2008  Research

Stronger coastal winds due to climate change may have far-reaching effects

Future increases in wind strength along the California coast may have far-reaching effects, including more intense upwelling of cold water along the coast early in the season, "dead zones" in coastal waters, and increased fire danger in Southern Californi

Three UCSC professors elected AAAS Fellows

Three UCSC professors have been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ocean acidification could have broad effects on marine ecosystems

Concern about increasing ocean acidification has often focused on its potential effects on coral reefs, but broader disruptions of biological processes in the oceans may be more significant, according to Donald Potts, professor of ecology and evolutionary

Magnetic nanotags allow sensitive detection of cancer biomarkers

A team led by researchers at UCSC and Stanford has developed a compact prototype detector that uses magnetic nanotechnology to spot cancer-associated proteins in a human blood serum sample with much higher sensitivity than current detectors.

UCSC earns top ranking for scientific impact of astronomy research

UCSC is the top-ranking university in the country for the quality of its research in astronomy and astrophysics, according to a new analysis of papers published in scientific journals and how often those papers are cited by other scientists.

Mysterious microbe may play important role in ocean ecology

An unusual microorganism discovered in the open ocean may force scientists to rethink their understanding of how carbon and nitrogen cycle through ocean ecosystems.

November 14 symposium marks a productive first year for UCSC's Chemical Screening Center

In its first year of operation, the UCSC Chemical Screening Center has enabled researchers to identify a variety of potentially useful compounds, including promising leads for the development of new drugs to treat infections, cancer, and neglected disease

Earth scientist Gregory Rau is finalist for ConocoPhillips Energy Prize

Gregory Rau, a senior researcher at UCSC's Institute of Marine Sciences, was chosen as a finalist for the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize for his energy and carbon management proposal.

Aspiring teachers to learn novel approach to science instruction

Aspiring teachers will learn cutting-edge techniques for teaching science to young children in a collaboration led by UC Santa Cruz.

Black men tell tales of transformation in new book Ain't I a Feminist?

Black men tell tales of transformation in the new book <i>Ain't I a Feminist?</i> by Aaronette White, associate professor of psychology.

Serendipitous observations reveal rare event in life of distant quasar

Thanks to the sharp eyes of a UCSC undergraduate, astronomers have obtained a surprise view of a never-before-observed event in the birth of a galaxy.

Biologist Daniel Costa appointed to Ida Benson Lynn Endowed Chair in Ocean Health

Daniel Costa is a leading authority on marine mammals, seabirds, and the impacts of humans on marine environments. His appointment to the Ida Benson Lynn Endowed Chair in Ocean Health recognizes Costa's important contributions in these areas and provides

Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz wins prestigious Packard Fellowship

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, an assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics, is the ninth young scientist at UCSC to receive a prestigious Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering.

Study finds high mortality of endangered loggerhead sea turtles in Baja California

A new study underscores the enormous impact of bycatch (marine life accidentally killed by fishing operations) on sea turtles.

Physicists Sriram Shastry and Peter Young honored by American Physical Society

The American Physical Society has awarded two of its annual prizes to physics professors at UC Santa Cruz.

How children learn to 'think like scientists' is focus of prof's work at Children's Discovery Museum

Psychology professor Maureen Callanan is partnering with Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose to explore the ways kids learn to "think like scientists."

A library for the 21st century: McHenry turns a page

As a generation born into the information age hits the books--or the Internet--campus libraries are adapting to the needs of a new, hyperconnected student.

Focus on Faculty: Mary Silver, Professor of Ocean Sciences

Oceanographer Mary Silver has had a lifelong love affair with the sea--and with teaching.

Baskin School of Engineering will showcase faculty research on Friday, October 17

Advances in sustainable energy, information systems, DNA sequencing, and video-game design are among the highlighted topics in a day of UCSC engineering faculty presentations.

Mr. President . . .

The 44th president will have tremendous challenges before him. UCSC experts offer their advice on topics ranging from education to climate change.

