Earth & Planetary Sciences
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Protecting NASA funding ensures breakthroughs in space science and benefits in daily life continue
From GPS to innovations in computing and optics, technologies developed for space research touch nearly every aspect of modern life
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Rooted in education, expanding opportunity
Inspired by a shared love of learning and a family of educators, alumnus Roger Koopmann (Stevenson ’80, economics) and his late husband, Tom Bullen (Ph.D. ’86, Earth sciences), established scholarships that give UC Santa Cruz students the chance to pursue research and study abroad experiences.
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UC Santa Cruz ranks among top 25 global public universities in new rankings
UC Santa Cruz’s high placement underscores a growing influence on the global research stage and strengths in areas with significant scientific and societal impact.
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Faculty, fellows among global leaders at 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference
University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience represented at recent international climate meetings
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James Webb telescope confirms cooling effects of Pluto’s haze
New study in Nature Astronomy affirms hypothesis made by UC Santa Cruz’s Xi Zhang in 2017
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The ripple effect of small earthquakes near major faults
Minor quakes can disrupt natural tectonic patterns deep underground and change stress landscape, new study finds
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The Science Division announces recipients of Distinguished Alumni Awards
Gabriel Filippelli, Aradhna Tripati, and Seath Brook Ahrens are this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for the Science Division
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Science Division staff honored with new award for outstanding service, dedication
Jeannette Peters, Patti Schell, and Deana Tanguay share division’s first Outstanding Staff Award
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UC Santa Cruz ocean scientist Adina Paytan honored for international research leadership
Adina Paytan, a professor in the Earth and Planetary Science Department and the Institute of Marine Science, has been awarded the Tommy and Yvette Edmondson Distinguished Service Award by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography.
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A ‘remelting’ of lunar surface adds a wrinkle to mystery of Moon’s true age
In an “idea paper” published on December 18 in Nature, UC Santa Cruz Professor Francis Nimmo and his co-authors propose a “remelting” of the Moon’s surface 4.35 billion years ago due to the tidal pull of Earth causing widespread geological upheaval and intense heating.
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Magnetic tornadoes create Earth-size spots discovered at Jupiter’s poles
While Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has been a constant feature of the planet for centuries, a team of astronomers have discovered equally large spots at the planet’s north and south poles that appear and disappear seemingly at random.
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New book California Catastrophes challenges coastal communities to confront reality
It’s no secret that Californians live with the reality of earthquakes, landslides, wildfires, and other natural disasters. This confronts those who choose to stay, and the many who move here, with the equally ominous question: What can we do about it?