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2011 Research

December 22, 2011
Astronomers' pristine gas discovery among top scientific breakthroughs of 2011
Lists from Science and Physics World of the top scientific breakthroughs of the year include the discovery of primordial gas clouds by UCSC astronomers.
December 19, 2011
UC Santa Cruz astronomer Jerry Nelson to receive 2012 Franklin Medal
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia has announced that Jerry Nelson, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, will receive the 2012 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering.
December 13, 2011
Music professor offers first in-depth look at jazz icon Carla Bley
A new book by UC Santa Cruz music professor Amy Beal marks the first comprehensive look at the music and influence of Carla Bley—an innovative American composer and performer who has surprisingly been overlooked in the field of jazz studies.
December 02, 2011
Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz named to Silicon Valley's '40 Under 40'
Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz is among 40 "rising stars" in Silicon Valley recognized by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.
November 29, 2011
Ocean scientist Tom Guilderson wins E. O. Lawrence Award
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the 2011 E. O. Lawrence Award in Biological and Environmental Sciences to ocean scientist Tom Guilderson.
November 28, 2011
Submarine springs offer preview of ocean acidification effects on coral reefs
Observations at submarine springs found along the coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are giving scientists a preview of the possible fate of coral reef ecosystems in response to ocean acidification.
November 21, 2011
Ulcer-causing bacteria tamed by defect in cell-targeting ability
Without the ability to swim to their targets in the stomach, ulcer-causing bacteria do not cause the inflammation of the stomach lining that leads to ulcers and stomach cancer.
November 15, 2011
UCSC leads $4 million NOAA project to monitor harmful algal blooms
Scientists are launching a major effort to understand the conditions leading to blooms of toxic algae along the California coast.
November 10, 2011
Astronomers find clouds of primordial gas from the early universe
For the first time, astronomers have found pristine clouds of the primordial gas that formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang.
November 09, 2011
Ancient lunar dynamo may explain magnetized moon rocks
A novel mechanism that could have generated a magnetic field on the moon early in its history may explain the presence of magnetized rocks on the lunar surface.
November 07, 2011
UCSC wins $2.6 million grant for organic farming research
UC Santa Cruz will continue and expand its leading role in sustainable agriculture research with a $2.6 million federal grant to strengthen collaboration with Central Coast farmers to promote organic production in the region.
November 03, 2011
UCSC art historian contributes to Touré’s new book on “post-blackness”
History of Art and Visual Culture assistant professor Derek Conrad Murray adds to candid conversation about race in the age of Obama
November 03, 2011
Fermi telescope adds surprising new pulsars to growing collection
Scientists using NASA's Fermi telescope have discovered nine new gamma-ray pulsars and a surprisingly powerful millisecond pulsar.
October 31, 2011
UCSC cholera biofilm team wins Deloitte QB3 Award for Innovation
A team of UC Santa Cruz researchers working to find new drugs to fight cholera has won a $10,000 Award for Innovation
October 28, 2011
Excess nutrients threaten Elkhorn Slough ecosystem
A new study documents the effects of high nutrient levels in Elkhorn Slough, especially where water control structures limit tidal exchange.
October 27, 2011
Study finds early growth trajectories have long-term effects on fitness
Researchers describe how food supply and environmental conditions affect the growth rates of organisms, which in turn influence future survival and reproduction.
October 20, 2011
West Nile virus transmission linked to land use patterns, 'super-spreaders'
In most places, only a few key species of bird "hosts" and mosquito "vectors" are important in transmission of West Nile virus.
October 20, 2011
UCSC sponsors SACNAS national conference in San Jose, October 27-30
UCSC is supporting the efforts of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
October 13, 2011
Galaxy mergers not the trigger for most black hole feeding frenzies
A survey of distant galaxies shows that galaxy mergers are not responsible for most active galactic nuclei.
October 13, 2011
UCSC team makes final round of QB3 Award for Innovation contest
A UCSC research team is among five finalists competing for online votes to win a $10,000 innovation prize.
October 11, 2011
Physicist Bill Atwood awarded Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics
The American Physical Society has awarded the 2012 Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics to physicist William Atwood.
