A recent UCLA-led study focuses on identifying human-caused climate patterns in the middle and upper stratosphere. The research discovered that temperature drops in the stratosphere over the last thirty years were not due to natural causes but rather were instigated by human activities. According to the study, cooling in the middle and upper stratosphere is a consequence of human-caused increases in greenhouse gases, which cause heat to be retained more effectively in the troposphere, the lowest level of the atmosphere.
Benjamin Santer, a climate scientist at UCLA who led the study, stated that this discovery is the clearest evidence of human intervention in the climate system he has seen in his 30-year-long career. He further added that this finding directly contradicts disinformation campaigns that blame climate change on natural factors. "Hundreds of researchers worldwide have demonstrated that climate changes on the land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere are not consistent with natural variation," he said.
The
Sepulveda Transit Corridor for All (STC4All)
recently launched an Ambassador program to engage UCLA students and raise awareness about the forthcoming Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC) project. The STC project is a future LA Metro rail line that will connect the San Fernando Valley (SFV) to the Westside of Los Angeles and beyond. In a recent radio interview, UCLA alumni and students discussed why they are advocating for an accessible and equitable STC that would not only improve the lives of 2,500 students and 7,500 employees traveling from the SFV to campus daily, but could serve all Angelenos seeking access to education, jobs, and healthcare. To learn more about STC4All and ways to get involved, visitstc4all.org.
“TRACtion: Transformative Research and Collaboration” is a new approach to community–researcher collaboration that seeks to match the university’s academic expertise with the wisdom and perspectives of community groups and advocacy organizations. Recently, TRACtion released their Working Groups Synthesis report.
Earlier in the year, UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge in collaboration with the Institute of Transportation Studies launched TRACtion and assembled five working groups comprised of UCLA faculty, researchers, and community partners. Their task was to identify the greatest barriers to transforming transportation in the Los Angeles region and develop a shared vision for a “just transition.” The synthesis report is an interim summary that documents the TRACtion research development process to date.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, UCLA transitioned to remote instruction, resulting in fewer people on campus. This provided scientists with a rare opportunity to observe the behavior of dark-eyed juncos, a species of birds that resides on university grounds. The researchers discovered that following the return of campus life to normal in 2022, these birds appeared to be less fearful of humans than before or during the pandemic. This finding defied the expectations of scientists, who had anticipated that the birds would be more apprehensive of people after a prolonged period of limited human interaction.
The Latin American Institute at UCLA held its first K-12 teacher workshop in Mexico, where teachers learned about Indigenous history and culture of Oaxaca. This unique and immersive program was designed to help Los Angeles teachers better understand their students' diverse backgrounds, as many come from Oaxacan-origin families. “I cannot take my students to Oaxaca,” said Karina Villalvazo Bañuelos, who participated in the program and teaches at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights. “But I can bring Oaxaca to my students.” With the knowledge gained from the monthlong workshop, teachers plan to incorporate Oaxacan culture into their classroom instruction.
Chem Kids, a weeklong summer camp program offered through UCLA Recreation’s summer programs, taught organic chemistry to 10-12 year olds. Led by Professor Neil Garg and his doctoral students, the high-energy sessions included puzzles, games, and ice cream-making, all tied to real-life applications of organic chemistry. The program aims to inspire young students to pursue STEM and problem-solving, and the survey results showed that over 90% of campers believed other kids their age could learn organic chemistry.
As Southern California braces for more heat waves this summer, the city of Los Angeles has launched its most comprehensive and equitable response ever, thanks in part to partnerships with student, faculty and staff researchers from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Tools like interactive mapping interfaces are helping the city allocate resources to historically underserved communities. And research has helped ensure that city resources like cooling centers are being deployed in areas with high numbers of low-income residents and communities of color — groups that tend to be disproportionately affected by hot weather but whom previous heat-mitigation efforts often failed to reach.
While mushroom coffee may still be considered a niche drink, its popularity is undeniable as evidenced by the millions of search results and social media posts about it recently. However, just because something is popular online doesn't necessarily mean it's effective. This is especially true for health-related claims about mushroom coffee, which suggest that adaptogens found in certain mushrooms can reduce stress and inflammation. Mushroom brews may have some health benefits, but many are unproven. Experts also caution that there may be potential downsides and it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle.
The Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology offers comprehensive support for cancer patients and their loved ones. With almost 30 years of experience and a holistic approach to care, the Center has become a national model for cancer treatment. Their integrated care concept focuses on patients' physical, psychological, and spiritual needs, with most services provided free of charge. With a recent gift by the Simms/Mann Family Foundation, in partnership with UCLA Health, the Center has expanded the reach of its whole-person approach to all 20 UCLA hematology/oncology clinics. Patients can receive support in person, through telehealth, and with online resources.
A research team co-led by UCLA investigators have found that a combination of immunotherapy drugs can be an effective second-line treatment for patients with an aggressive and deadly form of melanoma that is unresponsive to widely used immunotherapy drugs called PD-1 inhibitors. The combination can help to increase progression-free survival and overcome resistance to previous immunotherapies. This study compared the combination to the current standard therapy. The results are promising and should be recommended for patients who have not responded to prior treatment.
