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2013 Physical and Biological Sciences

December 15, 2013
Deep-sea corals record dramatic long-term shift in Pacific Ocean ecosystem
Long-lived deep-sea corals preserve evidence of a major shift in the open Pacific Ocean ecosystem since around 1850.
December 10, 2013
Astrophysicists launch ambitious assessment of galaxy formation simulations
UCSC leads international collaboration to compare computer simulations of galaxy formation and evolution
December 10, 2013
Chemist Ilan Benjamin elected Fellow of American Physical Society
Ilan Benjamin, professor and chair of chemistry, has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
December 09, 2013
Hawaiian monk seal toy raises funds to save endangered species
A UCSC marine biologist offers cuddly "Real Seal" toys, one for each of the 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals left in the world.
December 05, 2013
Slippery fault unleashed destructive Tohoku-Oki earthquake and tsunami
The first measurement of friction during an earthquake yielded a surprisingly low value for the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
November 18, 2013
Algebra Academy gives eighth graders a pathway to college
The intensive program, a unique collaboration between Graniterock, UC Santa Cruz, and CSU Monterey Bay is designed to boost math education at rural schools
November 15, 2013
A nonconformist in a school of mavericks
Emeritus professor of chemistry Frank Andrews, in his 53rd year of teaching, includes classes that help students maximize their potential and feel valued.
November 14, 2013
Hidden workshop turns out complex equipment for UCSC scientists
Born tinkerers, two 'old-school' UCSC machinists take rough sketches and turn them into 'works of art.'
November 14, 2013
Arboretum holds annual Gift and Wreath Sale on November 23 and 24
Decorations and gifts for Thanksgiving and the holidays will be available at the Arboretum's annual Gift and Wreath Sale.
November 08, 2013
UCSC ceremony honors Sam Farr as a 'Champion of Science'
U.S. Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) received the Champion of Science Award at a UC Santa Cruz ceremony that highlighted his efforts to support research in sustainable agriculture and ocean sciences, two of UCSC's strengths.
November 08, 2013
State ban on lead ammunition supported by years of research at UCSC
Environmental toxicologists documented the effects of lead from bullets on wildlife and testified before legislative committees
November 05, 2013
Marine scientists track spread of sea star wasting disease
A mysterious disease that causes sea stars to decay and fall apart within a few days has become widespread along the U.S. west coast.
October 31, 2013
UCSC internships for high school students yield success in science contests
A summer internship program for high school students has consistently produced successful entries in nationwide science competitions.
October 31, 2013
Biologist Manuel Ares receives Outstanding Faculty Award
Biology professor Manuel Ares has received the 2012-13 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences.
October 30, 2013
Norris Lecture features a panel of marine wildlife veterinarians on November 7
A panel of three marine wildlife veterinarians from the Monterey Bay area will discuss their work in the annual Norris Memorial Lecture.
October 29, 2013
Institute to host second art/science LASER evening Nov. 5
UCSC’s Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present its second LASER event on Nov. 5, beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Digital Arts Research Center
October 28, 2013
Study maps human impacts on top ocean predators along U.S. west coast
Research shows where human impacts are highest on marine predators such as whales, seals, seabirds, and turtles.
October 23, 2013
UCSC coastal experts testify at Assembly committee hearing
The hearing, held at Seymour Marine Discovery Center, provided information for state policy decisions.
October 18, 2013
UCSC’s first ‘Ed Talks' draws crowd in downtown Santa Cruz
An enthusiastic audience of 250 community members gathered at the “Top of the Ritt” in downtown Santa Cruz last night to celebrate UCSC’s very first evening of “Ed Talks”—three TED-style talks by acclaimed UC Santa Cruz faculty.
October 17, 2013
UCSC astrophysicist Charlie Conroy wins prestigious Packard Fellowship
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has awarded a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering to astrophysicist Charlie Conroy.
