It’s that special time of year in Las Vegas where energy bills start to inch downward, and there’s a refreshing chill to the evening air, making for ideal study conditions. It is also perfect weather for “grounding” – a trendy way to unwind and relax, which just so happens to be one of our featured headlines!

Are some foods bad for your brain? Why do moths love your closet? Will Primm ever reach the popularity of years gone by? How is the Valley’s housing market? And is there a reason Costco’s always changing its aisles around?

September certainly had its fair share of interesting stories for you to expand your knowledge as a consumer (and mosquito-dodger). All of these and more are ahead!

Health & Science

• Medical entomologist Louisa Messenger’s survey of mosquito hotspots in the Valley was covered in a variety of outlets, including KVVU: Fox 5, KLAS: News 8, KTNV: ABC 13, City Cast Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Las Vegas Sun. And she provided tips on how to avoid mosquito bites and closet moths in the Daily Mail and The Spruce.
• Forbes and CNN highlighted the atmospheric water harvesting work of mechanical engineering professor H. Jeremy Cho.
• Cannabis policy expert Riana Durrett discussed the importance of preventing youths from using marijuana with Fox News.
• Registered dietitian nutritionist Samantha Coogan shared the health benefits of kale in Martha Stewart. She also explained what happens when you stop eating carbs in Verywell Health, and listed some foods that may be bad for your brain in Real Simple.
• Health.com asked sports nutritionist Laura Kruskall what to eat during a long workout to stay energized.
• Real Simple had physicist Michael Pravica break down the science behind “grounding” – a new wellness trend focused on connecting with the earth and its electrical charges.

Culture & Technology

• Dreamscape Learn had its grand opening in UNLV’s Lied Library this month! The immersive learning space features cutting-edge technology, with virtual reality spaces being used for class lessons and training the next generation of developers on game engines such as Unity. It saw coverage in multiple outlets, including: Las Vegas Weekly, Las Vegas Sun, KVVU: Fox 5, WebProNews.
• Hospitality expert Amanda Belarmino was featured in a Los Angeles Times piece (also found on Yahoo) looking back on busier days in Primm. She also commented on the rollout of Strip hotel-casino sales and discounts aimed at reinvigorating tourism in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Covers.
• Anthropologist Ivan Sandoval-Cervantes says celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month have changed because of the current political climate in a story from the Associated Press.
• TODAY went through some Halloween costumes for kids that have not kept up with the times with the help of psychologist Rachael Robnett.
• PBS NewsHour interviewed hospitality dean David Cárdenas regarding the drop in tourism seen on the Las Vegas Strip.
• Newsweek spoke to hospitality operations expert Mehmet Erdem and hospitality expert Amanda Belarmino regarding in-room fridge fees and sensors following renewed discourse online. 
• CNET pinged gaming researcher Kasra Ghaharian for a story concerning AI’s involvement in problem gambling while Casino Reports (also Yahoo) shared his thoughts on the future of AI in gaming.
• Trauma surgeon Deborah Kuhls spoke about increasing traffic deaths across Nevada, and renewed funding for an ongoing UNLV study into the issue, with KSNV: News 3, KVVU: Fox 5, and KNPR.

Politics & Economics

• Political scientist Rebecca Gill was a frequent guest on KSNV: News 3 — examining the country’s current political climate following the Charlie Kirk killing, Jimmy Kimmel talk show suspension, and the federal government shutdown. Trill Magazine also featured her comments on the importance of politics in the Gen Z dating scene.
• Economist Nicholas Irwin went over affordable housing stock in the Valley, and how much someone has to earn before being able to afford a house in a pair of articles from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 
• Deseret News also featured him in a story about local housing inventories, while the Las Vegas Sun highlighted the increase in homeowners defaulting on mortgage payments. Additionally, Irwin discussed the appeal of tiny homes and mobile home parks in KSNV: News 3. He talked to the Mortgage Research Network about the pros and cons of declaring a national housing emergency. And if you’ve been ordering more Happy Meals, you’re not alone – Irwin discussed the money-saving tactic with KLAS: News 8.
• The Street interviewed business professor Mark Tremblay about the tourism traffic challenges of off-Strip resorts and casinos. InsideHook also picked up his comments about unpopular dynamic pricing tactics. 
• Immigration law expert Michael Kagan discussed the deployment of the National Guard in some cities, along with the president’s new immigration detention policy in POLITICO. 
• Business Insider covered the decrease in Canadian tourism to Las Vegas with economist Stephen Miller.
• Both Vegas PBS and the Las Vegas Review-Journal went over Nevada’s economic outlook with economist Andrew Woods.

Experts Roundup

• Reader’s Digest discovered why Costco constantly rearranges its aisles with insights from marketing researcher Marla Royne Stafford.
• Aviation historian Dan Bubb provided comments on a trending story showing a plane fill with hazardous smoke in Reader’s Digest, and proper protocol during emergency situations with the New York Post. He talked to Connecting America about the impact of toxic plane fumes on passengers and crew members, and Spectrum News 1 about critical air travel employee shortages.
• Business professor Yong Li and graduate assistant Ashley Roderick listed some of the biggest challenges facing Hispanic entrepreneurs in WalletHub.
• Bankruptcy law professor Nancy Rapoport was featured in a WalletHub piece talking about avoiding credit card debt.
• Fashion historian Deirdre Clemente was mentioned in a story from Harper’s Bazaar regarding athleisure’s popularity as a fall fashion staple.