Jan. 12 - Experts analyze storm effects; cheese and sleep
Section 1
Anteater Time Machine: White-gloved cheerleaders watch UCI’s first basketball game, against UC Riverside, in December 1965. UCI won.
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
In 1983, surging waves from an El Niño storm wrecked the Crystal Pier off Pacific Beach in San Diego.
National media turn to UCI experts for storm insights
For stories about the effects of California’s torrential rains, ABC News, The New York Times and other top outlets are relying on UCI experts for analysis and insights. A few examples:
- On ABC, Jim Randerson, a Chancellor’s Professor of Earth system science, explained how the storms could prevent a mass die-off of forests in the West.
- The New York Times interviewed Brett Sanders, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, about his work to develop a hyperlocal flood forecasting system that can inform residents of the risk that their neighborhoods — or even streets — face from a coming storm.
- The Washington Post published a Q&A with David Feldman, a professor of urban planning and public policy, on harvesting stormwater.
- NBC News spoke with Jin-Yi Yu, an atmospheric scientist and professor of Earth system science, on the paradox of a La Niña winter acting more like an El Niño.
A cheesy solution to insomnia?
What happens when someone eats cheese every day for a week? One of the effects noticed by a health writer was better sleep, an observation confirmed by UCI cognitive scientist Sara Mednick, who said dairy products are nutritionally rich and contain “high amounts of tryptophan, which synthesizes melatonin. Melatonin is the circadian hormone that decreases arousal at night and brings on sleep. So having enough dairy in your daily diet can be a great way to keep your sleep on a steady rhythm."
EVENTS
King Britt
Saturday, 4 p.m. talk and 8 p.m. performance (sponsored by School of the Arts)
Lunar New Year events
Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (sponsored by School of Social Sciences)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Have the recent storms put a dent in California's historic drought?
KCBS (video), Jan. 11
Cited: Amir AghaKouchak, engineering professor
Why the new Alzheimer’s drug is eliciting both optimism and caution
National Geographic, Jan. 11
Cited: Joshua Grill, director of UCI MIND
Your attention span isn't dead — yet. These tips can help restore your ability to focus
Mashable, Jan. 12
Cited: Gloria Mark, Chancellor's Professor of informatics
#UCICONNECTED
Peter the Anteater went through a “red” phase in 1991.
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.