October 17, 2013
Astronomers find most distant gravitational lens
Discovery of the most distant gravitational lens allows direct measurement of the mass of a distant galaxy, but also poses a mystery
October 16, 2013
Paul Koch honored as a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences
Paul Koch, dean of physical and biological sciences, has been named a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences
October 15, 2013
UCSC astronomers featured in new book about planet hunters
Several UCSC astronomers feature prominently in a new book about the search for habitable planets beyond our solar system.
October 10, 2013
New device harnesses sun and sewage to produce hydrogen fuel
A device that uses sunlight and wastewater to produce hydrogen gas could provide sustainable energy and treat wastewater.
October 08, 2013
UCSC scientists applaud Nobel Prize for Higgs discovery
UCSC physicists played a significant role in advancing and confirming the theory that earned this year's Nobel Prize in physics.
October 03, 2013
Genetic study of river herring populations identifies conservation priorities
Analysis of river herring populations along the U.S. east coast has identified distinct genetic stocks, providing crucial guidance for management and conservation.
October 02, 2013
Astronomers observe distant galaxy powered by primordial cosmic fuel
Astronomers have detected cold streams of primordial hydrogen gas left over from the big bang fueling a distant star-forming galaxy.
September 30, 2013
Astronomers find patchy clouds on exotic world
Astronomers have created the first cloud map of a planet beyond our solar system, a sizzling, Jupiter-like world known as Kepler-7b.
September 27, 2013
Institute to present inaugural Leonardo Art/Science Evening, Oct. 8
On Tuesday, October 8, UCSC's Institute of the Arts and Sciences will present the campus’s inaugural LASER event, hosting an evening of speakers who will lay the foundation for a new UCSC series by speaking about the intertwining of art and science.
September 25, 2013
Seeds from UCSC Arboretum may help threatened species in aftermath of recent fire
Arboretum experts help with recovery of a threatened plant species after a fire burned its entire habitat.
September 19, 2013
Seismologists puzzle over largest deep earthquake ever recorded
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake that struck deep beneath the Sea of Okhotsk on May 24 was the largest deep earthquake ever recorded.
September 18, 2013
UCSC research funding tops $130 million for 2012-13
UCSC researchers attracted $132.5 million in external grants and contracts to the campus in the 2012-13 fiscal year.
September 12, 2013
California's sea otter numbers continue slow climb
California sea otter numbers are up, according to the latest population survey led by federal, state, and UCSC scientists.
September 10, 2013
NSF grant supports training of math and science teachers at UCSC
$1.45 million Noyce Scholarships grant supports UCSC's teacher training partnerships with high-need school districts and community colleges
August 28, 2013
New Cassini data from Titan indicate a rigid, weathered ice shell
An analysis of gravity and topography data from Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has revealed unexpected features of the moon's outer ice shell.
August 26, 2013
Sea otters promote recovery of seagrass beds
Recolonization of Elkhorn Slough by sea otters led to recovery and expansion of seagrass beds due to cascading effects on the food web.
August 21, 2013
SCIPP director Steve Ritz helped ensure Fermi mission's scientific bounty
UCSC physicist Steve Ritz was project scientist for NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
August 20, 2013
'Science Notes 2013' now available online
Science Notes 2013, published by UCSC's Science Communication Program, features compelling writing, art, video, and podcasts.
August 06, 2013
Royal Astronomical Society honors astronomer Sandra Faber
The Royal Astronomical Society has awarded astronomer Sandra Faber an Honorary Fellowship of the RAS.
August 05, 2013
UCSC alumna Kathy Sullivan nominated to lead NOAA
President Obama has nominated UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
July 31, 2013
UCSC acquires powerful new astrophysics supercomputer system
State-of-the-art computer systems have been instrumental in making UCSC one of the world's leading centers for computational astrophysics and planetary science.
July 30, 2013
Physicist Hitoshi Murayama to speak on 'The Quantum Universe' August 14
Renowned physicist Hitoshi Murayama will give a public lecture on "The Quantum Universe" on Wednesday, August 14, at the Rio Theater.
