Science
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Team discovers ultra-massive galaxies in early Universe that challenge standard cosmology
An international team of astronomers has identified three ultra-massive galaxies—each nearly as massive as the Milky Way—already in place within the first billion years after the Big Bang. The discovery is surprising because it indicates that the formation of stars in the early Universe was far more efficient than previously thought, challenging current models of…
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Physics Department improves undergraduate experience for non-majors
Fundamental teaching strategies—making room for failure, and being explicit and transparent about how students’ knowledge will be assessed—combine to create an atmosphere that is more conducive to learning than traditional forms of physics instruction.
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New chemical process makes biodiesel production easier, less energy intensive
UC Santa Cruz chemists have discovered a new way to produce biodiesel from waste oil that both simplifies the process and requires relatively mild heat. This discovery has the potential to make the alternative fuel source much more appealing to the massive industrial sectors that are the backbone of the nation’s economy.
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American Mathematical Society names Professor Chongying Dong a 2025 Fellow
Chongying Dong, distinguished professor of mathematics at UC Santa Cruz, is among 41 mathematical scientists around the world who were recently named to the American Mathematical Society’s class of fellows for 2025.
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Legacy of helping minoritized students thrive in STEM careers faces uncertain future
If ultimately fully funded, the MPC2SC Program will start by identifying 10 students at the community college during their freshman year. They will then be guided through a targeted curriculum that will prepare them to transfer to UC Santa Cruz the fall of their junior year.
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How researchers can maximize biological insights using animal-tracking devices
Biologgers allow us to see with unprecedented precision how animals move and behave in the wild. But that’s only part of the picture, according to a UC Santa Cruz ecologist renowned for using biologging data to tell the deeper story about the lives of marine mammals in a changing world.
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Gearing up for Giving Day
The ninth annual 24-hour crowdfunding campaign will host more than 175 project teams, 20 challenges and is poised to amplify and support thousands of students.
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Dolphins sense military sonar at much lower levels than regulators predict
For the first time ever, a team including several UC Santa Cruz scientists have directly measured the behavioral responses of some of the most common marine mammals to military sonar. And the finding that surprised them most was that these animals were sensitive to the sounds at much lower levels than previously predicted.
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Ultra-small spectrometer yields the power of a 1,000 times bigger device
UC Santa Cruz researchers are designing new ways to make spectrometers that are ultra-small but still very powerful, to be used for anything from detecting disease to observing stars in distant galaxies
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UC Santa Cruz receives NSF grant to transform diversity and inclusion in STEM graduate programs
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded nearly $1 million to researchers at UC Santa Cruz to advance equity and inclusion by fostering a more inclusive, culturally rich environment in STEM graduate programs.
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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?
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California Academy of Sciences Honors Dan Costa with Fellows Medal
The California Academy of Sciences presented UC Santa Cruz’s Dan Costa, distinguished professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, with its highest honor at an awards ceremony on October 15.