Sleeping pills and demons; health news nuggets

Oct. 19, 2023

Then and now: Above, construction on UCI’s library takes shape in 1964. Below, the library as it appears today. In-between, in 1969, a little-known expansion project altered the library’s size and appearance. Scroll down to #UCIconnected for details and a photo.

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

UCI astrophysicist becomes APS fellow

The American Physical Society announced today that James Bullock, a professor in UCI’s Department of Physics & Astronomy, will become an APS Fellow, an honor that recognizes field-defining work. Bullock, who is also dean of the School of Physical Sciences, explores how gravity from dark matter governs the shapes of galaxies.

Can sleeping pills mimic demonic possession?

Just in time for Halloween, Netflix's new documentary “The Devil on Trial” explores the story of an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly possessed by a demon in 1980 and underwent an exorcism with the help of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The boy’s brother, now 57, says he recently discovered his mom had been drugging the family with Sominex, a sleeping aid. Could that have caused the symptoms of “possession”? Newsweek interviewed Dr. Rami N. Khayat, medical director of UCI Health Sleep Medicine Services, who said the pill’s active ingredient can cause hallucinations, although the dose has to be very high.

Health news nuggets

Here’s a roundup of intriguing health news featuring UCI experts:

The Secret to Living to 100? It’s Not Good Habits
Dr. Claudia Kawas cites links between longevity and even short amounts of exercise, social activities such as going to church, and modest caffeine and alcohol intake.
Killer 1918 flu didn’t pick on the healthy, after all
Science quotes epidemiologist Andrew Noymer on a study that challenges claims that the 1918 pandemic killed lots of healthy young people. Most of the victims were already frail, the study found. And one possibility, Noymer suggested, is that tuberculosis, which was common at the time and usually affects people early in life, weakened many young adults and left them susceptible to the flu.
How exposure to sunlight could help treat and prevent Type 2 diabetes
Vitamin D from exposure to natural light affects how well the body uses insulin, nutritionist Melanie Murphy Richter told Medical News Today.
Exercising Can Be Dangerous If You Take These Medications
Drugs such as Sudafed and Afrin can affect your blood vessels and make it more difficult for your body to regulate heat and keep cool, according to UCI Health information cited by Health Digest.

EVENTS

In-person STEM Career Fair
Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (sponsored by Division of Career Pathways)

The New Campus Speech Zone: Institutional Responses and Educational Efforts Involving Social Media
Tuesday, 10 a.m. (sponsored by UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement)

Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.

#UCICONNECTED

1960s library expansion

Just a few years after the campus opened, UCI’s library underwent a dramatic expansion. For comparison, a 1968 Calisphere photo shows the library before the addition and a 1969 picture shows the post-makeover result. There’s also a short film made during the project.

ICYMI: Last weekend’s partial solar eclipse

On Saturday morning, Southern California experienced the astronomical spectacle of a partial solar eclipse. Aaron Barth, a professor of physics & astronomy, shot this series of photographs as the moon moved across the sun. “Since it was foggy that morning in Irvine, I drove out to the desert – Lake Perris – to get away from the clouds,” he said.

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UCI IN THE NEWS

Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.