2007  Physical and Biological Sciences

Geophysicist Robert Coe honored by American Geophysical Union

Robert Coe, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, was selected by the American Geophysical Union's (AGU) Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism section to receive the 2007 William Gilbert Award.

Undergraduate wins biomedical research award for minority students

Milana PeBenito, an undergraduate senior at UC Santa Cruz, received a presentation award at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.

Why diving marine mammals resist brain damage from low oxygen

Certain animals--including dolphins, whales, and sea otters--appear to be protected from low oxygen by elevated levels of oxygen-carrying proteins in their brains, according to a new study by UCSC researchers.

California Coastal Commission approves UC Santa Cruz's Coastal LRDP

At a hearing today in San Francisco, the California Coastal Commission approved UC Santa Cruz's Coastal Long Range Development Plan (CLRDP), a land-use blueprint for possible future development at the site of UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory.

UCSC faculty receive $4.5 million in new grants for stem cell research

Two UCSC faculty members have received major grants totalling $4.5 million for stem cell research from the California Insitute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

UCSC selected to join new Science Education Alliance

UCSC has been selected as one of 12 inaugural members of the Science Education Alliance (SEA), a new program developed and funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) that aims to enhance the teaching of science and inspire new generations of res

UCSC geologist probes undersea seismic zone as part of new deep-drilling experiment

The first effort to drill into an undersea zone where massive earthquakes and tsunamis are generated has yielded new data on the stresses that build up there, according to UCSC geologist Casey Moore.

Study finds oral traditions effectively warn people about tsunamis and reduce mortality

Oral traditions are a very efficient means of tsunami education, according to a new study that researchers say shows the power of education to reduce mortality from tsunamis.

High-tech conservationist: Grad student helps fight local battle against logging

UCSC graduate student Adelia Barber took time away from her dissertation to conduct a timberland analysis for a grassroots group opposed to logging in an area of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation commits $200 million support for Thirty-Meter Telescope

The University of California and the California Institute of Technology have received a $200 million commitment over nine years from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation toward the further development and construction of the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT).

Discovery of gene for black coat color in dogs has broad implications

The discovery of a gene responsible for black coat color in dogs may help researchers understand fundamental processes in humans, including the regulation of body weight and stress hormones.

Study of kelp harvesting finds bull kelp more vulnerable than giant kelp

As demand grows for kelp extracts, harvesters may begin to target bull kelp. If so, there may be cause for concern, according to UCSC biologists.

UCSC hydrogeologist provides expert advice on Pajaro Valley's water supply

When a community forum was held in Watsonville on November 1 to discuss the future of the Pajaro Valley's water supply, organizers turned to Andrew Fisher, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, to describe the state of the region's ground water.

Theoretical physicist says polymers in a vacuum may yield valuable data

A theoretical analysis of polymer behavior suggests that large molecules should behave very differently when they are in a vacuum than when in solution, suggesting new opportunities for analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry.

How to make the brightest supernova ever: explode, collapse, repeat

UCSC astrophysicist Stan Woosley provided an explanation for a supernova so bright--about 100 times as luminous as a typical supernova--that it challenged the theoretical understanding of what causes supernovae.

Arboretum will hold Dried Flower and Succulent Wreath Sale November 17 and 18

Hand-made wreaths and holiday decorations will be available from the UCSC Arboretum at the annual Dried Flower and Succulent Wreath Sale on Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18.

Scientists discover record-breaking fifth planet orbiting a star beyond our solar system

A team of American astronomers announced the discovery of a fifth planet around a star called 55 Cancri.

Undergraduates tailor UCSC Genome Browser to aid malaria research

UCSC undergraduates have created a genome browser for studying the malaria parasite, enabling a team of UCSC researchers to discover previously unknown genes that could help in the search for antimalarial drugs.

UCSC astronomer Sandra Faber and chemist Jin Zhang elected 2007 AAAS Fellows

Two UCSC scientists--Sandra Faber, University Professor and chair of astronomy and astrophysics, and Jin Zhang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry--have been honored as 2007 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Gift from botanist Jean Langenheim establishes Endowed Chair in Plant Ecology and Evolution

UCSC has appointed Ingrid Parker, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, to the newly established Jean H. Langenheim Endowed Chair in Plant Ecology and Evolution.

