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University of Utah Health | University of Utah Hea •

Landmark study reveals century-long cycles in U.S. suicide rates and a long-term crisis among youth

Suicide rates in the United States follow striking, decades-long cycles likely shaped by broad social forces, according to a major new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). But beneath that long-term rise-and-fall pattern, researchers uncovered a deeply concerning and persistent trend: suicide risk among young people has been rising steadily for more than half a century, affecting each new generation earlier in life.This study by the REDUCE (Reduce Early...
University of Utah Health | University of Utah Hea •

Utah authorizes state-funded psychedelic research for veterans with PTSD

“This legislation provides for a clinical trial with IRB, DEA, and FDA oversight,” he said. “The goal is to establish safety and feasibility first—can this be done safely in this population, and is it acceptable to veterans?”The state has allocated $1 million to support the study, with the possibility of additional philanthropic funding and grant-based support. The total number of veterans enrolled in the trial will depend on the amount of available funding.Beyond symptom reduction, the study ai...
Engineering •

US Struggles to Build High-Speed Rail

The summer of 2025 marked a new low for the US state of California’s long-standing high-speed rail (HSR) ambitions. In a move that stunned state officials and rail advocates, the Trump administration abruptly pulled 4 billion USD in federal funding from the project,
redirecting the money to other passenger rail efforts across the country that would prioritize safety and efficiency—without the climate and diversity requirements that had been part of previous grant programs.
Engineering •

Can Batteries Meet the Looming Demand for Grid-Scale Storage?

On 16 January 2025, flames erupted, and smoke rose more than 300 m in Moss Landing, CA, USA, at what was until early 2024 the world’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS). Prompted by the potential danger of exposure to toxic gases from the blaze, local authorities closed schools and the coast’s iconic Highway 1, evacuated hundreds living close to the facility, and instructed residents of the nearby communities of Santa Cruz and Salinas to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows shut.
Engineering •

Scaled Up Chip Pushes Quantum Computing a Bit Closer to Reality

In the 9 December 2024 issue of Nature, a team of Google engineers reported breakthrough results using ‘‘Willow,” their latest quantum computing chip. By meeting a milestone ‘‘below threshold” reduction in the rate of errors that plague superconducting circuit-based quantum computing systems, the work moves the field another step towards its promised supercharged applications, albeit likely still many years away.
University of Utah Health | University of Utah Hea •

University Of Utah Hospital Performs Surgical Treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Major Depression Disorder

Between 1% and 2% of adults in the U.S. experienced symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the past year. About 10% of adults suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD). While there are several types of treatment for these disorders, about 20-40% of OCD patients and 30% of MDD patients have failed to respond to drugs and psychotherapy and are considered treatment resistant. The psychiatric-neurosurgical center at the University of Utah Hospital and the Huntsman Mental Health Institu...
University of Utah Health | University of Utah Hea •

The Genetics of Suicide Risk

While the environment has had an undeniable impact, evidence suggests that genetic factors play a significant role in suicide completion. 
Hilary Coon, PhD, professor at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, began her research career 35 years ago examining links between genes and physical illnesses such as hypertension along with mental illnesses such as alcohol and nicotine addiction, autism, and schizophrenia. In the past decade, she has turned her attention to the genetics underlying suicide....
University of Utah Health | University of Utah Hea •

Sperm Stem Cell Insights Bring Researchers Closer to Infertility Treatment

Spermatogenesis—the production of sperm cells—involves the differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells into mature sperm through a complex process. Disruptions to this process are a common cause of male infertility, which affects one in every six couples. Most of what scientists know about spermatogenesis comes from studies in mice.
A few years ago, though, Bradley Cairns, Ph.D., professor and chair of oncological sciences at U of U Health and chief academic officer at Huntsman Cancer Institute...