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Audio files in Lauren McCluskey case

On Jan. 17, 2019, the University of Utah released audio recordings from the Department of Public Safety in the Lauren McCluskey case as the investigation has reached a point where these recordings can be made public. Names of dispatchers, private info and telephone numbers, addresses and dates of birth have been redacted. The first nine […]


U develops first dark sky studies minor in the U.S.

The W. M. Keck Foundation has awarded $250,000 to the University of Utah to establish a new undergraduate minor in dark sky studies, the first of its kind in the United States. Dark sky studies is an emerging field that explores the impacts of artificial light at night and the loss of our night skies […]


Spintronics “miracle material” put to the test

When German mineralogist Gustav Rose stood on the slopes of Russia’s Ural Mountains in 1839 and picked up a piece of a previously undiscovered mineral, he had never heard of transistors or diodes or had any concept of how conventional electronics would become an integral part of our daily lives. He couldn’t have anticipated that […]


RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE REGARDING CAMPUS SAFETY

In an op-ed article in today’s Salt Lake Tribune, the parents of Lauren McCluskey raised important questions and understandable concerns about campus safety and whether the university’s public safety, student housing and other departments did everything they could to prevent the crime that took their daughter’s life. Lauren’s friends, teachers and all the other members […]


Longevity primarily hereditary in extremely long-living families

Longevity is heritable, but that primarily applies to persons from families where multiple members are among the top 10 percent survivors of their birth cohort. The key to a long life can probably be found in the genes of these families. These are the conclusions of researchers at Leiden University Medical Center, together with their […]


Researchers identify genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects one in 10 women of reproductive age. It is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, facial hair or acne and an increased number of eggs arrested in development. Many women also suffer from weight gain, Type 2 diabetes and depression. While first characterized by the medical community in the mid-1930s, few […]


Dust on Snow

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are famous for having “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” Snow-seekers in pursuit of world-class skiing and snowboarding contribute over a billion dollars annually to the economy. Snowmelt also provides the majority of water to rapidly growing populations along the Wasatch Front, including Salt Lake City. Understanding what controls snowmelt timing and magnitude […]


U chemistry in SPAAAAAAACE!

If humanity is going to push the boundaries of space exploration, we’re going to need plants to come along for the ride. Not just spinach or potatoes, though—plants can do so much more than just feed us. A science experiment aiming to demonstrate plants’ capabilities in space has arrived at the International Space Station and […]


University of Utah announces actions to improve campus safety and security

University of Utah President Ruth Watkins announced Wednesday actions to improve campus safety in response to an independent review team’s findings and recommendations related to the Lauren McCluskey case. The measures focus on training and education, staffing and improved communication processes. To read the university’s response, click here. They include: Adding staff in the University […]


Researcher Receives $2.5M to study Alzheimer’s disease from Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative

Jason Shepherd, assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at University of Utah Health, is one of 17 recipients of the inaugural Ben Barres Early Career Acceleration Award from the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative. The Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, and his wife Priscilla Chan to provide new solutions to human disease. A […]