Research
- December 13, 2018
Two new books published by UC Santa Cruz poet, lecturer, and alumnus Gary Young
UC Santa Cruz literature lecturer Gary Young has just released "That's What I Thought," a new poetry collection which has been honored with the Lexi Rudnitsky Editor's Choice Award from Persea Books in New York City.
- December 10, 2018
Ocean fertilization by unusual microbes extends to frigid waters of Arctic Ocean
Researchers have documented nitrogen fixation by an unusual type of cyanobacteria in the cold waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas.
- December 04, 2018
DVD box set curated by Shelley Stamp wins 2018 New York Film Critics Circle Award
"Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers"--a Kino Classics box set curated by UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Shelley Stamp and executive produced by actress, director, and screenwriter Illeana Douglas--has received a 2018 Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle.
- December 03, 2018
Environmental, social changes shift how elephant seals communicate
UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. candidate Caroline Casey retraced biologist Burney Le Boeuf's scientific footsteps and discovered the seals’ threat calls no longer had geographic distinctions. Instead, as the northern elephant seal population had increased, the males’ calls had grown more individualized and complex.
- November 30, 2018
Kepler telescope captures extraordinary observations of a star's death throes
Kepler's observations of the supernova known as SN 2018oh showed an unexpected fast rise in brightness that may be an important clue to understanding the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae, which cosmologists use to study the expansion of the universe and dark energy.
- November 27, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives significant Hunter S. Thompson collection
An 800-volume collection of works by famed author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson has been donated to Special Collections & Archives at UC Santa Cruz.
- November 27, 2018
Ocean scientist Jonathan Zehr elected 2018 AAAS Fellow
Jonathan Zehr, professor of ocean sciences at UC Santa Cruz, has been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
- November 23, 2018
Grassland expansion—not human hunting—drove ancient African extinctions
A new study revealed ecological changes in the African savanna, not the emergence of our hominin ancestors, led to the extinction of African ‘megaherbivores’ millions of years ago.
- November 15, 2018
Astronomers find the progenitor to a unique type of supernova
Astronomers may have finally uncovered the long-sought progenitor to a unique type of exploding star called a type Ic supernova.
- November 14, 2018
Planet discovered orbiting the second closest stellar system to the Earth
Measurements from high-precision instruments, including Keck's HIRES and Lick's Automated Planet Finder, reveal a cold super-Earth around Barnard’s star.
- November 12, 2018
Escape responses of coral reef fish obey simple behavioral rules
Loom-sensitive neural circuits characterized in previous lab studies are shown to underlie complex evasive behaviors observed in a natural environment.
- November 08, 2018
Lit prof offers true love and dreams of miraculous escape
The latest book by UC Santa Cruz literature professor Micah Perks, is a unique anthology of her short stories that sometimes reads like a novel. Written over the past 15 years, it’s a linked collection of engaging tales about the same people--all set in Santa Cruz, California.
- November 06, 2018
Long noncoding RNA identified as a key regulator of inflammation
New findings add to growing evidence that previously dismissed "junk DNA" actually produces RNA molecules with important regulatory functions.
- November 01, 2018
UCSC chemists develop safe alternatives to phthalates used in plastics
Growing concern over the health effects of phthalates has spurred a search for alternatives that can add flexibility to plastics without leaching out.
- October 23, 2018
Researchers plant baby oysters at Elkhorn Slough
First attempt in California to restore native oysters through aquaculture is led by Kerstin Wasson, adjunct professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz.
- October 22, 2018
NIH grant funds development of a wayfinding app for the blind
Engineer Roberto Manduchi develops assistive technologies for people with disabilities.
- October 18, 2018
3D-printed supercapacitor electrode breaks records in lab tests
Advances in supercapacitor technology could lead to wider use of fast-charging energy storage devices and novel designs for electronic gadgets.
