UA students' zero-g experiment hunts origin of earthly life

HOUSTON - UA students in Houston for an elite NASA program chose to perform an experiment this week that's been done countless times - but never in zero gravity.

Oddest thing: It's almost like being in love

Elton John sang "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids," but let's face it: He probably never experienced reduced gravity.

Lens idea might yet prove to have weight

HOUSTON - Some University of Arizona students participating in an elite NASA program didn't just learn the hard way on Tuesday that outcomes aren't always what you expect. They learned the weightless way.

UA students in NASA program to test their work in microgravity

HOUSTON - Designing groundbreaking experiments and being accepted into an elite program alone would have most students floating on air. But after working for months to perfect their ideas, two teams of University of Arizona students are at NASA's Johnson Space Center this week to literally g…

UA studies forces on bones as kids grow, move about

Adam Foster never envisioned his research would involve chasing children around a lab setting, but so far, it's been pretty fun.

Infection lets whiteflies thrive

In a situation reminiscent of Spider-Man, a team led by UA researchers has discovered sweet-potato whiteflies - a common crop pest - experience "instant" evolution when infected with Rickettsia bacteria, which allows them to thrive better than uninfected whiteflies.

UA-linked galaxy discovery could yield clues to universe

A group that includes a University of Arizona astronomer has discovered a galaxy believed to have formed just after the Big Bang. With stars dating back 13.5 billion years, the galaxy - which hasn't been named - was created only 200 million years after the Big Bang, astronomers believe, and …

UA thin-carbon research holds major potential

Got a pencil? There's a good chance the "lead" you're using is made of the world's thinnest substance: graphene.

'Tweezers' stretch UA gene studies

Cells control the way genetic information plays out in several ways, but University of Arizona researchers have found their own way to manipulate genes: by stretching DNA.

Dry ice is prompting new look at Mars

Scientists may be one step closer to unraveling the mystery of Mars' current atmosphere thanks to a dry-ice discovery.

UA looking at air-storage system as alternative green-energy source

Solar power and wind energy are popular in the green movement, but when there's no wind or sun, there's no power.

The hidden ways of trees

The way trees grow and forests form might seem completely random, but a University of Arizona scientist and his team have discovered it's a lot more calculated than you might think.

Near-Ice Age site yields ancient dwelling, remains

A team that includes two UA archaeologists has made an unusual discovery for North American archaeology: a central Alaska dwelling dating to the end of the last Ice Age, when Asia and North America were connected land masses.

UA-led team solves age of mysterious text

It's still unknown who wrote it and what it means, but a UA-led team has solved one mystery of the "Voynich manuscript" - its age. Through radiocarbon dating, a team led by University of Arizona physicist Greg Hodgins determined the manuscript dates to the early 15th century, 100 years earli…

UA teams give heavy thought to paper planes

When asked what made this year's contest different, Ryan Crompton grinned.

UA effort links saving water, eco-restoration

Desert dwellers are often reminded to take shorter showers, buy water-efficient appliances and choose xeriscape over lush lawns.

UA engineering team studies Haiti buildings that survived for clues

While most Haitians still struggle daily a year after an earthquake killed more than 300,000 people and devastated the island's largest cities, officials are slowly beginning to consider rebuilding metropolitan areas.

Manduca sexta may help answer evolutionary biology mystery

Turns out some moths are good for more than hogging the lamplight or putting holes in your favorite sweaters. They may help scientists answer an important mystery in evolutionary biology: How do organisms decide to use their limited resources?

Science and art are fused into one

Peter Rose sees the science around him at Biosphere 2. But to Rose, science also is art.

UA psych professor among ad's 'Rock Stars of Science'

Scientists and rock stars usually don't have much to do with each other - unless you're Eric Reiman. The University of Arizona psychiatry professor is part of a six-page ad dedicated to "Rock Stars of Science" in this month's issue of GQ magazine.

UA-linked effort aims to retool workings of Net

The Internet lets us watch television shows, connect with friends and even have groceries delivered if we don't want to brave the store. It's used for just about everything - but that doesn't mean it's perfect.

Public access for telescope data in works

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope is an impressive astronomy project that will allow scientists to conduct sophisticated research with cutting-edge data.

UA sharing in Web-based plant studies

If you think Wikipedia can't be scientifically analyzed, look no further than Sudha Ram.

Global water projects keep UA group busy

Dave Newman e-mailed a village in Ghana last week to offer advice about water pumps.

Preserving body parts is a labor of love at UA's Plastination Lab

Joshua Lopez gently peels transparent covering from a metal tray in his lab. His actions are fluid, like he's undoing gift-wrap he plans to reuse. He has good reason to be careful: Inside the plastic bundle is a human head.

Astronomer-painter-writer regularly covers a lot of space

William K. Hartmann sees the big picture. Talk to him about his varied interests - Spanish conquistadors, space artist Chesley Bonestell, archaeology, the environment - and you'll see.

Closer look at star finds nearby 'dwarf'

University of Arizona astronomer Laird Close understands the value of double-checking your work.

Bio5 symposium gives teachers a lift

In one room, Essy Levy hands out small glass vials and colorful posters about biotechnology as she explains the importance of biofuels.

UA-linked research points to possible cancer 'marker'

A group that includes a local researcher is one step closer to understanding how cancer cells work. The group studied 200 breast-cancer-tissue samples provided by Nhan Tran, a UA graduate and associate investigator at the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

UA expert: Poor social skill, depression possibly linked

If you're depressed, your internal wiring may not be the only culprit. Local research suggests it might be more than biology.

KEYS program helps students explore science

During the time of year when students' brains are shutting off, Tricia Hindley is busy learning how they work.

UA-Desert Museum camp gives kids an idea of how planet works

Middle-schoolers chatter as Maria Yannessa opens a carrying case. She reaches inside and grins.

Tucson group has evidence of big, ancient lake on Mars

A mapping project by Tucson's Planetary Science Institute suggests the possibility that a large lake existed on Mars between 3.5 and 4.5 billion years ago.