July 30, 2013
Earth scientist Casey Moore elected fellow of the American Geophysical Union
AGU fellows are a select group of distinguished scientists who have made exceptional scientific contributions in the field of Earth science.
July 29, 2013
Scientific authorities sign TMT master agreement
The scientific authorities of the Thiry Meter Telescope partners have signed a master agreement defining the project goals and establishing a governance structure.
July 11, 2013
Geothermal power facility induces earthquakes, study finds
Seismologists found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations for production of geothermal power.
July 11, 2013
Lick Observatory's 'Saturday Stars' program offers prime viewing opportunities
A new program at Lick Observatory offers prime viewing opportunities for amateur astronomy groups.
July 10, 2013
Seafloor research expedition features live online video feed
Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher is leading an expedition to explore fluid flow and microbial habitats deep within the ocean crust.
July 03, 2013
Military sonar can alter blue whale behavior
Blue whales off the coast of California changed their behavior when exposed to underwater sounds like those used in U.S. military exercises.
July 03, 2013
Cover coup
A childhood dream of gracing the cover of National Geographic comes true for Rob Irion.
June 28, 2013
Founders Celebration to honor architect Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry, widely considered one of the most important and influential architects of our time, will receive the Foundation Medal during the seventh annual Founders Celebration in October.
June 27, 2013
Study reveals key step in protein synthesis
Scientists show how the protein-building ribosome translates genetic code into proteins without making mistakes.
June 26, 2013
Scientists sequence genome of 700,000-year-old horse
An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of an ancient horse that lived 700,000 years ago.
June 25, 2013
Astronomers detect three planets in habitable zone of nearby star
A new study reveals a record-breaking three super-Earths orbiting in the "habitable zone" of a nearby star.
June 24, 2013
Ocean sciences grad student Meghan Powers featured in UC research profile
Graduate student Meghan Powers dives into her work to study bioluminescent marine life.
June 21, 2013
High school student's work in UCSC lab earns Intel Science Fair prize
Eesha Khare, a student at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, won a $50,000 science fair prize for work carried out in Yat Li's chemistry lab.
June 17, 2013
Submarine springs reveal how coral reefs respond to ocean acidification
Ocean acidification due to rising carbon dioxide levels will reduce the density of coral skeletons, making coral reefs more vulnerable to disruption and erosion.
June 13, 2013
Health sciences grad Aaron Surrey earns Sutter medical school scholarship
Health sciences grad Aaron Surrey will receive the 7th annual Primary Care Physician Award.
June 05, 2013
Major study assesses sea level changes due to ice sheet losses
Improved satellite measurements and computer simulations of ice sheets are creating a more accurate picture of the current and future rise in global sea level.
June 04, 2013
Celebrating excellence: Student Achievement Week 2013
This year's Student Achievement Week recognizes high achievement across the disciplines. The campus will host exhibits, ceremonies, performances, and other events through Friday, June 7.
June 04, 2013
The faith to follow her heart
Former veterinarian Elizabeth Devitt, graduating from UCSC's Science Communication program, trades a scalpel for a pen in a lifelong dream of becoming a journalist.
June 04, 2013
Finding the correlations
Nineteen-year-old senior Emerson Glassey wrote a software program that rapidly analyzes compounds produced by bacteria, which could help in the development of new drugs.
June 03, 2013
Music of the Spheres draws summer visitors to Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory's summer concert series features music, lectures, and star-gazing on Mt. Hamilton.
May 28, 2013
Carbon capture technique produces hydrogen fuel, offsets ocean acidification
Scientists have discovered and demonstrated a new technique to remove and store atmospheric carbon dioxide.
May 14, 2013
Graduate Research Symposium awards recognize top presentations
Outstanding presentations at the Graduate Research Symposium were honored at the Awards Reception.
May 08, 2013
UCSC physicist Michael Nauenberg wins UC distinguished emeriti award
Michael Nauenberg, professor emeritus of physics at UC Santa Cruz, has been honored with the 2013 Constantine Panunzio Distinguished Emeriti Award.
