An international team of astrophysicists – including UNLV’s Bing Zhang – recently reported in Nature the discovery of a unique cosmological gamma-ray burst that defies prevailing theories of how the violent cosmic explosions form. This “oddball” burst led the team to propose a new model, or source, for certain types of bursts.
Research professor Kristen Averyt has been named the director for drought and Western resilience for the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Averyt has a long record working on different facets of the climate issue, including U.S. western water resources, the energy-water nexus, and climate resilience and adaptation.
Engineering professor Jeremy Cho earned a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation for his work using hydrogels to harvest fresh water from the air. Cho’s research is advancing unique technology that pulls water from ambient air, even in arid climates like Southern Nevada.
KUNV Radio 91.5 FM was named 2022’s local smooth jazz station of the year by the national Smooth Jazz Network. KUNV is housed in the UNLV Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies.
UNLV Nursing continued its surge to the top of U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of the nation’s best online graduate degrees. The school ranked 10 th overall for its online master’s programs, up from 15 th last year. It also ranked 10th for its family nursing practitioner track, and its nurse educator track ranked 11th.
Professor Tyler D. Parry of the African American and African Diaspora Studies program recently won the Wayland D. Hand Prize from the American Folklore Society for his book Jumping the Broom: The Surprising Multicultural Origins of a Black Wedding Ritual. The prize is awarded every two years to the best book combining historic and folkloristic methods and materials.
As astronomers ponder the possibility of distant space travel, a team of UNLV researchers are testing a theory that algae could be an instrumental food source for human explorers making the trek to Mars. Certain algae thrive in extreme environments on Earth, helpful characteristics that may allow them to grow in conditions similar to those on the Red Planet.
Kerkorian School of Medicine students and staff are moving into the school’s new permanent location in the Las Vegas Medical District. The new five-story, 135,000-square-foot building includes classrooms, patient rooms, a simulation suite and a cadaver lab. For students, there is a café, fitness/wellness center, and an amphitheater-style forum for community events and TED-style talks.
UNLV’s College of Engineering is launching a Free Cyber Clinic to create real-world opportunities for students while simultaneously helping local business owners mitigate cybersecurity risks. The clinic, which partners with the campus’ Small Business Development Center and is run primarily by students, offers no-cost security auditing, planning, and a host of other services.
UNLV’s internet is now five times faster, thanks to a new 100-gigabit network. The upgrade can accommodate more devices, helps UNLVkeep up with growing demand for connectivity, and supports the university’s expanding research efforts and overall growth.
The PRACTICE is now offering coordinated specialty care in the Las Vegas Medical District to youth and young adults to address mental health disorders. More than $4 million in federal grants helped fund new treatment programs for young people in the early stages of bipolar disorders and at high risk for psychosis.
UNLV recently opened Southern Nevada’s first designated Patent and Trademark Resource Center. A partnership of University Libraries, the UNLV Wiener-Rogers Law Library, and Switch, the center offers advanced patent searching capabilities and instruction for university and community entrepreneurs who want help accessing U.S. Patent and Trademark Office services.