In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8th, the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics published a feature article recognizing papers from women scientists around the world. They edited the article into a special themed collection posted on their LinkedIn account. Three of our papers were among those recognized, including the work on thermal program desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS) led by Kristen Johnson (recent AirUCI postdoc), computational work on matrix assisted in vacuum (MAIV) led by Styliani Constas (2023 AirUCI Fulbright Fellow) and Lisa Wingen (AirUCI Project Scientist), and the work on new particle formation from methanesulfonic acid reactions with monoethanolamine led by Veronique Perraud (AirUCI Project Scientist). Congratulations to Vero, Lisa, Kristen, and Stella!!
News
Here's the latest news from AirUCI — our events, our people, our science.
2025
AirUCI faculty Jun Wu is the recipient of the 2024-25 Academic Senate Distinguished Mid-Career Faculty Award for Research. Jun teaches in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health within the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health and is an active collaborator with several other AirUCI faculty. She is also frequently sought out by the media as an expert in environmental health. Congratulations, Jun!
In a February 23rd article in Food and Wine, AirUCI faculty Andrea de Vizcaya Ruiz is asked to comment on a recent study which suggests that plastics commonly used in takeout containers, especially when heated, may transfer unseen substances into your food — including microplastics and chemicals such as BPA and phthalates — and these substances could disrupt hormones and negatively impact heart health. Andrea is an expert in the health effects of microplastics and has many concerns about them but, based on the limitations of the study, noted that more research is needed to fully understand how plastic exposure impacts heart health over time. Read the article
AirUCI faculty Andrea de Vizcaya Ruiz is quoted in a February 20th article in the Washington Post on how to find cleaning products that aren’t full of microplastics. They are increasingly detected in oceans and other areas of the environment as well as in the human body, including in the blood, liver, kidneys, placenta, and brain. “We can be exposed to microplastics that are floating in the air, through consumer products including cleaning products, or we can ingest them from seafood or water,” says Andrea, who goes on to list common household products that are sources of microplastics. Read the article
In a February 19th Newsweek article on the cause of the January firestorms in Los Angeles, AirUCI faculty Jim Randerson is quoted on the effects of climate change on the intensity of wildfires. His 2022 study found that fires sparked by such things as faulty electrical systems are more often started under hotter and drier conditions. "Human-ignited fires grow more rapidly and release more energy as they're growing," Jim said in a statement with the study's release. "They're more ferocious." Read the article
As climate change makes fire conditions more likely, scientists have also found that the fires that humans spark tend to be worse than ones ignited by natural causes such as lightning.
In a study published in the journal Nature Communications in 2022, scientists from University of California Irvine found that the fires we spark with things such as faulty electrical systems are more often started under hotter and drier condition
Poor air quality is often associated with traffic emissions or industrial pollution, but AirUCI faculty Alex Guenther led a recent study showing that plant emissions known as Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) can impact air quality and climate warming, particularly during intense heat waves. The findings show how heat waves can turn usually low-emitting plants into substantial air pollution contributors. Co-authors on the paper are AirUCI grad students Hui Wang, Sanjeevi Nagaingam, and Allison Welch, all of the Guenther group. "BVOCs are an important link between climate change, atmospheric chemistry, and the climate system,” said Hui. Read the article
AirUCI faculty Jun Wu is quoted in a January 31st article on MSN.com on a new study that highlights the need for improved wildfire preparedness in disadvantaged communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley. "Residents in ECV face unique challenges, from linguistic barriers to marginal government support," said Jun. The study, with lead author Anqi Jiao who is a grad student in Jun's research group, identifies effective ways to bridge critical communication gaps. "Tailored communications and active engagement can ensure that even the most disadvantaged populations are equipped to face the challenges and protected from devastating consequences," said Anqi. Read the article
On February 3rd, AirUCI faculty Mike Kleinman was interviewed on the local KNBC-TV news about continued concerns over air quality after the January firestorm. The fire left behind a toxic legacy, as homes filled with everyday chemicals—like cleaning supplies, pesticides, and paint—burned alongside vehicles containing lithium and electric batteries, releasing dangerous pollutants into the air. “I think everybody in the Southern California area has reason for concern,” said Mike. View the video
On January 31stl, AirUCI faculty AnnMarie Carlton will host a visit from Prof. Ravi Ravishankara of Colorado State University. He will meet with AirUCI researchers and tour our labs.
On January 15th, AirUCI hosted a public lecture by NASA Astronaut Tracy Dyson. Our recording of the entire event is now available for viewing on YouTube. Thanks to Tatiana Overly, Director of Communications and External Relations in UCI's School of Physical Sciences, for her assistance in posting this video.
