Jan. 30 - Alzheimer’s research advance; Earth population essay
Section 1
Lingering from last year, sycamore leaves mingle with new buds. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
UCI’s Mathew Blurton-Jones (left) and Jean Paul Chadarevian helped discover a new way to make Alzheimer’s treatment more effective.
UCI researchers advance fight against Alzheimer’s
Neuroscientists at UCI and the University of Pennsylvania have found a way to safely thwart the brain’s resistance to healthy new immune cells, which can be inserted into the organ to combat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Their discovery about brain cells called microglia, which recently appeared in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, brings hope for treating and even preventing neurodegenerative disorders.
Sociologist sees silver lining in global population drop
Wang Feng, a UCI professor of sociology, has an opinion piece in today’s New York Times. Feng, who studies China, weighs in on the bombshell news that the most populous country in the world is experiencing its first population decline in six decades. “Shrinking populations are usually part of a natural, inevitable process, and rather than focus excessively on concerns like labor shortages and pension support, we need to look at the brighter spots for our world,” writes Feng. “Compared with a half-century ago, people in many countries are richer, healthier and better educated and women are more empowered. China’s population, for example, is shrinking and aging, but its people are more educated and have a longer life expectancy than at any time in the country’s history.”
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
UC President Drake’s message about killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis
In a message released online today, UC President Michael V. Drake expressed his shock and grief about the death of Memphis resident and California native Tyre Nichols.
“I am sickened and outraged by this utterly senseless killing, as we all have been by too many others that have preceded it,” wrote Drake. “It is yet another painful reminder of the constant flow of systemic racism and injustice that communities of color continue to endure. It also adds to the grief and shock we already feel following the recent wave of violence directed at Asian American and immigrant communities in horrible back-to-back-to-back mass shootings in California in just the past two weeks.”
The rest of Drake’s message, including a reminder about UC mental health resources as well as his hope that the UC community will remain resilient, is online.
Rubik’s Cube genius sets new record
ICYMI: A University of Michigan student and avid violinist has set the speed record for solving a Rubik’s Cube. Stanley Chapel, a 21-year-old junior at the university, solved his first 3x3 Rubik’s Cube at age 14 and has since set the record for larger and more difficult cubes. Factoring in the time it takes him to study the cube before being blindfolded, it takes Chapel 17 seconds to solve the puzzle.
EVENTS
Live-Online ACT/SAT Strategy Workshop
Wednesday, 6 p.m. (sponsored by Division of Continuing Education)
“H.M.S. Pinafore” by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (sponsored by Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts & Culture Initiative)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Southern California housing market cools
KCBS/KCAL News (video), Jan. 27
Cited: Jack Liebersohn, assistant professor of economics
Tyre Nichols news is painful. Here's how to be informed and avoid racial stress.
Mashable, Jan. 28
Cited: E. Alison Holman, professor of psychological science
Turning trash to electricity in Orange County
Spectrum News 1 (video), Jan. 27
Cited: Vincent McDonell, adjunct professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering
#UCICONNECTED
UCIrvine posts on Instagram: Counting down to Homecoming 2023! Let's relive the memories and create new ones together on Feb. 11th, Anteaters. This will be the first in-person Homecoming at #UCIrvine since 2020! To register for the event, tap the link in the bio! @ucialumni
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.