Small-scale fishing in Mexico rivals industrial fisheries in accidental turtle deaths

New research shows that a small-scale Mexican fishery--operated by hand from small open boats--can kill as many critically endangered loggerhead sea turtles as all of the industrial fishing fleets in the North Pacific Ocean put together.

Discovery of retinal cell type ends four-decade search

Researchers have discovered a type of retinal cell that may help monkeys, apes, and humans see motion.

Francis Nimmo receives Urey Prize in Planetary Science

The Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society will award the 2007 Harold C. Urey Prize in Planetary Science this week to Francis Nimmo, associate professor of Earth and planetary sciences.

Scientists study tiny galaxy halfway across the universe

A tiny galaxy nearly halfway across the universe, the smallest in size and mass known to exist at that distance, has been identified and studied by an international team of over a dozen scientists, including four at UCSC.

Multiwavelength images of distant universe now available on Google Sky

A massive project to map a distant region of the Universe in multiple wavelengths--from x-rays through ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio waves--is releasing its data this week to both fellow scientists and the general public.

Three-way mating game of North American lizard found in distant European relative

New findings suggest "rock-paper-scissors" dynamic may be a fundamental evolutionary pattern among social animals.

Beyond the Ivory Tower: The work of three graduate students at UCSC is protecting threatened species around the globe

At UC Santa Cruz, graduate student research is not just about earning a degree. In every field of advanced study, UCSC attracts graduate students who are eager to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to find solutions to global challenges.

UCSC Arboretum holds the most eucalyptus species anywhere outside of Australia

A new survey has determined that the UCSC Arboretum's collection of eucalyptus trees and shrubs is the most diverse anywhere outside of Australia.

Major gift supports crucial piece of Automated Planet Finder

The Gloria and Kenneth Levy Foundation has donated $600,000 to fund an innovative spectrometer for the Automated Planet Finder at UC's Lick Observatory.

Thirty-Meter Telescope Project Receives $15 Million from Moore Foundation

UC and Caltech have each received $7.5 million in additional funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for the development of the Thirty-Meter Telescope.

New light-sensing ability discovered in disease-causing bacteria

The bacteria that cause brucellosis can sense light and use the information to regulate their virulence, according to a study by UCSC researchers.

UCSC professor emeritus William Doyle publishes new reference for California botanists

William T. Doyle, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology, has published a comprehensive reference on the liverworts and hornworts of California.

UCSC neuroscientist Yi Zuo wins two new research awards

Yi Zuo's innovative research on the nervous system has attracted funding from three major foundations since her arrival at UCSC in January.

Wobbly polarity is key to preventing magnetic avalanches on disk drives

New research brings models of magnetic avalanches much closer to reality, helping physicists understand both why they happen and why they don't run out of control, wiping disk drives clean.

Influential fisheries ecologist Steven Berkeley dies at age 60

Steven A. Berkeley, an influential fisheries ecologist whose research helped propel the expansion of marine reserves, died at home in Scotts Valley on June 27 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 60.

UC Santa Cruz biologist Hinrich Boeger named Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences

The Pew Charitable Trusts has named Hinrich Boeger, assistant professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences.

Brian Walton, leader of falcon recovery effort, dies at age 55

Brian Walton, whose leadership of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group was highlighted by the pivotal role the group played in the restoration of the peregrin falcon on the West Coast, died on June 15 at a Santa Cruz hospital. Walton, who served a

Study shows lizard moms dress their children for success

UCSC researchers have found that female side-blotched lizards are able to induce different color patterns in their offspring in response to social cues, "dressing" their progeny in patterns they will wear for the rest of their lives.

State funds stem cell research facility at UC Santa Cruz

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved a $2.7 million grant to fund a stem cell research facility at UC Santa Cruz.

Symposium honors chemistry professor Anthony Fink

Friends, colleagues, and students of chemistry professor Anthony Fink came to campus May 26 to attend a symposium in Fink's honor. Former grad students and postdoctoral associates traveled from Japan, Mexico, South America, and all over the U.S. to attend

Sutter scholarship will support UCSC health sciences grad in med school

Allison Abresch-Meyer will get some welcome assistance paying her medical school bills thanks to a new scholarship established by the Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center and the Central Coast Alliance for Health to benefit graduates of the health sciences p

Scientists reconstruct prehistoric behavior and ecology of northern fur seals

A team of researchers has documented major changes in the behavior, ecology, and geographic range of the northern fur seal over the past 1,500 years using a combination of techniques from archaeology, biochemistry, and ecology.

