Ocean Sciences
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New detection technique advances early warnings for toxic algal blooms
UC Santa Cruz researchers use passive resin samplers to track chemical cues, extending predictive lead time for harmful algal blooms in Monterey Bay by up to seven weeks.
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Unveiling the unevenness of global warming: Regional accelerations, key temperature shifts, and extreme events
As record-breaking global temperatures and extreme weather events spark intense debate over global warming speed-up, a new study led by UC Santa Cruz reveals how warming is accelerating differently across distinct regions.
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UC Santa Cruz ranks among top 50 public universities in U.S. News Best Colleges rankings
Among U.S. universities, the campus ranks No.1 for marine and freshwater biology and No. 7 for space science.
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The color of penguin poo: Satellites reveal the chilling truth of global warming’s impact on an iconic polar species
Scientists study poop patterns of Adélie penguin colonies across all of Antarctica over a 30-year span using Landsat satellite images, a first for capturing food-web and population trends at continental and decadal scales relative to climate change
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Toxic algal blooms linked to deaths of recently stranded humpback whales
Lab tests conducted at UC Santa Cruz of samples taken from the two carcasses found domoic acid, the biotoxin that causes neurological impairment, seizures, and death in marine mammals.
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New study finds fishing-fleet movements can reveal marine-ecosystem shifts
UC Santa Cruz researchers show how vessel-tracking data mirrored tuna roaming beyond their typical territory due to unusually warm ocean temperatures
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UC Santa Cruz is the top public research university in the world for highly cited researchers amid strong 2025 list
25 UC Santa Cruz researchers earned a spot on the prestigious annual list.
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ARCS Foundation scholarships support 14 outstanding graduate students in science and engineering for 2025-26
The scholarships are awarded to students who show exceptional promise of making a significant contribution to the scientific and technological strength of the country.
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A Lifeline for Salmon: UCSC and NOAA Join Forces to Secure a Future for California’s Most Iconic Fish
A decades-long collaboration is giving Central California’s dwindling coho salmon population a fighting chance.

