UCSC in the news

December

• 
  December 26, 2023 - Discover Magazine

  New Genomics Databases Could Drive Major Breakthroughs

  Associate Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Benedict Paten was quoted in a story in a Discover Magazine that discussed the promise of the pangenome project aimed at capturing human genetic diversity into a usable genomics reference.
• 
  December 23, 2023 - Popular Science

  How games move us

  Professor of Computational Media Katherine Isbister penned an op-ed in Popular Science and MIT Press on how games provoke deep emotions via choice and consequence.
• 
  December 22, 2023 - The Mercury News

  First puma witnessed using new Highway 17 wildlife tunnel

  The Mercury News interviewed Environmental Studies Professor Chris Wilmers about the success of a wildlife tunnel that was developed using insights from his research. 
• 
  December 20, 2023 - Grist

  In 2023, organized labor became core to the climate movement

  Grist interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha about how labor organizing and the renewable energy transition can work together. 
• 
  December 19, 2023 - TIME

  Death Sentences Are Doled Out Based on Looks

  Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig Haney spoke with TIME Magazine about some of the issues that often prevent jurors from being able to make impartial decisions, especially in cases involving a potential death sentence. 
• 
  December 14, 2023 - Business Insider

  Gen Z doesn't want to use your labels to define their sexuality

  Psychology Professor Phil Hammack spoke with Business Insider about trends in gender and sexual identity among Gen Z. 
• 
  December 13, 2023 - IEEE Spectrum

  Restoring Microgrids After Power Loss Requires Smarts

  IEEE Spectrum highlighted Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Yu Zhang's research on using AI to better manage microgrids during power outages.
• 
  December 12, 2023 - Government Technology

  Cloud, Remote Tools at UCSC Enhance Study of Organoids

  Government Technology highlighted Mohammed Mostajo-Radji's research on cloud technologies which give more students access to cortical organoids used in biotechnology research and education.
• 
  December 12, 2023 - Archaeology

  Top 10 Discoveries of 2023

  Research by Anthropology Professor Lars Fehren-Schmitz on the inhabitants of Machu Picchu was selected as one of the top 10 discoveries of the year by Archaeology Magazine.
• 
  December 06, 2023 - Bloomberg

  Greta Thunberg’s Climate Cohort Is Growing Up

  Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies Jessica Taft spoke with Bloomberg about public perceptions of girl activists and how those perceptions can present a barrier to activists achieving their goals. 
• 
  December 01, 2023 - Bloomberg

  Why Climate Advocates Demand a ‘Just Transition’ Away From Fossil Fuels

  Bloomberg interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha to help explain the concept of a "just transition" away from fossil fuels. 
• 
  December 04, 2023 - Nature

  From AI to the Y chromosome (and everything in between)

  Nature Biotechnology editors chose two research articles led by UCSC researchers among their favorite research articles from 2023. Their selections of 'Human reference draft represents human variation' and 'Sequence of the human Y chromosome revealed' were both led by researchers at the UCSC Genomics Institute including Karen Miga and Benedict Paten. 
• 
  December 08, 2023 - USA Today

  Flat Earth claim based on gas pressure fails to account for gravity's impact | Fact check

  Regions of high pressure tend to diffuse to regions of lower pressure, said Elise Knittle, an Earth and planetary sciences professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The walls of a container can help prevent that from happening − maintaining a constant pressure inside the container.
• 
  December 08, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  California’s commercial Dungeness crab season delayed yet again

  The reported numbers may be much lower than the actual number of entangled whales, said UC Santa Cruz professor of marine science Ari Friedlaender. He noted that the increasing humpback whale population is the result of years of conservation measures, including a ban on whaling. “We used to kill an awful lot of whales here in California,” Friedlaender said. “So we should feel good that we’ve allowed those populations to recover.”
• 
  December 07, 2023 - KQED

  Radioactive Object Found at San Francisco's Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Raises New Concerns

  Retired nuclear policy expert Daniel Hirsch, the former director of the Environmental and Nuclear Policy Program at UC Santa Cruz, said the most recent revelation — about the glass shard — is concerning because the Navy intends to eventually release the property to San Francisco and allow a developer to build over 10,000 homes there. “You don’t just have a single piece of small glass that’s radioactive; this is part of a much larger piece of glass,” said Hirsch, who has provided technical assistance to the nearby community. “I think this is indicative of a reason for the community to be concerned.”
• 
  December 06, 2023 - Christian Science Monitor

  Controversy in California over ‘neutral’ Middle East history

  There is no contradiction between having a viewpoint and producing history with integrity, says Jennifer Derr, founding director of the Center for Middle East and North Africa at UC Santa Cruz, who signed the letter. When students come to her class thinking of history as a collection of objective names and dates, she says, part of her role is to show all the decisions that go into presenting a narrative. “That is never a neutral act,” she adds. “It’s based on an assessment of what is historically significant, what we have evidence for, what plays into the larger notions of a just society that we are oftentimes wrestling with.”
• 
  December 10, 2023 - New York Times

  How Climate Data Gives Whales Room to Roam

  “It really just helps give a lot more information and reduce some of that uncertainty about the future,” said Steph Brodie, lead author of the study. Brodie is currently a research scientist at Australia’s national science agency, but conducted this research while working at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
• 
  December 05, 2023 - Mongabay

  Steps to Reviving Dodo Birds Approaching Reality

  No one can predict with certainty when the dodo bird will come back to life, however, Beth Shapiro, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has sequenced the dodo bird genome. This process takes decades.
• 
  December 06, 2023 - Scientific American

  In the Search for Life beyond Earth, NASA Dreams Big for a Future Space Telescope

  "If there's a Jupiter right in the middle of the Goldilocks zone, you probably don't want to bother looking for an Earth there," says Bruce Macintosh, director of University of California Observatories at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "But it's not actually that critical to mission success to know this star has an Earth and this one doesn't, because the best Earth detector will be the mission we're building."
• 
  December 01, 2023 - Interesting Engineering

  AI-system boosts microgrid efficiency for rapid power outage recovery

  Interesting Engineering reports on Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Yu Zhang's research on using AI to better manage islanded microgrids during power outages.  

November

• 
  November 30, 2023 - Econofact

  The Need for Increasing Private Sector Funding of Climate Solutions

  Economics Professor Galina Hale wrote an article for Econofact arguing that current spending is insufficient to mitigate climate change and adapt to its consequences and that raising the level of funding required would need to include the private financial sector.
• 
  November 27, 2023 - USA Today

  Seeing isn't believing: From Gaza to US politics, deepfake videos are peddling fake news

  Nolan Higdon, a lecturer for Merrill College and the Education Department, wrote an opinion article for USA Today about how AI deepfakes on social media spread fake news and the need for increased critical media literacy among the public.
• 
  November 30, 2023 - Cosmos Magazine

  Mercury, Eris glacier make scientists rethink habitable zone

  Eris’s glaciers are very different. They are entirely subsurface and instead of flowing downhill in response to gravity, they rise and fall through its interior carrying heat from its core, much like mantle plumes do on Earth. They were discovered by modeling the orbital dynamics of Eris’s 615-kilometer-wide moon, Dysnomia, says Francis Nimmo, a planetary scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and paper coauthor.
• 
  November 29, 2023 - Fox News

  AI technology could soon save lives at the beach. Here’s how.

  Researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz, led by Computer Science Professor Alex Pang, are developing potentially life-saving A.I. algorithms geared toward detecting and monitoring potential dangers along the shoreline. Additional coverage in KSBW.
• 
  November 29, 2023 - Scientific American

  The Second Most Powerful Cosmic Ray in History Came from--Nowhere?

  Together the two projects have found dozens of UHECRs over the years, yet the estimated energies of only a few—the original OMG particle and Amaterasu among them—have eclipsed 200 EeV. Statistics suggest such mighty messengers only arrive at a rate of less than one per century per square kilometer of the planet’s surface. Of those confirmed in astronomers’ catalogs, “you can count them on one hand,” says Noémie Globus of the University of California, Santa Cruz, who was a co-author of the new paper.
• 
  November 27, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Central Coast collaborative seeks to improve education-to-career pathways

  “With educators, community leaders, and industry experts working together we have an incredible opportunity to align our shared goals and forge lasting connections to make transformative, equity-centered change across the region," said UC Santa Cruz Assistant Vice Chancellor of Education Partnerships Maria Rocha Ruiz who is also the principal investigator for the award. "Together, we will make sure every student in our region has access to the education, training, and resources they need to transition into a rewarding career.”
• 
  November 27, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  Rare plant spotted for first time in Santa Cruz County reveals hidden ecosystem reborn in fire

  As a plant becomes more rare or its range more confined, its genetic diversity — sometimes called “cryptic diversity” — can be reduced. “That’s something that we’re not really quantifying, the loss of that ‘cryptic’ diversity,” said Lucy Ferneyhough, native plant program project manager at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.
• 
  November 24, 2023 - Salon

  Why alien life could be thriving on the "terminator line" of exoplanets

  Even if exoplanets like those in this study have the conditions necessary to maintain water in some form once their solar systems have matured, M-dwarfs are 100 to 1,000 times more luminous when they’re young. And they can be temperamental, with lots of solar flares and ultraviolet radiation, said Jonathan Fortney, an astrophysicist at UC Santa Cruz who was not involved in the study.
• 
  November 23, 2023 - Newsweek

  Astronomers Detect Extremely Powerful Cosmic Ray of Mysterious Origin

  "The nature of the most powerful particle accelerators in the universe is a 60-year-old mystery," said Noemie Globus, one of the authors of the study, who is affiliated with the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Japan and the University of California, Santa Cruz.
• 
  November 22, 2023 - Christian Science Monitor

  Sam Altman fired and now back: What CEO turmoil says about AI’s future

  The ongoing struggle between techno-optimism and doomerism gets exaggerated in every period of rapid technological change, says Benjamin Breen, a historian at the University of California, Santa Cruz and author of an upcoming book on utopian science in the mid-20th century. No one knows where AI will take humanity. If history is any guide, he adds, the extremists on both sides tend to get it wrong. 
• 
  November 22, 2023 - BBC

  The genes that made us truly human may also make us ill

  "What's fascinating about the history of Notch2NL is that there actually was an original event that happened in our common ancestor with gorilla, where the original Notch2 gene was duplicated," says Sofie Salama, professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at the University of California Santa Cruz, who was involved in one of the research studies.
• 
  November 27, 2023 - Mercury News

  UC Santa Cruz researchers build AI to prevent drownings

  Professor of Computer Science Alex Pang's research on using AI to monitor beach conditions was featured in the Santa Cruz Sentinel and the Mercury News.  
• 
  November 20, 2023 - Grist

  The UAW ratifies a contract — and labor’s road ahead in the EV transition

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Mijin Cha told Grist that labor organizing efforts within the renewable energy transition must not be framed as obstacles to progress on climate change. “The greed of the fossil fuel industry is what’s stopping the energy transition, not the fact that people want to make a decent wage,” she said.  
• 
  November 16, 2023 - Financial Express

  India and the APEC

  Nirvikar Singh, distinguished professor of economics at UC Santa Cruz, argues in an op-ed that, if India can obtain an APEC membership, it would help improve flows of knowledge, capital, and goods within the region through better coordination of policies.
• 
  November 14, 2023 - The Mercury News

  Predator protector

  Environmental Studies Professor Chris Wilmers was interviewed by The Mercury News for a story about mountain lion researchers. 
• 
  November 13, 2023 - New Scientist

  Just leaving trees to grow could store a third of our carbon emissions

  Environmental Studies Professor Karen Holl urged caution in interpreting the findings of a new study by other researchers. Holl says the global analysis might miss complicated social and ecological dynamics that determine whether protection or restoration of forests is possible at a local level.
• 
  November 13, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  ‘We’re not going to quit’: Why a California community is boycotting carrots

  Professor Emeritus of Agroecology Steve Gliessman spoke with the Los Angeles Times about water management issues that have led to a boycott of carrots in the Cuyama Valley.
• 
  November 09, 2023 - The State Press

  Panel discussing desalination in Mexico fails to include environmental impact, Mexican voices

  The State Press criticized the methods of an Arizona State University panel on desalination and pointed to UCSC Environmental Studies Professor Brent Haddad's work on the Salton Sea Long Term Planning Project as offering a better model.
• 
  November 15, 2023 - Reuters

  Scientists discern internal structure of mysterious dwarf planet Eris

  "We already knew that Eris is more rock-rich than Pluto, but what we didn't know was whether Eris had separated the rock from the ice," said University of California Santa Cruz planetary scientist Francis Nimmo, lead author of the study. Additional coverage in Voice of America and EarthSky.
• 
  November 01, 2023 - Monterey Herald

  Monterey Bay Economic Partnership State of the Region to focus on key issues

  Monterey Herald covered the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) State of the Region event, where Chris Benner, director of the UCSC Institute for Social Transformation, gave a keynote speech sharing findings from a report he produced with MBEP on regional economic equity indicators.
• 
  November 14, 2023 - KTVU

  APEC University and SF startup CEO look at ways to help sustainability policies

  The APEC University Leaders Forum drew more than 130 university presidents, professors, researchers, and politicians from APEC's 21 member economies to San Francisco for a day of speeches and panel discussions on the topic "Investing in Tomorrow's Biodiversity." Eric Palkovacs, one of the forum organizers and a professor at UC Santa Cruz, says it was exciting to hear people discuss a wide range of environmental issues. Additional overage in AOL and CCTV.
• 
  November 13, 2023 - Art Daily

  Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery acquire film installation by Isaac Julien

  The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum have jointly purchased the tour de force "Lessons of the Hour" (2019) by artist and filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien. Julien is the Distinguished Professor of the Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
• 
  November 07, 2023 - New York Times

  Gazing Into the Past and Future at Historic Observatories

  The New York Times Travel section explored the history of Lick Observatory. UC Santa Cruz Staff Astronomer Elinor Gates said, "You might look at a galaxy and it’s 25 million light-years away. It’s taken 25 million years for that light to get from that galaxy, come through the telescope to the eyepiece, to your eyeball. It’s a different experience than just looking at a pretty picture on a computer screen or in a book.”
• 
  November 02, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  Ms. Blue is coming down — what happened to Seymour Center's iconic whale skeleton and what's next

  After taking a beating from the elements at UC Santa Cruz’s coastal campus, the structure supporting the blue whale skeleton affectionately known as Ms. Blue has been deemed unsafe. But fear not, says Seymour Marine Discovery Center director Jonathan Hicken — the bones are staying, and the center wants input on the next chapter of the whale’s legacy.
• 
  November 05, 2023 - New York Times

  A Guide to the James Webb Telescope's View of the Universe

  "We live in this beautiful galaxy, the Milky Way," says Brant Robertson, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. "We can’t see the Milky Way from inside, and we can’t fly out and see it. But we know that our galaxy developed from other galaxies."
• 
  November 02, 2023 - Time Magazine

  A Blueprint From History for Tackling Homelessness

  Jonathan van Harmelen, a Ph.D. candidate in history at UC Santa Cruz, penned this opinion piece arguing that one of the most pressing issues facing the United States during the 2020s is the issue of homelessness. Based on his academic research, he points out that some of the implemented solutions for homelessness build on the same ideas launched nearly a century ago during the New Deal when the Farm Security Administration sought to tackle acute homelessness during the Great Depression.
• 
  November 02, 2023 - Quanta Magazine

  Icy Oceans Exist on Far-Off Moons. Why Aren’t They Frozen Solid?

