In a Los Angeles Times article, UCLA’s Dr. Neil Silverman and other experts discuss the nuances of a highly mutated COVID-19 strain circulating in California that could point to its emergence as more of a summer disease. “COVID doesn’t seem to play by the same rules that influenza tends to play by, where its cycle is predictable,” says Silverman, who is the director of the Infections in Pregnancy Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “COVID is still here. People can’t necessarily take comfort from the fact that we did not have a surge over this past winter.” Read more about UCLA in today’s Associated Press and the Independent.
More highlights from UCLA in the News: April 20, 2026
There’s a new theory about what helped form the Grand Canyon | The Independent
Now, a new study suggests that the river may have begun to carve its path after an ancient lake overflowed around 6.6 million years ago, providing fresh evidence for a theory first introduced in the 1930s. As the river began to drain into the vast Bidahochi basin, the basin filled up and spilled over its barrier — crossing the steep Kaibab Arch, a high point in Arizona and Utah — into what would become the Grand Canyon, the scientists said. “In some ways, you could really think of it as the birth of the Colorado River that we know today,” UCLA geologist John He explained in a statement.
Climate change, disasters driving homelessness surge | Santa Monica Daily Press
Every 10 homes lost to a climate-related disaster per 10,000 residents is associated with a 1 percentage point increase in homelessness, according to a sweeping new national study led by UCLA researchers — findings that its authors say should fundamentally reshape how governments plan for natural disasters. (UCLA’s Kathryn Leifheit and Randall Kuhn were quoted.)
Drought sparks worries about fires, water supply and food prices | Associated Press
Sticking out like a sore thumb is a highly technical but crucial measurement of “the sponginess’’ of the atmosphere — or how much moisture the hot, dry air is sucking up from the land it’s baking. It’s called vapor pressure deficit. It’s 77% above normal and more than 25% higher than the previous record for January through March in the West, said UCLA hydroclimatologist Park Williams.
Iranian President Pezeshkian says U.S. trying to deny Tehran of its rights | CNA
“This is not a regime that is willing to concede on the three primary areas that President Trump has demanded for an end to the war. Number one: zero enrichment going forward. Number two: an end to its ballistic missile development program, and number three: end of support for proxy groups abroad,” said UCLA’s Benjamin Radd. (Approx. 2:10 mark. Radd was also interviewed by KNBC-TV — approx. 1:35 mark).
Social media paves road to poetry for Latina creatives | Los Angeles Times’ “De Los”
Viral social media trends like “Instapoetry” and #poetrytok have allowed Latinos to not only access literature that resonates with them, but to feel empowered to become writers as well, said Patrícia Lino, an associate professor of poetry and visual arts at UCLA. A century ago, the democratization of poetry was only a dream. Today, everyone can be a poet thanks to social media, Lino said.
Marine protected areas | LAist
Researcher Kyle Cavanaugh and his team at UCLA analyzed satellite data of kelp forests off the California coast in the decades before and after the establishment of the state’s protected areas, focusing on the changes after a severe marine heat wave between 2014 and 2016. “Marine protected areas recovered more quickly, more strongly compared to the non-protected areas in Southern California,” Cavanaugh said.
Swalwell scandal exposed flaws in top-two primary | Los Angeles Times
No write-in candidacies are allowed in California’s general elections, although they are in the primary. That’s an inexplicable flaw. “I’ve thought for years there should be a write-in option to deal with such a problem,” says UCLA law professor Rick Hasen, an expert on elections law.