October 07, 2011
Google chief economist kicks off finance lecture series at UC Santa Cruz
Hal Varian, chief economist at Google and a UC Berkeley emeritus professor, is the inaugural speaker of a quarterly lecture series being launched by a new financial and economic risk-analysis initiative at UC Santa Cruz.
October 07, 2011
UCSC ranked third in research influence in world university survey
In an analysis of the world's top universities, UCSC ranked third in research influence.
October 06, 2011
Crab pulsar beams most energetic gamma rays ever detected from a pulsar
Astrophysicists have detected pulsed gamma-ray emission from the Crab pulsar at energies far beyond what current theoretical models of pulsars can explain.
October 06, 2011
Geologist Casey Moore honored by Geological Society of Japan
The Geological Society of Japan has awarded its International Prize to UCSC geologist Casey Moore.
September 30, 2011
UARC scientists win best paper award
UARC scientists Matthew Daigle and Sriram Narasimhan won the Best Theoretical Paper award at the 2011 conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society.
September 29, 2011
Scientists release most accurate simulation of the universe to date
The Bolshoi supercomputer simulation, the most accurate and detailed large cosmological simulation run to date, gives physicists and astronomers a powerful new tool.
September 29, 2011
Baskin School of Engineering showcases research advances on Thursday, October 20
Advances in three exciting areas of technological innovation--computer games, genomics, and network science--will be presented by faculty in the Baskin School of Engineering at the school's annual Research Review Day.
September 28, 2011
Video shows tool use by a fish
The first video of tool use by a fish has been published in the journal Coral Reefs by biologist Giacomo Bernardi.
September 23, 2011
New book sheds light on survival of Jewish culture
This October, UCSC professor of literature and history Nathaniel Deutsch will offer the first complete translation of a little known ethnographic questionnaire--and the story of an ambitious attempt to document a culture during an extraordinarily volatile time in world history.
September 20, 2011
Computer scientist Luca de Alfaro recognized for influential paper
A paper on software engineering published ten years ago by UCSC computer scientist Luca de Alfaro has received the ACM SIGSOFT Impact Paper Award, which recognizes papers for their influence in the years since their publication.
September 16, 2011
"Science Notes 2011" now available online
Sneaky salmon-snatching sea lions, African island tree frogs, and octopus-shaped sand dollars--these stories and more appear in Science Notes 2011, the annual magazine published by UCSC's Science Communication Program.
September 15, 2011
Astronomers confirm first planet orbiting two stars
A world with multiple suns is a common trope in science fiction, and scientific reality has now caught up, with a report from NASA's Kepler mission of a planet orbiting two stars.
September 15, 2011
Small distant galaxies host supermassive black holes
Using the Hubble Space Telescope to probe the distant universe, astronomers have found supermassive black holes growing in surprisingly small galaxies, suggesting that central black holes formed at an early stage in galaxy evolution.
September 15, 2011
Biologist Harry Noller honored by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2012 Gregori Aminoff Prize in Crystallography to UCSC molecular biologist Harry Noller and two of his collaborators.
September 08, 2011
Archaeology probes West African cities and impact of European influence
UCSC anthropologist J. Cameron Monroe writes about archaeological exploration of sub-Saharan African cities that played a prominent role in the slave trade of the 17th through 19th centuries.
September 06, 2011
New material shows promise for trapping pollutants
UCSC chemists have developed a new type of material that can soak up pollutants from water.
August 29, 2011
Astrophysicists report first simulation to create a Milky Way-like galaxy
A simulation of galaxy formation by UCSC astrophysicists solves a longstanding problem in cosmology.
August 18, 2011
Three waves of evolutionary innovation shaped diversity of vertebrates
Analysis of genomes finds three periods of innovation in gene regulation occurred during the evolution of animals with backbones.
August 15, 2011
UCSC undergraduates exhibit summer research projects
More than 80 students presented their summer research projects at the 2011 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium.