- October 17, 2018
UC Santa Cruz receives Mellon Foundation humanities grant to explore Earth Futures
Catastrophic environmental breakdown, mass species extinction, financial collapse, racist separatism, global nuclear war…there is much speculation these days that we are living at the end of democracy, liberalism, capitalism, a cool planet, and civilization as we know it...
- October 17, 2018
Study documents paternal transmission of epigenetic memory via sperm
Susan Strome's lab at UC Santa Cruz is making steady progress in unraveling how environmental effects on health and development can be transmitted across generations.
- October 05, 2018
Local group funds four UC Santa Cruz cancer researchers
The Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group is continuing its support for cancer research at UC Santa Cruz with new grants.
- October 04, 2018
Molecular guardians monitor chromosomes during cell division
Cell biologist Needhi Bhalla investigates the intricate choreography of cell division and the chromosomal surveillance apparatus that guards against disaster.
- September 25, 2018
First-year Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam survey results yield cosmological constraints
UC Santa Cruz astronomer Alexie Leauthaud has been involved in the HSC survey project from the beginning of the survey.
- September 25, 2018
New faculty to advance campus teaching, research
UC Santa Cruz is welcoming more than 35 new faculty members this year, bringing the campus total to 603.
- September 20, 2018
Ocean scientist Phoebe Lam leads Pacific Ocean research cruise
Lam is one of three chief scientists on the U.S. GEOTRACES GP15 cruise to sample the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Tahiti.
- September 17, 2018
Decisive sea otters distinguish differences by touch
Research at Long Marine Laboratory reveals the sensitivity of sea otters' paws and whiskers, as well as their ability to process tactile information rapidly.
- September 17, 2018
NSF funds UC Santa Cruz study of tech in agriculture
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz are leading a new, NSF-funded, multi-campus initiative to explore the intersection of agriculture, food, and technology.
- September 13, 2018
Quantum information science on the verge of a technological revolution
Theorist Yuan Ping is developing computational methods to guide the design of new materials for quantum computing and other quantum information technologies.
- September 11, 2018
Data science researchers to tackle privacy challenges in genomics
Computer scientist Abhradeep Guha Thakurta has won NSF funding to investigate ways to protect the privacy of individuals while allowing access to large genomic data sets.
- September 11, 2018
Very few sexually active gay and bisexual men use prophylactic drug to prevent HIV transmission, study finds
Only 4 percent of sexually active gay and bisexual men in the United States use Truvada, a highly effective medication used to prevent the transmission of HIV, according to the results of a first-of-its-kind study.
- September 10, 2018
NSF funds powerful new supercomputer for UC Santa Cruz researchers
The new high-performance computer system will support research in theoretical astrophysics, climate science, materials science, and other fields.
- September 06, 2018
Adaptable lizards illustrate key evolutionary process proposed a century ago
The 'Baldwin effect' has now been demonstrated at the genetic level in a population of dark-colored lizards adapted to live on a lava flow in the desert.
- September 05, 2018
UC Santa Cruz helps address massive data demands from Large Hadron Collider as part of $25 million NSF project
Computer scientist Carlos Maltzahn will work with Princeton University on an NSF-funded project to establish the Institute for Research and Innovation in Software for High Energy Physics.
- September 03, 2018
Tracking marine migrations across geopolitical boundaries aids conservation
By tracking migratory marine species, scientists reveal movements through different countries' waters and in the open ocean beyond areas of national jurisdiction.
- August 30, 2018
Injection wells can induce earthquakes miles away from the well
A study of earthquakes induced by injecting fluids deep underground has revealed surprising patterns, suggesting that current recommendations for hydraulic fracturing, wastewater disposal, and geothermal wells may need to be revised.
- August 28, 2018
LHC scientists detect Higgs bosons decaying into bottom quarks
UC Santa Cruz physicists made important contributions to the discovery, which confirms the fate of the vast majority of all Higgs bosons produced in the LHC.
- August 27, 2018
Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins grant from the SFFILM 2018 Documentary Film Fund
UC Santa Cruz associate professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a grant from the SFFILM Documentary Film Fund to support her latest project, "The Gut."