  For most of humankind’s existence, Earth was the only known ocean-draped world, seemingly unlike any other cosmic isle. But in 1979, NASA’s two Voyager spacecraft flew by Jupiter. Its moon Europa, a frozen realm, was decorated with grooves and fractures — hints that there might be something dynamic beneath its surface. “After Voyager, people suspected that Europa was weird and might have an ocean,” said Francis Nimmo, a planetary scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
• 
  November 07, 2023 - Scientific American

  Detecting Cancer Early by Measuring RNA in the Blood

  Scientific American features Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Daniel Kim's research on using RNA in the bloodstream for an early, non-invasive cancer detection test.

October

• 
  November 22, 2023 - NPR

  NPR Books We Love: We're Safe When We're Alone by Nghiem Tran

  NPR featured second-year Creative Writing/Critical Ph.D. candidate Nghiem Tran's novel We’re Safe When We’re Alone (Coffee House Books) in its 2023 "best of the year" list, describing this work of fiction as "hypnotic" and "richly allusive."
• 
  October 30, 2023 - Marketplace

  Your scam stories

  Additional coverage by Marketplace of telemarketing scams that target immigrants included insights from Assistant Professor of Sociology Juan Manuel Pedroza.
• 
  October 25, 2023 - The Guardian

  Carrots farms v valley: the battle over a water-depleted California region

  Professor Emeritus of Agroecology Stephen Gliessman spoke with The Guardian about the risks of overdrawing water in the aquifers of California's Central Valley. 
• 
  October 25, 2023 - The Guardian

  Food for thought: how TV cooking shows influence the way we eat

  Associate Professor of Sociology Alison Alkon spoke to The Guardian about how cooking shows have the potential to help people expand their culinary horizons.
• 
  October 25, 2023 - Washington Post

  Review | Five great sci-fi and fantasy novels to read now

  The latest novel from micha cárdenas, the director of the Critical Realities Studio and assistant professor of art and design at UC Santa Cruz, was reviewed in the Washington Post. The reviewer notes that the novel, Atoms Never Touch, conjures an immersive dystopia, full of facial recognition, augmented-reality lenses and a brutal security state — while still showing the power of community and resistance.
• 
  October 24, 2023 - Popular Science

  Is de-extinction only a pipette dream? This startup has a big, expensive plan to find out.

  Beth Shapiro, who co-directs the Paleogenomics Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz and has studied the flightless bird’s genome for almost two decades, advises Colossal’s avian genomics work.
• 
  October 24, 2023 - Miami Herald

  Can UM-led team create a ‘perfect’ reef? Why the U.S. military is banking on it

  The nation’s military has been working on a new weapon: Creating a ‘perfect,’ self-healing coral reef that can withstand disease, warming temperatures and sea rise.The reef design is made up of three stacked layers. The bottom layer is a concrete chamber called the “sea hive” after its honeycomb shape. As waves hit the bottom row of sea hives, turbulence is reduced from underneath. “We are trying everything we can do to move the water over, under and through,” said Borja G. Reguero, a researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
• 
  October 25, 2023 - Scientific American

  Depleted Groundwater Could Be Refilled by Borrowing a Trick from Solar Power

  Researchers measure the water that flows off the hillside and into the basin. To calculate how much water seeps underground, they use stream and pressure gauges, as well as thermal probes inserted into the shallow soil at the bottom of the basin. “The infiltrating water carries heat,” says Andrew Fisher, a hydrogeologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and co-founder of the project. “By measuring the amount of heat carried downward, we can determine the flow rate.”
• 
  October 16, 2023 - Wired

  None of Your Photos Are Real

  The aesthetics of online socializing reaffirmed old racial imbalances around beauty but also opened up a space for women of color, especially, to have representational agency, says Derek Conrad Murray, a professor at UC Santa Cruz who specializes in the history of art and visual culture. “Self-representation and social media enabled many women of color to challenge culture industries that prop up beauty standards that have traditionally ignored and demeaned them,” he says.
• 
  October 12, 2023 - CBS Bay Area

  Researchers fortifying California salt marshes from effects of climate change

  Between the land and the sea, salt marshes are the true guardians of our coastline. Evolutionary biologist Kerstin Wasson runs the Wasson Research Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is a member of the team behind the project. "What we've done here at Hester Marsh is build tomorrow's marsh," Wasson said. Additional coverage in KION.
• 
  October 13, 2023 - AP News

  Factory fishing in Antarctica for krill targets the cornerstone of a fragile ecosystem

  While the end of commercial whaling has allowed populations to rebound, a new study by the University of California, Santa Cruz found that pregnancy rates among humpback whales in Antarctica have been falling sharply — possibly due to a lack of krill, their main prey. Chinstrap penguins and fur seals face similar stresses. “The marine foragers are there for the same reason the boats are: because there’s lots of krill,” said Ari Friedlaender, a University of California, Santa Cruz biologist who has spent 25 years researching whales in Antarctica. AP News wrote an additional story on this topic, highlighting the takeaways of this report.
• 
  October 20, 2023 - Marketplace

  Inside the world of immigration scams

  Assistant Professor of Sociology Juan Manuel Pedroza joined Marketplace to discuss one of his areas of research: scams that target immigrants. Pedroza described the problem and some interventions that might help bring justice. 
• 
  October 18, 2023 - E&E News

  Why the UAW wants inside the battery factory

  Sociology and Environmental Studies Professor Chris Benner told E&E News that the move to electric vehicles "could be a major turning point in labor,” if current organizing efforts are successful in securing favorable wages and working conditions.  
• 
  October 17, 2023 - Financial Express

  China now has a huge debt overhang

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote an op-ed arguing that money in China was invested in ways that do not generate the funds to pay back the lenders or investors.
• 
  October 14, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Conference examines affordable housing crisis

  The Santa Cruz Sentinel covered a conference on the local housing crisis, where Professor of Sociology Miriam Greenberg presented about how future development must take care not displace current low-income residents. Santa Cruz Local also covered this conference.  
• 
  October 13, 2023 - The Hill

  GM concession bolsters EV proponents amid auto strike

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Mijin Cha spoke with The Hill about the UAW union's efforts to unionize battery plants. “[F]ighting for EV battery manufacturing to be union is really important to show that green jobs can be good jobs and that there is no conflict between addressing climate change and supporting workers,” she said.  
• 
  October 16, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies holds Monsters Ball Costume Party

  The Santa Cruz Sentinel ran a brief story and photo highlighting the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies and the Monsters Ball Costume Party that was held at the Institute of the Arts and Sciences as part of the 2023 Festival of Monsters.
• 
  October 13, 2020 - CNN

  Japanese American prisoner art depicts life in WWII detention camps

  A CNN.com feature story about the art of Japanese-American internees during World War II included an interview with Alice Yang, chair of the history department at the University of California Santa Cruz, who has extensively researched the legacy of Japanese American detention and the subsequent struggle for reparations.
• 
  October 10, 2023 - Quanta

  In Our Cellular Clocks, She’s Found a Lifetime of Discoveries

  “We are linked to this day in ways that I think people just push off,” says UC Santa Cruz biochemist Carrie Partch. If we understand the clock better, she has argued, we might be able to reset it. With that information, we might shape the treatment of diseases, from diabetes to cancer.
• 
  October 05, 2023 - BBC

  Asteroid 16 Psyche - facts and stats about the metal-rich spacerock

  In 2019, Francis Nimmo and Jacob Abrahams of the University of California Santa Cruz proposed the theory of (ancient) ferro-volcanism. This is a process you might expect when a newly formed, molten body is cooling down from the outside in.
• 
  October 06, 2023 - Forbes

  Nearby Exoplanets Could Harbor 8-Billion-Year-Old Microbial Life

  In his new paper, Piero Madau, a distinguished professor of astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, puts forth a practical roadmap to statistically frame how near we can expect to find microbial life on earthlike planets circling G and K spectral type stars. Additional coverage in Earth.
• 
  October 11, 2023 - Inside Higher Education

  New on the Job: Jody Greene, University of California, Santa Cruz

  As the inaugural associate campus provost for academic success, Jody Greene is responsible for faculty development, support and retention to promote student success in the classroom and beyond. Greene was the subject of a feature story in Inside Higher Education this week. 
• 
  October 11, 2023 - Grist

  Cooking oil has a deforestation problem. A startup says it has a solution.

  Professor Julie Guthman, a social scientist who studies food systems, spoke with Grist about the challenges of assessing sustainability claims in new food products that don't disclose full information about their supply chains and processes. 
• 
  October 05, 2023 - Good Times

  “Voices Of Pajaro” Brings South County Reality To UCSC

  Good Times magazine covered an event organized by UCSC's Center for Reimagining Leadership that shared stories and experiences from the Pajaro levee breach and encouraged students to get involved. Astronomy and Astrophysics Professor Enrico Ramirez‑Ruiz is the center's director, and Environmental Studies Professor Sikina Jinnah is associate director.
• 
  October 04, 2023 - KTVZ

  How farmers used California's floods to revive underground aquifers

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Hannah Waterhouse discussed aquifer water management with KTVZ News Channel 21. 
• 
  October 07, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  UC Santa Cruz climate justice forum discusses Pajaro Valley flood, encourages student action

  The Santa Cruz Sentinel covered an event organized by UCSC's new Center for Reimagining Leadership that gathered community leaders to teach students about injustices in the response to the Pajaro levee breach and what they can do to get involved in the community.
• 
  October 10, 2022 - Forbes

  Get Your Monster On In Time For Halloween At University Of California, Santa Cruz

  Forbes Magazine ran a detailed feature story about UC Santa Cruz's Festival Of Monsters, which kicks off on Friday the 13th this month. The magazine described UCSC's Center for Monster Studies as "a scholarly center devoted to investigating the many definitions of monsters and monstrosity throughout history and culture."
• 
  October 03, 2023 - Ms. Magazine

  Teaching Patriarchy Post-'Barbie'

  Lindsay Knisely, a lecturer in the Humanities Division, penned this opinion piece. She notes that this summer’s Barbie film has moviegoers around the world talking about the patriarchy. Now that we have the language to describe our predicament, it’s critically important to keep talking about the patriarchy, and to keep going down the path that Barbie takes us on to investigate the way our daily lives are impacted by patriarchal constructs.
• 
  October 02, 2023 - Axios

  AI: Trust & Responsibility

  Last week, Axios hosted an Expert Voices roundtable discussion in San Francisco featuring local leaders across government, the tech industry and AI startups. One of the featured experts was Linda MacDonald Glenn, founding director & faculty, UC Santa Cruz Center for Applied Values and Ethics in Advanced Technologies.
• 
  September 26, 2023 - The Scientist

  Smart Gateways into the Lab of the Future

  Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Sofie Salama and Distinguished Professor of Biomolecular Engineering David Haussler spoke about the smart technology behind growing brain organoids in their Braingeneers lab on the Scientist Speaks podcast.

September

• 
  September 29, 2023 - The Fish Site

  Could power plants fuel alternative aquafeeds?

