UCLA in the News

In light of the trending Artemis II mission, Vox republished an article from September 2025 featuring Haig Aintablian, director of the UCLA Space Medicine Program, and other leading clinicians and investigators in the field. The piece explores not only the viability of human life on Mars, but also space medicine technologies that may have beneficial applications here on Earth. “I do believe that with the amount of emphasis being placed on radiation protection, we’re going to figure out ways to actually protect against significant amounts of radiation for the general public for multiple uses,” said Aintablian. Read more about UCLA in today’s Vanity Fair, USA Today and others.

The Los Angeles Times reported on how UCLA will use a $33 million donation to expand mental health training programs and address workforce shortages across California. The funding will support scholarships, a new minor in youth behavioral health and more clinical training opportunities. A UCLA student described how the initiative is helping shape career paths, while professor Bruce Chorpita said the program will offer specialized coursework beyond a traditional psychology major. Read more about UCLA in today’s CNN and NBC News Daily.

The Los Angeles Times (and others) reported on Sunday’s victory by UCLA women’s basketball, which captured the NCAA national championship with a 79–51 victory over South Carolina, capping a 37–1 season. The Bruins were led by Lauren Betts, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, and Gabriela Jaquez, as all five starters scored in double figures. The title marks UCLA’s first in women’s basketball since 1978. Read more about UCLA in today’s New York Times, NBC News and others.

UCLA planetary science professor David Paige spoke with CBS LA about the Artemis II mission after the four-person crew got the go-ahead to push out of Earth’s orbit, and broke down what the mission goal is. “If you look at the history of the Apollo program, they also did similar moon fly-by missions before they attempted to do the (moon) landing. There’s a huge number of moving parts involved in doing a mission like this and keeping the astronauts safe.”  Read more about UCLA in today’s San Francisco Chronicle, Salon and others.

KTLA-TV reported on a clinical trial led by UCLA’s Dr. Donald Kohn that resulted in FDA approval of the first gene therapy for severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency-I, a rare and often fatal immune disorder. The treatment developed by Rocket Pharmaceuticals uses a patient’s own stem cells to restore immune function and reduce the risk of life-threatening infections. All nine children in the trial survived without needing a bone marrow transplant, marking a significant advance in gene therapy research. Read more about UCLA in today’s ABC News and The Hill.

The Los Angeles Times featured commentary by UCLA’s Mary Nichols calling for more investigations into AI-generated comments — using real people’s identities without their knowledge or consent — opposing clean air measures that are flooding public agencies. Nichols, who spent 17 years at the helm of the California Air Resources Board, examines several deceptive AI-driven campaigns that were successful and offers insights into how regulatory agencies can foster more democratic processes. Read more about UCLA in today’s Associated Press and Forbes.

NPR’s “Morning Edition” featured UCLA’s Arturo Vargas Bustamante discussing how the debate over birthright citizenship could affect maternal and infant health. Bustamante, professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and director of faculty research at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, said fear around immigration policies may already be discouraging some pregnant patients from seeking care, which can lead to long-term health consequences for their children. Read more about UCLA in today’s Associated Press and CNN.

The Wall Street Journal featured a study co-authored by researchers from UCLA, Stanford University and the University of Southern California examining how people use artificial intelligence tools in their daily lives. UCLA economist Gregor Schubert, one of the study’s authors, said that while AI can boost efficiency and free up time, how people ultimately use that time varies widely. The article also highlighted real-world examples of individuals using AI to manage household tasks, fitness routines and scheduling. Read more about UCLA in today’s CBS News, NPR and others.

In an interview with Spectrum News 1, senior economist Jerry Nickelsburg with UCLA Anderson Forecast noted there is evidence of a weak labor market, and he expects that to continue through the first half of the year — though there are some industries expected to do well. “In California, we are starting to see growth in all aspects of aerospace. So, defense and aerospace defense. But also, other elements of the defense industry,” Nickelsburg said. He added that tech jobs are also expected to grow. Read more about UCLA in today’s Los Angeles Times.