- August 16, 2018
Where'd I put my keys?
Ben Storm, an associate professor of psychology, is fascinated by how memory supports thinking, learning, and creativity.
- August 13, 2018
New book by UC Santa Cruz arts professor examines cultural impact of video games
In her new book, 'On Video Games: The Visual Politics of Race, Gender and Space,' UC Santa Cruz professor Soraya Murray goes beyond the technical discussions of games and instead offers a deep dive into their cultural dimensions.
- August 02, 2018
No evidence of 'hobbit' ancestry in genomes of Flores Island pygmies
The pygmy population near the cave where Homo floresiensis fossils were found appears to have evolved short stature independently from the mysterious ancient hominins.
- August 01, 2018
Deportation and family separation impact entire communities, researchers say
The deportation and forced separation of immigrants has negative effects that extend beyond individuals and families to entire communities in the United States, according to the Society for Community Research and Action, which has issued a policy statement calling for changes to U.S. policy.
- July 31, 2018
Devastating events can drive human trafficking, paper shows
Researchers found an uptick in online ads for sexual services mentioning Jamaican and Caribbean ethnicities following a 2016 hurricane in the Caribbean.
- July 30, 2018
Natural habitat can help farmers control pests, but not always a win-win
An international team of scientists found that natural habitat surrounding farm fields is not always an effective pest-control tool for farmers worldwide.
- July 30, 2018
Two UCSC graduate students win HHMI Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study
The Gilliam Fellowships support exceptional graduate students who are committed to increasing diversity among scientific leaders.
- July 30, 2018
Groundwater recharge project informs statewide sustainability efforts
Study shows how collecting storm-water runoff to replenish depleted groundwater supplies can be coupled with a simple strategy to reduce nitrate contaminants.
- July 26, 2018
New meta-analysis reveals pace and extent of river recovery
A new global meta-analysis by UC Santa Cruz researchers reveals patterns of river responsiveness to disturbances such as oil spills, wastewater contamination, and fires.
- July 25, 2018
Psychology's Adriana Manago receives early-career award
Adriana Manago, assistant professor of psychology, has received an Early Career Award from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology.
- July 24, 2018
Among golden-crowned sparrows, a false crown only fools strangers
Researchers can change dominance relationships between birds by altering the colors on their heads, but only if the birds don't already know each other.
- July 24, 2018
Campus, Silicon Valley leaders celebrate Lick Observatory’s 130th anniversary
The University of California owns and operates the observatory, which was founded by a bequest from James Lick. It opened in 1888.
- July 20, 2018
Professor’s new film 'Redneck Muslim' now streaming on PBS
Redneck Muslim, a new short film by associate professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor, is one of 25 films currently screening in the 2018 PBS Online Film Festival as a presentation of the PBS series POV.
- July 17, 2018
Study finds 50 times more native trees on rat-free Palmyra Atoll
New research demonstrates a strong positive benefit to native trees after removal of an invasive species.
- July 16, 2018
'Inquiry' magazine now available online
The 2018-19 issue of Inquiry@UC Santa Cruz, the annual research magazine from the UC Santa Cruz Office of Research, is now available online.
- July 12, 2018
VERITAS supplies critical piece to neutrino discovery puzzle
The VERITAS array has confirmed the detection of gamma rays from the vicinity of a supermassive black hole that is potentially the first known astrophysical source of high-energy cosmic neutrinos.
- July 12, 2018
Basic research in fruit flies leads to potential drug for diseases afflicting millions
A promising drug to treat river blindness and other neglected tropical diseases caused by filarial worms is now in preclinical development.
- July 11, 2018
Dickens Universe to offer public talk by alumnus on new novel ‘The Spirit Photographer’
2018 marks the 38th year of the Dickens Universe at UC Santa Cruz, and the event is nearly sold out. But fear not. A special feature of this year's program is a free day, Tuesday, July 17, when the conference will be open without charge to members of the local community.
