Highway road sign reads: "Extreme heat. Save power 4-9 p.m. Stay cool."

Heat waves are more dangerous than you think. Here’s why, and how to stay safe

July 20, 2023

Large portions of the U.S., including parts of Colorado, are reeling this month from extreme temperatures. CU expert Colleen Reid, who studies the health impacts from natural disasters, says these events seem to disproportionately hurt communities where people have less access to air conditioning and green space.

Two people at a point-of-sale system. (Clay Banks/Unsplash)

‘The pill’ will soon be available over the counter. The impacts could be sweeping

July 13, 2023

Federal regulators approved the first over-the-counter oral contraceptive. CU Boulder’s Amanda Stevenson says the impacts could be sweeping. But she cautions that real threats to contraceptive access in the U.S. still exist.

A woman's face, analyzed by facial recognition software

Why new facial-recognition airport screenings are raising concerns

July 11, 2023

At least 25 U.S. airports now use facial recognition software to determine you are who you say you are, but some fear the artificial intelligence systems will exacerbate discrimination. Morgan Klaus Scheuerman, an AI ethicist, explains why people are concerned.

Orange light and smoke billow over mountain tops. (Photo by Malachi Brooks on Unsplash)

To prevent the next major wildfire, we need a ‘Smokey Bear for the suburbs’

June 29, 2023

With the Fourth of July approaching and a thick green carpet of fuel covering much of the West after a rainy spring, CU Boulder fire ecologist Jennifer Balch is calling on people to do their part to prevent the next megafire.

Breast tumor seen under a microscope

When it comes to treating resistant breast cancer, 2 drugs may be better than 1

June 15, 2023

New research shows that cancer cells can adapt in as little as one to two hours to new drugs called CDK2 inhibitors. The good news: Adding a second, widely available drug disables this workaround, squelching tumor growth.

The HIV virus, a retrovirus, under the microscope

Remnants of ancient virus may fuel ALS in people

June 6, 2023

An ancient, virus-like protein best known for its essential role in placental development may, when over-expressed, fuel ALS—aka Lou Gehrig's disease—and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to new research. The discovery opens the door to a new class of potential treatments.

Researcher holds artificial pancreas in her hand

Building a better ‘bionic pancreas’

May 31, 2023

Could technology like smart watches and mobile apps change how patients manage Type 1 diabetes? A $1.2 million grant is helping faculty explore ways to give patients a better quality of life.

Jennifer Doudna and Tom Cech

Future, ethics of gene editing the focus of star-studded public forum May 23

May 11, 2023

Advances in gene-editing have made it possible to banish hereditary diseases, eradicate pests and create new life forms, but should we go there? Jennifer Doudna along with two other Nobel laureates will join a panel of world leaders for a free public forum.

Cannabis

How cannabis may ease ‘chemo brain’ and improve sleep for cancer patients

April 27, 2023

A new study led by Angela Bryan, a CU Boulder professor and cancer survivor, is among the first to assess how cannabis bought over the counter at dispensaries—rather than government-supplied or synthetic varieties—impacts cancer symptoms or chemotherapy side effects.

Pregnant belly with two sets of hands wrapped around it

‘Obstetric racism’ prevalent in US, fueling rise in questionable labor inductions

April 26, 2023

The study of 46 million births across nearly three decades is among the first to provide population-level statistical evidence of “obstetric racism,” a term coined recently to describe a concerning pattern of maltreatment of non-white pregnant women, including a disregard for their birthing wishes.

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