  Aquaculture news organization The Fish Site covered new research by Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Pallab Sarker that will study whether microalgae grown using power plant emissions could be an effective ingredient in feed for trout. Additional coverage in All About Feed.
• 
  September 26, 2023 - Financial Express

  Moonshots and mind games

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote an op-ed for Financial Express about how India can achieve world-class excellence with its domestic institutions and resources.
• 
  September 25, 2023 - GBH

  Why people leave prison 'more broken' than when they entered

  GBH interviewed distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig Haney about the challenges that formerly incarcerated people experience when reentering society. 
• 
  September 22, 2023 - The Boston Globe

  Democrats flock to picket lines where workers worry about their electric vehicle push

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Mijin Cha spoke with The Boston Globe about how electric vehicles relate to the United Auto Workers strike. “It’s really important that we don’t say it’s workers versus the environment,” she said. “They’re not against an electric vehicle transition; they just don’t want to be left behind.”
• 
  September 29, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  As heat waves warm the Pacific Ocean, effects on marine life remain murky

  Heather Welch, a marine spatial ecologist at UC Santa Cruz, and other researchers have created statistical models designed to predict where animals will go when things heat up. “So one of the tricky things with heat wave impacts is you have to be lucky and actually have direct observations during the events,” she said. 
• 
  September 26, 2023 - Financial Times

  Joe Biden and Donald Trump plan rival Michigan trips in scrap for union votes

  Labour historian Dana Frank, a professor emerita at University of California, Santa Cruz, said it was significant that Biden had intervened in this dispute, particularly given he stayed neutral in strikes by writers and actors and also undercut a planned strike by railway workers last year. "He didn’t choose to intervene in any of the Los Angeles strikes, which he could have, and he chose to throw the [railway workers] to the wolves," she said. "His hand is being forced by Trump, and Trump’s ability to weasel his way into the mind of white, working-class men in the Midwest."
• 
  September 22, 2023 - The Hill

  Six months later, our call to slow AI development is more crucial than ever

  Anthony Aguirre, the executive director and secretary of the board at the Future of Life Institute and the Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information at the University of California, Santa Cruz, penned this op-ed warning of the dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence.
• 
  September 19, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  Review: In-depth look at California's rising sea levels finds grim threats and glimmers of hope

  The author of this book speaks with UC Santa Cruz’s Gary Griggs, who laments that much of the problem is that in California, “everybody wants to live on the sand.”
• 
  September 18, 2023 - Voice of America

  In Costa Rica, Natural Farms Provide Refuge for Birds

  Natalia Ocampo-Penuela is a University of California, Santa Cruz environmental scientist who was not involved in the study. She said the findings may seem to make sense without research. But she added that it is very rare to have detailed data over a long time from tropical areas to show that diversified farming can support some forest bird populations.
• 
  September 14, 2023 - Ars Technica

  Autopsy of a star reveals what was eviscerated by a monster black hole

  “ASASSN-14li is exciting because one of the hardest things with tidal disruptions is being able to measure the mass of the unlucky star, as we have done here,” said astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz of UC Santa Cruz, one of the authors of the study.
• 
  September 07, 2023 - Essence

  'Creating Characters That Look Like Us': The Video Game Company Bringing Type 4 Hair Into Gaming

  Since they were invented, video games have received constant upgrades, be it in graphics, new worlds, or expanded options for play. But one thing has been largely missing: “[o]ptions are still pretty limited for creating characters of color, particularly for creating Black characters. And a huge component is a lack of Black hairstyles and textures,” gaming news site Polygon observes. A.M. Darke, Assistant Professor, UC Santa Cruz, creator of the Open Source Afro Hair Library (OSAHL), which has been under development since pre-2020, collaborates on efforts to bring attention to the problem.
• 
  September 08, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  Opinion: Oceans are heating up. Who will protect the turtles, whales and fish crossing borders into cooler waters?

  Heather Welch, a marine spatial ecologist at UC Santa Cruz who develops climate-ready tools to manage biodiversity and fisheries, penned this op-ed highlighting the dangers and complexities of marine heatwaves.
• 
  September 10, 2023 - Mercury News

  $7 million project begins to rebuild historic Northern California wharf wrecked in huge winter storms

  It was arguably the most dramatic image from the powerful storms that battered Northern California’s coastline in January: The Capitola Wharf, an 855-foot-long landmark that dates back to 1857, torn in half by pounding waves. “Maybe it will do fine for 10 or 20 or 30 years,” said Gary Griggs, a professor of Earth sciences at UC Santa Cruz. “But if we have another big winter this year all bets are off.”
• 
  September 04, 2023 - New York Times

  Architecture's Second Looks, and Second Acts

  Kresge College is included in this list of buildings, sites, streets, design movements and architects that have received updates this year. The 1973 U.C. Santa Cruz dormitory complex by the postmodernist architects Charles Moore and William Turnbull Jr. and the landscape architect Dan Kiley — a self-styled Mediterranean village tucked in a redwood grove — has received an update set to welcome students this month, with final phases finished later in the academic year.
• 
  September 05, 2023 - USA Today

  New effort aims to revamp calculus to keep students in science, technology, engineering fields

  Math professor Martin Weissman is rethinking how his university teaches calculus. Over the summer, the professor from the University of California at Santa Cruz, spent a week at Harvard to learn how to redesign the mathematics for life sciences courses his institution offers. Called Math 11 A and B, these classes, which students take as freshmen and sophomores, constitute a “leaky pipeline,” Weissman said.
• 
  September 05, 2023 - Newsweek

  Here's Which Sea Animals Are Hurt Most by the U.S. Heatwaves

  Heatwaves can have a devastating impact on some marine predators such as sharks but other species can adapt, scientists have discovered. Heather Welch, associate specialist with the Institute of Marine Sciences, noted that, "instead of being a story about winners and losers, this is a story of how variable marine heatwave impacts can be. To understand the full scope of impacts, we need to move beyond single-species, single-heatwave case-studies towards more holistic ecosystem-based investigations."
• 
  September 05, 2023 - SPACE.com

  Star blows giant exoplanet's atmosphere away, leaving massive tail in its wake

  Astronomers have monitored the trailing gas tail of HAT-P-32 b created from helium flowing from its atmosphere with telescopes from Earth. "We have monitored this planet and the host star with long time series spectroscopy, observations made of the star and planet over a couple of nights," research lead author and University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics postdoctoral fellow Zhoujian Zhang said. "And what we found is there's a gigantic helium gas tail that is associated with the planet. The tail is large — about 53 times the planet's radius — formed by gas that's escaping from the planet." Additional coverage in Cosmos Magazine.
• 
  September 04, 2023 - APNews

  Farms with natural landscape features provide sanctuary for some Costa Rica rainforest birds

  Small farms with natural landscape features such as shade trees, hedgerows and tracts of intact forest provide a refuge for some tropical bird populations, according to an 18-year study in Costa Rica. The findings may seem intuitive, but Natalia Ocampo-Penuela, a University of California, Santa Cruz conservation ecologist not involved in the study, said it’s extremely rare to have detailed long-term data from tropical regions to show that varied farming landscapes can sustain some forest bird populations. “With 18 years of data, you can show the species is persisting in that area, not simply passing by,” she said.
• 
  September 21, 2023 - Inside Higher Ed

  Barriers to Tenure and Promotion Persist for Psychology Faculty of Color

  Inside Higher Ed interviewed Psychology Professor Margarita Azmitia about a new report from a committee she co-chaired about barriers to advancement for faculty of color in psychology.
• 
  September 18, 2023 - Grist

  How the shift to electric vehicles is fueling the UAW strike

  Grist interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha about how working conditions at EV battery factories relate to the current United Auto Workers strike. 
• 
  September 06, 2023 - VoxDev

  Targeting health incentives in India

  Assistant Professor of Economics Ariel Zucker joined VoxDev to discuss her research on personalized incentives for exercise among 6,800 adults with diabetes and hypertension in urban India.
• 
  September 15, 2023 - The New York Times

  U.A.W. starts strike small, but repercussions could prove far-reaching

  The New York Times interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha for a story about strikes by the United Auto Workers union and how they relate to electric vehicle production. Additional coverage in In These Times presents a counterpoint to mainstream media narratives around the strikes. 
• 
  September 13, 2023 - WIRED

  Auto workers prepare to strike for a place in the EV future

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha spoke with WIRED about the importance of supporting equity for workers in the process of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Additional coverage in E&E News.
• 
  September 15, 2023 - WBUR News

  The expanding universe of Lofi Girl

  WBUR News, Boston's NPR station, spoke with UCSC Ph.D. student of Computational Media Kevin Weatherwax about his research on and personal relationship with Lo-Fi music. 
• 
  September 18, 2023 - Chemical and Engineering News

  The tricky ethics of AI in the lab

  Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Leilani Gilpin was quoted in a C&EN story on the pace of development in the field of generative AI and the ethical challenges at play. 
• 
  September 12, 2023 - NIH Director's Blog

  New Approach to ‘Liquid Biopsy’ Relies on Repetitive RNA in the Bloodstream

  The National Insitutes of Health Director's Blog features Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Daniel Kim's research into liquid biopsy technology for cancer early detection.
• 
  September 10, 2023 - The Mercury News

  This Monterey Bay deep-sea creature is the ‘sister’ that took its own evolutionary path

  The Mercury News reports on research into the earliest moments in animal evolution, quoting UCSC adjunct professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Steven Haddock and citing the work of former biomolecular engineering postdoc  and project leader Darrin Schultz.
• 
  September 06, 2023 - Science

  Humans aren’t the only fat primate

  Professor Emerita of Anthropology Adrienne Zihlman commented about a study featured in Science Magazine that offers new insights on how and why different species of primates can become overweight.
• 
  September 04, 2023 - The New York Times

  A Strong Job Market Doesn’t Mean the Economy Is Recession-Proof

  An opinion column in The New York Times discusses research by Associate Professor of Economics Pascal Michaillat on how to measure the tightness of the labor market and assess its health and efficiency. 
• 
  September 04, 2023 - The Washington Post

  Farms with natural landscape features provide sanctuary for some Costa Rica rainforest birds

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela commented on new research featured in The Washington Post that shows how agricultural areas with natural features can help to sustain birds.  

August

• 
  August 29, 2023 - Audubon

  Birds of a Feather Do Indeed Flock Together, According to New Research

  When former University of California, Santa Cruz graduate students Alexis Chaine and Daizaburo Shizuka started banding birds on their campus arboretum, they hoped to explore crown plumage variation among various visiting sparrows. Soon after, they noticed that the birds they banded, among them Golden-crowned Sparrows, consistently returned to the same section of the arboretum. This was 20 years ago. Bruce Lyon, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the university, remembers the first year of the banding project well. “On average, 50 percent of the birds we tagged [initially] returned the next winter,” Lyon says. “So we saw an opportunity to follow individuals across their winter lives."
• 
  August 31, 2023 - BBC

  Science In Action - Drowning Coastal Ecosystems

  Ecologist Alexa Fredston has found that bottom-dwelling fish may be more resilient to the effects of marine heatwaves than previously thought. Additional coverage in Le Figaro, Axios, Agence France-Presse, and The Hill.
• 
  August 26, 2023 - Live Science

  A black hole 'assassin' ripped a star to shreds and left its guts strewn about the galaxy

  "ASASSN-14li is exciting because one of the hardest things with tidal disruptions is being able to measure the mass of the unlucky star, as we have done here," says Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, an astrophysicist at University of California, Santa Cruz and co-author of the new work.
• 
  August 29, 2023 - New York Times

  Waves Along California’s Coast Are Getting Bigger, Study Says

  A 2019 study, led by Borja G. Reguero, a researcher in the Institute of Marine Sciences, found that the rising sea-surface temperatures were influencing global wind patterns and making waves stronger.
• 
  August 26, 2023 - New York Times

  Isabel Crook, 107, Dies; Her Life in China Spanned a Century of Change

  Mrs. Crook’s most recent book is “Prosperity’s Predicament: Identity, Reform, and Resistance in Rural Wartime China (1940-1941),” which is based on her prewar field notes. One of its editors, Gail Hershatter, a history professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said the book offers a unique look at a rural society that even in China, with its rapid urbanization, seems to many like a foreign country.
• 
  August 25, 2023 - Fast Company

  The next pandemic could wipe out crops, not people

  Disease-resistant plants can alter airflow in ways that keep plants dry and healthy and create physical barriers that block pathogen movement. Especially if they’re tall, resistant plants can act like fences that diseases have to hop over. “Somebody did a nice experiment taking dead corn stalks and just plopping them in the bean field,” says plant pathologist Gregory Gilbert from the University of California, Santa Cruz. “And that works, too, because it’s just keeping things from moving around.” Additional coverage in Grist.
• 
  August 22, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  In the face of sea level rise, can we reimagine California's vanishing coastline?

  This LA Times feature follows Gary Griggs, an oceanographer at UC Santa Cruz, as he explains issues of erosion on California's coasts and the sacrifices that must be made to address them. This feature is an excerpt of an upcoming book, "California Against the Sea: Visions for our Vanishing Coastline."
• 
  August 22, 2023 - SPACE.com

  Supermassive black hole chews up huge star, spits stellar 'guts' into space

  "Observing the destruction of a massive star by a supermassive black hole is spellbinding because more massive stars are expected to be significantly less common than lower-mass stars," said Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz of the University of California, Santa Cruz, a co-author of the study.
• 
  August 17, 2023 - Sierra Magazine

  These Animals Are Already Adapting to a Changing Climate

  “Flexibility has been really important for them to overcome prey changes because of climate change,” Ana Valenzuela-Toro, the author of the study and researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said. “I tend to think of California sea lions as the raccoons of the sea.”
• 
  August 31, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  California debates solitary confinement in local jails — and whether it’s really possible to end it

  Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig Haney spoke with the Los Angeles Times about the harms caused by long-term solitary confinement.
• 
  August 31, 2023 - Univision

  Sobredosis de droga en latinos se ha venido duplicando desde la pandemia: autoridades de San Francisco, en alerta

  Assistant Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies Carlos Martinez spoke with Univision 14 about the dangers to Latino drug users from fentanyl. 
• 
  August 22, 2023 - Grist

  The next pandemic could strike crops, not people

  Environmental Studies Professor Gregory Gilbert spoke with Grist about how promoting diversity of plants in agricultural settings creates physical barriers to the spread of disease. 
• 
  August 21, 2023 - Smithsonian Magazine

  An In-Depth Look at Latino History Among the Stars and Skies

  Professor and Chair of Latin American and Latino Studies Catherine Ramírez spoke about Latino Futurism for a special podcast series of the National Air and Space Museum that was covered by Smithsonian Magazine.  
• 
  August 15, 2023 - Good Times

  No Sanctuary: Animal Rescues Struggling with Climate Change

  Environmental Studies Professor Mike Loik shared his insights on climate change effects and solutions with Good Times for a story about the impacts of climate change on local animal rescue operations. 
• 
  August 14, 2023 - Financial Express

  An economic strategy for India: Many bottlenecks and challenges that India faces require deeper integration across levels of govt

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote an opinion column for Financial Express reflecting on India's economy in honor of the country's Independence Day.
• 
  August 17, 2023 - Inside Higher Education

  UCSC professor emerita of history Dana Frank was quoted in an Inside Higher Education story about the proposed name change for Cabrillo College

  During the public discussion portion of a Cabrillo College Governing Board meeting covered by Inside Higher Education, Dana Frank spoke out in favor of changing the college's name. "In keeping the name, we would be teaching that it’s good to celebrate those who invaded other people’s ancestral homelands, killed and in many cases enslaved them," she said. 

