Media Watch
California Wildfire Season Is Ramping Up
New York Magazine -
And while the fire season is traditionally considered to begin in June, researchers at UC Irvine found in a study published in Nature last month that the “start of the wildfire season has also advanced to May.” The study also determined that in this extended fire season, the “overall fire frequency of all wildfires” has increased over the past two decades due to poor wildfire management and “the drying of forest fuels due to human-induced climate warming.” Read More
A dangerous fire season looms as the drought-stricken Western US heads for a water crisis
Yahoo News (The Conversation) -
Amir AghaKouchak, UCI associate professor of civil & environmental engineering and others write, “Scientists are also closely watching the impact that the rapid warming and drying is having on trees, worried that water stress could lead to widespread tree deaths. Dead and drying vegetation means more fuel for what is already expected to be another dangerous fire season. … As climate scientists, we track these changes. Right now, about 84% of the western U.S. is under some level of drought, and there is no sign of relief.” Read More
Fri 8 AM | Researchers Confirm Increasing Intensity Of California Fire Seasons
Jefferson Public Radio -
If you've been thinking every fire season seems more intense than the last, you are correct--at least for California. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine pulled in data from the last 100 years, and found some clear trends. For one thing, every year of the 21st century has featured an increase in fire destruction over the previous year. For another, the center of fire season has shifted earlier; it's now in July instead of August. We get an overview from the lead researchers: [Assistant] Professor Tirtha Banerjee and PhD Candidate Shu Li [civil & environmental engineering]. Read More
DOE Awards $6.2 Million for Cutting-Edge Research for Efficient Hydrogen Gas Turbines
Department of Energy -
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced eight university-led projects will receive nearly $6.2 million in federal funding for research and development projects aimed at advancing hydrogen—a clean burning fuel—as a high-performing, efficient gas for turbine-based electricity generation. Increasing the reliability, efficiency, and performance of hydrogen power will reduce carbon emissions and advance the Biden-Harris administration's goal of a 100% clean electricity by 2035. … Each project is led by a faculty member or principal investigator with robust engagement from graduate students. The universities receiving awards include: … The University of California, Irvine (Award amount: $800,000) ….a Read More
The hype behind the gas industry’s hydrogen push
Green Left -
Green Tech Media reported that “The Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy” was described as “agnostic” by Jack Brouwer, a professor at the University of California at Irvine and director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center, when it comes to the source of hydrogen (methane versus water). The plan mentions the use of methane-derived hydrogen throughout and also promotes the idea of using hydrogen for “blending into the gas grid” — where it would be burned with a mixture of methane. Read More
Zero net carbon transportation will save money and create jobs
CalMatters -
Dan Sperling, founding director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies writes, “The state of California commissioned the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies to devise a roadmap to achieve zero net carbon transportation by 2045. Our 450-page report, Driving California’s Transportation Emissions to Zero, released last month, is a collaboration of 33 transportation researchers from the UC campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Los Angeles and Irvine. We found that California can indeed achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, while embracing goals of environmental justice and high quality job creation.” Read More
Estancia High engineering team builds a better car, wins Energy Invitational
Daily Pilot -
Started in 1998 by Michael McCarthy, a mechanical and aerospace engineering [Distinguished] professor at UC Irvine, the Energy Invitational began as a college competition but later expanded to include high school entrants. [Subscription required, you can request an electronic copy of the article by sending an email to communications@uci.edu.] Read More
‘Megadrought’ persists in western U.S., as another extremely dry year develops
National Geographic -
“When we sweat, water evaporates from our skin, and that evaporation acts as a cooling mechanism for our body,” says Amir AghaKouchak, [professor, civil and environmental engineering], a climate scientist at the University of California, Irvine. “Earth’s surface works the same way.” Agha Kouchak and a colleague Laurie Huning recently found that in the western U.S., snow droughts lasted 28 percent longer after 2000, compared with the previous 20 years. And the effects cascade. Less snow can lead to drier soils, which can increase the chance of heat waves, which dry soils further. Read More
Biomedical engineers spotlight disparities in knee and jaw joint treatments
Technology -
“A thoroughgoing research, funding and treatment ecosystem exists for the relief of osteoarthritis and other ailments of the knee, but a similar infrastructure for the temporomandibular joint is comparatively lacking,” said senior co-author Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, UCI Distinguished Professor of biomedical engineering. “Both joints are essential to a good quality of life, so we would like to see people suffering from TMJ disorders given the same range of options as others have with their knees.” Read More
What does AI mean for you? Opportunity.
Irvine Standard -
Neil Sahota, chief innovation officer at [Global AI Initiatives and a lecturer in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering], University of California, Irvine writes, “As the coveted place to launch an AI venture, Irvine is attracting the best and brightest minds from all over the world. This is critical for the city, spurring business growth and maintaining home values. Without these opportunities, Irvine would lose a lot of talent and not reap the full benefits from having a top University – UC Irvine – in its backyard. Thankfully, having a powerful attractor like AI helps to retain more of our young professionals and encourages the migration of other top talent into the city and county.” Read More