizona’s role in pursuing answers to the questions of the universe. More: tinyurl.com/48c2ff3k @azastrobiology.bsky.social

A University of Arizona study reveals that Tucson's aquifer has dropped more due to human pumping since the 1940s than from natural climate changes over the past 20,000 years. More: tinyurl.com/ywzfbjwd

Meet Karletta Chief, Diné hydrologist and director of the Indigenous Resilience Center. She’s been named the first recipient of the Agnese Nelms Haury Endowed Professorship in Indigenous Resilience for her work in climate, justice and Indigenous research. More: tinyurl.com/yxxchxex

A U of A research team will receive nearly $2.7 million from the NIH’s Common Fund Venture Program to advance next-generation imaging technologies that allow deeper, clearer views inside the body without the need for invasive procedures. More: tinyurl.com/bdctxjnc @uazcancercenter.bsky.social

A $6.5M NCI Outstanding Investigator Award to Dr. Dan Theodorescu at the @uazcancercenter.bsky.social will advance research into why losing the Y chromosome can make some cancers more aggressive and uncover treatment targets. Read more: tinyurl.com/4b6a9tdr

An asteroid impact 4.3 billion years ago formed the Moon’s largest and oldest crater: the South Pole-Aitken basin. New research led by U of A scientist Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna reveals the impact also left a unique radioactive signature. More: tinyurl.com/3xcurvnx

The U of A ranks No. 1 in the Southwest and among the top 25 U.S. public universities in Times Higher Education’s 2026 World University Rankings, placing in the top 7% globally for excellence in research, teaching and industry impact. More: bit.ly/46L96cB

University of Arizona researchers launched the Heat and Health Resilience Innovation Consortium to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat. More: tinyurl.com/3wabkt82

At the U of A’s Biosphere 2, scientists are studying how microbes and plants transform volcanic rock into living soil. The Big Idea Challenge research could guide both Earth’s sustainability and the future of life on Mars. More: tinyurl.com/5h6t4rc8

New U of A-led research uses tree-ring drought records to create the first-ever 1,000-year climate reconstruction of summer jet stream patterns across the entire Northern Hemisphere. More: tinyurl.com/uhvk42fh

Big news for the University of Arizona and BIO5! 👏 Researchers & community leaders gathered to celebrate the installation of two of the most advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems available today! More: bio5.org/news/univers... @uazresearch.bsky.social @uazhealthsciences.bsky.social

A drug used to treat anemia might hold the key to better nerve healing. U of A researchers found that erythropoietin speeds up recovery from nerve crush injuries in mice by helping cells clean up damage and rebuild protective coverings. More: tinyurl.com/2tyh6sn7

Farm workers in extreme heat are facing more than dehydration. U of A researchers studied a group of farm workers over a summer and found that high levels of arsenic, cadmium and chromium in the urine were linked to increased signs of kidney injury. More: tinyurl.com/3w66cye5

Beth Meyerson (@bethmeyerson.bsky.social) is leading a national clinical trial to improve methadone treatment quality. By reducing clinic staff stress, the study aims to boost patient retention and expand access to life-saving care. More: tinyurl.com/bzfd5eyv

A @uazcancercenter.bsky.social researcher received a $1.7M grant to continue the Convergent Science Virtual Cancer Center, with the University of Southern California, training researchers to address cancer risks in military communities. More: tinyurl.com/4nsxvp9r

The @uarizona.bsky.social and the @unm.edu received a seven-year, $43.6 million federal grant to fund a broad range of research programs aimed at improving the health of people living in Arizona and New Mexico, while also training the next generation of scientists and staff. tinyurl.com/3s22mdxm

Astronomers captured the first image of a growing planet clearing a gap in a young star’s disk. The discovery, of WISPIT 2b, was led by @uarizona.bsky.social astronomer Laird Close using the MagAO-X system. Read more from SPACE.com: tinyurl.com/6b5wwffx

A new study using fire-scarred trees and data collected by University of Arizona tree-ring researchers has documented extensive fire management practices by Western Apache people that significantly reduced the climate's influence on fire activity across their homeland. More: tinyurl.com/6x26dh2e

A drug that helps people with MS walk may also help bones heal faster. Researchers U of A College of Medicine - Tucson, found 4-aminopyridine sped up fracture repair in mice by enhancing bone-forming gene activity and boosting BMP2 production. More: tinyurl.com/ye25at5e

Sairam Parthasarathy, MD, director of the Center for Sleep, Circadian and Neuroscience Research, is putting sleep at the center of health care, from peer support programs to wearable tech and AI, to improve how we sleep and live. More: tinyurl.com/2s3nwuym

Researchers at @uarizona.bsky.social modified the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel to more effectively target breast and pancreatic cancer tumors in preclinical models while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Published in Nature Cancer. More: tinyurl.com/mry24k4r @uazcancercenter.bsky.social

A new study shows a “gut sense” that connects the colon to the brain. A team co-led by M. Maya Kaelberer, PhD, found that neuropod cells detect bacterial fragments and signal the brain when food is present, helping regulate appetite. More: tinyurl.com/mvv3y79b

Krishna Muralidharan, PhD, has been named director of the @uarizona.bsky.social Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing. He will lead advanced research and workforce efforts focused on integrated photonics, co-packaged optics and campus-wide collaboration. More: tinyurl.com/2hvu7deh