• 
  August 30, 2023 - Teen Vogue

  Disabled Music Fans Are Failed by Concert Venues and Ticketing Systems

  Assistant Professor of Computational Media Kate Ringland's research is cited in a Teen Vogue story on accessibility in the live music industry.
• 
  August 17, 2023 - Los Angeles Time

  Wildfires once fueled extinctions in Southern California. Will it happen again?

  “This paper provides a picture of how climate change can completely transform ecosystems,” said Jarmila Pittermann, a plant physiologist at UC Santa Cruz who researches extinction. “It is super-convincing and a massive warning to all of us.” Additional coverage in the Smithsonian Magazine.
• 
  August 17, 2023 - Harper's Bazar

  Art As a Radical Tool for Realizing Abolition

  Three years into launching their multimedia initiative Visualizing Abolition, the University of California, Santa Cruz’s Professor Gina Dent and Dr. Rachel Nelson have built a consortium of musicians, scholars, and artists whose relationships to the criminal legal system vary. 
• 
  August 29, 2023 - Wired

  How to Use AI to Talk to Whales—and Save Life on Earth

  Ari Friedlaender researches whale behavior at UC Santa Cruz and has amassed a great deal of data on what behavior that could help move Earth Species closer to developing algorithms that can work across the full spectrum of the animal kingdom.
• 
  August 23, 2023 - Reuters

  Scientists solve the genetic puzzle of sex-related Y chromosome

  Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Karen Miga and UCSC genomicist and postdoc Monika Cechova were quoted extensively in coverage of the first complete sequence of a human Y chromosome. Additional coverage in CNN, STAT, Popular Science, USA Today, Business Insider, and many others.
• 
  August 15, 2023 - KQED

  Bay Area Red Tide Crisis Ends, Watchdog Group Declares Algae Bloom Over

  The microscopic critter looks like a swimming potato chip with a tail, said Raphael Kudela, a phytoplankton ecologist at UC Santa Cruz. He said the organism thrives in the bay because the shallow water warms up quickly. “It’s just really happy when it’s in the bay,” he said. “As long as it’s happy, it’s just going to keep going, and going, and going.”
• 
  August 14, 2023 - BBC

  Why fidgeting is good for you

  Professor of Computational Media Katherine Isbister's research on fidget objects is cited in a BBC story.
• 
  August 10, 2023 - BBC

  Meet the fearless scientists saving Antarctic whales… With crossbows and tiny inflatable boats

  Ari Friedlaender, professor of ocean sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is featured in this piece on researchers who study a variety of whales in the Antarctic Ocean.
• 
  August 08, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  UC admits record number of California first-year students for fall 2023, led by Latinos

  The University of California admitted a record number of California applicants for fall 2023, as campuses received more funding to increase coveted seats, according to preliminary data released Tuesday. Michelle Whittingham, UC Santa Cruz associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, said the campus plans to enroll 4,189 first-year students this fall and winter thanks to such factors as additional state funding and quicker completion of degree programs through more summer classes. Whittingham was also quoted on this topic in the San Francisco Chronicle, SF Gate and the San Jose Mercury News. Additional coverage in Inside Higher Ed, KION and EdSource.
• 
  August 07, 2023 - USA Today

  Pictures mislead: Ample evidence the Earth is round and sea levels are rising | Fact check

  The long-term tide gauge at Fort Denison “has recorded a gradual ... but fairly consistent rise in sea level of 0.1mm/yr or 3 inches/century,” said Gary Griggs, a professor of earth sciences at UC Santa Cruz.
• 
  August 04, 2023 - KQED

  As Algal Bloom Returns to the Bay, Is Swimming Safe for Humans (and Pets)?

  Not every red tide, or algal bloom, is toxic — although they can be. The species behind the recurring algal bloom in San Francisco Bay is called Heterosigma akashiwo and isn’t known at this time to be toxic to humans. The microscopic critter looks like a swimming potato chip with a tail, said Raphael Kudela, a phytoplankton ecologist at UC Santa Cruz. He said the organism thrives in the bay because the shallow water warms up quickly. Plus, it’s full of tasty treats it likes to fill up on.
• 
  August 03, 2023 - AP News

  Big waves becoming more common off California as Earth warms, new research finds

  Giant waves, measuring as high as 13 feet, are becoming more common off California's coast as the planet warms, according to innovative new research that tracked the surf's increasing height from historical data gathered over the past 90 years. Oceanographer Gary Griggs at the University of California, Santa Cruz said while a jump of a foot in wave height over more than 50 years is not huge, the findings are consistent with what scientists know is happening to the world’s oceans as they warm: They are becoming increasingly violent due to more extreme storms and wreaking havoc along coasts. Additional coverage in USA Today, Smithsonian Magazine and more than 800 other outlets.
• 
  August 01, 2023 - NPR

  Surf's up! Wave heights increase on California's coast as climate warms

  A 2019 study led by Borja Reguero, a coastal scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, found that the energy in ocean waves has increased over most of the last century because of climate change.
• 
  August 09, 2023 - The New Yorker

  The race to save the world's DNA

  Computational biologist Benedict Paten was quoted in a New Yorker story about the Earth BioGenome Project, a gloabl effort to sequence the DNA of as many species as possible. UCSC Genomics Insitute research scientist Ann Mc Cartney's contributions to this project are also mentioned.
• 
  August 02, 2023 - Reuters

  US pork firms divided over bill in Congress to overturn California animal welfare law

  Reuters spoke with Economics Professor Galina Hale about how the proposed EATS Act could negatively impact farmers who have made efforts to comply with new animal welfare laws in California.

July

• 
  July 25, 2023 - New York Times

  The Prize for the Longest Pregnancy in Mammals May Go to This Whale

  “This paper helps us further understand the underlying physiological complexity of these really large, charismatic, but also very ecologically important, species that just so happens is generally hard to study,” said Logan Pallin, a marine biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who wasn’t involved in the study. “It’s work like this that incrementally moves us in the right direction to use science to make better informed decisions on conservation.”
• 
  July 26, 2023 - Science Magazine

  Ship noises prove a nuisance for arctic narwhals

  The research uncovers “some really great information on a species we know very little about,” says Ari Friedlaender, an ocean ecologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, not involved in the study. Knowing how the whales react to these noises could help conservationists “act proactively” to protect the animals in their Arctic home where warming waters already threaten their lifestyles.
• 
  July 26, 2023 - Popular Science

  Machu Picchu was home to ancient people from all over South America

  A recent study, co-authored by anthropologist Lars Fehren-Schmitz, analyzed the 500 year-old DNA of those buried near Peru’s iconic Incan citadel Machu Picchu and showed that the servant class that lived and died there — forcefully relocated to the structure by the Incan empire — hailed from more diverse backgrounds than scientists had anticipated. Additional coverage in the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Scientific Inquirer.
• 
  July 21, 2023 - KPNX

  Yes, scientists believe Earth is hotter than past 24,000 years

  Jim Zachos, a paleoclimatologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, was interviewed about confirming scientific data that indicates the globe is hotter now than the last 24,000 years.
• 
  July 19, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

  The most famous extinction event in the planet’s history is happening again — in Santa Cruz

  In the last 500 million years, Earth has experienced a handful of mass extinctions, causing nearly all of life to disappear in the blink of an eye. Now, scientists at UC Santa Cruz are recreating the planet’s most famous extinction event to find out why one plant survived when everything else was wiped out.
• 
  July 18, 2023 - Washington Post

  The U.S. is about to open a new window into Earth’s mysterious insides

  “The engine that keeps our magnetic field going may be dependent on the chemical behavior of oxygen or sulfur embedded within Earth’s roiling outer iron core,” said Quentin Williams, a planetary scientist at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
• 
  July 12, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  With bat baby season upon us, UCSC prof explains how to spot them and why they matter

  Bats have come back to the Bay Area from winter migrations and are raising young all around the region. Winifred Frick, chief scientist at Bat Conservation International and an ecology and evolutionary biology research professor at UC Santa Cruz, tells Lookout how and where to find bats — and when you might catch a glimpse of a baby bat getting a flying lesson.
• 
  July 12, 2023 - Smithsonian Magazine

  We Can Hear Silence Like a Sound, Scientists Say

  Nico Orlandi, a philosopher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, says, "This gives reason to suppose that silences are treated by the auditory system in the same way sounds are treated."
• 
  July 15, 2023 - The Guardian

  ‘Mindblowing’: how James Webb telescope’s snapshots of infant universe transformed astronomy

  Brant Robertson, an astrophysicist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, discussed images from the James Webb Telescope with The Guardian and Business Insider.
• 
  July 23, 2023 - The Guardian

  ‘We’re going to see workers die’: extreme heat is key issue in UPS contract talks

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha spoke with The Guardian about how climate change issues intersect with labor organizing. 
• 
  July 27, 2023 - CalMatters

  California forbids plans to unmask workers at In-N-Out — and most other workplaces

  Assistant Professor of Sociology Alicia Riley, a core faculty member of UCSC's Global and Community Health Program, spoke with CalMatters about how In-N-Out's mask ban could contribute to workplace inequities in health risk.
• 
  July 27, 2023 - Monterey County Weekly

  The housing crisis has implications that go well beyond housing.

  Monterey County Weekly shared findings from a report on the economics of housing issues in the Monterey Bay area that was led by Professor Chris Benner, director of the Institute for Social Transformation at UC Santa Cruz. 
• 
  July 25, 2023 - Financial Express

  India’s new research push

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote an op-ed for Financial Express advocating for a university-centered model of enhancing research capabilities in India.
• 
  July 23, 2023 - The Atlantic

  Oppenheimer Nightmares? You’re Not Alone.

  Veronica Tonay, a licensed psychologist and a retired professor at UC Santa Cruz, spoke to The Atlantic about her research on dream theory as it relates to nightmares about the new film Oppenheimer.
• 
  July 16, 2023 - Washington Post

  A North Korean defector captivated U.S. media. Some question her story.

  Christine Hong, a literature professor at the University of California at Santa Cruz and a board member at the Korea Policy Institute who has studied defector narratives, discusses North Korean defector Yeonmi Park's accounts of her life with the Washington Post. 
• 
  July 17, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  Biden promised to fix our asylum process. He hasn’t

  Assistant Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies Carlos Martinez wrote an op-ed article for the San Francisco Chronicle about asylum policy issues. 
• 
  July 14, 2023 - Chronicle of Higher Education

  The student squeeze: When there's nowhere to live, what's a university to do?

  The Chronicle of Higher Education spoke with Sociology Professor Miriam Greenberg about affordable housing issues in Santa Cruz and highlighted research by Greenberg and Associate Professor of Sociology Steve McKay. 
• 
  July 11, 2023 - CNN

  Scientists say they’ve found a site that marks a new chapter in Earth’s history

  Anthropology Professor Andrew Mathews spoke to CNN about the importance of the term Anthropocene in understanding humanity's global impact. 
• 
  July 12, 2023 - New York Times

  She Steals Surfboards by the Seashore. She’s a Sea Otter.

  Tim Tinker, an ecologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz who has spent decades studying the marine mammals, speaks about sea otter behavior.
• 
  July 12, 2023 - Washington Post

  NASA releases spectacular image to celebrate James Webb Space Telescope

  Brant Robertson, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, notes that the Milky Way is beautiful and brings up the question of how the galaxy formed.
• 
  July 12, 2023 - Smithsonian Magazine

  Five Astounding Orca Behaviors Explained, From Ramming Boats to Hunting Great White Sharks

  Salma Abdel-Raheem, an elephant seal researcher at University of California, Santa Cruz, described orcas interaction with elephant seals in the Smithsonian Magazine.
• 
  July 11, 2023 - Audubon

  A Photographer Documents Kelp Forests’ Decline and Efforts to Bring Them Back

  Marine ecologist Mark Carr from the University of California, Santa Cruz talks about sea urchin feeding habits with Audubon.
• 
  July 11, 2023 - KQED

  This Snail Goes Fishing With a Net Made of Slime

  Peter Macht, aquarium curator at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at UC Santa Cruz, explained how wormsnails capture food for KQED.
• 
  July 04, 2023 - Earth.com

  Study reveals a widespread decline of snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere

  Earth.com covered Professor of Statistics Robert Lund's research which used a rigorous statistical approach to find that snow cover has declined in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere over the last half century.  

