Landslides triggered by intense rainfall can sometimes be predicted along with incoming storms, but dry-season landslides often take people by surprise. The July 2023 Rolling Hills Estates landslide that destroyed 12 homes seemed to come out of nowhere, but new research shows it began as early as December 2022. Researchers are developing a database that will enable scientists to plug in new data to monitor potential landslides in real time and possibly predict them.
The heat-related death toll this summer is expected to rise amid unprecedented temperatures. California’s latest record-breaking heat wave apparently claimed a life on Saturday in one of the state’s prisons, where indoor temperatures reportedly reached the high 90s.
Planetary scientists are proposing a new definition of a planet to replace one that many researchers view as sun-centric and outdated. The current definition, established in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), specifies that to qualify as a planet, a celestial body must orbit the sun within our solar system.
Virtually all study respondents on the political left and more than 75% on the right supported allowing children to play with both traditionally “girl” and “boy” toys. Those on both sides of the political spectrum also supported the idea that girls should be able to aspire to traditionally male pursuits. However, while most left-wing activists supported the idea of a child living in a way that does not align with their birth sex, most right-wing activists rejected the idea.
This summer, the UCLA Film & Television Archive presents a diverse lineup that includes a celebration of LGBTQIA+ cinema, pioneering independent science fiction films, historical television and big-screen treasures, weekend matinee programming for families, and more.
A new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research indicates that Californians experiencing housing insecurity face significantly higher rates of psychological distress. The research, based on data from the 2022 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), reveals that nearly half (45%) of individuals who described their housing as unstable reported experiencing psychological distress in the past year.
Long-lasting heat waves are affecting the western United States, increasing health risks and the potential for wildfires. Daniel Swain discussed these extreme summer conditions during a "weekend edition" of YouTube "Office Hours" on Saturday, July 6 at 3 p.m. PT.
The UCLA Alumni Association board of directors has elected eight members and four officers whose terms began on July 1. The volunteer-led board comprises 12 alumni who collaborate with alumni affairs staff to further the association’s mission of enriching the lives of alumni globally and involving them in UCLA’s future.
Physicists have long sought to unlock the secrets of raising the energy state of an atom’s nucleus using a laser. This breakthrough could enable the development of nuclear clocks, which would be more accurate than current atomic clocks and facilitate advances in deep space navigation and communication. It would also allow scientists to measure whether fundamental constants of nature are indeed constant or simply appear so due to imprecise measurements.
A UCLA-led project aimed at fostering connections among cultural, creative, and technology sectors will facilitate a nationwide workshop series to gather ideas that link research and innovation in these fields. Supported by an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the workshops will guide planning for a national conference in December, hosted by UCLA.
Selecting specific cells for investigational therapy led to improved heart function recovery in a new study using a lab model for myocardial infarction, the medical term for heart attacks. Researchers at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA and Columbia University developed a sorting method grouping stem cells based on their vesicle release involved in cellular communication. Treatment with high-secreting cells restored heart function to a state similar to pre-myocardial infarction damage.
Two new members have been elected to The UCLA Foundation board of directors this year, along with a new board chair. UCLA alumni Edward Barnett and Matt Kaczmarek, who began their terms on March 7, join Cheryl Lott, a current board member whose election as chair was announced in January and who will begin her two-year tenure on July 1.
The UCLA Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) has announced its 2024–25 season, set to begin on September 21. The season will feature over 30 projects from artists worldwide, held at various venues throughout Westwood and Los Angeles.