From the Media

Retuers reported on research observing the behavior of a supermassive black hole, quoting one of the study's co-authors, College of Arts and Sciences astrophysicist Yvette Cendes. "It's now about 50 times brighter than when it was first discovered," Cendes said. "This has been going on for years now, and no sign of stopping. That is super unusual."

With the Winter Olympics underway, Financial Times spoke with College of Arts and Sciences human physiologist Mike Hahn, who explains the biomechanics required for alpine skiing and ACL-tear recovery process in elite athletes. He also talked about skiing star Lindsey Vonn, who overcame an ACL tear: “We shouldn't be surprised any more by Lindsey.”

The New York Times included College of Arts and Sciences food studies expert Hannah Cutting-Jones in a roundup of experts about the claim that protein is a nutrient that keeps people satiated. Cutting-Jones said that the idea that protein is uniquely satiating and helpful for weight loss goes back decades.

People generally consume two species of coffee bean — robusta and arabica, explains Christopher Hendon, a College of Arts and Sciences associate professor of chemistry and a leading coffee scientist. Hendon spoke with the Daily Mail about coffee beans.

Across sports like long-distance running, cycling, and triathlon, athletes are using science-backed interventions to push the limits of what the human body can do. Men's Journal interviewed College of Arts and Sciences human physiology researcher Brad Wilkins about which strategies tap into the basic physiological principle of improving the body’s ability to deliver oxygen efficiently.

President Donald Trump has faced a surge in Republican revolts over the past few weeks, but political analysts told Newsweek that does not necessarily mean his grip on the GOP is slipping. Chandler James, a political science assistant professor at the College of Arts and Sciences, said, “Over time for any president, their political capital and grip on their party, we would expect to diminish." And Republicans may also be thinking about a post-Trump presidency, in addition to the midterms, James said.

Women's Health covered new research published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle that suggests our fitness levels start to peak at a certain age — but you can extend your fitness longevity. The publication interviewed Brad Wilkins, assistant professor of human physiology and Director of the Oregon Performance Research Laboratory at the College of Arts and Sciences. Despite the fitness peak, you're not doomed after age 35. “The height of your fitness peak and how fast you come up and go down does seem to be changeable,” he said. It's all about consistent training and focusing on better nutrition and sleep as we age.

Portland media outlet KATU interviewed Reuben Zahler, a College of Arts and Sciences history associate professor, about the US-Venezuela relationship. The Latin American country was one of the few places the US did not heavily intervene during the Cold War. However, the dynamic shifted dramatically about 25 years ago with the rise of Hugo Chávez, who promised a new socialist era for Venezuela, marking the start of an anti-American stance, Zahler said.

The internet sensation website IFL Science featured a quote by College of Arts and Sciences Earth sciences associate professor Leif Karlstrom about large igneous provinces, volcanic events so big that they historically changed our planet. “You have the potential for truly enormous eruptions, possibly up to 10,000 cubic kilometers erupted in a single event,” Karlstrom said. “And that will happen repeatedly over the course of a large igneous province event.”

Research by Mattie Burkert, associate professor of English at the College of Arts and Sciences, contributed to an article about an actor who once lived in a historic house in England. The article ran in the Watford Observer in England.

Oregon Public Broadcasting featured research by College of Arts and Sciences Earth scientists. The study that included Professor Matt Polizzotto found that wildfires can form cancer-causing compounds in the soils they burn on top of. Researchers collected soil samples from Eight Dollar Mountain in southwest Oregon, an area rich in a typically benign compound called chromium III. When the researchers simulated a high-temperature wildfire, they found the chromium III in the samples could transform into chromium VI, a known carcinogen that could then spread through dust or drinking water.

HUMANITIES, WOMEN, GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES - These Duck alums are among those working to alleviate hunger. See how CAS and Clark Honor's College alumni like Ian Dixon-McDonald, BA ’06, Rebecca Sprinson, BA ’09, are making a difference in Oregon by tackling hunger.

Fifty years ago, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" hit theaters. Set in an Oregon state hospital, the movie based on Ken Kesey's novel received critical acclaim and told a history of Native Americans in the Oregon area. College of Arts and Sciences cinema studies senior instructor Stephen Rust spoke at a panel at an anniversary screening of the film. Rust highlighted Will Sampson’s role as Chief Bromden for his textured performance that came after producers were looking for a stereotypical tall, stoic Native American.

Ben Hansen, a University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences economics professor and avid skier, has watched the intricate and complex system of pricing at Oregon’s ski resorts evolve over the years. As of Friday, the highest priced season stood at $1,499, at Mt. Bachelor. But there are many discounts to be had for buying months earlier, online, on Black Friday or Cyber Monday at Mt. Bachelor and resorts across the state. Hansen spoke with Oregonian/OregonLive.

The New York Times spoke with Benjamin Hansen, a College of Arts and Sciences economist who has studied links between school attendance and suicide. Hansen commented on a study on the improvement of mental health of schoolchildren in California when they returned to in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hansen was not involved in the study, but he said the research may be influenced by other factors. Six to nine months after schools opened, “vaccines came, and people stopped worrying about dying,” Hansen said.