Science and Innovation

Data from the U.S. Department of Energy shows a dramatic plunge in gasoline use as people follow health recommendations to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin Gurney of Northern Arizona University is tracking the data daily. He says it reveals the financial upheaval caused by the pandemic, but also could hold lessons for how to act on climate change. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with Kevin Gurney about his findings.

Northern Arizona University has moved to online-only classes for the remainder of the spring semester in response to the coronavirus pandemic.  KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny reports, the transition has been especially difficult for science classes that rely on labs and field work.

There are now more than 100 known cases of the coronavirus disease on the Navajo Nation. Doctors trying to diagnosis and treat the disease face serious challenges in this rural region, including the vast distances between patients and hospitals. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with Dr. Gregory Jarrin about the unfolding crisis. He’s a general surgeon at the Winslow Indian Health Care Center.

Pablita Velarde is hardly a household name. But in the world of Southwest art, she is considered one of the greatest female painters of her generation. 

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a spike in demand for food and other basic supplies, but new research from Northern Arizona University shows supply chains are still intact. The FEWSION project uses big data to map the sustainability of food, water, and energy systems in the United States. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with project lead Ben Ruddell about how those systems remain resilient in a crisis.