Life

Mariachi Keeps Mexican Culture Alive in Tucson

For some, mariachi is a way of life in Tucson. Los Changuitos Feos, the most famous mariachi youth group here, express their Mexican pride through folk songs.

Prickly but Pleasant, a Spiny Fruit Enchants

It’s purple, egg-shaped and spiny: It’s the prickly pear, a fruit that grows abundantly in Tucson. Locals use the fruit to create items such as lip balm, soap and taffy.

The Colorful World of Lisa Frank Goes Silent

Lisa Frank is the creator of a line of vibrantly colored school supplies covered in hearts, stars and rainbows that reigned supreme in the 80s and 90s. Now, Frank’s namesake company is a fraction of what it was, and she has essentially disappeared.

The Dogs Still Race, to the Echoes of the Past

Tucson’s dog racing industry is dwindling, possibly toward extinction. Facing a host of allegations of animal abuse from animal rights groups, Tucson Greyhound Park, the last operational dog track in Arizona, is trying to keep business afloat and its culture alive.

The Changing Climate of Biosphere 2

After a failed infamous two-year experiment in the 1990s, Biosphere 2 is now a leader in geological research for the University of Arizona in climate change.

Protecting Tucson’s Dark Skies to Snag an Asteroid

An important astronomy project to reach an asteroid depends in part on the dark night skies that are a result of cooperation between science and industry in Tucson.

Above the Desert, a Vineyard Town Blooms

The small town of Sonoita, Ariz., about 30 miles north of the Mexican border, has become an unlikely destination for stargazers, wine lovers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Visitors are drawn to the natural surroundings, winemakers and well-regarded chefs who are relocating there.

Tombstone, Where Shots Are Heard ’Round the World

Bang! Bang! You look the part! The daily spectacle of Tombstone, where the Old West has a showdown with international tourism and cowboy street theater.

From Behind the Lens of the Universe

Atop a desert mountain where the stars shine brightly, astronomers gaze deeply into the universe. But at Kitt Peak, as elsewhere, astronomers rarely put eye to telescope any more. Advances in technology have taken astronomers from behind the lens to the world of digital images.

The Puzzles Left Behind by Death

The remains of migrants found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona help match unidentified bodies with reports of people who are missing. From clothing to wallets to items as mundane as nail clippers, Pima County’s Missing Migrant Project hopes to solve the mysteries of 800 unidentified bodies.

Nogales Group Offers Food, Clothes and Hope

A husband and wife started the Crossroads Rescue Mission in Nogales, Ariz., in 1995 with a budget of $900. Over a decade later, the mission has grown and dozens of Mexicans cross the border on Saturdays to obtain meals and groceries, something they are not helped with back home.

With Civil Unions, Bisbee Sees Growth

Bisbee, a city southeast of Tucson known for its colorful mining history, artists and visitors, hopes a a proposed same-sex civil union ordinance will help it grow.

Hopeful Fans of Space Debate Its Future

The annual Space Fest V conference met Memorial Day weekend in Tucson, Ariz., to celebrate human space flight and its future. However, some at the conference were disillusioned with NASA’s budget cuts and shorter-term goals.

Ajo: A Grotesque Reality With Some Advantages

At a remote desert outpost two hours from Tucson, sheriff’s deputies deal with a grinding daily routine amid the harsh desperation of drug-smuggling and illegal border crossings.

Taps: A Fading Tune

Old soldiers, and sailors, fade away, and on Memorial Day, a buglar plays Taps. But as the soldiers fade away, so are the buglers able to play Taps at the funerals.

Where Old Planes Go to Rest, or Die

Hundreds of commercial and private planes are flown to Evergreen Air Center at Pinal Air Park every year, but most do not carry passengers. They are flown to the airfield to be repaired or overhauled, or grounded for months on end by budget cuts.

Tucson’s Hot and High Extremes, Seen From Two Wheels

Tucson has risen to become America’s most bike-friendly area, according to The Atlantic. Hundreds of bikers meet during the weekends to ride Arizona’s trails despite the temperatures, which can reach close to 100 degrees during May.

‘The Hangover Part III’ Premieres in Nogales

Slideshow: The local premiere of “The Hangover Part III” brought out many residents of Nogalez, Ariz., some of whom were cast as extras in the movie.

Nogales ‘Stars’ Get the Red Carpet Treatment

The red carpet was unrolled in Nogales for a local premiere of “The Hangover III.” But this time, it was the locals, not the stars, who got the attention: Parts of the movie were shot there.

One Day When It Is the Heat, Not the Humidity

It was May 22, and in the blistering heat of the Sonoran Desert, people in Tucson feigned dismay but harbored excitement as they wondered if it would be Ice Break Day.