AirUCI co-Director Sergey Nizkorodov was one of two invited Keynote Speakers at the 7th International Workshop on Heterogeneous Kinetics Related to Atmospheric Aerosols, held from October 18-20 in Qingdao, China. His talk was entitled “Rates and mechanisms of photochemical reactions in organic aerosol particles”. The other Keynote Speaker was longtime AirUCI collaborator Markus Amman of the Paul Scherrer Institut.
News
Here's the latest news from AirUCI — our events, our people, our science.
2024
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
AirUCI's Barbara Barletta, research specialist in the Blake group, let a tour of their lab for dignitaries from Mexico’s Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo who were visiting UCI. The purpose of their trip was to identify areas of common academic and research interest between the two institutions, and a highlight was a visit to the lab where Sherry Rowland and his Mexico-born grad student Mario Molina conducted their Nobel Prize winning research. Read the story.
Monday, October 7, 2024
In an October 7th article on WebMD, AirUCI faculty Andrea de Vizcaya Ruiz is quoted on tips for cleaner indoor air. According to Andrea, home items are the main culprits, including furniture, gas stoves, cleaning products, paints, and carpets. Using the range hood and kitchen exhaust fan, opening windows, and maintaining HVAC systems can help, as can air purifiers and dehumidifiers. More tips are available in the article.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
In an October 2nd article on Everyday Health, AirUCI faculty Andrea de Vizcaya Ruiz is quoted on the safety of various cookware. “The safest cookware materials in terms of the possible impact on health would be those that do not react with food or ingredients, do not release harmful chemicals, and are durable and easy to clean,” says Andrea. The article evaluates different products and lists common toxins to avoid in cookware. Read the article
Thursday, September 26, 2024
In a September 26th article on Yahoo News, AirUCI faculty Andrea de Vizcaya Ruiz is quoted on the safety of bottled water. Anywhere from 10% to 78% of samples of bottled water have been found to contain contaminants that may be harmful to human health. They include microplastics, Phthalates, PFAS, BPA, and others. “The degree of that harm or toxicity is yet to be determined,” says Andrea. “Whether it’s toxic or not toxic, we should not have [these chemicals in our bodies] because when we have something foreign to our bodies, that will constitute a health issue for sure.” She also recommends safer options than bottled water. Read the article
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
A new study co-led by AirUCI faculty Michael Kleinman shows that vaping can interfere with normal blood pressure and flow as blood is pumped from the heart to the arteries. The findings add to evidence that vaping can contribute to heart disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. “Our results support the growing call for public health policies aimed at reducing exposure to inhaled nicotine and to new synthetic nicotine products not yet on the market,” said Mike. Read the article
Monday, September 23, 2024
Welcome home, Tracy! NASA Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, honorary AirUCI team member and alumna, landed on September 23rd in Kazakhstan after a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station – a trip of 78 million miles and three space walks. Her research included experiments with fire in space, robotics, and 3D printing of cardiovascular tissue samples in microgravity to potentially create 3D-printed organs for transplant patients. We hope Tracy will visit AirUCI sometime soon for a public lecture. View NASA coverage (2 hours)
Thursday, September 19, 2024
AirUCI faculty Sarah Finkeldei was named the 2024 Dean’s Honoree for Teaching Excellence, an award that recognizes instructors nominated by the dean of each school. Physical Sciences Dean James Bullock recognized Sarah’s accomplishments in undergraduate teaching. “I’m honored by this recognition and very grateful for the enthusiasm and curiosity of our students, which makes teaching a truly rewarding experience,” she said. Read the article (written by AirUCI grad student Sukriti Kapur in the Shiraiwa research group, also a writer for UC Irvine Physical Sciences Communications)
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
AirUCI faculty Annmarie Carlton has been elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, a huge honor. She joins six other AirUCI faculty as AGU fellows. Congratulations, Annmarie!
Thursday, September 5, 2024
AirUCI faculty Jane Baldwin is quoted in a September 5th Los Angeles Times article on record high temperatures and across the west. Temperatures as high as 124 degrees in some areas and more than 100 consecutive days of 100 degree heat in Phoenix have made this the hottest summer on record in several states. While California’s climate has always had year-to-year and month-to-month variability, the heat the state has experienced recently is consistent with climate change. “These are levels of heat that are extreme and are what we generally expect to see more of as the climate system warms,” Jane said, adding that more analysis is needed to determine whether this is going to be the new normal for California. Read the article
