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University of Nevada, Las Vegas


Study: Hospital wastewater reveals drug-resistant fungus strains months before patients show symptoms

Researchers used wastewater surveillance to detect drug-resistant Candida auris strains up to five months before patients showed symptoms, opening a new frontier for hospitals. The study found higher detection rates and concentrations of the pathogen in hospital wastewater compared to community-scale treatment plants.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 20, 2026

Study: New explanation for unique ‘negative superhump’ features of deep-space binary star systems

A team of astrophysicists offers a new explanation for negative superhumps in cataclysmic variable star systems, proposing an eccentric accretion disk model. This theory explains the prevalence of negative superhumps across a wide range of binary star masses and may also explain positive superhumps in high mass ratio systems.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2026

Saving sea lions with soft robotics

Researchers at UNLV have created a 3D-printed synthetic California sea lion pelvic region, enabling medical professionals to conduct blood collection training on anatomically authentic models. This innovation has the potential to improve veterinary procedures and benefit human lives in the long run.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 25, 2026

Pair of distinct black hole mergers reveals details on how they form and evolve

Two distant black hole mergers, measured one month apart in 2024, provide insights into the nature and evolution of deep-space collisions. The mergers validate fundamental laws of physics predicted by Einstein and furthers the search for new elementary particles with potential to extract energy from black holes.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeObservational study·DateOct 28, 2025

Study: Fossils reveal reliable record of marine ecosystem functioning

Fossilized marine invertebrates accurately reflect past ecosystems' functional diversity, offering a powerful tool for understanding long-term ecological change and informing modern conservation efforts. The study supports the growing field of conservation paleobiology by validating the use of functional diversity metrics in fossil data.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 26, 2025

Annual Alzheimer's clinical trials pipeline report shows increased reason for optimism

The annual Alzheimer's disease drug development pipeline report, led by Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, highlights an increase in active clinical trials and promising drugs, offering reason for optimism. The report assesses 138 drugs currently being studied and notes the growing importance of biomarkers in clinical trials.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·TypeSystematic review·DateJun 3, 2025

Study: The evolutionary origins of poor long-term decision making

A new study led by UNLV anthropologist Brian Villmoare models thousands of generations to understand why animals, including humans, prioritize short-term benefits over long-term returns. The research suggests that organisms choose a more distant reward only if it's substantially higher and has a high degree of reliability.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalPLOS One·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 12, 2024

Watershed moment: Engineers invent high-yield atmospheric water capture device for arid regions

Researchers develop innovative technology to capture large amounts of water from the air in low humidities, addressing water scarcity in drought-stressed Southwest. The device can generate up to three times more water than existing approaches, with potential for solar power and commercial use.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 24, 2024

Massive merger: study reveals evidence for origin of supermassive black hole at galaxy’s center

UNLV astrophysicists found evidence suggesting the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, Sgr A*, is likely the result of a past cosmic merger. The study utilized data from the Event Horizon Telescope's 2022 observation of Sgr A* to investigate various growth models and demonstrated that the misaligned spin prop...

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateSep 6, 2024

Alzheimer’s drug development pipeline: Positive results, new insight on biomarkers position 2024 as ‘learning year’

The Alzheimer's disease treatment landscape is experiencing a significant shift, with numerous potential drugs making their way through clinical trials. Biomarkers have also emerged as a key area of focus, providing valuable information on the drug's impact and allowing for more precise guidance in future trials.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 24, 2024

Jumbo discovery: astronomers offer new model for formation of recently discovered “free-floating” planets

Researchers introduce a new model that suggests dense stellar clusters can eject pairs of giant planets, which remain gravitationally bound to each other as they float through space. This discovery fills a critical gap in our understanding of planetary evolution and challenges prevailing theories of planet formation.

Alzheimer’s drug development pipeline: promising therapies, pharma investment drive momentum in clinical trials

The Alzheimer's disease development pipeline has seen an increase in promising therapies and pharma investment, driving momentum in clinical trials. The pipeline currently has 187 clinical trials, with recent FDA approvals for two disease-modifying therapies, and more on the way.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·TypeSystematic review·DateMay 25, 2023

Frenchman mountain dolostone: 500 million-year-old grand canyon rock layer finally gets a name

A team of researchers from UNLV has named a previously unexplored 500 million-year-old Grand Canyon formation, the Frenchman Mountain Dolostone. The new formation was identified through scientific detective work and is now understood to have been deposited over an interval of 7.3 million years during the Cambrian Period.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalGeosphere·TypeObservational study·DateMay 3, 2023

New study reveals potential link between two of astronomy’s most mysterious phenomena

Researchers have discovered a possible correlation between gravitational waves from neutron star mergers and fast radio bursts, two phenomena long shrouded in mystery. The study found that an observed FRB occurred just 2 ½ hours after a neutron star merger event, suggesting a potential link between the two events.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2023

Study: Live chat boosts college women’s class participation

A recent UNLV-led study discovered that women enthusiastically embraced live chat during pandemic Zoom classes, with ratings showing significantly higher engagement than men. The researchers hope this data can help colleges incorporate technology into hybrid and in-person courses to increase underrepresented groups' access to STEM fields.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 19, 2022

Astronomers unveil new – and puzzling – features of mysterious fast radio bursts

A new study by an international team of scientists has discovered a complex, dynamically evolving, magnetized environment around a fast radio burst source. The findings challenge current understanding and suggest that the source may be located in a region without significant star-forming activity, defying expectations.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateSep 21, 2022

Low pressure, high stakes: UNLV physicists make major gains in race for room-temperature superconductivity

A team of UNLV physicists has replicated room-temperature superconductivity at the lowest pressure ever recorded, building on their 2020 landmark discovery. By tuning the composition of carbon, sulfur, and hydrogen, scientists have produced a material that retains its state of superconductivity at lower pressures.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalChemical Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 3, 2022

Smoke break: UNLV study strengthens link between smoking and increased fracture risk in men

A UNLV study analyzed nearly 30,000 broken bone cases and found that smoking increases the risk of breaking a bone by as much as 37%. The study also found that men are more likely to experience fractures, particularly in the wrists, spine, and shoulders, due to nicotine's negative impact on bone cells and calcium absorption.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalScientific Reports·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 8, 2022

Research in brief: Science one step closer to "turning off" seizures, sleep disturbances linked to intellectual disability

Researchers have identified a key brain protein to target for new customized drug therapies treating adverse symptoms of developmental disorder subtypes. The study found that mutations in ARHGEF9 lead to intellectual disability through impaired α2 subunit function, which is a central hub for many neurological symptoms.

Study: COVID tech took a toll on work-from-home moms

A new UNLV research study found that remote work technology exacerbated stress and mental health issues among working mothers with children. The study suggests that asynchronous communication methods like email may be more effective in alleviating stress, while synchronous forms like video chats and texting can hinder multitasking.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalCommunication Reports·TypeSurvey·DateNov 19, 2021