- July 06, 2018
Gallery between North and South Korea features exhibition by art professor Jimin Lee
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea is an unlikely setting for an art gallery. Established in 1953 as part of an armistice agreement that ended three years of brutal war, the DMZ is a 2.5-mile-wide band that runs 155 miles across the Korean peninsula, serving as a buffer zone between the two countries...
- July 05, 2018
Computer engineer Chen Qian wins NSF CAREER Award
NSF funding supports Qian's research on new memory-efficient and ultra-fast network algorithms and protocols.
- June 27, 2018
Thank Instagram and Snapchat for your fading memories
Research by UC Santa Cruz doctoral student Julia Soares has found compelling evidence that the act of taking a photograph impairs people’s memories of the event.
- June 25, 2018
'Electrogeochemistry' captures carbon, produces fuel, offsets ocean acidification
Researchers analyzed the global potential for 'negative emissions energy' using electricity from renewable sources to generate hydrogen fuel and capture carbon dioxide.
- June 22, 2018
Climate scientist Nicole Feldl wins NSF CAREER Award
NSF grant includes funding for climate research and for a cross-disciplinary environmental game project for students to develop a learning game about climate science.
- June 19, 2018
Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey receives Dizikes Award for teaching in Humanities
Linguistics professor Jim McCloskey was presented with the John Dizikes Teaching Award in Humanities at the Humanities Division’s 2018 Spring Awards celebration held at the Cowell Provost House.
- June 14, 2018
Dust clouds can explain puzzling features of active galactic nuclei
Mysterious features seen in light emitted from active galactic nuclei may be due to partial obscuration by dust clouds, according to new study.
- June 14, 2018
Children in India exhibit religious tolerance, study finds
A new investigation of how children reason about religious rules reveals a remarkable level of acceptance of different religions' rules and practices.
- June 14, 2018
The new queer teenager
Queer youth today are in a paradoxical situation, coming out earlier and becoming leaders even as they cope with the significant challenges of adolescence, Psychology Professor Phil Hammack told a panel convened by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.
- June 12, 2018
Without coral reefs, annual flood damages from storms could double globally
New study shows annual costs soaring to $272 billion, sending a powerful signal about reefs and their importance during the International Year of the Reef.
- June 08, 2018
Researchers discuss educational needs of Latino, immigrant, and disadvantaged youth
A recent informal interdisciplinary workshop focused on the educational needs and experiences of Latino and immigrant youth.
- June 06, 2018
Global experts attend academic summit on solitary confinement
Forty-five of the world's experts on the psychological and physical effects of solitary confinement gathered in Santa Cruz recently for a two-day academic summit.
- June 01, 2018
Biochemist Carrie Partch honored for research on biological clocks
The latest findings from Partch's lab have resolved a longstanding question about how the timing of our biological clocks is regulated.
- May 31, 2018
Genes found only in humans influence brain size
A set of three nearly identical genes found only in humans appear to play a critical role in the development of our large brains, according to a study led by UCSC researchers.
- May 29, 2018
New model explains what we see when a massive black hole devours a star
Theoretical astrophysicists have developed a unified model that explains observations of tidal disruption events, when a black hole swallows a disrupted star.
- May 25, 2018
Diverse campus landscapes are ideal outdoor laboratories—and classrooms
UC Santa Cruz is known for its beautiful landscapes, but its meadows, forests, farm fields, and coastal bluffs also support a range of scientific research and hands-on learning opportunities for students.
- May 24, 2018
Selective neural connections can be reestablished in retina after injury, study finds
Circuit repair in the retina of adult ground squirrels can recreate the selective neural connections needed for color vision.
- May 23, 2018
Biologist Beth Shapiro selected as Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator
Shapiro’s Paleogenomics Lab at UC Santa Cruz uses ancient DNA to study evolutionary history and the effects of environmental change on species and ecosystems.
- May 21, 2018
Lightning in the eyewall of a hurricane beamed antimatter toward the ground
The first detection of a downward positron beam from a terrestrial gamma-ray flash was captured by an instrument flown through the eyewall of Hurricane Patricia in 2015.