Adaptive optics pinpoints two supermassive black holes in colliding galaxies

Astronomers have used powerful adaptive optics technology at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii to reveal the precise locations and environments of a pair of supermassive black holes at the center of an ongoing collision between two galaxies 300 million

Large blooms of toxic algae in Monterey Bay are affecting marine animals

Researchers have detected large blooms of toxin-producing algae in Monterey Bay that appear to be poisoning marine mammals and seabirds.

Frictional heating explains plumes on Saturn's moon Enceladus

Rubbing your hands together on a cold day generates a bit of heat, and the same process of frictional heating may be what powers the geysers jetting out from the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

Winners of Chancellor's Achievement Awards for Diversity announced

Two professors, two staff members, and the Center for the Mathematics Education of Latino/as have been selected as winners of the 2007 Chancellor's Achievement Awards for Diversity.

UCSC biologist Robert Edgar elected to National Academy of Sciences

Robert Edgar, professor emeritus of molecular, cell, and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his distinguished achievements in original research.

UCSC astronomer Douglas Lin appointed director of Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics in China

Douglas Lin, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, has been named founding director of the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (KIAA) at Peking University in Beijing, China.

Music and stargazing entice summer visitors to Mt. Hamilton's Lick Observatory

UC's Lick Observatory offers its 27th season of evening programs for music lovers and astronomy buffs this summer, featuring concerts, lectures, and opportunities to view the night sky through the observatory's history-making telescopes atop Mt. Hamilton.

Dickson Emeriti Professorship awarded to Harold Widom

Harold Widom, professor emeritus of mathematics, has been awarded this year's Edward A. Dickson Emeriti Professorship.

Eminent chemist to discuss primordial genetic materials in annual Bunnett Lecture on Friday, May 4

The renowned organic chemist Albert Eschenmoser will give the 2007 Joseph F. Bunnett Research Organic Chemistry Lecture on Friday, May 4.

The 'twilight zone' holds key to ocean's role in climate change

Researchers have identified a critical link in the processes that determine the ocean's ability to absorb and store the carbon dioxide that is accumulating in our atmosphere.

Art meets science in campus Earth Day mural project

UCSC molecular biologist Harry Noller wins 2007 Gairdner Award

Harry Noller, the Sinsheimer Professor of Molecular Biology at UC Santa Cruz, is among the five winners of the 2007 Gairdner International Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in biomedical science.

Seismologists discover complex structure in Tonga mantle wedge

The subduction zones where oceanic plates sink beneath the continents produce volcanic arcs such as those that make up the "rim of fire" around the Pacific Ocean. A new study finds that the structure of the mantle wedge above the subducting plate may be f

UCSC graduate student's research leads to environmental victory in Coronado Islands

Graduate student Shaye Wolf's findings have helped save endangered seabirds from the potentially devastating effects of a liquified natural gas facility planned for a site in Baja California.

Supernova Sage: Stan Woosley

Stan Woosley, one of the world's leading theoretical astrophysicists, studies the evolution of massive stars--and their explosive demise.

A Legacy of Success: Two pioneering UC Santa Cruz programs prepare minority students for careers in science

The Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) and the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) programs are two closely coordinated initiatives designed to ensure that more minorities are prepared to lead in the nation's science labs and classrooms.

UCSC Arboretum holds annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 21

The UCSC Arboretum will hold its annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 21, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Astrobiologist Carl Pilcher to speak at UCSC on Thursday, April 19

Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, will give the annual Sigma Xi Lecture at UC Santa Cruz on Thursday, April 19.

UCSC students monitor peregrine falcons after release at Long Marine Lab

Three peregrine falcons released by the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group are testing their wings around Long Marine Laboratory under the watchful eyes of a group of UCSC students.

Banana Slug Spring Fair drawing alumni back to UC Santa Cruz

Physicist Bruce Rosenblum to speak at UCSC on Monday, April 9

Physicist Bruce Rosenblum will give an Emeriti Faculty Lecture on the topic of "The Quantum Enigma: Has Physics Encountered Consciousness?"

