We get it. You want to be informed, but you’ve been in the house for days on end with nothing but coronavirus updates in all of your feeds and headlines. But now, you just need a break.
In that spirit, ASU Now presents thrilling tales of your university. Maybe you missed them the first time, or maybe you couldn't fit them into your busy reading schedule when they appeared. These long reads now are perfect for a socially distanced weekend afternoon.
Here are a few of our favorite stories of adversity, triumph, friendship, love and the nation's most innovative university.
Arizona and ASU history
Searching for the first Sun Devil war heroes
Like Pat Tillman, the first known ASU students to die in combat volunteered to fight in World War I.
ASU's Rough Riders and the path to statehood
The story of the Tempe Normal School men who headed to Cuba to fight for Roosevelt and helped Arizona earn a star on the flag.
Shots fired in 1918 Arizona still resonate
On the 100th anniversary of the infamous Power brothers shootout, an ASU professor and an alumnus with a key role in the story shed light on the fascinating, horrible tale.
Palm Walk: A tale of trees, death, rebirth and mystery
Iconic ASU pathway celebrates turning 100 — or as close as we can figure — with new trees replacing those at end of their life span.
ASU students storm Gettysburg battlefield
McCain Institute field trip with a general and an ambassador offers timeless lessons of character-driven leadership.
Inspiring stories
Love and loss in the Grand Canyon
A true story about three people, passion, a place — and triumphing over tragedy.
ASU professor's solar-powered library is transforming global education
The SolarSPELL device provides lessons and health information to remote communities.
ASU scholars save priceless manuscripts from obscurity
An art historian and a musicologist felt it was their duty to preserve centuries-old manuscripts detailing the lives of some unconventional nuns.
Sun Devil wrestler inspires beyond the mat
Student veteran Roman Rozell uses his past to brighten the future of others.
3 lives, many letters, 1 friendship
ASU professors unearth details of the lives of three powerhouse Spanish-speaking women.
Tales of comfort and self-care
Tips for living well in 2020
ASU professors weigh in on mindfulness, heart health, smoking cessation and more.
Professor couple speaks the language of humor
Don and Alleen Nilsen live their lives, both personal and professional, with laughter.
In pursuit of happiness
ASU professors share how our relationships with each other, the world around us and ourselves can make us happy.
New ASU online program will train adults to help foster youths prep for college
The Empower program helps educators with navigating special challenges like documents and waivers.
ASU prof pinpoints optimal age of puppy cuteness
Canine researcher Clive Wynne's discovery reveals more about the depth and origin of the human-dog relationship.
Sun Devils making a difference
ASU's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to provide Peace Corps experience for members
The program lets older adults travel to Belize, become "citizen scientists" and expand their worldviews.
Arizona Legal Center helps residents navigate the law
Student-based volunteer program helps more than 2,000 people a year find legal guidance.
Casting out demons, myths and stereotypes
ASU’s Project Humanities hosts a community engagement program designed to dispel falsehoods surrounding religion.
ASU biologist’s research is for the birds
Kerrie Anne Loyd’s work fills in important gaps in knowledge about owl activity.
Making Thunderbirds cooler than ever
A 68-year-old veteran patents an automotive part designed in an ASU engineering class.
More Science and technology
CSI: Mars
By Wendee NicoleTravelling to Mars has loomed large in the public’s imagination since at least the late 1800s when H.G. Wells' “War of the Worlds” tale of a Martian invasion was serialized in print.…
ASU research is helping solve crimes
On TV, detectives solve crimes in 43 minutes (plus commercial breaks). In real life, it takes much more time — and many more minds, including researchers discovering new ways to analyze evidence and…
Compact X-ray laser lab aims to reveal deep secrets of life, matter and energy
X-rays allow us to view inside the human body to diagnose broken bones and other hidden problems. More recent X-ray advances are making it possible to see events at the scale of atoms and molecules,…