- May 21, 2018
Computer scientist Owen Arden wins NSF CAREER Award
Owen Arden, assistant professor of computer science in the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
- May 18, 2018
Undergraduate builds handcrafted bee hotels to attract pollinators
Mindful that the population of European honeybees is crashing worldwide due to Colony Collapse Disorder, Environmental Studies senior Forest Peri wanted to make a welcoming home for native bees.
- May 17, 2018
Transfer RNA research addresses a blind spot in understanding of human genes
Biomolecular engineer Todd Lowe has received a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support his lab's international leadership in transfer RNA research.
- May 16, 2018
'Future Garden' environmental art installation opens at Arboretum
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences presents the opening of "Future Garden for the Central Coast of California"--a site-specific environmental art installation by emeritus arts research professors Newton Harrison and his late wife Helen Mayer Harrison at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden.
- May 08, 2018
UCSC Night at the Museum to explore global impact of 1968 protest movements
The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz will present "UCSC Night at the Museum: Global 1968—Race and Revolution around the World," a free public event at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, on Wednesday, May 16.
- May 07, 2018
Astronomers find an exoplanet atmosphere free of clouds
An international team of astronomers has detected an exoplanet atmosphere that is free of clouds, marking a pivotal breakthrough in the quest to better understand what lies at the outer reaches of our galaxy.
- May 01, 2018
NIH grant supports development of a novel drug for stroke treatment
A drug discovery grant is funding the quest by UCSC chemistry professor Ted Holman to bring a new drug treatment for stroke to clinical trials.
- April 30, 2018
UC Santa Cruz glaciologist leads project to study Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier
Earth sciences professor Slawek Tulaczyk will lead one of eight projects in a joint U.S.-U.K. research program to understand how quickly the massive Antarctic glacier could collapse.
- April 25, 2018
Film professor Jennifer Taylor wins fellowship for summer residency at MacDowell Colony
Assistant professor of film and digital media Jennifer Maytorena Taylor has received a fellowship for a summer residency at one of the nation’s leading contemporary arts organizations.
- April 23, 2018
Face recognition for galaxies: Artificial intelligence brings new tools to astronomy
A 'deep learning' algorithm trained on images from cosmological simulations has been surprisingly successful at classifying real galaxies in Hubble images.
- April 17, 2018
DANM 2018 MFA student exhibition culminates two years of intensive study and creative work
Nine graduate students from the Digital Arts and New Media M.F.A. program (DANM) will conclude two years of artistic study at UC Santa Cruz with "Interstices"--an exhibition of their work running April 27-29, at the UCSC Digital Arts Research Center.
- April 17, 2018
South County housing crisis to be discussed May 2
University researchers and community leaders will host a public forum about the affordable housing crisis on Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Watsonville Civic Center.
- April 12, 2018
J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves appointed director of CITRIS at UC Santa Cruz
Computer engineer J.J. Garcia-Luna-Aceves has been appointed to serve as the UC Santa Cruz director for CITRIS (Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society) and the Banatao Institute.
- April 11, 2018
Nature-based solutions can prevent $50 billion in Gulf Coast flood damages
Researchers found that restoration of marshes and oyster reefs are among the most cost-effective solutions for flood risk reduction on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
- April 11, 2018
Building a feminist psychology of resistance
On a fateful trip to Nicaragua in 2005, Shelly Grabe, now an associate professor of psychology, met women who were organizing to fight domestic violence, and she saw what real and lasting social change looked like.
- April 10, 2018
Coastal stream restoration projects concentrated where residents are 'whiter, wealthier, and more educated,' researchers find
Stream restoration efforts along the coast of Central California are unevenly distributed, with activity more likely to occur in areas that are more highly populated and dominated by residents who are "whiter, wealthier, and more educated," according to an analysis by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
- April 05, 2018
New 'Pan-Cancer' analysis reveals the common roots of different cancers
In the largest study of its kind, cancer researchers analyzed and classified more than 10,000 tumors from 33 cancer types to trace connections between different cancers.