UCSC lecture series spotlights coastal policy challenges

A ten-week lecture series at UC Santa Cruz on "Coastal Policy Challenges of the 21st Century" will be held on Wednesdays at 2 p.m., starting April 4.

RNA enzyme structure offers a glimpse into the origins of life

UCSC researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of an RNA enzyme, or "ribozyme," that carries out a fundamental reaction required to make new RNA molecules. Their results provide insight into what may have been the first self-replicating

New technology shows old faults are smoother than young ones

A new study by UCSC geologists finds old earthquake faults are smoother than young ones, worn smooth over time by friction like the brake pads of an old car.

AEGIS survey reveals new principle governing galaxy formation and evolution

Faced with the bewildering array of galaxies in the universe, from orderly spirals to chaotic mergers, it is hard to imagine a unifying principle that describes them all with mathematical precision. But that is just what astronomers have now discovered.

UC Santa Cruz receives $1 million in grants for stem cell research

UC Santa Cruz students see stars, thanks to local company

UCSC hosts conference to keep young girls interested in science

An event at UCSC on Saturday, March 3, will help middle and high school girls from the Monterey Bay region prepare for their future through a program called "Expanding Your Horizons" designed to inspire girls' enthusiasm for math and science.

Photographer Frans Lanting presents "The Making of Life: A Journey through Time" on March 17

Nature photographer Frans Lanting will share the story behind the making of his multimedia presentation <i>Life: A Journey through Time</i> at an event on Saturday, March 17.

Sloan Research Fellowships awarded to three UC Santa Cruz faculty

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has selected three UCSC faculty members to receive 2007 Sloan Research Fellowships.

UCSC biologist Terrie Williams wins 2007 Women of Discovery Award

Terrie Williams, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, joins Jane Goodall and three other scientists as winners of the 2007 Women of Discovery Awards from Wings WorldQuest.

UCSC offers new major in bioengineering

UCSC has approved a new major in bioengineering, an interdisciplinary program focusing on the applications of engineering to medicine and the biological sciences.

UC Santa Cruz physicists tackle new challenges in neurobiology

UCSC physicists are using technology and expertise gleaned from the field of high-energy physics to address challenging problems in neurobiology.

UCSC ranked first in nation for research impact in physics

In a new analysis of research publications from top U.S. universities, the University of California, Santa Cruz, ranked first for the impact of its faculty in the field of physics and fifth in the field of space sciences.

Chance discovery sheds light on the fates of young salmon

Fisheries scientists are gaining unexpected insights from the serendipitous discovery on Año Nuevo Island of tiny tags that had been implanted in juvenile salmon and steelhead in coastal creeks.

New book explores the effects of whales and whaling on ocean ecosystems

<i>Whales, Whaling, and Ocean Ecosystems,</i> a new book from the University of California Press (December 2006), explores an aspect of whale ecology that until now has received surprisingly little attention--the role of whales in ocean ecosystems.

Eminent marine biologist Jane Lubchenco will give annual Keeley Lecture at UCSC on Monday, January 29

Jane Lubchenco, an eminent marine biologist and leading scientific voice on issues of marine policy and environmental sustainability, will deliver the third annual Fred Keeley Lecture at UCSC on Monday, January 29.

DOE awards support UCSC research on dark matter and supernovae

The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded valuable computing time on one of the world's most powerful supercomputers to two research projects led by scientists at UCSC.

Donald Osterbrock, eminent astronomer and former director of Lick Observatory, dies at age 82

Donald Osterbrock, an eminent astronomer, a leading authority on the history of astronomy, and former director of UC's Lick Observatory, died suddenly on Thursday, January 11. He was 82.

Astronomers find the most distant star clusters hidden behind a nearby cluster

Astronomers have discovered the most distant population of star clusters ever seen, hidden behind one of the nearest such clusters to Earth.

American Mathematical Society honors Harold Widom, professor emeritus of mathematics

Harold Widom, professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, will share the 2007 Norbert Wiener Prize in Applied Mathematics with UC Davis professor of mathematics Craig Tracy.

Astronomers discover an enormous halo of red giant stars around Andromeda

Astronomers have found an enormous halo of stars bound to the Andromeda galaxy and extending far beyond the swirling disk seen in images of the famous galaxy, our nearest large galactic neighbor.