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Physical and Biological Sciences

December 16, 2010
Recharge pond study reveals dynamics of water infiltration
An infiltration pond in California's Pajaro Valley has become a laboratory where scientists are working to improve techniques for recharging the region's depleted aquifer.
December 13, 2010
UCSC scientists help California coastal communities prepare for sea level rise
Sea level is rising, and California's coastal communities will need to prepare for the gradual inundation of low-lying areas, as well as increased erosion rates and damage from storms.
December 13, 2010
Bering Sea was ice-free and full of life during last warm period, study finds
Deep sediment cores retrieved from the Bering Sea floor indicate that the region was ice-free all year and biological productivity was high during the last major warm period in Earth's climate history.
December 07, 2010
Life thrives in porous rock deep beneath the seafloor, scientists say
Researchers have found compelling evidence for an extensive biological community living in porous rock deep beneath the seafloor.
December 03, 2010
President Obama nominates alumna Kathryn Sullivan for commerce post
President Barack Obama has nominated UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan for the post of assistant secretary of commerce.
December 02, 2010
Study predicts distribution of gravitational wave sources
A study led by a UCSC undergraduate predicts for the first time where detectable sources of gravitational waves are likely to occur in the local galactic neighborhood.
November 22, 2010
Seymour Center director honored as 'community hero'
Julie Barrett Heffington, director of UC Santa Cruz's Seymour Marine Discovery Center, has been named a "Community Hero."
November 16, 2010
Arboretum holds Dried Flower and Succulent Wreath Sale on November 20 and 21
Wonderful holiday decorations and gifts will be available from the UCSC Arboretum at the annual Dried Flower and Succulent Wreath Sale on Saturday and Sunday, November 20 and 21.
November 15, 2010
UCSC researcher teaches young scientists to engage with the public
Marine scientist Adina Paytan considers science education and public outreach to be just as important as her research.
November 11, 2010
New analysis explains formation of bulge on farside of moon
A bulge of elevated topography on the farside of the moon may be the result of tidal forces acting early in the moon's history.
November 09, 2010
Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz named to Mexican Academy of Sciences
Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics, has been elected a corresponding member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences.
November 08, 2010
UCSC leads work on first major upgrade for LHC
U.S. physicists have begun work on a new particle detector that will be the first major upgrade for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful particle accelerator.
November 08, 2010
Iron stimulates blooms of toxin-producing algae in open ocean, study finds
Marine scientists have found that toxin-producing algae are common in the open ocean, where the addition of iron can stimulate rapid growth of the harmful algae.
November 04, 2010
Geophysicist Robert Coe earns Outstanding Faculty Award
Robert Coe, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, has received the Outstanding Faculty Award for 2009-10 from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
November 02, 2010
Research on thin-film solar cells heats up at UCSC
Sue Carter, a professor of physics at UCSC, is pursuing a variety of strategies to develop cheaper and more efficient solar cells.
November 01, 2010
Microbiologist to discuss bacteria for bioenergy on Tuesday, November 9
Caroline Harwood, a distinguished microbiologist from the University of Wisconsin, will discuss microbial production of hydrogen gas as a biofuel in a lecture at UCSC on Tuesday, November 9.
October 28, 2010
UCSC students earn awards at SACNAS national conference
Four UCSC students received awards for their research presentations at the 2010 SACNAS National Conference held in Anaheim in October.
October 27, 2010
Astronomer Greg Laughlin will discuss the search for Earth-like planets on November 17
UCSC astronomer Greg Laughlin will discuss "The Search for Other Earths" in a free public lecture on Wednesday, November 17.
October 25, 2010
Four faculty members inducted into American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Four UCSC faculty members were inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at a ceremony on October 9.
October 25, 2010
Jean-Michel Cousteau: 'I am convinced we can change'
Ocean environmentalist Cousteau expresses both concern and hope for the future of the world's oceans in a discussion of the BP oil spill with alum and NPR science correspondent Richard Harris
October 21, 2010
Researchers investigate marine mammal behavior and responses to sound
A team of researchers recently completed a two-month research project off the Southern California coast, part of a collaboration to study marine mammal behavior and responses to sounds in the ocean.
October 19, 2010
Astronomer Mark Krumholz wins NSF CAREER Award
Mark Krumholz, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC, has won a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation.
October 18, 2010
Engineering dean Art Ramirez awarded APS McGroddy Prize
The American Physical Society has awarded the 2011 James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials to Art Ramirez, dean of the Baskin School of Engineering.
