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The Near Earth Object Surveyor infrared telescope is moving toward its preliminary design phase, led by University of Arizona professor Amy Mainzer. NASA plans to launch the surveyor in 2026.

Arizona professor will lead NASA project to locate menacing objects near Earth

An infrared telescope will track any asteroids that one day could crash into the planet

Frequent rain sets 2021 monsoon off to a fast start

Southern Arizona can expect more precipitation through mid-July.

Virgin Galactic's Mothership and SpaceShip Two.

Tucsonan anticipating Richard Branson's rocket launch Sunday

Retiree already has a ticket to ride aboard Virgin Galactic spaceship.

Insects benefiting from early monsoon rains

Termites and mosquitoes are among those going through seasonal life cycles.

Predicting monsoon rainfall is not an exact science, yet.

Game challenges forecasters to predict monsoon

UA researchers created an online competition similar to fantasy football.

Old Main on the University of Arizona campus.

Research finds higher risks for Hispanic and Indigenous patients in Arizona with kidney cancer

According to the research, a higher risk of mortality and advanced-staged kidney cancer in these racial groups are more common.

2018's Hurricane Florence as seen from the International Space Station.

Hurricane predictors forecast busy 2021 season

UA group has been on target about storm predictions since 2014.

Cracked earth in the Joshua Tree National Park, where the National Park Service says severe drought and warming temperatures will likely affect the populations and home ranges of many species.

White House announces group to address drought in the West

The interagency group will work with federal, state, local and tribal governments to tackle the water shortages.

The Dragonfly helicopter could become the first spacecraft to fly in the atmosphere of one of Saturn's moons.

Planetary scientists look ahead to new airborne explorers

They say the historic Mars Ingenuity helicopter flight is only the beginning.

UA Cancer Center oncology nurse Iris Delfakis receives the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine administered at Banner-UMC on Dec. 17, 2020.

HEROES study: COVID vaccines 90% effective

First responders rank among workers with the highest risk

Scientists say sensor testing for COVID-19 can be an improvement over tests performed with nasal swabs or saliva.

Researchers developing sensor testing for COVID-19

New method could detect PCR test-evading COVID variants.

One of the UA-produced mirrors that will make up the Giant Magellan Telescope array.

Newest UA telescope mirror in cool down phase

Technicians are preparing to polish it for use in a mountaintop observatory

Bruce McGrew (photo from Joy Fox Mcgrew archive)

"Bend in the Wash: The Rancho Linda Vista Artist Community"

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Searching for gamma-rays with a telescope array in the Santa Rita Mountains, and film essayist Chris Dashiell on the masterpiece “La Jetée”.

Rosa Parks is most famous for her peaceful protest on a Montgomery, Alabama bus on December 1st, 1955. This staged photo was taken later.

"Who Framed Rosa Parks?" - Brenna Wynn Greer on the history of Black imagemakers.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Geraldine Brooks reflects on her novel "Year of Wonders"; and a tale of love and loss written by a 6th grade student.

Arizona tourist sites were flooded over the Memorial Day weekend with visitors, leading health officials to fear that they will spread the coronavirus and there will be a spike in COVID-19 cases in a few weeks.

Alcohol abuse soars in lockdown

Severe alcohol use jumps 400% in lockdown, according to UA researchers

Scientists are theorizing why children avoid serious COVID-19 infection.

Child COVID cases starting to be studied

Researchers are asking why kids are less likely to contract serious COVID-19 infections.

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