August 10, 2011
Biologist John Pearse awarded California Academy of Sciences Fellows' Medal
The California Academy of Sciences has awarded its highest honor, the Fellows' Medal, to UCSC biologist John Pearse.
August 08, 2011
UCSC’s annual literary celebration of Charles Dickens ‘full to bursting’ this summer
In 2005, San Francisco Chronicle book critic David Kipen observed that the Dickens Project at UC Santa Cruz "may just be literary California's best-kept secret. "Now in 2011, that secret is definitely out.
August 03, 2011
'Big splat' may explain moon's mountainous far side
The mountainous region on the far side of the moon may be the remains of a collision with a smaller companion moon.
July 29, 2011
Physicists report progress in understanding high-temperature superconductors
A new theory may explain the unusual properties of high-temperature superconductors, a longstanding unsolved problem for theoretical physicists.
July 26, 2011
Microscopes borrow tricks from astronomy to see deep into living tissues
UCSC researchers are developing new microscope technologies to enable biologists to see deep within living tissues.
July 15, 2011
Jin Zhang named Fellow of American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) has named Jin Zhang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz, to the 2011 class of ACS Fellows.
July 14, 2011
Loss of large predators has caused widespread disruption of ecosystems
The decline of large predators and other "apex consumers" at the top of the food chain has disrupted ecosystems all over the planet, according to a review of recent findings.
June 28, 2011
UCSC professor investigates social impact of technology
How can we as citizens use technology to contribute to the public good? That’s a key question fueling the research of UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media Warren Sack.
June 22, 2011
Tracking of top marine predators reveals Pacific Ocean hot spots
Two big regions of the North Pacific Ocean are magnets for marine life according to results from the Tagging of Pacific Predators project.
June 14, 2011
Bioinformatics expert David Haussler awarded Oxford's Weldon Memorial Prize
David Haussler, professor of biomolecular engineering, has been chosen to receive the 2011 Weldon Memorial Prize given by the University of Oxford.
June 07, 2011
President Obama meets astronomer Jerry Nelson and other Kavli Prize winners
President Barack Obama met in the Oval Office with UCSC astronomer Jerry Nelson and other recipients of the 2010 Kavli Prizes.
June 02, 2011
Biochemist David Deamer explores how life began in new book, 'First Life'
David Deamer's new book presents an engaging and accessible overview of research into life's beginnings.
June 02, 2011
10x10: 10 grads in 10 days
UCSC's Class of 2011 includes these outstanding 10 new graduates, whose profiles--including photos and videos--will roll out here over the two weeks before commencement.
May 26, 2011
Earth scientist James Gill receives Humboldt Research Award
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has elected Earth scientist James Gill to receive a Humboldt Research Award.
May 12, 2011
Peter Limbrick to deliver Arts Division Dean’s Research Lecture
Last fall, associate professor of film and digital media Peter Limbrick received the UCSC Arts Division's Excellence in Research Award for his new book "Making Settler Cinemas." In honor of this newly established award by arts dean David Yager, Limbrick will present a free public lecture on Monday, May 23
May 12, 2011
SCIPP researchers apply particle physics expertise to cancer therapy
UCSC physicists are working with medical researchers to develop a new imaging technology to guide proton therapy for cancer treatment.
May 12, 2011
Africa's sea turtles need passports for protection
Satellite tracking of olive ridley sea turtles has revealed that existing protected areas may be inadequate.
May 12, 2011
Galileo data reveal magma "ocean" under Io's surface
Data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft reveals a subsurface "ocean" of magma beneath the surface of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io.
May 03, 2011
Jewish Studies conference set for UC Santa Cruz on May 22-24
A conference designed to highlight the role women have played in the forging of Italian Jewish identity will take place May 22-24, on the UC Santa Cruz campus.
May 03, 2011
New endowment supports teaching and research at the Arboretum
A gift from botanist Jean Langenheim has established a new endowment in support of the UCSC Arboretum.
April 25, 2011
Digital Arts exhibition showcases interactive new media art
“If plastics could speak, what would they say?” So begins graduate student Meredith Drum in the written description of her project, "Louisiana Re-Storied," for the UC Santa Cruz Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) 2011 MFA Exhibition.