Biologist Marm Kilpatrick honored by American Ornithologists' Union

The American Ornithologists' Union has awarded its Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award for 2008 to UCSC biologist A. Marm Kilpatrick.

Valley networks on Mars formed during long period of episodic flooding, study finds

A new study suggests that ancient features on the surface of Mars called valley networks were carved by recurrent floods during a long period when the martian climate may have been much like that of some arid or semi-arid regions on Earth.

Grant provides funds for high-throughput DNA sequencer

UCSC scientists will be able to sequence DNA using next-generation high-throughput instrumentation, thanks to new funding from the California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences.

Helping minority entrepreneurs succeed would reduce wealth inequality, economist says

African Americans aren't getting the same boost from self-employment that Asians and whites enjoy, and the racial disparities demand new policy initiatives, says economist Robert Fairlie.

Researchers attract record $131 million in funding in 2007-08

UCSC researchers attracted a record $131 million in external grants and contracts to the campus in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Linguistics professor receives grant to help preserve endangered language

UCSC professor of linguistics Sandra Chung has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for a collaborative project to help preserve the endangered Chamorro language.

UC Santa Cruz team developing a high-tech dictionary for the classroom

Dictionaries in the classroom may go the way of typewriters if researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have their way.

New space telescope reveals entire gamma-ray sky

NASA's newest observatory, the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), has begun its mission of exploring the universe in high-energy gamma rays using instruments developed by UCSC physicists.

Anthropologist explores plausibility of bulbs and tubers in diet of early human ancestors

Anthropologist Nathaniel J. Dominy painstakingly measured the mechanical properties of nearly 100 plant species across sub-Saharan Africa as part of his investigation of the diet of early human ancestors.

Large Hadron Collider set to unveil a new world of particle physics

The field of particle physics is poised to enter unknown territory with the startup of a massive new accelerator--the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)--in Europe this summer.

Study shows clumps and streams of dark matter in inner regions of the Milky Way

Using one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world to simulate the halo of dark matter that envelopes our galaxy, researchers found dense clumps and streams of the mysterious stuff lurking in the inner regions of the halo, in the same neighborhood

Two UCSC professors receive prestigious Humboldt Research Awards

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has chosen Robert Coe and James Zachos, both professors of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz, to receive Humboldt Research Awards this year.

Researchers find new mode of gene regulation in mammals

UCSC researchers have discovered a type of gene regulation never before observed in mammals--a "ribozyme" that controls the activity of an important family of genes in several different species.

Moore Foundation awards $3.7 million in additional funding for UCSC ocean scientist Jonathan Zehr

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded a four-year, $3.7 million grant to Jonathan Zehr, professor of ocean sciences at UCSC.

Higher temperatures helped new strain of West Nile virus spread, study finds

Higher temperatures helped a new strain of West Nile virus invade and spread across North America, according to a new study.

Evidence of massive asteroid impact on Mars supported by computer simulations

The dramatic differences between the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars are the result of a massive asteroid impact, according to studies by UCSC planetary scientists.

Microchip developed by UCSC engineer is helping restore vision to the blind

Last year, Wentai Liu watched as surgeons implanted a microchip he had designed into the eye of a blind patient. For Liu, a professor of electrical engineering at UCSC, it was a major milestone in two decades of work on an artificial retina to restore vis

UCSC biochemist Seth Rubin named Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences

The Pew Charitable Trusts has named Seth Rubin, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences.

New study raises concerns about proposed mitigation strategy for marine bycatch

A recent proposal would compensate for marine bycatch by reducing other impacts on affected species, but a new analysis suggests that this strategy could end up doing more harm than good.

Study by UCSC undergrad shows a solar system gone wild

Research by a UCSC undergraduate has shown how the regular orbits of the planets could go haywire at some point in the far distant future.

Three UCSC graduate students win big grants for biotechnology research

Three UCSC graduate students have been selected to receive training grants intended to hasten innovations in a variety of biotechnology-related fields. The two-year grants provide $50,000 per year for each student.

New HIV browser gives researchers access to valuable data from vaccine trials

A new HIV data browser developed by UCSC and the nonprofit organization Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases (GSID) will give researchers access to a wealth of data collected during clinical trials of an AIDS vaccine.