• 
  July 06, 2023 - Forbes

  Bold Imaginative Climate Ideas Proposed At Academic Conference

  Forbes covered a conference cohosted by UCSC's Center for Analytical Finance and Center for Coastal Climate Resilience and discussed insights shared by Economics Professor Galina Hale on how financial regulation and other policies can help to fight climate change. 

June

• 
  June 30, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Santa Cruz County area tops nationwide list of expensive rental markets

  The Santa Cruz Sentinel discussed findings from a report on the housing crisis in Santa Cruz County by Sociology Professor Miriam Greenberg and Associate Professor of Sociology Steve McKay.
• 
  June 26, 2023 - YES!

  How to Build Solidarity Across Difference

  Merrill College and Education Department lecturer Nolan Higdon spoke with YES! about how constructive conflict can help to change minds on important social issues. 
• 
  June 26, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  This California county now tops S.F. as the most expensive place for renters in the U.S., report says

  San Francisco Chronicle cited findings from a report on the regional housing crisis by UCSC Sociology Professor Miriam Greenberg and Associate Professor Steve McKay.
• 
  June 22, 2023 - KSBW

  Millions in grants given to Central Coast colleges for ag education

  KSBW covered news of new USDA grants, including a $10 million grant to UC Santa Cruz, that will support agricultural education programs along California's Central Coast.
• 
  June 28, 2023 - Nature

  Start-ups are adding antacids to the ocean to slow global warming. Will it work?

  Biogeochemist Greg Rau was quoted in a Nature news story about efforts to counteract ocean acidification and slow global warming.
• 
  June 28, 2023 - Guardian

  ‘It gets worse every day’: why are sea lions and dolphins dying along California’s coast?

  Biologist Daniel Costa and ocean scientist Raphael Kudela were quoted in a Guardian article about a harmful algal bloom affecting marine life in Southern California. Additional coverage in Bloomberg and the San Francisco Chronicle. 
• 
  June 22, 2023 - Technology Networks

  New Breakthrough Could Lead to All-Purpose Biosensors

  Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Holger Schmidt discussed his recent research on biosensing chips in a Technology Networks story.
• 
  June 23, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  As the fight against RSV adds vaccines, UCSC researcher is on the cutting edge

  Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Rebecca DuBois discussed her research on RSV vaccine development in an interview with Lookout Santa Cruz. 
• 
  June 21, 2023 - Science

  Undersea mountains help lubricate ‘slow slip’ earthquakes

  Seismologist Emily Brodsky was quoted in a Science news story about "slow slip" earthquakes.
• 
  June 17, 2023 - NPR

  To improve student retention, some colleges consider 'ungrading'

  Jody Greene, associate vice provost for teaching and learning at UC Santa Cruz, discusses the campus's approach to providing more equitable learning assessment opportunities on NPR's Weekend Edition.
• 
  June 20, 2023 - PBS

  Facing Down the Fossils: Renew

  PBS interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha about the inequitable impacts of the climate crisis and how just transition strategies can address inequality while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• 
  June 19, 2023 - Financial Express

  India's green transition

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Signh wrote an opinion article for Financial Express about India's need for increased efficiency in energy distribution and use.
• 
  June 15, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  Proposed Bay Area wildlife crossing is latest effort to save mountain lions, other animals

  Environmental Studies Professor and wildlife ecologist Chris Wilmers spoke with the Los Angeles Times about the importance of wildlife crossings for maintaining genetic diversity in California's mountain lion populations.
• 
  June 20, 2023 - SF Gate

  Image of ‘violent’ earthly phenomenon captured on Jupiter

  Planetary scientist Benjamin Idini was quoted in an SF Gate story about observations of lightning in the atmosphere of Jupiter captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft.
• 
  June 16, 2023 - CBS Bay Area

  Study predicts California could lose more than half its beaches by 2100

  Geologist Gary Griggs was interviewed in a CBS Bay Area news story about sea level rise and coastal erosion in California.
• 
  June 14, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  She studies slug sex by the seashore: UCSC researcher works to unlock secrets of banana slug sex

  Biologist Janet Leonard was featured in a Lookout Santa Cruz story about her research on banana slugs.
• 
  June 14, 2023 - New Scientist

  Male harbour seals may learn vocalisations years before they need them

  Biologist Caroline Casey was quoted in a New Scientist story about vocal communication in harbor seals.
• 
  June 13, 2023 - Science

  ‘Breakthrough’ could explain why life molecules are left- or right-handed

  Physicist Noémie Globus was quoted in a Science story about new research on the "right-handed" chirality of crucial biological molecules.
• 
  June 13, 2023 - Scientific American

  At Last, Astronomers May Have Seen the Universe’s First Stars

  Astronomer Garth Illingworth was quoted in a Scientific American article about the first stars in the universe.
• 
  June 10, 2023 - New York Times

  How Could A.I. Destroy Humanity?

  Physicist Anthony Aguirre was quoted in a New York Times article about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Additional coverage in Business Insider.
• 
  June 06, 2023 - Washington Post

  In a geologic triumph, scientists drill a window into Earth’s mantle

  Earth scientist Andrew Fisher was quoted in a Washington Post article about an ocean drilling expedition that collected rock samples from Earth's mantle.
• 
  June 14, 2023 - Hyperallergic

  30 Art Shows to See in New York This Summer

  Oceanic, Portal is an experience-based façade installation featuring three ghostly dancers teleporting between the Natural Bridges Beach in Santa Cruz, California, and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in New York City. The installation was co-created by micha cárdenas, associate professor of critical race & ethnic studies and performance, play & design.
• 
  June 14, 2023 - Elsevier

  Leadership diversity: Living your values at the highest levels

  The Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz, Cynthia K. Larive, writes about the steps her university is taking to attract diverse applicant pools for leadership positions.
• 
  June 15, 2023 - The Washington Post

  The 1943 riot that spotlights how drag show bans can fuel violence

  Professor and Chair of Latin American and Latino Studies Catherine S. Ramírez wrote an article for The Washington Post explaining the often-overlooked role that gender norms played in the Zoot Suit Riots and what the riots can teach us about potential impacts of modern-day drag bans. 
• 
  June 13, 2023 - KSBW

  Animal overpass could be coming to the Central Coast

  KSBW interviewed Environmental Studies Professor Chris Wilmers, who leads the Santa Cruz Puma Project, about how his research team's work contributed to the construction of a new wildlife crossing on Highway 17.  
• 
  June 10, 2023 - The Mercury News

  Overpass for wildlife — first in Northern California — proposed for Highway 101

  Environmental Studies Professor Chris Wilmers, who studies the movements and behaviors of pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains, spoke with The Mercury News about the importance of habitat connectivity for pumas and other California wildlife. 
• 
  June 09, 2023 - KION

  Making their mark, keeping the Filipino American history alive on the Central Coast

  Associate Professor of Sociology Steve Mckay spoke with KION about UC Santa Cruz's support for the Watsonville is in the Heart project, which documents the lives and experiences of early Filipino immigrants in Santa Cruz County. 
• 
  June 08, 2023 - The Washington Post

  How life for animals changed when humans stayed home during the pandemic

  Environmental Studies Professor Chris Wilmers spoke with The Washington Post about how his research tracking pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains revealed effects of the pandemic-era "anthropause."
• 
  June 02, 2023 - Newsweek

  Boats Are Killing Endangered Manatees at an Alarming Rate

  Celeshia Guy Galves, who conducted this research as a graduate student in the Coastal Science and Policy Program at UC Santa Cruz, and co-author Marm Kilpatrick, a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, discuss the findings of their research that indicate conservation measures can be implemented to reduce future risk. Additional coverage from Earth.com.
  
• 
  June 04, 2023 - Popular Science

  These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

  Conservation ecologist Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela of the University of California, Santa Cruz said she has no doubt that many species are going extinct without anyone noticing. Additional mention in Salon. 
• 
  June 02, 2023 - Wired

  NASA’s Year-Long Mars Simulation Is a Test of Mental Mettle

  Craig Haney, a UC Santa Cruz psychologist who researches solitary confinement, has documented the debilitating and sometimes permanent effects of isolation on prisoners—effects that can emerge in just a couple weeks.

May

• 
  May 30, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  UCSC to support new regional food business center as part of national initiative

  Lookout Santa Cruz covered the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology's role in supporting the North Bay and Central Coast areas of California on behalf of the USDA's new Southwest regional food business center. 
• 
  May 26, 2023 - El País

  Working with artisans or cultural exploitation? Aesthetic racism on the catwalk

  Edward Salazar, a PhD student in the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the editor of a book on fashion in Colombia, comments on a controversial fashion show in Colombia. 
• 
  May 31, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Film about CZU Lightning Complex fire, salmon airs Friday

  Biologist Eric Palkovacs was featured in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about the documentary 'Southern Range' about salmon restoration in the Scott Creek watershed.
• 
  May 30, 2023 - KPIX

  USGS report predicts rising sea levels threaten California's coast

  Geologist Gary Griggs was interviewed in a story on KPIX (CBS Bay Area) about coastal erosion.
• 
  May 26, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  Sea otters might get reintroduced to historic habitat in the Bay Area

  Biologist Tim Tinker was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about plans to reintroduce sea otters in Northern California.
• 
  May 31, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  The biggest extinction event in the planet’s history is happening again — in Santa Cruz

  Botanist Jarmila Pittermann was featured in a Los Angeles Times story about an experiment to simulate a mass extinction event in a UCSC greenhouse.
• 
  May 31, 2023 - New York Times

  First Drought, Then Flood. Can the West Learn to Live Between Extremes?

  Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher was quoted in an articles about California's weather extremes in the New York Times Magazine and from Reuters and the Christian Science Monitor.
• 
  May 23, 2023 - Prism

  Grassroots organizations push for a Just Transition for communities impacted by coal extraction in Arizona

  Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha spoke with Prism about how the needs of communities can be better served in the transition away from fossil fuels. 
• 
  May 19, 2023 - VoxEU

  How much inflation did Covid fiscal support cause?

  Economics Professor Galina Hale joined VoxEU to share her findings on Covid-era fiscal policy impacts in Europe.
• 
  May 26, 2023 - Science Friday

  A Famous Sled Dog’s Genome Holds Evolutionary Surprises

  Biologists Katie Moon and Beth Shapiro were featured on the public radio program Science Friday in a segment about their research on the genome of the famed sled dog Balto.
• 
  May 23, 2023 - KION 46

  Santa Cruz County vulnerable to cyber attacks, Grand Jury recommends putting plan in place

  Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Engineering Leilani Gilpin was quoted in a KION 46 story about Santa Cruz County's potential vulnerability to a cyber attack.
• 
  May 24, 2023 - Vox

  Volcanoes have erupted in Mexico and Italy. Here are 7 things to know about volcanoes.

  Geophysicist Emily Brodsky was quoted in a Vox explainer about volcanoes and a San Jose Mercury News article about geothermal energy and lithium extraction in the Salton Sea.
• 
  May 24, 2023 - Washington Post

  A boat went dark. Finding it could help save the world’s fish.

  Marine scientist Heather Welch was quoted in a Washington Post story about her research on illegal fishing activity.
• 
  May 19, 2023 - Psychology Today

  AI and Edge Computing Detect Disease for Real-Time Diagnosis

  Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Holger Schmidt was quoted in a Psychology Today story on a deep neural network for disease detection developed in Schmidt lab. 
• 
  May 17, 2020 - Scientific American

  The Closest Living Relative of the First Animal Has Finally Been Found

  UC Santa Cruz former graduate student Darrin Schultz and professors Richard (Ed) Green and Steve Haddock were authors on a study proving that comb jellies are truly the closest relative to the very first animals.
• 
  May 21, 2023 - The Atlantic

  Voicemail Refuses to Die

  Steve Whittaker, a professor of human-computer interaction who worked on visual voicemail in the late ’90s, was quoted in a story in the Atlantic on the enduring presence of voicemail.
• 
  May 20, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  California could lose two-thirds of its beaches by the end of the century. Here’s which ones are at risk

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about sea level rise and beach erosion.
• 
  May 20, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  The battle over bullfrogs, as California considers restrictions

  Ecologist Erika Zavaleta was quoted in a San Jose Mercury News article about efforts to control invasive bullfrogs in California, also published on MSN and SiliconValley.com.
• 
  May 19, 2023 - Technology Networks

  Key Event Controls the Timing of Our Biological Clock

  Biochemists Carrie Partch and Jonathan Philpott were quoted in coverage of their research on biological clocks, including stories in Technology Networks, Neuroscience News, PhysOrg, and other media outlets.
• 
  May 18, 2023 - The Good Times

  UCSC’s 2023 Deep Read Features Elizabeth Kolbert’s ‘Under a White Sky’

  The Humanities Institute at UCSC has made Elizabeth Kolbert’s ‘Under a White Sky’ the subject of its 2023 Deep Read. The Pulitzer Prize-winner will appear in conversation with Ezra Klein at the Quarry Amphitheater on Sunday, May 21.
• 
  May 16, 2020 - Quanta

  New Proof Finds the ‘Ultimate Instability’ in a Solar System Model

  Mathematician Richard Montgomery was quoted in a Quanta magazine story about the stability of planetary orbits.
• 
  May 16, 2023 - Los Altos Town Crier

  Local professor drives equity in STEM initiative to expand UCSC access

  The Los Altos Town Crier ran a story about the programs spearheaded by astronomer Raja GuhaThakurta to support underrepresented students in STEM fields.
• 
  May 15, 2023 - Science News

