Office of Research
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NIH grant funds development of a wayfinding app for the blind
Engineer Roberto Manduchi develops assistive technologies for people with disabilities.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.