Desert dust research could lead to more precise weather forecasts

The findings show that the heat-trapping effect of airborne desert dust in the atmosphere is about twice as big as previously believed. “Current climate models undercount the heating effect of dust by about half,” UCLA’s Jasper Kok said. “The climate models remain effective and useful, and this will make them even more precise.”

Improved molecular probe could help boost drug discovery 

A research collaboration led by UCLA unveiled a new technology that may help scientists better understand how small molecules, including many drugs, bind to proteins. Because most small-molecule drugs act by binding to specific protein targets, finding precisely where these molecules bind is a major benefit for drug discovery.

The rise of the short-attention-span novel — and more media coverage of UCLA

The Los Angeles Times explored how shrinking attention spans and digital habits may be reshaping contemporary fiction, citing insights from UCLA English professor Mitchum Huehls. Read more about UCLA in today’s CBS News, New York Times and others.