- April 04, 2018
Jenny Reardon among scholars speaking out on genomics and race
Sociology Professor Jenny Reardon joined 66 other scholars in signing an open letter about genetics and race, responding to a recent opinion piece in the New York Times written by David Reich, a professor of genetics at Harvard.
- March 21, 2018
Seismologists introduce new measure of earthquake ruptures
Seismologists have developed a new measurement of seismic energy release that can be applied to large earthquakes.
- March 20, 2018
Marine researchers say recent sea star wasting disease epidemic defies prediction
Some sea star communities on the west coast could recover, but marine scientists still can’t pinpoint the environmental factors behind the unprecedented disease outbreak.
- March 16, 2018
Soil fungi may help determine the resilience of forests to environmental change, according to UC Santa Cruz study
A major new study by Kai Zhu reveals that soil fungi could play a significant role in the ability of forests to adapt to environmental change.
- March 15, 2018
NIH grant funds high-end instrument for shared biomedical research facility
UC Santa Cruz establishes a Bay Area facility in electron paramagnetic resonance with a $1.5-million grant from NIH's High-End Instrumentation program.
- March 12, 2018
Four kinds of algal toxins found in San Francisco Bay shellfish
Researchers monitoring San Francisco Bay for algal toxins have found a surprising array of different toxins in the water and in mussels collected from the bay.
- March 09, 2018
Antigen study supports new approach to vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus
RSV causes serious respiratory disease in infants and older adults, but past efforts to develop a vaccine have met with frustration and disappointment.
- March 05, 2018
Campus receives Mellon Foundation grant to help create new forms of digital publication
UC Santa Cruz is the lead institution on a $100,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to help build a sustainable system for the digital publication and discovery of historical records.
- February 28, 2018
Community Studies founder William H. Friedland dies at 94
William H. “Bill” Friedland, professor emeritus of community studies and sociology at UC Santa Cruz, whose life and career encompassed the major social movements of the 20th century, from labor struggles during and after World War II, to farm worker and youth movements of the 1960s, to the agriculture-food awareness of today, died at his Santa Cruz home Feb. 20 at age 94.
- February 28, 2018
Fixing damaged ecosystems: How much does restoration help?
A new meta-analysis of 400 studies that document recovery from large-scale ecosystem disturbances worldwide suggests that while ecosystems can bounce back, they rarely mend completely, with the final stages of recovery being most difficult.
- February 26, 2018
Tracking data reveal the secret lives of marine animals
Seals, whales, sharks, turtles, seabirds, and other marine vertebrates show similar patterns of movement in marine environments.
- February 23, 2018
USDA funds efforts to bring underrepresented students into agriculture
A unique collaboration between UC Santa Cruz and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is supporting underrepresented students who are interested in agriculture-related fields.
- February 21, 2018
At the nexus of food, energy, and water: Elliot Campbell bridges the research gap
Elliott Campbell is an environmental engineer who is drawn to research at the nexus of food, water, and energy.
- February 21, 2018
Novel search strategy advances the hunt for primordial black holes
Researchers analyzing data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope for evidence of nearby primordial black holes put an upper limit on the number that might be lurking in the vicinity of Earth.
- February 15, 2018
UCSC astronomer Alexie Leauthaud wins Sloan Research Fellowship
The Sloan Research Fellowships honor early-career scholars whose achievements mark them as among the very best scientific minds working today.
- February 14, 2018
Analysis of major earthquakes supports stress reduction assumptions
After a major earthquake, the area where the fault slipped a lot is unlikely to slip again, seismologists say, but stress increases in surrounding areas.
- February 13, 2018
State program funds lung cancer research at UC Santa Cruz
The California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program has awarded $1.8 million in grants and fellowships to UCSC biomedical researchers.
- February 12, 2018
Innovative restoration of coral reefs helps protect Caribbean islands
Study shows direct link between healthy coral reefs and shoreline stability and field-tests an innovative risk-reduction solution that combines engineering with reef restoration.
