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If you forgot that we live in the desert, July will remind you with weeks of excessive heat well over the 100-degree mark.Things started heating up for the news cycle and UNLV experts, too.

With this latest installment of Newsmakers, we’ll quench your political thirst by analyzing the presidential race, the leanings of Nevadans, and how people can fall prey to conspiracy theories. UNLV’s cast of faculty experts also sent their farewells to the Mirage resort as it closed down, researched what’s responsible for making time fly (or crawl), and identified the snack foods that can help us dodge the dreaded midday slump.

Start brushing up on these topics and much more in July’s featured stories:

Farewell to the Mirage

July marked the end of an era on the Las Vegas Strip, as the iconic Mirage resort shut down. This meant the end of the volcano shows and the beginning of construction on the new Hard Rock hotel. Historians David Schwartz and Michael Green, along with gaming experts Alan Feldman and Bo Bernhard, were prominently featured in a variety of stories on this changing of the guard on the Strip.

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The Illusion of Time

A team of UNLV researchers – headed by senior author, psychology professor, and neuroscientist James Hyman – found that we perceive the passage of time based on the number of experiences we have, not some kind of internal clock. The busier we keep ourselves, the faster time will seemingly go.

The study was made possible by the work of UNLV graduate students Ryan A. Wirt and Talha K. Soluoku, and medical student Ryan M. Ricci; and Jeremy K. Seamans of the University of British Columbia.

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Nursing Camp

UNLV and University Medical Center partnered once more to host Nurse Camp – a weeklong introduction to the nursing field. The program gives about 60 high school students a hands-on glimpse into the everyday routine and job roles expected of modern nurses. They learn skills such as checking for vital signs, assessing patients, caring for newborns, and suturing wounds.

Get a closer look inside with coverage from the , , , and .

Health & Science

• explained why walking barefoot can help your feet with the assistance of kinesiologist John Mercer. He also gave readers tips on choosing the best walking shoes.
• was joined by Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine dean Marc Kahn regarding the threat of heat stroke during summertime presidential campaign rallies. He also spoke to about the uptick in COVID-19 cases and variants found in local wastewater.  
• Infectious disease expert Brian Labus was featured in both and the for his comments on recent Listeria outbreaks.
• provided some tips to prevent the midday crash with the help of nutrition expert Samantha Coogan.
• Professor Lisa Taylor and student Michael Carpio in UNLV’s physical therapy program were highlighted in .
• Science Education For The Youth (SEFTY) founder and Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine professor Ed Oh invited the  to hang out as UNLV grad students offered high schoolers a hands-on research lab experience.
• Nutritionist Arpita Basu outlined the best eating habits for diabetics in , and .

Culture

• covered the resurgence of the ‘skort’ with fashion historian Deirdre Clemente.
• Law expert Nancy Rapoport’s take on Artificial Intelligence potentially impacting the number of working attorneys was shared in . She also commented in () on why attorneys are fleeing from a prominent education tech firm case and private equity bankruptcy.
• July was a busy month for hospitality expert Amanda Belarmino. Tipping culture throughout the world tends to change from country to country, and and asked Belarmino for help explaining the differences. Multiple UK outlets picked up her conversation with the about the impact of residents’ protests about local tourism on the economy in Majorca, Spain. And she talked with the () () about the future of Primm’s outlet mall, Southwest Airlines’ revamped seating policy, and Las Vegas tourism over the Independence Day holiday weekend.  
• Physicist Jason Steffen was featured in a story from about Southwest Airlines ending its free seating policy.

Politics

• Political scientist Rebecca Gill talked about the odds of any Democrat challengers for Kamala Harris in both the and . She also discussed the importance of Nevada as a swing state with , and the development of the Democratic race since President Joe Biden stepped down:  (), , , , .
• The received expert insight from political scientist David Damore regarding the status of the Latino vote in Nevada. He also talked to about how the outcome of the general election might impact the cost of healthcare, as well as to the about expected voter turnout and the about the Nevada governor’s veto power. Damore then commented on the impact a Harris victory would have on the middle class in .
• Law professors David Orentlicher and Benjamin Edwards went over how the Supreme Court has changed the country’s legal landscape in pieces from and .
• discussed the importance of President Joe Biden not seeking re-election with historian Michael Green. () asked him about the popularity of mail-in ballots in Nevada and if the assassination attempt on Donald Trump could sway voters. talked to Green about the importance of abortion for the upcoming election, and featured his comments regarding the historical context of the Trump assassination attempt.
• went over where Nevada stands on the presidential election with political scientist Kenneth Miller. The () featured comments from Miller regarding the source of income for Nevada primaries and the role of Las Vegas Sands in Nevada voter IDs. and talked to Miller regarding Biden’s dropout from the race, and the increasing divide between political parties.
• The talked to psychologist Stephen Benning about the rash of Joe Biden conspiracy theories following the end of his re-election campaign.

Experts Roundup

• talked about the most popular stolen items in hotels, and what it says about people with hospitality management professor Mehmet Erdem.
• Communications expert Emma Bloomfield put together an article on the science of storytelling strategies for , which was picked up by multiple outlets including  and .
• Have you ever heard what sounds like dog barking during a flight, or wondered what might make some flights rockier than others? Aviation historian Dan Bubb gave the reason behind the barks in the ., and the turbulence in . Additionally, he provided guidance for those facing overbooked flights in , and the worst times to sleep on a flight in .
• Psychology and brain sciences expert Erin Hannon explained where musical intelligence comes from to .
• Architectural psychologist Dak Kopec joined to talk about the best security measures for your home. and also asked Kopec how people can keep their homes safe and accessible as they age.
• Epidemiologist Chad Cross shared some tactics to rid your yard of plant-eating kudzu bugs with .
• Hospitality expert Marla Royne Stafford commented on TikTok influencers receiving tax money to promote Las Vegas in a story from the .