Strange ring found circling dead star

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found a bizarre ring of material around the magnetic remains of a star that blasted to smithereens.

UC Santa Cruz research team earns NASA award

The outstanding performance of the University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) will soon be recognized with a prestigious NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award.

Geographer Jeff Bury studies human impacts of climate change in central Andes

For residents of Peru's remote villages high in the Andes mountains, climate change is right outside the back door.

Fourth Annual Graduate Research Symposium presents impressive student works

A list of prize winners at the Fourth Annual Graduate Research Symposium.

Most teen girls still experience sexual harassment and sexism, according to new study

Nine of 10 teen girls report experiencing sexual harassment, and majorities also say they have received discouraging comments about their abilities in school and athletics, according to a new study that appears in the May/June issue of the journal <i>Chil

Thirty-Meter Telescope focuses on two candidate sites

After completing a worldwide survey of astronomical sites for the Thirty-Meter Telescope (TMT), the TMT Observatory Corporation board of directors has selected two outstanding sites, one in each hemisphere, for further consideration.

Moore Foundation renews support for marine microbiology research at UCSC

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has awarded a $4.8 million grant to UCSC to fund ongoing research in marine microbiology.

Sharon Daniel honored by Tribeca Film Institute for artistic excellence

UC Santa Cruz awarded $7.2 million grant for stem cell research center

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved a $7.2 million grant to fund a new stem cell research center at UCSC.

UC Santa Cruz to lead pioneering study of pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains

A pioneering study of pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains will generate unprecedented insights into the behavior of one of the region's top predators.

Two UCSC humanities professors win President's Research Fellowships

Two UC Santa Cruz professors have won UC President's Research Fellowships in the Humanities. Noriko Aso, assistant professor of history, and John Bowin, assistant professor of philosophy, are among 15 fellows selected for 2008-2009.

Compact galaxies in early universe pack a big punch

A team of astronomers looking at galaxies in the universe's distant past have discovered nine young, compact galaxies, each weighing in at 200 billion times the mass of the Sun.

Economist contributes to report on business startups

Entrepreneurial activity among women dropped sharply last year, while the rate of activity among men and immigrants surged, according to a national index developed by UCSC professor of economics Robert Fairlie, and published in a report by the Ewing Mario

Anthropologist Erin Vogel featured on Animal Planet May 6

Field work in Borneo can be hot, sweaty work. Just ask the <i>Animal Planet</i> crew that filmed anthropology's Erin Vogel for a program scheduled to air Tuesday, May 6.

Americans willing to sacrifice to reduce gap between rich and poor, doctoral candidate finds

Contrary to the stereotype of Americans as self-interested individualists, the majority care more about growing economic inequality than we've been led to expect, and many would sacrifice personal gain for the well-being of others, according to research b

UCSC celebrates feminist scholarship with DVD release of lectures by Bettina Aptheker

UCSC computer scientists develop solutions for long-term storage of digital data

UCSC computer scientists have developed a new solution for storing vast amounts of digital information in a way that allows future generations to recover it.

Improve teacher quality and retention by broadening teacher preparation, professor says

Aspiring teachers come to the profession with a wealth of life experience that shapes their training, their work in the classroom, and their longevity in the occupation, says the author of the new book <i>Teaching What They Learn, Learning What They Live<

Scientists obtain first direct observations of protein-synthesis mechanism

Research by UCSC molecular biologist Harry Noller and his collaborators has led to the first direct observations of the mechanism for protein synthesis in living cells.

Hatchery fish outnumber wild chinook salmon in troubled fall run

A recent study indicates that wild salmon may account for just 10 percent of California's fall-run chinook salmon population, while the vast majority of the fish come from hatcheries.

Engineering Hope: UCSC bioelectronics engineer designs prostheses that promise to change lives

Wentai Liu is an electronics wizard whose work is enabling the development of devices once found only in the realm of science fiction--miniaturized electronic implants to restore vision, movement, and other biological functions lost to disease or injury.

