GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord — even bits of lopped-off brain.

But it turns out that remarkable ability isn’t so mysterious after all — suggesting that researchers could learn how to replicate it in people.

J. Glenn Morris, director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute, was quoted in an April 28 Florida Times-Union story about how Florida will cope with a potential outbreak of swine flu. The quote was the result of a media advisory from the Health Science Center.

An op-ed column by student Kate Stein, a senior finance major, on how people shop for groceries was published in the April 16 New York Times.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Harn Museum of Art and Florida Museum of Natural History are joining together once again to celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18. The free event features crafts, painting demonstrations, live music, a dance performance, educational presentations and organic food.

The Harn Museum of Art is offering a number of programming opportunities, including an informative lecture at 11:30 a.m. about how to make your household energy efficient.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Nancy Chrystal-Green, director of the University of Florida Center for Student Activities and Involvement in the Reitz Student Union, received the National Service Award at the 2009 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Annual Conference.

The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of individual members to NIRSA. Additionally, the award acknowledges exceptional performance and dedication, which encourages creativity, innovation and a standard of excellence in professional achievement.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The oyster lover’s axiom of edibility — that this shellfish is safest to eat in any month with an “r” in it — may soon become somewhat of a culinary anachronism, thanks to a new food-safety test developed with help from the University of Florida.

Oysters are typically considered safest to eat in cooler months (September through April) because the shellfish-infecting bacteria in the genus Vibrio flourish best in warm temperatures.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Donald Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, will speak Monday at the University of Florida’s Graham Center for Public Service on the need for a new national labor policy.

The talk will take place at 7 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora. It is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.