October 15, 2010
Elephant seals improve maps of Antarctic seafloor
Oceanographers are using data collected by elephant seals to improve their map of the seafloor on Antarctica's continental shelf.
October 15, 2010
Physicist Joel Primack featured in National Geographic documentary
A new National Geographic television documentary, "Inside the Milky Way," includes an interview with UCSC physicist Joel Primack.
October 12, 2010
Seymour Center presents lecture on Gulf oil spill on Sunday, October 17
Mike Beck, lead marine scientist for the Nature Conservancy and a research associate at UCSC, will discuss the Gulf oil spill in a public lecture at the Seymour Center on October 17.
October 11, 2010
Two faculty members honored with Dickson Emeriti Professorships
Two UCSC faculty members have been honored with emeriti professorships for the 2010-11 academic year: George Brown, professor emeritus of physics, and Donald Wiberg, professor emeritus of electrical engineering.
October 11, 2010
UCSC research funding hit record levels in 2009-10
UCSC researchers attracted a record $148 million in external grants and contracts to the campus in the 2009-10 fiscal year.
October 11, 2010
Researchers use hi-res detector to map neural circuits of the retina
Using a sophisticated neural recording system developed at UCSC, researchers were able to trace for the first time the neural circuitry in the retina.
October 07, 2010
Chemistry department hosts exciting science show on Sunday, October 17
Two of chemistry's most colorful ambassadors will perform dazzling feats of physical science in an interactive chemistry show at UCSC on Sunday, October 17.
October 06, 2010
Family ties bind desert lizards in social groups
UCSC researchers have found that a species of lizard in the Mojave Desert lives in family groups and shows patterns of social behavior more commonly associated with mammals and birds.
October 05, 2010
Ocean protection expert to give Keeley Lecture on Environmental Policy
Amber Mace, a leading expert on ocean protection policy, will present the fifth Fred Keeley Lecture on Environmental Policy Wednesday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the UC Santa Cruz Music Recital Hall.
October 04, 2010
Nobel laureate Stanley Prusiner to speak at UCSC on Friday, October 15
Nobel laureate Stanley Prusiner, M.D.--who discovered the infectious proteins that cause "mad cow disease" in cattle, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, and other neurodegenerative diseases--will discuss the latest developments in this field in a lecture on Friday, October 15.
October 04, 2010
Jean-Michel Cousteau joins NPR's Richard Harris for a "Report from the Gulf" on Friday, October 22
Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of the Ocean Futures Society, and Richard Harris, science correspondent for National Public Radio, will discuss the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, October 22.
September 30, 2010
Arboretum's fall sale October 9 features wide variety of plants
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum will hold its annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, October 9, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Eucalyptus Grove on High Street.
September 30, 2010
Habitable planet discovery attracts out-of-this-world news coverage
The announcement that UC Santa Cruz astronomer Steven Vogt and a team of scientists have discovered a planet with the potential to support life captured international news attention and sparked the imaginations of millions. Here is a selection of some of the most notable coverage. Nearly 1,000 news outlets reported the findings within the first 24 hours.
September 29, 2010
Newly discovered planet may be first truly habitable exoplanet
A team of planet hunters has announced the discovery of an Earth-sized planet orbiting a nearby star at a distance that places it squarely in the middle of the star's "habitable zone."
September 27, 2010
New shark pool marks Seymour Center's 10th anniversary on Sunday, October 10
The Seymour Center at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory will mark its 10th anniversary with a public celebration on Sunday, October 10, from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
September 27, 2010
Marine experts to discuss a decade of ocean discoveries in annual Norris Lecture on Thursday, October 7
A panel of four UCSC marine scientists will discuss a decade of ocean discoveries in the annual Ken Norris Memorial Lecture at the Seymour Center on Thursday, October 7.
September 24, 2010
UCSC names new Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Philanthropy
Jeffrey J. Shilling, former chief development officer for Stanford University’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, has been named associate vice chancellor for strategic philanthropy at UC Santa Cruz.
September 16, 2010
Alison Galloway named campus provost at UCSC
The University of California Regents today (Thursday, September 16, 2010) approved the appointment of Alison Galloway as campus provost/executive vice chancellor (CP/EVC) of UC Santa Cruz. The appointment is effective immediately.
September 14, 2010
Seymour Center presents talk on climate change and wine
Lisa Sloan, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz, and David Graves, cofounder and managing partner of Saintsbury Winery in Napa, will discuss climate change and its impact on wine making in a public lecture at the Seymour Center at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 19.