  The first radiation belt outside the solar system has been spotted

  Astronomer Melodie Kao was featured in coverage of her team's discovery of the first radiation belts observed outside our solar system, including stories in Science News, Space.com, Salon, Atlantic, IFL Science, SpaceRef, Science Daily, PhysOrg, Tech Times, and other media outlets.
• 
  May 15, 2023 - Science

  Weird alien world may be a planetary sauna

  Astronomer Jonathan Fortney was quoted in a Science news story about an exoplanet with a thick sauna-like steam atmosphere.
• 
  May 11, 2023 - Inside Climate News

  Restoring seabird populations can help repair the climate

  Biologist Bernie Tershy was quoted in an article in Inside Climate News about restoring ecosystems to combat climate change.
• 
  May 11, 2023 - Smithsonian

  Reading Between the Bones: New Research Reveals an Unexpected Growth Spurt in California Sea Lions

  Paleoecologist Ana Valenzuela Toro was featured in a Smithsonian article about her research on California sea lions.
• 
  May 10, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

  How the Demographics of Entrepreneurship Has Changed

  The Wall Street Journal interviewed Economics Professor Rob Fairlie about his research on the changing demographics of entrepreneurs.
• 
  May 10, 2023 - Financial Express

  India’s skilling challenge

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote for Financial Express about higher education issues in India. 
• 
  May 09, 2023 - KSBW

  Monterey County honors AAPI month, issues apology to Filipino community

  KSBW interviewed Associate Professor of Sociology Steve McKay and UCSC students Meleia Simon-Reynolds and Nicholas Nasser about their work on the Watsonville is in the Heart project.
• 
  May 10, 2023 - CNN

  Scientists have updated the human genome to make it more equitable and inclusive

  Associate Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Benedict Paten and Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Karen Miga were quoted in a CNN on the release of the first human pangenome, a new reference for genomics aimed at increasing equity in the field. Additional coverage in outlets including BBC, NBC, the Associated Press, Reuters, US News and World Report, Popular Science, Live Science, The Economist, MIT Technology Review, Financial Times, and Inverse.
• 
  May 10, 2023 - Grist

  As California attempts a ‘managed retreat,’ coastal homeowners sue to stay

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a Grist article about coastal erosion and homeowners' resistance to 'managed retreat.'
• 
  May 08, 2023 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

  The ‘heavy decision to take someone’s life’ has loomed over jury selection in the synagogue shooting trial

  Psychology Professor Craig Haney spoke with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about how consideration of the death penalty can affect jurors.
• 
  May 07, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  UC Santa Cruz conversation with two artists coincides with 30th anniversary of Dolores Huerta Research Center

  Santa Cruz Sentinel covered an upcoming Institute of the Arts and Sciences event featuring artist Josué Rojas, who will be painting a mural honoring the Dolores Huerta Research Center for the Americas. 
• 
  May 04, 2023 - KCBS

  Is desalinated ocean water key to replenishing freshwater?

  Environmental Studies Professor Brent Haddad joined KCBS radio for their "Ask An Expert" segment to explain the challenges and opportunities associated with applying desalination technology in California. 
• 
  May 01, 2023 - Scientific American

  Here’s How to Use Window Films to Actually Protect Birds

  Scientific American interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela about the challenges of preventing bird strikes on windows. 
• 
  May 08, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

  As sea levels rise, it’s time for West Coast communities to overcome ‘taboo of managed retreat’: report

  Coastal resilience experts Michael Beck and Borja Reguero were quoted in a Smart Cities Dive story about sea level rise and managed retreat.
• 
  May 01, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

  In California, Desperate College Students Compete for Spots in Trailer Park

  Associate Professor of Sociology Steve McKay spoke with The Wall Street Journal about his research on rent burden in Santa Cruz and how it affects students. 
• 
  May 04, 2020 - Space.com

  Giant proto-galaxy in early universe devours recycled material to birth new stars

  Astronomer X. Prochaska was quoted in a Space.com story about new observations of gas recycling and star formation in a massive galaxy cluster.
• 
  May 03, 2020 - Washington Post

  A star ate a planet, and astronomers saw it happen for the first time

  Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz was quoted in a Washington Post story about observations of a star engulfing a planet.
• 
  May 03, 2020 - Science

  Who wore this ancient deer pendant? DNA reveals a Stone Age woman with surprising origins

  Biologist Beth Shapiro was quoted in a Science news story about the extraction and analysis of human DNA from an ancient deer-tooth pendant.
• 
  May 02, 2020 - KNTV (NBC Bay Area)

  Holding Back Sea Level Rise

  Geologist Gary Griggs was interviewed in a KNTV (NBC Bay Area) news story about sea level rise.
• 
  May 03, 2020 - Anthropocene

  Data-deficient species are a conservation blind spot. Geneticists found a way to see through it.

  Biologists Megan Supple and Beth Shapiro were quoted in stories from Anthropocene magazine and Earth.com about the use of genomics to estimate a species' risk of extinction.
• 
  May 02, 2023 - Hakai

  The Foul Chartreuse Sea

  Ocean scientist Raphael Kudela was quoted in a Hakai magazine story about harmful algal blooms in Alaska.
• 
  May 02, 2023 - LiveScience

  In rare attack, 30 orcas 'badly wounded' 2 adult gray whales in California

  Ecologist Ari Friedlaender was quoted in stories in LiveScience and Yahoo News about orcas attacking gray whales in Monterey Bay.
• 
  May 02, 2023 - Science Friday

  This Astrophysicist Turned Star Data Into 3D-Printed Spheres

  Astrophysicist Nia Imara was featured in the Science Friday 'Universe of Art' podcast about her work using 3D models of stellar nurseries.
• 
  May 01, 2023 - New York Times

  What Exactly Are the Dangers Posed by A.I.?

  Physicist Anthony Aguirre was quoted in a New York Times article about concerns over the growing power of artificial intelligence.

April

• 
  April 26, 2023 - The Atlantic

  The Green Revolution Will Not Be Painless

  The Atlantic interviewed Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies J. Mijin Cha about the importance of ensuring a just transition as economies shift away from fossil fuels. 
• 
  April 27, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  ‘The trouble with First Republic is real’: Experts say S.F. bank teeters on brink of collapse

  Economics Professor Galina Hale spoke with San Francisco Chronicle about the risks of bank rescue efforts. 
• 
  April 27, 2023 - Marketplace

  Big banks are succeeding at turning a profit, struggling to meet climate commitments

  Marketplace interviewed Economics Professor Galina Hale about the economic incentives for banks to set strong emissions reduction goals on climate change. 
• 
  April 20, 2023 - El Tecolote

  Fire in Ciudad Juárez: binational immigration systems fail Central, South American victims

  El Tecolote interviewed Assistant Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies Carlos Martinez about how U.S. border policies have resulted in increased imprisonment of migrants in Mexican detention facilities. 
• 
  April 27, 2023 - Wall Street Journal

  What Helped Make Famed Sled Dog Balto Special? It Was in His Genes, Research Suggests

  Biologists Katherine Moon and Beth Shapiro were quoted in stories about their research on the genome of the sled dog Balto, including stories in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Scientific American, Popular Science, Science, New Scientist, CBS News, ABC News, Barron's, Gizmodo, Inverse, Reuters, and other media outlets.
• 
  April 28, 2023 - SF Gate

  Study reveals California sea lions are getting bigger, surprising scientists

  Paleoecologist Ana Valenzuela-Toro was quoted in coverage of her research on California sea lions, including stories in SF Gate, Daily Beast, Popular Science, Newsweek, Yahoo News, Science Daily, and other media outlets.
• 
  April 24, 2023 - CNN

  Fact check: Trump’s latest false climate figure is off by more than 1,000 times

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a CNN story about Donald Trump's false claims regarding climate change.
• 
  April 26, 2023 - KPBS

  Study: Elephant seals at sea sleep just two hours a day

  Biologists Dan Costa, Terrie Williams, and Jessie Kendall-Bar were featured in continued coverage of their research on elephant seals, including stories from KPBS, New Atlas, Smithsonian, Seattle Times, and other media outlets. 
• 
  April 27, 2023 - New York Times

  Elon Musk Ramps Up A.I. Efforts, Even as He Warns of Dangers

  Physicist Anthony Aguirre was quoted in a New York Times article about Elon Musk and the dangers of artificial intelligence.
• 
  April 25, 2023 - Channel News Asia

  Road ahead for Sudanese will be long and difficult despite trying to achieve ceasefire: Analyst

  CNA's Julie Yoo and Steve Lai speak to University of California Santa Cruz Professor of Politics and Legal studies Mark Fathi Massoud about the current unrest in Sudan and the challenges of ongoing evacuations. Massoud says the number of foreign nationals in the country is small and the real concern is for the 6.3 million Sudanese caught in the crossfire.
• 
  April 24, 2023 - Scientific American

  Jupiter’s Hot Youth May Have Melted Its Icy Moons

  Planetary scientist Francis Nimmo was quoted in a Scientific American story about Jupiter's moons.
• 
  April 24, 2023 - KQED

  California Overhauls Its Sea Level Rise Plan as Climate Change Reshapes Coastal Life

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a KQED News story about planning for sea level rise along the California coast.
• 
  April 24, 2023 - San Luis Obispo Tribune

  Gigi the elephant seal spent 342 days on ocean migration. What can she teach scientists?

  Biologist Salma Abdel-Raheem was quoted in a San Luis Obispo Tribune story about an elephant seal named Gigi that came ashore after 342 days at sea at Piedras Blancas, where Abdel-Raheem and other UCSC researchers recovered the tracking instruments Gigi was carrying.
• 
  April 22, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  ‘Just an extraordinary time out there right now’: Santa Cruz County flower season in full bloom

  Arboretum Director Martin Quigley was quoted in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about wildflower 'superblooms'.
• 
  April 22, 2023 - LiveScience

  Will Earth ever lose its moon?

  Astrophysicist Madelyn Broome was quoted in a LiveScience story about the moon's increasing distance from Earth.
• 
  April 23, 2023 - CBS News

  De-extinction: Bringing animal species back from the brink

  Biologist Beth Shapiro was interviewed for a segment about "de-extinction" on CBS News 'Sunday Morning'.
• 
  April 20, 2023 - Atlantic

  Meet the World’s Most Hard-Core Nappers

  Biologists Dan Costa, Terrie Williams, and Jessica Kendall-Bar were featured in widespread media coverage of their research on the sleep behavior of elephant seals, including stories in the Atlantic, New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, BBC, NPR, Guardian, The Hill, Courthouse News Service, Reuters, Science News, New Scientist, National Geographic, Gizmodo, and many other media outlets.
• 
  April 20, 2023 - Advanced Science News

  Artificial leaf sensor could revolutionize crop management

  Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Marco Rolandi was quoted in an Advanced Science News story about his research with Professor of Environmental Studies Gregory Gilbert to create better leaf wetness sensors for crop management.
• 
  April 20, 2023 - Physics World

  Giant orbital magnetic moment appears in a graphene quantum dot

  Physicist Jairo Velasco Jr. was featured in a Physics World article about his research on graphene quantum dots.
• 
  April 20, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  Why the Bay Area is home to one of the most effective carbon sinks in the world

  Marine scientist Adina Paytan was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about the effectiveness of wetlands for absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
• 
  April 20, 2023 - WHYY

  One penguin species declines, while another thrives on the western Antarctic Peninsula

  Marine scientist Megan Cimino was quoted in a WHYY News story about how climate change is affecting penguin populations in Antarctica.
• 
  April 18, 2023 - Nautilus

  Immunity Is a Matter of Timing

  Microbiologist Jacqueline Kimmey was quoted in a Nautilus article about how circadian rhythms and time of day affect the immune system.
• 
  January 01, 2020 - Nature

  Every base everywhere all at once: pangenomics comes of age

  Associate Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Benedict Paten and Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Karen Miga were quoted in a Nature story on the emerging field of pangenomics.
• 
  April 18, 2023 - Nature

  How a rural school teacher became a top COVID sleuth

  UCSC Genome Browser Senior Software Architect Angie Hinrichs was quoted in a Nature story on citizen scientists who help track SARS-CoV-2 mutations. 
• 
  April 18, 2023 - New York Times

  From Bullets to ‘Bird Residue,’ the Many Trials of Telescopes

  Astronomer Michael Bolte was quoted in a New York Times article about the difficulty of protecting telescope mirrors from bird droppings and other hazards.
• 
  April 17, 2023 - MIT Technology Review

  This technology could alter the entire planet. These groups want every nation to have a say.

