Science

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Health officials warn of possible measles exposure in Flagstaff
Health officials in Coconino County are warning of a possible measles exposure in Flagstaff, with one case already confirmed.
It does more damage than it does good: Doctor says Arizona has it right on daylight saving time
Arizona's clocks, of course, stay on the same time year-round — Dr. Michael Grandner says that’s likely better for our sleep and overall health.
Mar. 12, 2024
New book from NPR Science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce takes a personal turn
NPR Science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce has a new book called, “Transient and Strange: Notes on the Science of Life.” KJZZ's Tom Maxedon spoke with her about it.
Mar. 8, 2024
UA student leads research into planet formations using Webb telescope
A study published in the The Astronomical Journal provides new insight into how planets are formed. With contributions from members of the University of Arizona, the findings were based in part on observation of a young star known as T Cha.
Mar. 8, 2024
GCU  hosts Forensic Science Day to grab interest from prospective students
Seniors in Grand Canyon University's forensic science program took part in an event on Thursday to get prospective students interested in the field. More than 1,000 high school and community college students filed into the campus arena to check out various booths and activities.
Mar. 7, 2024
Toilet to tap may be one way to help ease the water crisis
"Toilet to tap" is a catchy phrase used to simplify the idea of putting recycled and purified water back into the drinking supply. The real process is far more complex, resulting in water that's in some cases more pure than bottled water. It's also one solution ADEQ is looking into to help ease Arizona's growing water troubles.
Mar. 6, 2024
How we talk about opioids can affect a patient’s treatment
Policymakers have tried to mitigate the opioid crisis, with steps like limiting the number of pills physicians can prescribe and the types of providers that can prescribe them. Peter Torres says his research suggests how patients and their doctors talk about opioids could also play a role.
Mar. 6, 2024
Dehydration a greater threat than heat stress in bees
A new study examined how honey bees behave in high temperatures. The study found that while heat is a danger, the biggest threat was the possibility of the bees drying out.
Feb. 28, 2024
CDC relaxes some of its COVID-19 safety protocols
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people with no symptoms, but who test positive, do not need to quarantine.
Mar. 1, 2024
Why one ASU student is concerned about the universitys OpenAI partnership
Arizona State University announced earlier this year that it would partner with OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT. In a new column in the State Press, student Katrina Michalak asks whether the potential benefits of the new arrangement are worth the potential risks to students.
Feb. 29, 2024
What would happen without a leap day? More than you might think
Leap year. It's a delight for the calendar and math nerds among us. So how did it all begin and why? Have a look at some of the numbers, history and lore behind the (not quite) every-four-year phenomenon that adds a 29th day to February.
Feb. 29, 2024
How topological acoustics can help us better understand a warming climate
The University of Arizona recently received a $30 million grant from the National Science Foundation. It’ll use the money to create a new center called New Frontiers of Sound. The project will bring together scientists in the area of topological acoustics.
Feb. 28, 2024
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. 24, 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. 14, 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. 22, 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