In today’s New York Times, UCLA’s Christopher Tang speaks about how consumer behavior in California could change as a result of the state’s skyrocketing gas prices, which are nearly $2 more than the national average. Tang, a distinguished professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a supply chain expert, says the ripple effects will be felt across the state’s transportation, agriculture, tourism and hospitality sectors. “Discretionary spending often drops when pain at the pump increases,” he said. Read more about UCLA in today’s Spectrum News 1 and LAist’s “AirTalk.”

CNN’s Laura Coates Live featured an interview with UCLA law professor Rick Hasen on a pending Supreme Court case that could reshape how mail-in ballots are counted nationwide. Hasen said the justices appear divided on whether ballots must be received by Election Day or if states can allow grace periods, warning that a stricter ruling could disrupt election administration in more than a dozen states. He also noted that changing long-standing voting practices could confuse voters and potentially limit access, despite little evidence of widespread fraud. Hasen was also interviewed by WBUR-FM’s “Here & Now.” Read more about UCLA in today’s New York Times and The Conversation.

In SF Gate, UCLA’s Wilson Sherman spoke with reporters about a recent bear encounter in a Los Angeles County foothill community, which left a woman with non-life-threatening injuries. State officials euthanized the bear after confirming its involvement in a prior altercation, a move that angered many residents. Sherman, who studies human-wildlife interactions, said he believes that more generations of bears will continue to populate the area, especially as mother bears teach their cubs to live and move through urban environments in a certain way. Read more about UCLA in today’s CNN and USA Today.

The Players’ Tribune published an essay by UCLA women’s basketball standout Lauren Betts, in which she reflects on her struggles with depression and her path to recovery. Betts describes seeking care at UCLA Hospital and credits her Bruin teammates and coaches for creating a supportive environment that prioritizes the person over the performance. She writes that the experience reshaped her perspective and inspired her to speak openly about mental health, encouraging others to seek help and reduce stigma. Read more about UCLA in today’s Vanity Fair and KTLA-TV.

Reuters interviewed UCLA planetary scientist Emily Cardarelli, a member of NASA’s Perseverance rover science team, about the detection of underground remains of an ancient river delta on Mars in some of the oldest evidence yet showing how water once flowed on the surface of Earth's planetary neighbor. “Over time, we've seen more and more evidence for liquid water on the Martian surface at various rover landing sites,” she said. Read more about UCLA in the news in today’s CalMatters, Gizmodo and other outlets.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that modeling data developed by UCLA’s Center for Climate Science and recently presented to the California Water Resources Control Board indicates that Mono Lake, the depleted saltwater body in the eastern Sierra watershed may not survive if Los Angeles continues to pump water from the basin into the city. UCLA’s Alex Hall told the board that even just reducing the amount taken could be beneficial for the lake. Read more about UCLA in today’s Los Angeles Times and NPR.

The Los Angeles Times spoke with Dr. Aditya Bardia, a UCLA breast cancer oncologist who’s been in the field for 15 years and, in that time, has treated over 20 men. He says that men should watch out for lumps, pain, discomfort or nipple inversion. “If you have any of that, get it checked out with an ultrasound,” Bardia said. “Otherwise, if a man is only at average risk, then a mammogram is not necessary. But if he has BRCA and a family history, then a mammogram is recommended.” Read more about UCLA in the news in today’s Capital & Main, CNBC and other outlets.

The Associated Press interviewed UCLA experts Artur Davoyan and Dino Di Carlo in a feature commemorating Pi Day. The article touched on the varied applications of the number in mechanical, aerospace and biological engineering, detailing specific research at UCLA in which the number plays a large role. “As an engineer and scientist, [pi] is just a part of life,” said Di Carlo, the Armond and Elena Hairapetian Professor of Engineering and Medicine in the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. Davoyan, an assistant professor at the school, was also quoted. Read more about UCLA in the news in today’s New York Times, NPR and other outlets.

