Tag: ucsd

Say that again? Hope for Age-Related Hearing Loss

One in ten Americans is affected by hearing loss significant enough to make them seek treatment.

Dr. Allen Ryan, professor of surgery and professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, presents “New Methods for the Treatment of Hearing and Balance Disorders,” in which he reveals his research for potential treatments of hearing loss.

Watch as Ryan explains the inner workings of the ear, what exactly goes wrong to cause hearing loss, and his work with mice that might lead to a cure.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDfE8leLBJU[/youtube]

If you liked this video on aging, Click here for more videos from the Stein Institute for Research on Aging.

Climate Change Hasn't Changed

In “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore presents his case on climate change based on the “Keeling Curve,” measurements of the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

These first records of rising CO2 levels were taken in the 1950’s by Charles David Keeling of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Even then scientists were aware of the green house effect created by CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere.  Keeling tracked the increasing levels of CO2 for decades, but it didn’t take long for him to link the rising CO2 levels with the burning of fossil fuels. Although it was known that the burning of fossil fuels created CO2, it was widely believed that the ocean absorbed all of that excess carbon dioxide. Keeling was the first person to prove that CO2 was accumulating in the atmosphere, as it still is today.

In “The Scientific Case for Urgent Action to Limit Climate Change,” Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard Somerville of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography presents a case based on some of the initial measurements of CO2 in the atmosphere taken by Keeling.

In this video, Somerville further explains this research and his ideas for how to reduce the emissions causing climate change. If you want more information on climate change and ocean science, check out the “Perspectives on Ocean Science” series.

Is the Human Mind Unique?

There’s plenty that goes on in these heads of ours — sometimes more than we want or understand. But just how much does the way our minds work distinguish us from other species?

In the latest series from UC San Diego’s CARTA, scientists from different fields discuss the cognitive abilities that are often regarded as unique to humans, including humor, morality, symbolism, creativity and preoccupation with the minds of others. They assess the functional uniqueness of these attributes, as opposed to the anatomical uniqueness, and whether they are indeed quantitatively or qualitatively unique to humans.

Watch “Is the Human Mind Unique?” and then tell that brain of yours to click on over to the CARTA video archive for more intriguing insights into what makes us human.

Living for Longevity: The Nutrition Connection

Eating right takes on a whole new meaning when you watch “Living for Longevity: The Nutrition Connection” this month on UCSD-TV.

In her helpful talk from UC San Diego’s Stein Institute for Research on Aging, Vicky Newman, MS, RD, explains how the right balance of foods, part of an anti-inflammatory eating plan, can maximize your health and energy level.  Learn practical tips for controlling your weight, maintaining bone strength and reducing the risk of common chronic diseases associated with aging. You’ll also find out about foods that support the body’s immune and detoxification systems, how to maintain a healthy (and happy) gut, and how to balance your fats to support your health and well-being.

Watch “Living for Longevity: The Nutrition Connection” Thursday, April 25 at 8:3pm, or online now (additional broadcast times at the link). For even more valuable healthy aging tips and research updates, check out the Stein Institute’s video archive.

Research Universities & Economic Growth with Chancellor Khosla

Since beginning his tenure as UC San Diego’s eighth chancellor in August 2012, Pradeep Khosla hasn’t wasted any time getting to know his campus and the region within which it resides. Now he’s ready to make his case for the economic value that research universities like UC San Diego create within their surrounding regions and the nation.

Tune in tonight (March 4) at 8pm for “The Role of a Research University on Economic Development,” also available online, during which Chancellor Khosla argues for investing in research universities. He points to the successes of UC San Diego in attracting $1 billion a year in research funding, spawning hundreds of new companies in telecommunications and biotechnology.