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University of Arizona


Discovery marks the first detection of variable water clouds outside of our solar system

Researchers have confirmed that water clouds on a Jupiter-sized world outside our solar system are changing thickness over time, similar to weather on Earth. The James Webb Space Telescope captured the most detailed time-series portrait of the object's atmosphere, revealing complex processes that govern its behavior.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 8, 2026

Loss of Y chromosome in men could be early warning sign of cancer

Researchers found that the loss of the Y chromosome in healthy-seeming tissue can serve as an early indicator of cancer development. The study analyzed 1,000 tissue samples from 405 men and discovered that Y chromosome loss increased in normal tissue adjacent to tumors, particularly in organs like the colon, rectum, and esophagus.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJCI Insight·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 18, 2026

Soft and stretchy or rock solid? New modeling study sheds light on how the Earth got its moon

Researchers used state-of-the-art computational techniques to reveal fundamental differences in moon formation from a Mars-sized object and Earth 4.5 billion years ago. Material strength of the two ancestral bodies matters in the process, changing how researchers think the planetary collision happened.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 8, 2026

Bacterial trial fails to demonstrate early asthma prevention

A national trial found that treating young children with an oral bacterial extract did not reduce the risk of severe wheezing and respiratory illnesses that can precede asthma. The ORBEX trial, led by the University of Arizona, tested the preventive potential of OM-85, a treatment that had shown promise in earlier, smaller studies.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Lancet·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2026

Study: Generative AI succumbs to conversational misinformed pressure and argument

Researchers at the University of Arizona assessed seven generative AI models for fallibility, persuadability and correctability during lengthy conversations. The study revealed intrinsic limitations of these models, including oscillation between accepting and rejecting false statements, and the need for careful human engagement to miti...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 4, 2026

Molecules link lower weight babies and chronic diseases

Babies born with low birth weight are at higher risk for heart, lung, and metabolic diseases later in life due to the overexpression of axon guidance proteins. These proteins play a key role in developing neurons and organs, and their increased levels are associated with poorer lung function in adulthood.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 2, 2026

Climate change is now causing more local extinction in temperate regions than the tropics, surprising study shows

A global study of over 5,100 species reveals that climate change is transforming ecosystems and threatening species across the globe. Temperate species are experiencing more local extinctions than tropical species due to faster warming rates, with temperate regions losing up to 49% of their species.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 18, 2026

Antibiotic proves ineffective in treating wheezing in young children in the emergency room

A study led by University of Arizona researchers found that azithromycin did not improve symptoms in preschool children with severe wheezing. The trial results challenge the idea that certain types of bacteria contribute to wheezing and asthma, suggesting that viral infections play a more significant role.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 18, 2026

Cosmic blowtorches: How quasars shut down star formation in the early universe

A team at the University of Arizona discovered exceptionally fast and powerful galactic winds from quasars a billion years after the Big Bang. These winds could have caused galaxies to lose gas supplies, effectively shutting down star formation. The study suggests that quasars with extreme outflows were more common in the early univers...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateMay 7, 2026

U of A research finds improved weather forecasts could reduce heat deaths as climate warms

Researchers found that more accurate weather forecasts can significantly reduce heat-related deaths. The study suggests that technological advancements in forecasting can offset projected increases in heat-related fatalities due to climate change. In fact, the economic value of saving lives through improved forecasting is substantial a...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2026

New U of A study expands pesticide risk window to before pregnancy

A new University of Arizona study found that exposure to certain pesticides before pregnancy is associated with lower Apgar scores, a measure of newborn health. The study suggests that pesticides can affect the next generation, highlighting the importance of regulating pesticide use to improve maternal and child health.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 13, 2026

Cosmic predators: How supermassive black holes slow star growth in nearby galaxies

A study using the James Webb Space Telescope found that supermassive black holes can suppress star growth not only in their host galaxy but also in neighboring galaxies within a million-light-year radius. This discovery reveals a larger impact of quasars on galaxy evolution, contradicting previous assumptions.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 16, 2026

New study identifies key predictors of PFAS levels in US career firefighters

A new study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has identified clear occupational factors and demographic indicators associated with elevated serum levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances among US career firefighters. The research provides vital insights into the factors that influence PFAS body bu...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateFeb 2, 2026

Kissing the sun: Unraveling mysteries of the solar wind

A University of Arizona-led research team has measured the dynamics and ever-changing hot gas shell from where the solar wind originates. The study helps scientists answer fundamental questions about energy and matter moving through the heliosphere, affecting space weather events and planetary orbits.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 29, 2026

Life on lava: How microbes colonize new habitats

Research reveals that single-celled organisms are among the first to colonize newly formed lava environments, thriving in scarce water and nutrient conditions. As diversity stabilizes over time, rainwater plays a critical role in shaping microbial communities, suggesting an unexpected link between weather phenomena and life on Earth.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 18, 2025