May 08, 2013
Dietary flexibility may have helped large predators survive after last ice age
A study of mammoth steppe predators suggests dietary flexibility gave wolves and bears an edge over saber-toothed cats and cave lions.
May 06, 2013
NASA scientist Chris McKay to discuss life on other planets in May 23 lecture
Annual Halliday Lecture addresses the latest findings from the Mars Curiosity Rover and the prospects for finding life on other planets
May 02, 2013
Graduate students present research in annual symposium May 10
Graduate students from all five academic divisions at UCSC will present their research on Friday, May 10.
April 30, 2013
Scientists retrieve temperature data from Japan Trench observatory
Data recovered in an unprecedented series of operations will reveal frictional heat generated by fault slip during the Tohoku earthquake
April 29, 2013
Astrophysics internships bring community college students to UCSC
The astrophysics program is reaching out to community college students through a new summer internship program.
April 22, 2013
UCSC hosts symposium on stem cells and aging
Leading stem cell scientists from around the world will gather at UCSC May 30 and 31 for the Stem Cells and Aging Symposium.
April 22, 2013
Joseph Bunnett Research Organic Chemistry Lecture on Friday, May 3
Ken Houk of UCLA will give the Bunnett Research Organic Chemistry Lecture at UCSC on Friday, May 3
April 22, 2013
UCSC highly ranked in worldwide survey of research impact
UC Santa Cruz placed 11th on the annual Leiden Ranking, which measures the scientific performance of 500 major universities worldwide.
April 19, 2013
Mathematics lecturer Richard Mitchell wins teaching award
Richard Mitchell, a lecturer in mathematics, has received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Northern California Association.
April 19, 2013
Uncommon People / Juan Ledesma: Persistence and faith
Juan Ledesma, the son of agriculture laborers, arrived in Santa Cruz from Hartnell Junior College with a $25,000 S-STEM scholarship from the National Science Foundation, and a love for physics and medicine.
April 18, 2013
Distant blazar is a high-energy astrophysics puzzle
New observations of a blazar show that it is the most distant known source of very high-energy gamma rays.
April 18, 2013
New book explores relentless evolution in a constantly changing world
In his new book, biologist John Thompson argues that species must evolve constantly or they will not persist.
April 18, 2013
Dream job
A student writes about her experience caring for, and learning from, UCSC's marine mammal "animal ambassadors"
April 15, 2013
Ecologist Mark Carr to give Ricketts Memorial Lecture at sanctuary symposium
Marine ecologist Mark Carr will give the Ricketts Memorial Lecture at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's annual symposium.
April 10, 2013
Boogie-woogie sea lion goes viral
The American people are going ga-ga for Ronan the beat-keeping sea lion, who has been featured on "Weekend Edition Saturday" on National Public Radio, and as the answer to a question on the NPR news quiz show "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me."
April 10, 2013
Arts Division public event to help shape new Institute of Arts and Sciences
The UCSC Arts Division will present a day-long public event to help plan a groundbreaking new interdisciplinary Institute of the Arts and Sciences on Friday, April 26.
April 09, 2013
UCSC Arboretum holds annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 20
This year's spring plant sale will feature some of the newest treasures from the UCSC Arboretum.
April 05, 2013
CO2 at work during last global 'hot spell' but hardly alone
UC Santa Cruz ocean sciences professor Christina Ravelo is part of an international team that is using ocean floor sediment samples to compile data on past periods of global warming in order to understand today's climate changes.
April 01, 2013
Sea lion defies theory and keeps the beat
Scientists trained a sea lion to bob her head in time with rhythmic sounds, the first example of beat keeping in a non-human mammal.
March 27, 2013
Marine scientist Adina Paytan receives prestigious international award
IMS researcher Adina Paytan has been awarded the Excellence Award of the Werner Petersen Foundation.
