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Research

December 22, 2010
Fossil finger bone yields genome of a previously unknown human relative
DNA extracted from a fossil finger bone has yielded the genome of a previously unknown group of human relatives.
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 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 30, 2010
Genome 10K Project announces first 101 species for genome sequencing
The Genome 10K Community of Scientists and BGI (formerly the Beijing Genomics Institute) of Shenzhen, China, have announced a plan to sequence the genomes of 101 vertebrate species within the next two years.
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 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 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.
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 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 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 14, 2010
UC Santa Cruz Literature professor nominated for National Book Award
Karen Tei Yamashita, professor of literature and co-director of the Creative Writing Program at UC Santa Cruz, has been nominated for a 2010 National Book Award.
October 11, 2010
Baskin School of Engineering highlights research advances on October 21
Innovative approaches to solving problems in the critical areas of biotechnology, energy, and human-centered design will be presented by faculty in the Baskin School of Engineering at the school's annual Research Review Day.
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 08, 2010
Engineer Wentai Liu honored with Popular Mechanics Breakthroughs Award
Popular Mechanics magazine has awarded a 2010 Breakthroughs Award to Wentai Liu, professor of electrical engineering at UCSC's Baskin School of Engineering.
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 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 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
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 15, 2010
UCSC lecturer releases new CD showcasing music of Thomas Jefferson
When most people think about the life of Thomas Jefferson, the subject of music rarely comes up. So it might come as a bit of a surprise to learn that our third president was an accomplished--and self-taught--classical violinist, who also had an unusual interest in traditional folk tunes...
September 15, 2010
Undergrad's "crazy idea" leads to a promising biotech device
In Nader Pourmand's bioinstrumentation class, students are encouraged to come up with their own ideas for new biotechnology devices and applications. Sometimes, their "crazy ideas" turn into important research projects.
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 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 05, 2010
'Slow light' on a chip holds promise for optical communications
A tiny optical device built into a silicon chip has achieved the slowest light propagation on a chip to date, reducing the speed of light by a factor of 1,200.
September 01, 2010
UC Santa Cruz professor one of top academic experts on Honduras
In late June, UC Santa Cruz history professor Dana Frank traveled to Honduras to observe the one-year anniversary of the country’s 2009 military coup that deposed President Manuel Zelaya. Frank is one of the top academic experts on Honduras in the United States
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 20, 2010
Professors to present New Orleans lecture on anniversary of Katrina
August 29 marks the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting the Crescent City.
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 05, 2010
Bats facing regional extinction in the northeast from rapidly spreading disease, UCSC researcher finds
A new infectious disease spreading rapidly across the northeastern United States has killed millions of bats and is predicted to cause regional extinction of a once-common bat species, according to the findings of a University of California, Santa Cruz re
August 03, 2010
Steelhead study earns best paper award from American Fisheries Society
The American Fisheries Society has selected a paper on steelhead trout by UCSC researcher William Satterthwaite as the best publication for 2009.
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 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 13, 2010
UC Santa Cruz professor co-authors landmark book to commemorate 100th anniversary of Angel Island Immigration Station
A new book co-authored by UC Santa Cruz professor emerita of American Studies Judy Yung provides the first comprehensive history of the Angel Island Immigration station in San Francisco Bay--known as "the Ellis Island of the West."
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 16, 2010
Greg O'Malley receives ACLS and Omohundro fellowships for research in early American history
Assistant professor of history Greg O'Malley has been awarded the 2010 ACLS Oscar Handlin Fellowship, plus the 2010 Omohundro Institute for Early American History and Culture's Mellon Fellowship.
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 09, 2010
Philips Lumileds equipment donation supports materials science research at UCSC
Philips Lumileds has donated an advanced system for the synthesis of high-quality semiconductor materials to the Baskin School of Engineering.
June 08, 2010
Student Achievement Week honors outstanding scholars
The campus capped off its annual Student Achievement Week with a prestigious award ceremony recognizing the outstanding achievements of students and instructors.
May 28, 2010
Theater arts professor receives NEH fellowship plus UC President's grant for book on dance legend Martha Graham
UC Santa Cruz theater arts professor Mark Franko has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to complete a book on legendary dancer, choreographer, and modern dance pioneer Martha Graham.
May 20, 2010
New version of Linux OS includes Ceph file system developed at UCSC
Ceph, an open-source file system developed by UCSC computer scientists, offers an innovative approach to the data storage challenge.
May 20, 2010
UCSC showcases most promising artists in 2010 Irwin Scholar exhibition
Angry turkeys, space boats, floating pigs, and stoic football players are examples of objects that are violently mixed together in a splattered haze of bright colors and layered patterns.
May 19, 2010
UCSC music professor to be keynote speaker at UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education
UC Santa Cruz professor of music Hi Kyung Kim will be one of five keynote speakers at the second UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education--the largest global event in the field.
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 12, 2010
Two UCSC faculty win Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards
Two theater arts faculty members at UC Santa Cruz have been honored with 2009 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards.
May 07, 2010
Graduate student research showcased at May 14 symposium
On Friday, May 14, from 2 to 5 p.m., the University Center will come alive with poster, oral, or multimedia presentations from the 75 graduate students who will be featured at this year's Graduate Student Research Symposium.
May 06, 2010
Neanderthal genome yields insights into human evolution and evidence of interbreeding
After extracting ancient DNA from the 40,000-year-old bones of Neanderthals, scientists have obtained a draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome.
April 26, 2010
UCSC graduate students to showcase digital art with social impact
Fourteen graduate students from UCSC's Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. Program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study with "Things That Are Possible"--an exhibition of their work running April 30 through May 9 at the campus's new Digital Arts
April 19, 2010
UCSC to celebrate Grand Opening of Digital Arts Research Center on April 29
UC Santa Cruz will celebrate the arts and a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and community on Thursday, April 29, when the campus officially opens its new Digital Arts Research Center.
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 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 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 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 11, 2010
New York Times features story on historical impact of UCSC's Grateful Dead Archive
The front page of the March 11 Arts section of the New York Times featured a story by Larry Rohter about UCSC's Grateful Dead Archive and its historical impact and value.
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.
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 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 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.
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 14, 2010
Grad program offers opportunities in biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics
The biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics program offers expanded opportunities for graduate research.
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
Literature professor's book makes Choice magazine's list of Outstanding Academic Titles for 2009
Literature professor Rob Wilson's book "Be Always Converting, Be Always Converted: An American Poetics" (Harvard University Press) has been selected as one of Choice magazine's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2009.
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.