April 25, 2011
Gift establishes Hellman Fellows Program to support junior faculty
The Hellman Fellows Fund has approved a gift of $625,000 to establish the UCSC Hellman Fellows Program.
April 19, 2011
Three UCSC professors elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Three UCSC faculty are among 212 leaders in the sciences, arts, humanities, business, public affairs, and nonprofit sector, who have been elected this year as fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
April 13, 2011
Bioinformatics expert Ed Green awarded Searle Scholars grant
The Searle Scholars Program has awarded a $300,000 research grant to Richard E. (Ed) Green, assistant professor of biomolecular engineering.
April 12, 2011
UCSC creates new major in robotics engineering
A new major in robotics engineering at UC Santa Cruz is the first of its kind in the UC system.
April 11, 2011
Center for Sustainable Energy and Power Systems wins Business Journal award
A 2011 Energy Award for Best Conservation Leader recognizes Baskin School of Engineering's efforts to address energy sustainability through research and teaching.
March 17, 2011
Symposium celebrates influential career of biologist Burney Le Boeuf
Colleagues and former students of biologist Burney Le Boeuf gathered to celebrate his career.
March 10, 2011
Genome scientists gather in Santa Cruz for back-to-back meetings
Leading scientists in the field of genome sequencing and analysis will gather in Santa Cruz for two meetings during the week of March 14 to address challenges and progress in genome research.
March 08, 2011
Gilead grant supports collaborative drug discovery program with UCSC
Biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences is supporting a collaborative drug discovery program using UCSC's unique collection of marine natural products.
February 07, 2011
UCSC's Richard Green honored for top research paper in Science
Bioinformatics expert Richard Green has won the Newcomb Cleveland Prize for his paper on the Neanderthal genome.
February 03, 2011
UCSC faculty featured in "Masters of Innovation" episode on Plum TV
Two cutting-edge laboratories at UCSC are featured in a recent episode of the "Masters of Innovation" program on the Plum TV network.
February 02, 2011
Six small planets orbiting a Sun-like star amaze astronomers
A remarkable planetary system discovered by NASA's Kepler mission has six planets around a Sun-like star, including five small planets in tightly packed orbits.
February 01, 2011
UCSC faculty mentor Intel science contest finalists
Two high-school students mentored by UC Santa Cruz professors are finalists in the nationwide Intel Science Talent Search competition.
January 27, 2011
Arboretum propagates cuttings from the last wild S.F. manzanita
Arboretum staff propagated cuttings from the last known San Francisco manzanita in the wild.
January 26, 2011
UCSC astronomers find most distant galaxy candidate yet seen
Astronomers have found what may be the most distant galaxy ever seen, about 13.2 billion light-years away.
January 20, 2011
Earthquake expert Emily Brodsky featured in NSF lecture series
Seismologist Emily Brodsky is featured in the National Science Foundation's "Voices From the Future" lecture series.
January 11, 2011
Two UCSC engineering professors elected 2010 AAAS Fellows
Two professors in the Baskin School of Engineering at UCSC have been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
January 11, 2011
Astronomers release the largest color image of the sky ever made
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey III has released the largest digital color image of the sky ever made.
January 07, 2011
Paul Whitworth to deliver 45th annual UCSC Faculty Research Lecture-Feb. 3
UC Santa Cruz professor of theater arts Paul Whitworth will deliver the 45th annual UCSC Faculty Research Lecture on Thursday, February 3, at 6 p.m. in the Mainstage Theater.
January 07, 2011
Top science stories of 2010 include UCSC research
Two stories involving UCSC researchers turned up on a wide array of lists of the top science stories of 2010.
January 06, 2011
Stem cell discovery could lead to improved bone marrow transplants
The discovery of a key molecule for establishing blood stem cells in the bone marrow may lead to improvements in bone marrow transplants.
January 04, 2011
Fulbright Scholar Program funds prof's environmental work in Chile
Environmental toxicologist Russell Flegal is busy with teaching and research projects during a six-month visit to Chile as a Fulbright Scholar.