September 14, 2010
NSF program supports minority graduate students
The National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million to establish a Bridge to the Doctorate program at UCSC that will provide fellowships for science and engineering graduate students from underrepresented minority populations.
September 10, 2010
Sea otter deaths linked to toxin from freshwater bacteria
A potent toxin produced by bright-green blooms of freshwater bacteria has been flowing into the ocean and poisoning sea otters.
September 10, 2010
Dave Kliger stepping down as CP/EVC on Sept. 16
Dave Kliger is eager to return to the lab after he steps down as campus provost/executive vice chancellor on September 16.
September 07, 2010
Jerry Nelson receives Kavli Prize at ceremony in Oslo, Norway
UC Santa Cruz astronomer Jerry Nelson received the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 7, in Oslo, Norway.
September 01, 2010
Astronomer Sandra Faber profiled on KTEH
KTEH, the San Jose public television station, profiles astronomer Sandra Faber in a new episode of the program "This Is Us" that will air on September 8.
August 30, 2010
UCSC hosts science conference for girls on Saturday, October 9
The 10th annual UCSC Expanding Your Horizons Conference for high school girls will take place on Saturday, October 9.
August 27, 2010
"Science Notes 2010" now available online
Science Notes 2010, the annual magazine published by UCSC's Science Communication Program, is now available online.
August 27, 2010
Local group funds UCSC cancer researchers
The Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group, a local charity supporting cancer research and patient care, has awarded grants of $10,000 each to three researchers at UCSC.
August 24, 2010
Summer interns gain research experience in Silicon Valley nanotech labs
Dozens of students gained valuable experience in nanotechnology and energy research labs this summer through an internship program at the Advanced Studies Laboratories, a collaborative partnership led by UCSC and NASA Ames.
August 18, 2010
Not one, but two great earthquakes caused 2009 Samoa-Tonga tsunami disaster
Scientists studying the massive earthquake that struck the South Pacific on September 29, 2009, have found that it actually involved two great earthquakes...
August 16, 2010
Biologist Amy Ralston wins Ellison Medical Foundation grant
The Ellison Medical Foundation has selected Amy Ralston, an assistant professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz, as a New Scholar in Aging, providing $400,000 over four years to support her research on the biology of stem cells.
August 16, 2010
Report sets course for next decade of astronomy and astrophysics
Several UC Santa Cruz faculty members contributed to a new report from the National Research Council (NRC) that identifies the top priorities for astronomy and astrophysics research in the coming decade.
August 10, 2010
Protein structure reveals how tumor suppressor turns on and off
The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein acts like a gate in the cycle of cell growth and division--a gate that stays open in many types of cancer, allowing cells to multiply out of control.
August 03, 2010
California sea otter numbers drop again
After a decade of steady recovery, the southern sea otter is in decline for the second year in a row, according to the latest population survey by USGS and UCSC researchers.
July 29, 2010
Cannibal galaxies and chemical abundances: high school physical science interns explore the universe
Fifteen brainy, super-motivated high school students are taking part in a UC Santa Cruz summer program that helps young people delve deeply into research in the physical sciences with professional mentors to guide them.
July 26, 2010
$2 million NIH grant funds research on climate change and mosquito-borne disease
A four-year, $2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will support research at UC Santa Cruz on climate change and the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus.
July 21, 2010
Scientists aim to predict toxic algal blooms in California's coastal waters
After years of studying and monitoring harmful algal blooms in California's coastal waters, Raphael Kudela is trying to predict when toxin-producing algae will strike again.
July 20, 2010
Research at Elkhorn Slough guides conservation and restoration efforts
As an adjunct professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCSC and research coordinator for the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Kerstin Wasson brings rigorous science to bear on habitat restoration efforts throughout Elkhorn Sloug
July 06, 2010
Glaciologist Slawek Tulaczyk elected fellow of Geological Society of America
Slawek Tulaczyk, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, has been elected a fellow of the Geological Society of America.
June 30, 2010
Geologist Gary Griggs publishes guide to California's beaches and coast
A new book by UCSC geologist Gary Griggs offers a fascinating guide to the beaches and coast of California.
June 30, 2010
Abe Seiden stepping down after 30 years as director of UCSC physics institute
Abraham Seiden, professor of physics who has led the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics (SCIPP) since its founding in 1981, is stepping down.