March 20, 2013
Alumni Weekend: Reliving memories, making new ones
Excitement is building for UCSC's premiere alumni event, April 26-28, which is packed with reunions, celebrations, receptions, and opportunities.
March 20, 2013
Physicist Sue Carter to lead APS energy research group
Physicist Sue Carter has been named chair elect of the American Physical Society's group on Energy Research and Applications.
March 14, 2013
DNA study clarifies relationship between polar bears and brown bears
A new genetic study of polar bears and brown bears upends prevailing ideas about the evolutionary history of the two species.
March 13, 2013
International collaboration to investigate disappearing reptiles and amphibians
UCSC biologist Barry Sinervo leads NSF-funded project to study the effects of climate change on plants and animals around the world.
March 12, 2013
Bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection
Stomach microbes influence whether H. pylori infection causes disease, researchers find.
March 06, 2013
Bats not bothered by forest fires, study finds
Scientists found that bats are resilient to high-severity fire, and some species may even benefit from the effects of fire on the landscape.
February 28, 2013
UCSC alumna Kathy Sullivan named acting administrator for NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has appointed UCSC alumna Kathryn Sullivan to serve as acting administrator for NOAA.
February 26, 2013
Coastal Commission funds projects at UCSC Arboretum and Seymour Center
The California Coastal Commission has awarded grants to fund two coastal restoration and education projects at UCSC.
February 21, 2013
Stellar motions in outer halo shed new light on Milky Way evolution
For the first time, astronomers have measured the sideways motions of stars in the outer halo of the Milky Way, yielding clues to our galaxy's remote past.
February 19, 2013
Student research project attracts European partners and NSF funding
Research on Mediterranean seagrass leads to international collaboration and a grant to extend students' findings.
February 19, 2013
"Science on Tap" aims to engage public in science
A new "science cafe" is starting up in Santa Cruz, designed to connect the Santa Cruz community to the latest research happening at UCSC.
February 16, 2013
Historic legacy of lead pollution persists despite regulatory efforts
Efforts to reduce lead pollution have paid off in many ways, yet the problem persists and will probably continue to affect the health of people and animals well into the future.
February 14, 2013
UCSC astrophysicist Charlie Conroy wins Sloan Research Fellowship
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship to Charlie Conroy, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
February 13, 2013
Rare explosion may have created galaxy's youngest black hole
New data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest a highly distorted supernova remnant may contain the most recent black hole formed in the Milky Way galaxy.
February 07, 2013
$2.5 million NIH grant supports research on retinal disease
A major grant from the National Eye Institute supports physicist Sasha Sher's research on how the retina heals itself after laser surgery.
February 01, 2013
Astronomer Sandra Faber honored in White House ceremony
President Barack Obama presented astronomer Sandra Faber with the National Medal of Science in a White House ceremony on Friday.
January 31, 2013
KSBW spotlights UCSC's stellar astronomy program
KSBW TV news featured a story about the achievements and recognition of UCSC's astronomy program.
January 28, 2013
Scientists collect first intact samples from an Antarctic subglacial lake
A research team including UCSC scientists successfully drilled through the Antarctic ice and sampled a subglacial lake.
January 23, 2013
Astronomer Mark Krumholz awarded AAS Warner Prize
Astronomer Mark Krumholz has been chosen to receive the 2013 Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy.
January 17, 2013
Novel technique reveals dynamics of telomere DNA structure
New findings reveal structural properties of chromosome-capping telomeres, a potential target for anti-cancer drugs.
January 16, 2013
U.S. team poised to begin drilling into subglacial lake in Antarctica
UCSC scientists are part of a team in Antarctica to investigate one of the last unexplored aquatic environments on Earth.
January 10, 2013
Monk seal book wins AAAS/Subaru prize for young adult science book
A book about Hawaiian monk seals by marine biologist Terrie Williams has received a prize for excellence in science books.
January 09, 2013
Low extinction rates made California a refuge for diverse plant species
The remarkable diversity of California's plant life is largely the result of low extinction rates over the past 45 million years, scientists say.