Dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are expected to double in incidence by 2025. While genetics account for about 70% of dementia risk in twin studies, environmental factors — especially air pollution from fossil fuels, tobacco and wildfires — are gaining recognition. These three sources of smoke, all involving partially combusted plant material, have long been part of human exposure. They share harmful microscopic particles (0.1–10 µm) rich in nitrogen/sulfur oxides and carcinogenic hydrocarbons.

How do brain cells communicate? Neuroscientists have focused on chemical and electrical signaling, but now a tantalizing new possibility has emerged. This form of communication involves light; brain cells also seem to use photons to send messages to each other. It has been known for decades that living tissues emit “biophotons” at low intensity, but the biological function has been unclear. I will address several key questions: Do different types of brain cells have different patterns of biophoton activity? Do biophotons change as a result of stress?

Maria-Eirini Pandelia, associate professor of Biochemistry at Brandeis University, will be discussing the unexpected occurrence of Fe-S clusters in viral oncogenes and proteases initially predicted to be Zn-dependent, as well as exploring the untapped potential of cyanobacterial genomes for discovering toxins and antibiotics that could greatly impact ecology, agriculture and human health.

Curious about ASU’s upcoming collaboration with the University of Exeter? Join us to learn how you can be part of Grand Challenges Week, a virtual, international experience where students team up to tackle real-world climate and sustainability challenges.

This interdisciplinary project will help you:

The actions of the second Trump administration have caused widespread disruption across the scientific enterprise. To what extent does the upheaval reflect the administration’s new ambitions for science policy? And how might this era of destabilization itself change the trajectory of the country’s leadership in science and technology? In this transformed landscape, how can the effects of change be measured? And where does science policy go from here? 

This Earth Day (April 22), join the Urban Climate Research Center for a special webinar "Cooling the City: Tree Deployment as Climate Adaptation." 


Hear from expert panelists as they discuss the critical role of urban trees and share innovative solutions to help cities stay resilient amid rising heat extremes. Moderated by David Hondula, Director of Heat Response & Mitigation for Phoenix, Associate Professor School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning. 

Panelists:

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