June 14, 2010
Four UCSC professors elected as Fellows of California Academy of Sciences
Four UC Santa Cruz professors have been elected as fellows of the California Academy of Sciences.
June 11, 2010
Oakes College offers residential program for science and engineering students
Oakes College is offering a new residential program for science and engineering students at UCSC this fall.
June 10, 2010
Gordon Ringold appointed to oversee Silicon Valley Initiatives
Gordon Ringold, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with strong academic and research credentials, will assume leadership and oversight of UCSC's growing initiatives in Silicon Valley.
June 03, 2010
Astronomer Jerry Nelson wins prestigious Kavli Prize in Astrophysics
UCSC astronomer Jerry Nelson will share the $1 million Kavli Prize in Astrophysics with two other researchers for their innovations in the field of telescope design.
May 21, 2010
Health sciences student wins $10,000 award to support her work in Nigeria
Evelyn Castle received a $10,000 public service scholarship to support her efforts to improve health care in Nigeria.
May 21, 2010
Astrophysicist Jonathan Fortney awarded Urey Prize for planetary research
The American Astronomical Society has awarded the 2010 Harold C. Urey Prize in Planetary Science to astronomer Jonathan Fortney.
May 13, 2010
Study documents widespread extinction of lizard populations due to climate change
A major survey of lizard populations worldwide has found an alarming pattern of population extinctions attributable to rising temperatures.
May 11, 2010
Botanist Jean Langenheim recounts her life and times in The Odyssey of a Woman Field Scientist
Jean Langenheim, professor emerita of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, has published a memoir about her life as a woman field scientist.
May 03, 2010
Atmospheric scientist Patrick Chuang wins Teaching Excellence Award
The Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association has awarded a 2010 Teaching Excellence Award to atmospheric scientist Patrick Chuang.
April 27, 2010
Earth and planetary scientist Gary Glatzmaier elected to National Academy of Sciences
Gary Glatzmaier, professor of Earth and planetary sciences, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his excellence in original scientific research.
April 26, 2010
Ronald Evans, hormone expert who found "exercise in a pill," to speak at UCSC on Thursday, May 6
Ronald M. Evans, an authority on hormones whose research on exercise and metabolism led to the discovery of compounds that act like "exercise in a pill" in lab tests, will deliver the 2010 Sinsheimer Lecture in Biology at UC Santa Cruz on Thursday, May 6.
April 23, 2010
Earth sciences program ranked 13th in U.S. News grad school survey
The graduate program in Earth sciences at UCSC was ranked 13th in a survey of U.S. doctoral programs in the sciences published by <i>U.S. News and World Report.</i>
April 19, 2010
Four UCSC professors elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Four UCSC faculty members are among the newly elected fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
April 14, 2010
UCSC hosts International Summer Institute for Modeling in Astrophysics
UCSC has launched a new summer institute that brings together scientists and students from a broad range of backgrounds to study current problems in theoretical astrophysics.
April 13, 2010
New institute prepares science and engineering grad students to teach
The Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators prepares science and engineering graduate students for teaching.
April 08, 2010
UCSC researcher contributes to major hominid fossil find in South Africa
Researchers in South Africa have discovered two remarkably well-preserved fossil skeletons of an ancient human ancestor dating to almost 2 million years ago.
March 29, 2010
Nadine Gassner receives 2010 Ellen Weaver Award for mentoring women in science
Nadine Gassner, associate director of the UC Santa Cruz Chemical Screening Center, has been chosen to receive the 2010 Ellen Weaver Award for mentoring young women in science.
March 23, 2010
Monitoring program surveys California's marine ecosystems
Teams of scientists are conducting the most comprehensive assessment ever undertaken of California's coastal ecosystems as part of a monitoring program for the growing network of marine protected areas along the coast.
March 18, 2010
Rare Hawaiian monk seal brought to Long Marine Lab for study and treatment
A Hawaiian monk seal is providing UCSC researchers with a rare opportunity to study the physiology of this critically endangered species.
March 17, 2010
UCSC wins $2.1 million to collaborate with Watsonville High School teachers
A multidisciplinary team at UC Santa Cruz has been awarded a $2.1 million grant to foster collaborations between UCSC graduate students and Watsonville-area high school teachers to develop innovative approaches to teaching math and science through hands-o
March 15, 2010
New Hubble treasury project to survey first third of cosmic time
Astronomers will peer deep into the universe in five directions to document the early history of star formation and galaxy evolution in an ambitious new project requiring an unprecedented amount of time on the Hubble Space Telescope.
