February 2024

New research from University of Utah psychology researchers is helping demonstrate what American authors John Muir and Henry David Thoreau tried to teach more than 150 years ago: Time spent in nature is good for the heart and soul.

A new study led by U geographers attempts to understand if local environmental factors increase or decrease the number of UFO sighting reports. For each county in the contiguous U.S., the researchers analyzed two conditions: Sky view potential, which refers to the area’s light pollution, cloud cover, and tree canopy cover; and the potential for objects to be present in the sky, meaning the proximity to airports and military installations.

Dr. Kate Kirkham (BS ‘66, sociology) dedicated her 40+ year career as a professional and academic to helping organizations eliminate discrimination from the workplace. As a recent testament to her lifelong commitment to change, she generously established The Kate L. Kirkham Graduate Student Finish Line Endowed Fund in the university’s Department of Sociology.