  Environmental Studies Professor Sikina Jinnah spoke with MIT Technology Review about her work on environmental justice in solar geoengineering research and governance.  
• 
  April 14, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Santa Cruz County vector control ramping up invasive mosquito monitoring efforts

  Biologist Marm Kilpatrick was quoted in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about efforts to control invasive mosquitoes.
• 
  April 14, 2023 - Popular Science

  How the Tonga eruption rang Earth ‘like a bell’

  Geophysicist Ricky Garza-Giron was quoted in a Popular Science article about the massive Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption.
• 
  April 13, 2023 - Bay Nature

  Avian Flu Claims at Least 7 California Condors—and a Beloved Bay Area Peregrine Falcon

  Zeka Glucs, director of the Predatory Bird Research Group, was quoted in a Bay Nature article about condors and peregrine falcons dying from avian flu.
• 
  April 12, 2023 - KSQD-FM

  Researchers help guide the future of technology

  On Talk of the Bay, Zac Zimmer and Theresa Hice-Fromille explored how the machines we create reflect our biases and discussed recommendations for developing more inclusive and responsive technologies.
• 
  April 12, 2020 - NPR

  Psychoactive drug use revealed via 3,000-year-old hair

  In a podcast for NPR, Benjamin Breen, associate professor of history at UC Santa Cruz, spoke about the results of a new study finding that Bronze Age people used psychoactive drugs, perhaps as part of ancient rituals, as evidenced by the presence of chemicals in 3,000-year-old hairs found in a burial cave in Menorca off the Spanish Coast.
• 
  April 11, 2023 - KCBX

  UC Santa Cruz professor says rising sea levels are a growing threat to coastal California

  Geologist Gary Griggs was featured in a KCBX Radio news story about the impacts of global warming and sea level rise on the California coast.
• 
  May 10, 2023 - Lookout

  UCSC Professor Emeritus John Brown Childs on why transcommunality resonates with Soledad prison students

  Lookout Santa Cruz profiled Professor Emeritus John Brown Childs in advance of his Emeriti Faculty Lecture on teaching transcommunal peacemaking to students at UCSC and Soledad Correctional Training Facility. 
• 
  April 08, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  After the storms: UC Botanical Garden’s rescue operation to save a paradise lost

  Arboretum Director Martin Quigley was quoted in a San Jose Mercury News story about storm damage to plants at UC botanical gardens.
• 
  April 08, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Retired head of science at NASA to discuss life on other worlds

  Astronomer Natalie Batalha was quoted in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about an upcoming discussion of the search for life on other planets, which she will moderate, at the Rio Theater.
• 
  April 09, 2023 - CBS 60 Minutes

  NASA's Webb telescope captures new views of stars, galaxies and the early universe

  Astronomer Brant Robertson was interviewed on a CBS News '60 Minutes' segment about the James Webb Space Telescope.
• 
  April 04, 2023 - Nature

  An exciting era of exploration

  Astronomer Brant Robertson was quoted in coverage of his research on early galaxies using the Webb Telescope, including stories in Nature, Yahoo News, Time, Space.com, The National, ZME Science, Wire Service Canada, and other media outlets.
• 
  April 02, 2023 - BBC Wildlife

  Could the dodo come back from extinction?

  Biologist Beth Shapiro was quoted in a BBC Wildlife article about the possibility of using the dodo genome to recreate the extinct birds.

March

• 
  March 23, 2023 - FiveThirtyEight

  Recess Is Good For Kids. Why Don’t More States Require It?

  Associate Professor of Sociology Rebecca London's research on the importance of recess was featured in an article by FiveThirtyEight.
• 
  March 30, 2023 - Quanta

  How a DNA ‘Parasite’ May Have Fragmented Our Genes

  Biomolecular Engineer Russ Corbett-Detig's research on the origins of introns was covered in an article in Quanta. 
• 
  March 29, 2023 - Atlantic

  The Search for Earth Look-Alikes Is Getting Serious

  Astronomer Jonathan Fortney was quoted in an Atlantic article about research to characterize the atmospheres of exoplanets.
• 
  March 30, 2023 - Scientific American

  NASA’s Uranus Mission Is Running Out of Time

  Planetary scientist Francis Nimmo was quoted in a Scientific American article about NASA's plans for a mission to Uranus.
• 
  March 29, 2023 - Computerworld

  Tech big wigs: Hit the brakes on AI rollouts

  Physicist Anthony Aguirre was quoted in a Computerworld story about an open letter from more than 1,100 tech luminaries warning of the dangers posed by unchecked artificial intelligence. Aguirre is executive vice president of the Future of Life Institute, which published the letter.
• 
  March 29, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  No, deporting undocumented immigrants won’t solve the fentanyl crisis

  Assistant Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies Carlos Martinez coauthored an opinion piece in the San Francisco Chronicle countering recent political narratives around the fentanyl crisis and unauthorized immigration across the US-Mexico border.
• 
  March 28, 2023 - Eos

  Gardens Are Good for the Neighborhood

  Environmental Studies Professor and Center for Agroecology Faculty Director Stacy Philpott discussed her recent research on the benefits of urban gardens with Eos. 
• 
  March 28, 2023 - Financial Express

  Decarbonising India

  Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh wrote a commentary for Financial Express about potential pathways to a zero emissions future for India.
• 
  March 22, 2023 - Smithsonian Magazine

  Are Floating Solar Panels the Future of Clean Energy Production?

  Smithsonian Magazine covered Environmental Studies Professor J. Elliott Campbell's latest research on the potential for floating solar panels on reservoirs.
• 
  March 13, 2023 - Wired

  Solar Panels Floating in Reservoirs? We’ll Drink to That

  J. Elliott Campbell, an environmental engineer at the University of California, Santa Cruz, co-authored a paper that shows just how useful wide-scale floatovoltaics could be.
• 
  March 24, 2023 - Genome Web

  Single-Cell RNA Isoform Sequencing Picks up Steam as Long-Read Technologies Improve

  Biomolecular engineer Christopher Vollmers was quoted in a Genome Web story on advancements in the field of single-cell RNA isoform analysis.
• 
  March 25, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  An underwater mountain was newly discovered off California coast

  Earth scientist Andrew Fisher was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about the discovery of a new seamount off the coast of Mendocino.
• 
  March 22, 2023 - CNN

  Webb telescope details weather patterns on a distant planet with two suns

  Astronomers Andrew Skemer and Brittany Miles were quoted in coverage of their exoplanet observations using the James Webb Space Telescope, including stories from CNN, CBS News, Smithsonian, Salon, Irish News, Tech Explorist, and other media outlets.
• 
  March 22, 2023 - Bay Nature

  On the Family Dramas (and Weird Feet) of the American Coot

  Biologist Bruce Lyon was featured in a Bay Nature story about the behavior and reproductive biology of coots.
• 
  March 22, 2023 - New York Times

  DNA From Beethoven’s Hair Unlocks Medical and Family Secrets

  Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Ed Green, an expert on ancient DNA, was quoted in a New York Times story about a genomic analysis of Beethoven’s hair. Additional coverage in the San Jose Mercury News.
• 
  March 20, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  Sea otter surrogacy program: A mother’s love can make all the difference

  Biologist Tim Tinker was quoted in a San Jose Mercury News story about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's program for rehabilitating stranded juvenile sea otters.
• 
  March 20, 2023 - Universe Today

  The Favorite Solar System Moons of Planetary Geologists; An In-Depth Discussion

  Planetary scientist Francis Nimmo was quoted in a Universe Today article about the moon of our solar system.
• 
  March 20, 2023 - Smithsonian

  These Sea Stars Are Literally Wasting Away—but They May Soon Receive Protection

  Ocean scientist Meredith McPherson was quoted in a Smithsonian article about the sunflower seastar being recommended for Endangered Species Act protection.
• 
  March 16, 2023 - TechHQ

  Self-driving skillset – game theory for autonomous vehicles

  Electrical engineer Dejan Milutinovic's work was mentioned in a TechHQ story on using game theory to reason about autonomous navigation. 
• 
  March 16, 2023 - ABC News

  Here's why light pollution is putting Bay Area astronomers' work in jeopardy

  Astronomer Paul Lynam was quoted in stories about light pollution from outdoor lighting such as digital billboards and its effects on researchers at Lick Observatory, including stories from on ABC News (Ch. 7, San Francisco) and the San Jose Mercury News.
• 
  March 17, 2023 - KTVU

  Scientists, political leaders explore alternatives to disaster readiness

  Michael Beck, director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, was featured in coverage of the climate resilience symposium the center helped organize at the Seymour Center, including stories from KTVU, KSBW, and the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
• 
  March 15, 2023 - PNAS

  Profile of Francis Nimmo

  Planetary scientist Francis Nimmo was profiled in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
• 
  March 15, 2023 - Reuters

  Study explains mealtime for the minke whale, the ocean's littlest giant

  Ocean scientist Ari Friedlaender was featured in coverage of his research on minke whales, including stories from Reuters, Science Daily, SciTechDaily, and other media outlets.
• 
  March 15, 2023 - Good Times

  UC Observatories Expand Telescope Access and Outreach

  UC Observatories Director Bruce Macintosh was featured in a Good Times story about Lick Observatory's new outreach and education programs.
• 
  March 15, 2023 - NPR

  It's boom times in ancient DNA research

  Biologist Beth Shapiro was featured in an NPR story about research on ancient DNA.
• 
  March 12, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  UC Santa Cruz researcher champions AI language generator SpikeGPT

  Electrical and computer engineer Jason Eshraghian was featured in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about his new spiking neural network, SpikeGPT. 
• 
  March 09, 2023 - Earth

  Elephant seals prioritize survival over reproduction

  Biologist Roxanne Beltran was quoted in a story on Earth.com about her research on survival and reproduction in elephant seal populations.
• 
  March 09, 2023 - Astronomy

  Milky Way stars found nearly halfway to Andromeda Galaxy

  Astronomer Raja GuhaThakurta was quoted in an Astronomy magazine story about his research on the halo stars in our Milky Way galaxy.
• 
  March 09, 2023 - Quanta

  New Proof Distinguishes Mysterious and Powerful ‘Modular Forms’

  Mathematician Geoffrey Mason was quoted in a Quanta article about the mathematics of modular forms.
• 
  March 09, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  Snow falling on telescopes: Astronomy shut down on Mount Hamilton

  Astronomer Elinor Gates was featured in a San Jose Mercury News story about the unusually large amount of snow on Mt. Hamilton and its impact on operations at Lick Observatory.
• 
  March 08, 2023 - Bay Nature

  That Foam on the Beach Is (Probably) Fine

  Ocean scientist Raphael Kudela was quoted in a Bay Nature article about the origins of sea foam on the beach.
• 
  March 08, 2023 - Sky & Telescope

  Do Diamonds Rain on the Ice Giants?

  Astronomer Jonathan Fortney was quoted in a Sky & Telescope article about the ice giant planets Neptune and Uranus.
• 
  March 04, 2023 - Atlantic

  Astronomers Were Not Expecting This

  Astronomer Wren Suess was quoted in an Atlantic article about the new view of early galaxies revealed by the Webb Telescope.
• 
  March 04, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  Imperfect diamond: Myths of MLB geometry revealed by new larger bases

  Physicist Zack Schlesinger was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about the geometric shape of a baseball diamond, which is changing slightly with the new larger bases.
• 
  March 01, 2023 - San Francisco Examiner

  California moves closer to keeping Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant online

  Daniel Hirsch, retired director of Nuclear Policy at UC Santa Cruz, discusses the long term impacts of nuclear power.
• 
  March 07, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  UC Santa Cruz’s new mobile crisis response team first of its kind in UC system

  With UC Santa Cruz’s launch of a mobile crisis response team this fall, the school became the first campus in the University of California system to establish an alternative to having police officers respond to mental health crisis calls.
• 
  March 01, 2023 - BBC

  The far-reaching influence of Alaska's sea otters

  Biologists Kristy Kroeker and Lauren Bell were featured in a BBC News story about the impact of sea otters on coastal ecosystems in Alaska.

February

• 
  February 28, 2023 - Eos

  The Bering Land Bridge Formed Much Later Than Previously Thought

  Earth scientist Tamara Pico was featured in an Eos article about her research on the Bering Land Bridge.
• 
  February 28, 2023 - Inside Higher Education

  UC Santa Cruz and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have seen demand for more Mental Health First Aid training increase significantly.

  Universities that have introduced Mental Health First Aid among their campus communities and have seen a positive trickle-down effect from the program. For example, the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have seen demand for more training increase significantly.
• 
  February 28, 2023 - The Jewish News Of Northern California

  Jewish journal at UC Santa Cruz celebrates 50 years

  Five decades after its inception, Leviathan's journey has taken it from a grassroots, unrefined medium of free expression, to a standardized newspaper, to a literary zine, and now a reason to celebrate in honor of the journal’s 50-year anniversary at UC Santa Cruz. 

• 
  February 27, 2023 - CBC Radio

  These red dots could change everything we think we know about how galaxies form

  Astronomer Katherine Suess was interviewed on CBC Radio and quoted in the Atlantic in coverage of her research on early galaxies observed with the Webb telescope.
• 
  February 27, 2023 - Nature

  Mother–daughter duo work together to find new worlds

  Astronomer Natalie Batalha and her daughter Natasha Batalha, also an astronomer, were featured in a Nature article about their research using the Webb telescope to study exoplanets.
• 
  February 28, 2023 - Hakai

  Worried about Sea Level Rise? Look for the Lichens.

  Coastal scientist Borja Reguero was quoted in a Hakai magazine story, also published in the Atlantic, about assessing the vulnerability of coastal sites to sea level rise.
• 
  February 27, 2023 - The Today Show

  Activist, author, and UC Santa Cruz professor emerita Angela Davis appeared in a recent episode of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS and learned things she "can't get used to."

  Political activist Angela Davis has been a truth seeker for her entire career. In a Feb. 21 episode of "Finding Your Roots," Davis learns the truth about some of her family’s lingering mysteries.
• 
  February 27, 2023 - The Chicago Tribune

  Commentary - Jonathan Van Harmelen: Japanese who moved to Chicago after internment found an advocate in Sidney Yates

  After the end of their internment during World War II, Japanese Americans found a supportive community in Chicago, thanks in large part to prominent politician Sidney Yates,  says UC Santa Cruz history Ph.D. candidate Jonathan Van Harmelen in an opinion piece in The Chicago Tribune.
• 
  February 26, 2023 - MSN

  Journey to the STARs: Lick Observatory offers more research opportunities for students

  UC Observatories Director Bruce Macintosh was quoted in a story about Lick Observatory expanding its outreach and education programs on MSN Local News Matters, and he was interviewed on KTVU News.
• 
  February 27, 2023 - Inside Higher Ed

  University of California System Bans Fully Online Degrees

  Three UC Santa Cruz faculty members - Patty Gallagher, Kirsten Silva Gruesz, and Dard Neuman - are quoted as opposing a blanket residency requirement, noting the nuances of learning that should be taken into account during the decision-making process.
• 
  February 22, 2023 - New York Times

  We Wish Buying Carbon Offsets for Your Flight Helped. It Doesn’t.