March 09, 2010
Researchers to explore hidden world of life beneath seafloor
A new science and technology center will coordinate the efforts of scientists to explore the "deep biosphere" beneath the ocean floor.
March 07, 2010
Seymour Center honors alumna Kathryn Sullivan with Global Oceans Award
The Seymour Center at Long Marine Laboratory will honor former astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan at the Global Oceans Awards Gala.
February 23, 2010
Massive planet is being torn apart by its own tides
An international group of astrophysicists has determined that a massive planet outside our Solar System is being distorted and destroyed by its host star.
February 21, 2010
Pioneering marine mammal scientist Ronald Schusterman dies at age 77
Ronald Schusterman, a pioneering marine mammal scientist, died on February 11 at Stanford Hospital after a brief hospitalization. He was 77.
February 20, 2010
Genome analysis of marine microbe reveals a metabolic minimalist
An unusual marine microbe appears to have ditched several major metabolic pathways, leaving it with a remarkably reduced set of genes.
February 17, 2010
Evolutionary game of rock-paper-scissors may lead to new species
New research on lizards supports an old idea about how species can originate.
February 16, 2010
Astrophysicist Jonathan Fortney awarded Sloan Research Fellowship
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship to Jonathan Fortney, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz.
February 07, 2010
UCSC Scholarship Benefit Dinner raises more than $160,000 to support students
More than 300 people turned out for the seventh annual UC Santa Cruz Scholarship Benefit Dinner that took place Saturday night at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.
February 07, 2010
Composite nanomaterials show promise for solar hydrogen generation
A novel strategy for engineering semiconductor materials can boost the performance of water-splitting solar cells for hydrogen production.
February 07, 2010
UCSC ranked among top 20 worldwide in geosciences
In a recent survey of the top institutions in geosciences, UCSC ranked 18th in the world.
February 03, 2010
UCSC researcher's paper named No. 30 of top 100 science stories for 2009
<i>Discover Magazine</i> has named a UC Santa Cruz evolutionary biologist's study of human predation and species evolution No. 30 among the top 100 science stories for 2009.
February 01, 2010
Astronomer Raja Guhathakurta mentors Intel science contest finalist
A student at the Harker School in San Jose has been named a finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search for her project on the Andromeda galaxy carried out under the guidance of UCSC astronomer Puragra (Raja) Guhathakurta.
February 01, 2010
New UCSC training program fosters ethics and justice discourse in science and engineering
This spring, UC Santa Cruz, will launch a unique graduate-level training program funded by a $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to cross-train scientists and engineers in humanities and social sciences, and vice versa.
January 31, 2010
UCSC astronomer joins composer Philip Glass to explore music of the universe
UC Santa Cruz Astronomer Gregory Laughlin joins acclaimed composer Philip Glass February 21 in a "Brainwave" discussion at the Rubin Art Museum in New York. Brainwave is a series of 20 sessions this winter and spring that bring together eminent thinkers f
January 24, 2010
Researchers trace effects of genetic defect in myotonic muscular dystrophy
Research on the genetic defect that causes myotonic muscular dystrophy has revealed that the mutation disrupts an array of metabolic pathways in muscle cells.
January 24, 2010
Robert Irion, director of Science Communication Program, wins journalism award
Robert Irion has been awarded the 2010 David N. Schramm award from the American Astronomical Society.
January 11, 2010
7th annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner to support UCSC students--Feb. 6 at Tech Museum in San Jose
UCSC will host its seventh annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner on Saturday, February 6, at the Tech Museum in San Jose.
January 10, 2010
UC Santa Cruz hosts conference for undergraduate women in physics
The Department of Physics is hosting the fifth annual West Coast Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics from January 15 to 17.
January 10, 2010
Cassini data show Enceladus in motion
Blobs of warm ice that periodically rise to the surface and churn the icy crust on Saturn's moon Enceladus explain the quirky heat behavior and intriguing surface of the moon's south polar region.
January 06, 2010
New tidal streams found in Andromeda reveal history of galactic mergers
Astronomers have identified two new tidal streams in the Andromeda galaxy, the remnants of dwarf galaxies consumed by our large galactic neighbor.
January 04, 2010
Hubble reaches "undiscovered country" of primeval galaxies
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has broken the distance limit for galaxies and uncovered a primordial population of compact and ultra-blue galaxies that have never been seen before.