Arizona Science Desk

A space historian explores the human fascination with Mars
Matt Shindell is a space historian and a space history curator at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. His book, "For the Love of Mars: A Human History of the Red Planet," came out last year.
Feb. 28, 2024
How bad is the Western megadrought? Scientists look to tree rings
Dendrochronologists found that high temperatures in the 21st century make the current drought unprecedented compared to other dry periods around the Colorado River across the past 500 years.
Feb. 28, 2024
A little beetle is causing big problems for Phoenix pine trees
If you’ve noticed a lot of the big, beautiful old pine trees around the Phoenix area turning brown and dying off, there's more than one reason why that's happening. As The Show has reported before, it’s because of age and drought and our changing climate in the Valley but, it’s also because of a tiny brown beetle.
Feb. 27, 2024
Arizona astronomer weighs in on recent lunar spacecraft landing
Lunar company Intuitive Machines launched a private spacecraft onto the moon. The probe made its touchdown on the moon’s surface Thursday.
Feb. 26, 2024
More than 100 saguaros were transplanted in Trumps rush to build border wall. Many have died
Saguaro cactuses typically endure in the Sonoran Desert for 150 to 200 years — unless their lifespan is cut short. A recent government report found that in the rush to put up a border wall, that’s exactly what happened.
More Arizona politics news
Feb. 26, 2024
Q&AZ: Are Gila monsters legal as pets in Arizona?
Through KJZZ’s Q&AZ reporting project, a listener asked on social media if it's illegal to keep Gila monsters as pets and breed them in Arizona.
Feb. 23, 2024
How new air quality standards could affect areas like south Phoenix
In addition to the new standard to lower the acceptable level of fine-particle pollutants in the air, the EPA is also working to put monitoring stations in what it calls "overburdened communities."
Feb. 22, 2024
2 additional measles cases confirmed in Maricopa County
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has identified two new cases of measles in the Valley. They’ve been linked to an international visitor who tested positive for the disease earlier this month.
Feb. 22, 2024
Tech giants pledge action against deceptive AI in elections
Tech giants including Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon, X, OpenAI and TikTok unveiled an agreement on Friday aimed at mitigating the risk that artificial intelligence will disrupt elections in 2024.
Feb. 22, 2024
What new EPA standards for fine-particle pollutants mean for county
The EPA recently introduced stronger standards for reducing one of the most common contaminants in Maricopa County’s air: Particles so tiny, they’re only about as big as a human hair is wide.
Feb. 21, 2024
Menopause inspired new non-lethal rodent control
The Show spoke with Dr. Loretta Mayer, Flagstaff scientist and the co-founder of the nonprofit WISDOM Good Works, is working to change rodent control by controlling their fertility.
Feb. 20, 2024
Scientists are rethinking how we get Valley fever after new data from air monitoring
Dr. Dave Engelthaler, a TGen researcher, joined The Show to talk about new findings that may make scientists rethink what they know about Valley fever.
Feb. 19, 2024
NAU receives $13 million to expand semiconductor research and training
A $13 million investment into Northern Arizona University by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) will allow the institution to expand semiconductor training and research.
Feb. 19, 2024
VR poised to change the way health providers interact with patients
Virtual reality has been used in health care for several years, and the release of Apple's Vision Pro headset has renewed interest in the field, challenging health care professionals to innovate new ways to treat and talk with patients.
Feb. 15, 2024
Public places IDd as possible measles exposure locations
An international visitor to the Valley recently tested positive for measles. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health has identified two public places where people might have been exposed in late January.
Feb. 14, 2024
Professor says Neuralinks brain implant tech has a lot of potential
The Show spoke with Bradley Gregor, a professor in the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, about Elon Musk's new technological developments with his company Neuralink.
Feb. 14, 2024
Psilocybin treatment could be offered in licensed centers under new bill
Sen. T.J. Shope said his SB 1570 legislation is a way of providing treatment in a clinical setting for those who are struggling with things like post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.
Feb. 13, 2024
MAG launches survey to understand travel patterns with phone app
The Maricopa Association of Governments is trying to forecast future transportation needs in the region. The first step is a public survey via smartphone app.
Feb. 13, 2024
ASU professor is using new tool to find missing U.S. soldiers
The Show spoke with Christopher Nicholson, associate research professor at ASU, about archaeologists working with the federal government to try and find the remains of U.S. service members still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
Feb. 13, 2024
Maricopa County health department confirms measles case
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed a measles case Saturday from an international visitor as cases of the highly infectious disease rise across the U.S. and overseas. Officials became notified of the matter through routine lab reporting.
Feb. 10, 2024

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