New findings from Tibetan Plateau suggest uplift occurred in stages

New evidence from an eight-year study by UCSC and Chinese researchers indicates that the Tibetan Plateau rose in stages, with uplift occurring first in the central plateau and later in regions to the north and south.

UC Santa Cruz anthropologists confirm link between diet and teeth of chimpanzees and orangutans

For the first time, anthropologists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have measured the mechanical properties of foods eaten in the wild by orangutans and chimpanzees to test assumptions about the link between diet and the teeth of primates.

New book spotlights the experiences of Mexicans in Chicago

Chicago is home to one of the largest populations of Mexicans in the United States, and the experiences of Mexican immigrants in the Windy City offer a revealing lesson in how the forces of racism work, according to the author of the new book <i>Mexican C

Nearby star should harbor detectable, Earth-like planets

A rocky planet similar to Earth may be orbiting one of our nearest stellar neighbors and could be detected using existing techniques, according to a new study led by UCSC astronomers.

Rats on islands disrupt ecosystems from land to sea, researchers find

The ecological impacts of introduced rats on islands extend far beyond seabird nesting colonies, according to a new UCSC study that provides support for efforts to eradicate rats from the Aleutian Islands.

Doctoral candidate heading to DC after graduation

Lauren Malone will be heading to Washington, D.C., after earning a Ph.D. in economics this spring.

Why does popcorn cost so much at the movies?

Movie theaters are notorious for charging consumers top dollar for concession items such as popcorn, soda, and candy. Are moviegoers just being gouged?

Past greenhouse warming events provide clues to what the future may hold

Scientists studying an episode of extreme global warming in Earth's past are piecing together an increasingly detailed picture of its causes and consequences.

Animated tutors help remedial readers, language learners, autistic children

Tools developed by researchers exploring language and speech comprehension can become powerful aids for remedial readers, children with language challenges, and anyone learning a second language, according to psychology professor Dominic Massaro of the Un

UCSC project aims to provide a virtual speech therapist via cell phone

UCSC researchers have received funding from Microsoft Research to develop a virtual speech therapist, accessible on a cell phone, to aid stroke survivors in Malaysia.

Astronomers find one of the youngest and brightest galaxies in the early universe

NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes have uncovered what may be one of the youngest and brightest galaxies ever seen in the middle of the cosmic "dark ages," just 700 million years after the beginning of our universe.

UCSC's new Center for Integrated Water Research will help cities and regions secure safe and reliable water

A new interdisciplinary research center at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is bringing an innovative, regional approach to the challenge of meeting the demand for safe and reliable water.

Biologist Bruce Lyon's research featured on cover of Science

Research on lark buntings by UCSC biologist Bruce Lyon and his former graduate student, Alexis Chaine, was featured on the cover of <i>Science</i>.

Jonathan Fox publishes new book about accountability politics

In his new book, <i>Accountability Politics: Power and Voice in Rural Mexico</i>, Latin American Studies professor Jonathan Fox explores how the seeds of accountability grow in authoritarian environments.

Unusual supernovae may reveal intermediate-mass black holes in globular clusters

A strange and violent fate awaits a white dwarf star that wanders too close to a moderately massive black hole.

Changing fashions govern mating success in lark buntings, study finds

A study of how female lark buntings choose their mates, published this week in <i>Science</i>, adds a surprising new twist to the evolutionary theory of sexual selection.

Graduate student's film featured at Sundance Film Festival

Documentary filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura can't wait to see his film screened at the Sundance Film Festival. He just wishes he could get his hands on enough tickets for all his friends and family.

UC Santa Cruz professor investigates the extraordinary power of insults

Sea otter study reveals striking variability in diets and feeding strategies

Scientists studying southern sea otters at different sites in California's coastal waters were not surprised to find that the dietary diversity of the population is higher where food is limited. But this diversity was not reflected in the diets of individ

New nanostructured thin film shows promise for efficient solar energy conversion

Combining two nanotech methods for engineering solar cell materials appears to yield better results than either one alone does, according to UCSC chemist Jin Zhang.