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According to Margaret Evans' tree-ring study, warmer temperatures, not just a lack of precipitation, are causing a new type of drought in Arizona's forests. Samples from high-elevation regions collected by her team show that trees that were formerly shielded by colder weather now suffer during warm years just as much as low-elevation trees, resulting in narrow rings even when rainfall is similar to previous droughts. "The big difference between the droughts we're seeing now compared to the droughts we saw in the 1900s, these are warmer droughts," she says, adding that this warming causes a "synchronizing drought" in which every tree shows the same amount of stress. As Arizona moves toward long-term aridification, Evans observes that "the trees are an indicator of what's happening to the whole system," suggesting more ecological pressure.

Our EXCITE VIP team lead Dr. Armin Sorooshian highlights the hidden health risks of recent military strikes in the Middle East. Beyond physical destruction, attacks on oil facilities and infrastructure are releasing toxic pollutants into the air, including fine particles that can harm the lungs and heart.

Dr. Sorooshian explains that debris, smoke and heavy metals from munitions can create long-term environmental and health impacts, similar to past events like the September 11 attacks.

Dr. Thomas Gianetti and his team at the University of Arizona have received seed funding from the Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund to advance their startup, CarbeniumTec. The company is commercializing a novel redox flow battery an environmentally friendly, metal-free energy storage solution designed for longer-duration use than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

In a recent article on Southwest farming resilience, Dr. Greg Barron-Gafford, faculty head of the Agrivoltaics VIP team, described how incorporating solar panels with Indigenous shade-based planting strategies might increase crop survival during the region's megadrought. His study shows how modern agrivoltaics technology and traditional knowledge can work together to preserve soil moisture, promote plant health, and provide sustainable energy.

Our VIP team leader Niko Sanchez, part of the Makerspace Research Collaborative and a 2025–26 JustArts Fellow, is combining art and sustainability through innovative projects. A chance encounter with muralist Salvador Torres sparked his journey into art, leading to work in muralism, sculpture and teaching.

Now a Ph.D. student and Digital Design Specialist at the University of Arizona, Sanchez leads efforts to transform 3D printing waste into art through his project “PLAing with Trash.” By building campus partnerships and guiding student workshops, he is turning discarded materials into interactive sculptures and community-driven art.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are using tree-ring science to better understand the severity and duration of drought across the American West. At the university’s Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research in Tucson, scientists and students analyze tree coressometimes called “tree cookies” to reconstruct climate conditions stretching back centuries.

In honor of his leadership and contributions to the optics community, Dr. Travis Sawyer, faculty head of the Optical Imaging to Advance Healthcare and Biomedicine VIP team, has been named a 2026 Optica Ambassador. Dr. Sawyer, a biomedical imaging researcher, will continue to advance cutting-edge imaging technology while mentoring students and early-career professionals in his new Ambassador role.

Through hands-on research, innovation and collaboration, the Coral Reef Resilience VIP team is helping position Biosphere 2 as a global hub for testing real solutions not just studying the problem. Their work represents an important step toward protecting coral ecosystems and training the next generation of scientists dedicated to reef conservation.

Farmers can now grow more food under solar panels thanks to agrivoltaics. Research led by the VIP team Agrivoltaics shows crops like peppers, tomatoes, and leafy greens yield more, use less water, and are protected from extreme weather. At the same time, solar panels generate clean energy turning farmland into a win-win for food and power.

Dr. Martha Bhattacharya, who leads the Brain Communication Networks team, and Dr. Laura Condon, who leads the Water Whys team, present their research in the Arizona College of Science Lecture Series—showcasing their research within VIP, spanning from fruit fly brain communication to human understanding in the age of AI.

Coral Reef Resilience VIP Team leader Dr. Diane Thompson and a team of scuba divers installed young coral in the Biosphere 2 Ocean habitat on February 4th. In addition to Thompson, six others spoke at this landmark event.

Vertically Integrated Projects is proud to highlight the work of Denise, a student contributor to the Biosphere 2 digital twin project. Working with team lead Ash, Denise has been developing a high-fidelity, interactive model of Biosphere 2 in Unreal Engine 5, combining 3D modeling, photogrammetry, and real-world data capture.

Youtube personality MrBeast makes a visit to the Biosphere 2! Biosphere Wonder Studio Team Lead Aaron Bugaj got to show MrBeast and his crew around our amazing Arizona laboratory of "future technology".

Dr. Tfaily of Microbial Metabolome of Diverse Ecosystems was recently awarded funding with Estelle Couradeau, assistant professor of soils and environmental microbiology in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.

In this episode, the Sonoran Center’s Jacy Farkas and Celina Urquidez discuss the scope of the DISCAPAZ project, the progress that’s been made so far, and what’s in store for the project’s future.

Through original music, choreographed movement and projected interstellar imagery, StellarScape explores cosmic and stellar processes with scientific accuracy and creative depth. The project serves as the foundation of the Scape series and demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can bridge the arts and sciences, fostering innovation, education and public engagement.

Tadeusz “TJ” Borowski, an undergraduate researcher with the AI in Healthcare Simulation and Training VIP team, is featured in the Fall 2025 Alumni Magazine story “Embracing the Detours.”

University of Arizona professor Greg Barron-Gafford and his SALSA agrivoltaics team overcame a major funding loss when the Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation stepped in to support their work.

Aurora Seekins ’25, a member of the AIDE Lab, is featured in the Fall 2025 Arizona Alumni Magazine story “Bearing It Together.” The article shares her journey from foster care to independence and college success, highlighting the support she found through the Fostering Success program.