The Wall Street Journal cited Mindy Seu, a UCLA associate professor, artist, technologist and academic behind the publication the “Cyberfeminism Index,” in a story about the ‘alternatively influential.’ “I don’t really consider myself an influencer — it happens that I distribute my work and events online, but I don’t make things specifically for social media,” said Seu. “To have someone on your team to champion you in all the things that are kind of uncomfortable, like knowing how to negotiate fees, and to figure out which deals feel right for me ethically, is very helpful. Read more about UCLA in today’s New York Times, Los Angeles Times and other outlets.

UCLA scholars described the latest Hollywood Diversity Report findings as a “wake-up call for domestic film studios” in an article for Forbes. The report, released just ahead of the 98th Annual Academy Awards, analyzes the state of diversity in Hollywood using data across various media. The study was also featured by the Los Angeles Times, Variety, TheWrap and LAist. Read more about UCLA in today’s NBC News, Bloomberg Law and other outlets.

On this week’s IndieWire Filmmaker Toolkit podcast, Autumn Durald Arkapaw talks about what it would mean to be the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography, and the career journey that led her to this point. Arkapaw, who is up for an Academy Award for her work on Ryan Coogler's “Sinners,” did not take a traditional path in film, but found her footing after an old advertising boss bought her a night course at UCLA Extension to get her started. Now, she could make Oscar history at the 98th Annual Academy Awards. Read more about UCLA in today’s Associated Press, Salon and other outlets.

In an article in the Los Angeles Times, several UCLA experts speak about how the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran has drawn in nations from around the world, creating more pressure for countries directly involved, and pushing out the conflict’s timeline. UCLA sociologist Kevan Harris speaks about the impact of past wars in the region on the global stage, and UCLA political scientist Benjamin Radd looks ahead to possible outcomes. Both Harris and Radd are affiliated with the UCLA International Institute. Read more about UCLA in today’s KNBC-TV.

In a KABC-TV segment, UCLA gastroenterologist Fola May speaks about the increased risk of colorectal cancer in men and women under 50 at an event hosted at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center to educate the public about the growing crisis surrounding the disease. To spread awareness, a walk-through, inflatable colon was put on display on March 6, allowing visitors to see and learn about polyps, early-stage cancers and advanced disease. Read more about UCLA in today’s ABC News, New York Times and other outlets.

A New York Times news analysis examines accusations from liberal justices that the U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly using its emergency docket to intervene before states’ highest courts can weigh in. Richard Hasen, founding director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at the UCLA School of Law, said the court’s action in an election-mapping dispute may have been a response to what appeared to be a novel redistricting approach in New York — potentially a one-off move rather than a signal the justices will routinely intervene in state election-law decisions. Still, Hasen said he could not recall another elections case where the court intervened on an emergency basis before a state high court had acted. Read more about UCLA in today’s New York Times.

Los Angeles Times’ “De Los” reported that according to UCLA’s 2025 Hollywood Diversity Report, which looked at the 104 top-performing English-language movies released in 2024, only 1% of leading roles went to Latinos; less than 5% of directors were Latino; and approximately 2% of writers were Latino. Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population. When it comes to gender, the disparities were even more glaring. There were zero Latina directors and screenwriters in the top theatrical movie releases of 2024. Read and see more about UCLA in The Independent, Men’s Journal and other outlets.

In an interview on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” UCLA’s Richard Hasen joins host Terry Gross to unpack the ramifications of President Trump’s SAVE Act, legislation that would allow for a federal takeover of elections, making registration and voting much more difficult. Hasen, who is also the founding director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project at the UCLA School of Law, discusses how we got here, the barriers the act would pose to voters, the realism of the act making 2026’s election timeline, and whether such a move is constitutional. Read more about UCLA in today’s NBC News, Wall Street Journal and other outlets.