- February 12, 2018
Acoustic imaging reveals hidden features of megathrust fault off Costa Rica
First detailed 3-D images of a megathrust fault show long grooves and other features in the fault surface that are likely to control how it slips in an earthquake.
- February 12, 2018
UCSC's SlugBot team chosen again to compete in Amazon's Alexa Prize Challenge
For the second year in a row, a team of computer science students has won sponsorship from Amazon to develop a "socialbot" that can converse with humans.
- February 08, 2018
Arts professor to premiere film at 2018 Berlin International Film Festival
UC Santa Cruz film and digital media professor Irene Lusztig will premiere her new film, 'Yours in Sisterhood,' at the 2018 Berlinale, running February 15-25 in Berlin, Germany.
- February 08, 2018
Monetary economist Carl Walsh to deliver 52nd annual UC Santa Cruz Faculty Research Lecture on February 22
Carl Walsh, distinguished professor of economics at UC Santa Cruz, will deliver the 52nd annual Faculty Research Lecture on Thursday, February 22.
- February 05, 2018
Scientists report big improvements in HIV vaccine production
Technical advances in vaccine production should shorten the time to clinical trials, breaking the logjam of promising new candidate vaccines waiting to be tested.
- February 01, 2018
Polar bears finding it harder to catch enough seals to meet energy demands
As climate change alters their environment a growing number of polar bears are unable to catch enough fat-rich prey to meet their energy needs.
- January 29, 2018
Breakthrough leads to sequencing of a human genome using a pocket-sized device
Nanopore sequencing technology, based on concepts pioneered at UC Santa Cruz, has revealed parts of the genome scientists had been unable to sequence before.
- January 24, 2018
Karen Yamashita's memoir explores Japanese-American internment
Award-winning author and UC Santa Cruz literature professor Karen Tei Yamashita will read from her new memoir on Thursday, February 1, as part of the 2018 winter installment of the Living Writers Series.
- January 18, 2018
Elliott Campbell appointed to chair in water resources and food system sustainability
Elliott Campbell, associate professor of environmental studies, was honored as the inaugural holder of the Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair in Water Resources and Food System Sustainability.
- January 18, 2018
Study finds convergent evolution of gene regulation in humans and mice
Molecular biologists have found evidence of convergent evolution in an important mechanism of gene regulation in humans and mice.
- January 18, 2018
Judge relies heavily on Haney's testimony in case banning solitary confinement
In a landmark court ruling that prohibits solitary confinement in Canada, a Canadian judge relied heavily on expert testimony by Psychology Professor Craig Haney.
- January 17, 2018
New book, The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, and Knowledge After the Genome, assesses progress since 2000
Sociologist Jenny Reardon evaluates the promise and pitfalls of genomics in her new book The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, and Knowledge After the Genome (University of Chicago Press, 2017).
- January 16, 2018
New catalyst for hydrogen production is a step toward clean fuel
A novel material developed at UC Santa Cruz has shown impressive performance as a catalyst for the electrochemical splitting of water to produce hydrogen.
- January 16, 2018
New name, enduring vision
Irena Polić, Managing Director, and Nathaniel Deutsch, Director, The Humanities Institute — Since its founding, The Humanities Institute has been committed to cultivating humanities research by supporting hundreds of individual faculty, graduate, and undergraduate fellows, as well as collaborations across campus and with other universities around the world.
- January 10, 2018
Earliest galaxies in the universe spin like the Milky Way
Astronomers looking back to a time soon after the big bang have discovered swirling gas in some of the earliest galaxies to have formed in the universe.
- January 02, 2018
Unraveling the mechanisms that control cell growth and size
Scientists studying how cells control their size and growth rate are closing in on fundamental mechanisms that are common to all cells and are disrupted in cancer.
- January 01, 2018
Supermassive black holes control star formation in large galaxies
Astronomers found a close correlation between the mass of a galaxy's central black hole and its star formation history.