  Ellen Vaughan, Water & Climate Action Manager at UC Santa Cruz, oversaw the university’s efforts to equity-weigh the cost of its carbon. “As more information comes online, as researchers record the impacts of climate change at a more granular level, this number is just going to continue to grow,” she says.
• 
  February 22, 2023 - France24

  Narwhals' hungry summers as climate warms

  Biologist Philippine Chambault was quoted in coverage of her research on narwhals, including stories from France24, AFP, PhysOrg, and other media outlets.
• 
  February 17, 2023 - The Daily Republic

  City Alert: Dr. Camilla Hawthorne will read from her new book, Contesting Race and Citizenship, at the Fairfield Civic Center Library

  Description
• 
  February 17, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  ‘The biggest challenge human civilization has had to face’: What California’s big winter storms mean for the future

  Geologist Gary Griggs was featured in the San Jose Mercury News in an interview about the long-term implications of the damage caused by this year's winter storms.
• 
  February 17, 2023 - Science Friday

  How The Western U.S. Could Rebuild Its Water Infrastructure

  Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher was interviewed on the public radio program Science Friday about water infrastructure in the western United States.
• 
  February 14, 2023 - SF Gate

  All your questions about San Francisco's Karl the Fog answered

  Environmental toxicologist Peter Weiss was quoted in a story in SF Gate about San Francisco's fog.
• 
  February 14, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  Wave force causes cliff collapse on Steamer Lane side of Lighthouse Point

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about the collapse of a section of the cliff next to Steamer Lane.
• 
  February 14, 2023 - Good Times

  UCSC Scientists Make Major Discoveries with James Webb Space Telescope

  Astronomers Brant Robertson, Garth Illingworth, Natalie Batalha, and others were featured in a Good Times cover story about their research using the James Webb Space Telescope.
• 
  February 14, 2023 - Quanta

  Gene Expression in Neurons Solves a Brain Evolution Puzzle

  Neuroscientist Bradley Colquitt was quoted in a Quanta article about the evolutionary origins of the neocortex in mammals.
• 
  February 13, 2023 - New York Times

  Santa Cruz’s Waterfront Promenade Reaches an Inflection Point

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in New York Times coverage of the erosion on West Cliff Drive from recent storms.
• 
  February 13, 2023 - Inside Higher Ed

  Illuminating Dark Fishing Vessels at Sea

  Marine scientist Heather Welch was featured on the Inside Higher Ed 'Academic Minute' podcast discussing her research on illegal fishing activity.
• 
  February 11, 2023 - NBC News

  Can giving the ocean an antacid help curb climate change?

  Marine scientist Greg Rau was quoted in a NBC News story about a company that plans to use mine waste to combat ocean acidification.
• 
  February 08, 2023 - KQED

  Storm Recovery Begins at Beloved State Beach in Santa Cruz County

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a KQED news story about storm recovery efforts at Seacliff State Beach.
• 
  February 07, 2023 - STAT

  New mouse study shows genes aren’t only way to pass obesity to next generation

  Environmental toxicologist Raquel Chamorro-Garcia was quoted in a STAT News story about epigenetic inheritance and obesity.
• 
  February 08, 2023 - The Verge

  Google’s AI chatbot Bard makes factual error in first demo

  UC Observatories Director Bruce Macintosh was quoted in coverage of Google's roll out of its AI chatbot Bard as one of several astronomers to point out an error in Bard's answer to a question about JWST, including stories from the Verge, Newser, and other media outlets.
• 
  February 08, 2023 - Mercury News

  Can an annual blood test find cancer while it’s curable?

  A Mercury News story on the potential of liquid biopsies for cancer early detection highlights Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Daniel Kim's research, which has shown that certain types of RNA in the bloodstream could suggest cancer.
• 
  February 06, 2023 - Edsource

  Bill would bar schools from withholding outdoor recess or lunch as punishment

  Rebecca London, a University of California, Santa Cruz associate professor of sociology, who has been studying recess in California for more than 15 years, spoke out about the importance of recess. She said it was “essential” that all California students have downtime every day to “stretch their social, emotional, and physical development through play, socialization with peers and interactions with adults.”
• 
  February 03, 2023 - CNET

  How Einstein's General Relativity Helped Scientists Analyze a Dead Star

  Astronomer Peter McGill was quoted in coverage of his team's measurement of the mass of a white dwarf, including stories in CNET, Gizmodo, LiveScience, Space, and other media outlets.
• 
  February 02, 2023 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

  UC Santa Cruz botanist names two rare succulent species

  Botanist Stephen McCabe was featured in a Santa Cruz Sentinel story about the discovery of two new species of rare succulents.
• 
  February 01, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  ‘It’s a losing battle’: Storms shattered Santa Cruz's iconic promenade. Is it worth fixing?

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story about the City of Santa Cruz's options for repairing the damage to West Cliff Drive from recent storms.

January

• 
  February 21, 2023 - El Tecolote

  What is Title 42?

  Dr. Carlos Martinez, an assistant professor of Migrant Health & Social Justice in the Latin American & Latino Studies Department at UC Santa Cruz, discusses the Biden administration's recent Humanitarian Parole Plan, the continued barring of migrants under the enforcement of Title 42 and his own ethnographic fieldwork.
• 
  January 31, 2023 - CNN

  Scientists plot the resurrection of a bird that’s been extinct since the 17th century

  Biologist Beth Shapiro was quoted in coverage of plans to resurrect the extinct dodo, including stories in CNN, USA Today, Scientific American, Wired, Dallas Morning News, CBS News, Ars Technica, Fast Company, Technology Review, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 29, 2023 - The Guardian

  The human genome needs updating. But how do we make it fair?

  UCSC Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Karen Miga was quoted in a Guardian story about representation and bias in genomics. 
• 
  January 27, 2023 - Nature

  Astrophysicists turn fast radio bursts into cosmic probes

  Astronomer Xavier Prochaska was quoted in a Nature news story about fast radio bursts.
• 
  January 24, 2023 - Earth

  Humpback whale reproduction is linked to krill abundance

  Whale researchers Ari Friedlaender and Logan Pallin were quoted in coverage of their research on humpback whales in Antarctica, including stories in Earth, Nature World News, Australian, Science Daily, PhysOrg, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 24, 2023 - Forbes

  10 Top Black Higher Ed CEOs To Watch In 2023

  Compton Community College District President and CEO Keith Curry (Oakes ’99, American studies) is among the top 10 Black higher education leaders to watch in 2023.
• 
  January 19, 2023 - NBC News

  Biden surveys California storm damage

  Geologist Gary Griggs was interviewed on NBC Meet the Press in a segment on President Biden's visit to Capitola to see the damage caused by recent storms.
• 
  January 23, 2023 - Discover Los Angeles

  Who is my neighbor? Allyship then and now

  Los Angeles panel on January 28 features Jonathan Van Harmelen, UCSC PhD candidate in History, highlighting those outside the Japanese American community who acted in support of those incarcerated during the war.
• 
  January 23, 2023 - Earth

  Some red sea urchins will tolerate climate change better than others

  Biologist Kristy Kroeker was quoted in stories about her research on red sea urchins in Earth, Science Daily, Nature World News, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 21, 2023 - Technology Review

  How the James Webb Space Telescope broke the universe

  Astronomer Natalie Batalha was quoted in a story in Technology Review about the impact on astronomy of the James Webb Space Telescope.
• 
  January 20, 2023 - Quanta

  Standard Model of Cosmology Survives a Telescope’s Surprising Finds

  Astronomer Brant Robertson was quoted in a Quanta article about the implications of Webb telescope observations of early galaxies.
• 
  January 22, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  Op-Ed: There’s one big climate fight that California is losing

  The Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed on climate adaptation by Michael Beck, director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience.
• 
  January 19, 2023 - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

  “Pantranscriptome” Toolkit Analyzes RNA Sequencing Data Genome-Wide

  Associate Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Benedict Paten and his students' recent paper, which describes a new pipeline for RNA sequencing using a 'pantranscriptome,' was featured in several outlets including Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Genome Web and The Hindu.
• 
  January 18, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  The sad plight of elephant seal pups born on Bay Area beaches amid storms

  Biologists Roxanne Beltran and Daniel Costa were quoted in stories in the San Francisco Chronicle and San Luis Obispo Tribune about the plight of elephant seal pups during recent storms, which coincided with the start of pupping season, when females return to the beaches to give birth.
• 
  January 16, 2023 - Forbes

  The Center Of Our Galaxy May Be Way More Powerful Than We Thought, Say Scientists

  Astronomer Martin Gaskell was quoted in coverage of his research on the black holes in the centers of galaxies, including stories in Forbes, Space.com, IFL Science, Science Daily, PhysOrg, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 13, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  On Highway 17, a huge pothole nicknamed ‘Potzilla’ is chewing up commuters’ tires

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a Lookout Santa Cruz article about potholes in major roads in the area caused by recent rainstorms, and also in a Monterey Herald article about landslides on Highway 1 in Big Sur.
• 
  January 13, 2023 - Wired

  The Key to California's Survival Is Hidden Underground

  Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher continues to be featured in coverage of California's water issues and the paradox of too much rain during a drought, including stories in Wired, Sacramento Bee, the Hill, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 12, 2023 - Nature Methods

  Method of the Year 2022: long-read sequencing

  Nature Methods selected long-read sequencing as their 2022 research method of the year, recognizing the strategy as crucial for the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium's accomplishments in completing the first complete sequence of a human genome. The T2T consortium is co-led by UCSC Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Karen Miga.

• 
  January 13, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

  Here’s how California’s most historic storms compare with the recent onslaught of rain

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a San Francisco Chronicle story comparing this year's rain storms to historic records.
• 
  January 13, 2023 - Wired

  Why the Search for Life in Space Starts With Ancient Earth

  Astronomer Maggie Thompson was quoted in a Wired news story about how to identify signatures of life on other planets.
• 
  January 12, 2023 - Reuters

  Astronomers discover Milky Way galaxy's most-distant stars

  Astronomers Yuting Feng and Raja GuhaThakurta were quoted in ongoing coverage of their research on the halo stars of the Milky Way, including stories from Reuters, Weather Channel, EarthSky, Al Jazeera, India Today, Financial Express, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 10, 2023 - CBS News

  Trillions of gallons of water predicted to fall, but most will be lost to runoff

  Hydrogeologist Jenny Pensky was interviewed on CBS News coverage of the extreme rain and storms battering California, and Andrew Fisher was quoted in BBC News coverage and interviewed live on the Weather Channel.
• 
  January 10, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  With all this relentless rain, how much more risk is there of landslides?

  Geomorphologist Noah Finnegan was quoted in a San Jose Mercury News article about the risk of landslides caused by the winter storms.
• 
  January 10, 2023 - CNET

  Astronomers Have Unveiled Our Galaxy's Farthest Frontier

  Astronomers Raja GuhaThakurta and Yuting Feng were quoted in coverage of their research on the Milky Way's halo stars, including stories in CNET, Gizmodo, IFL Science, Space.com, Science Daily, PhysOrg, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 07, 2023 - NPR

  California is getting drenched. So why can't it save water for the drought?

  Hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher was interviewed on NPR's 'All Things Considered' about ways California can capture water from atmospheric river storms to help alleviate drought conditions; he was also quoted in articles in the Washington Post and New Scientist, and an article he wrote for the Conversation ran in many other media outlets.
• 
  January 06, 2023 - Lookout Santa Cruz

  ‘I have never seen anything this dramatic’: Santa Cruz’s most-tenured ocean observer in awe of storm damage

  Geologist Gary Griggs and ocean scientist Mike Beck were featured in a Lookout article about storm damage on West Cliff Drive, and Griggs was also quoted in a New York Times article about storm damage in the Santa Cruz region.
• 
  December 21, 2022 - Harper's Magazine

  Boomtown: A solar land rush in the West

  Hillary Angelo, an associate professor of sociology at the University of California at Santa Cruz and a 2022–23 member of the Institute for Advanced Study, penned this piece on the solar land rush in the West. 

• 
  January 05, 2023 - San Jose Mercury News

  Bay Area storm: Capitola Village battered, wharf restaurant left stranded by supercharged storm surge

  Geologist Gary Griggs was quoted in a story about the recent storm's impact on the coastal structures in the San Jose Mercury News, Monterey Herald, and other media outlets.
• 
  January 05, 2023 - Technology Networks

  Can Our Lifestyle Choices Biologically Impact Our Grandkids?

  Biologist Susan Strome was interviewed for an "Ask the Researcher" article about epigenetics in Technology Networks.
• 
  January 03, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

  Op-Ed: How to save all that water from the ‘atmospheric river’

  The Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed by Earth scientist Andrew Fisher about groundwater restoration projects to store the water from atmospheric river storm events.
• 
  January 03, 2023 - Good Times

  UCSC SciCom Students Answer Complex Questions About Water

  Graduate students in UCSC's Science Communication Program wrote about water issues for a feature story in Good Times, with quotes from Earth scientists Andrew Fisher and Patrick Chuang, environmental scientist Michael Loik, and environmental toxicologist Peter Weiss-Penzias.