University of California, Davis researchers successfully synthesized new compounds with reduced hallucinogenic and cardiotoxic effects, identifying one compound with antipsychotic-like effects. By systematically deconstructing LSD, they uncovered the importance of the phenethylamine-like traits in producing hallucinogenic effects.
A study from the University of California, Davis, and Argentina's National Research Council found that 71% of southern giant petrel chicks sampled had plastic in their bodies. Even small amounts of plastic ingestion were associated with changes in nutrition, metabolism, and immune response in young chicks.
All 50 US states have introduced bills to regulate social media and digital platforms for minors. A new public database, the Youth Digital Policy Repository, categorizes state legislation by location, year, and topic, providing a centralized source of regulations to inform future legislation.
A new study reveals that avocado trees alternate between male and female flowers based on a single gene that evolved about 42 million years ago. This genetic mechanism helps prevent self-pollination and inbreeding, allowing avocado breeders to sort seedlings more efficiently.
Researchers found that materials surrounding fusion reactions can increase the frequency of fusion, particularly at low energies. The study opens a new field of 'materials-driven fusion' and could lead to more compact and efficient neutron generators with various applications.
A new study found that prescribed burns reduced giant sequoia mortality by 77% and increased survival chances fourfold during the 2020 and 2021 Sierra Nevada wildfires. The research integrated remote sensing data to quantify pre-fire fuel structures and estimate wildfire outcomes for over 26,400 trees.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze thousands of automated experiments and accurately predict how new material compositions will respond to heat, identifying the most promising materials. This approach gives scientists a roadmap for developing more durable perovskite solar cells that can withstand real-world operating conditions.
Climate change is affecting the mountain jewelflower, a native California wildflower, as it struggles to survive both summers and winters. Researchers have found that plants from lower elevations possess traits that match new mountain conditions, suggesting potential conservation strategies for this species.
Scientists use commercially available surfing webcams to measure Oregon's coastal fog, revealing patchy fog patterns along 93 miles of coastline. The study found that airport measurements were a good indication of average monthly fog frequency, but surface weather conditions at the airport were not sufficient for real-time fog detection.
Scientists have unveiled a new structure of the kinesin-1 protein, showing how cells control its on-off switch. The discovery could shed light on incurable neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 2.
Researchers tested 54 avocado oil-labeled products and found 48 contained other oils. The study used fatty acids and sterols to verify authenticity, but 89% of products still failed due to adulteration. Food companies may not detect adulterated oil without rigorous testing.
A new study at the University of California, Davis found that an adolescent's brain response to a face may predict their social health two years later. High activity in the amygdala when an adolescent looks at a face showing emotions predicts more involvement with peers for girls, but less involvement for boys.
A University of California, Davis study found that melting icebergs in the North Pacific Ocean can weaken the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial conveyor belt regulating the global climate. This weakening can lead to subsurface warming, releasing more iceberg meltwater and further impacting AMOC.
Two studies found that California gray wolves primarily eat cattle, with 72% of scat samples containing cattle DNA. Elevated cortisol levels in cattle grazing near wolf packs also indicate chronic stress, affecting their physiology and potentially production rates.
Researchers found that honeybee queens will take up and pass on pesticide contamination to their eggs when worker bees can no longer filter out the toxins. This process, called maternal offloading, allows the queen to shield herself from harm but may also harm her offspring.
Researchers at UC Davis aim to understand how airborne nanoplastics affect human health, focusing on neurotoxicity and pollutant-adsorbed nanoplastics. They'll create a standardized method for measuring and describing the health risks of these tiny plastics.
A study by University of California, Davis researchers found that red-tailed hawks adjust their wing and tail movements to compensate for missing feathers during molt. The findings could inform wildlife rehabilitation efforts and inspire more resilient UAVs.
A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that loneliness plays a stronger role in cognitive impairment and shorter life spans than social isolation. Loneliness was consistently associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline and a shorter life, even after taking social isolation into account.
A University of California, Davis study found that adding 'high sugar' warning labels to restaurant menus can significantly reduce added sugar consumption among diners. The study tested two types of labels and found that diners ordered an average of 10 grams less added sugar when the labels were present. This amount is substantial, con...
Researchers propose alternative to dark energy as cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe, based on instability in Einstein-Euler equations. The study suggests a more natural explanation for cosmic acceleration within the framework of Einstein's original theory.
A 2021 dog daycare outbreak in LA County revealed critical gaps in vaccinations and animal-to-human transmission. Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease, can cause severe illness in dogs and flu-like symptoms in humans.
New research reveals gray mold's unique approach to attacking plants, sensing chemical defenses and flavors to adjust its attack accordingly. This understanding could shift disease prevention strategies, allowing for more effective use of genetic or chemical countermeasures.
A recent study by University of California - Davis researchers has identified a protein called DAXX that guides the packing and folding of DNA in sperm cells. This discovery could improve treatments for couples struggling with male infertility, as well as help understand how environmental factors impact offspring health.
Scientists found that queen bumblebees are faster learners and better at identifying scents than worker bees. This skill helps them differentiate between flowers, find the best ones, and ensure colony survival. Understanding their cognitive abilities could reveal fundamental insights into learning and evolution.
Researchers at UC Davis have found over 250 new genetically distinct variants of peppermint through gamma radiation-induced mutations. These variants can be used to identify key genes for breeding or selecting new varieties with improved disease resistance.
A new study challenges the hypothesis that climate change will lead to massive ag pest populations, suggesting a more complex relationship between warming and pest dynamics. The research found that some species thrive in warmer climates while others decline or show no response.
A new study by Sage Madden reveals that barn swallow chicks' growth is stunted by cold spells within five days of hatching, smallest sibling status, and less food provided by parents. The research, published in PLOS One, provides insight into climate change's impact on chick development.
Researchers have mapped the structure and mechanics of a critical cellular machine that malfunctions in people with rare genetic disorders. The discovery could lead to new treatments and faster diagnoses for children with conditions like infantile encephalopathy, corpus callosum hypoplasia, and Kenny-Caffey syndrome.
A new study from the University of California, Davis, projects that 7-16% of global plant species will lose more than 90% of their range by 2100 under current climate change projections. Habitat loss is expected to drive these extinctions, rather than a plant's ability to shift locations in response to climate change.
A large-scale study found that forest fuel treatments can prevent significant wildfires by reducing fire severity and spread. Every dollar spent on prevention saves about $3.75, with treatments estimated to have prevented $2.8 billion in damages.
Researchers discovered that plants use a surprising multi-layered system to regulate salicylic acid levels and keep their immune system in check. This system involves enzymes that break down the hormone, which are then flagged for elimination, limiting how much salicylic acid they can destroy.
A new study projects that climate change will drive rodent-borne arenaviruses into new regions of South America, posing a future threat to millions of people. The researchers built an interactive platform to understand the complex relationships between climate, land use, and human exposure.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope discovered a galaxy that is not rotating, contradicting current theories about galaxy formation. The team believes this galaxy may have been formed after a single collision between two galaxies, making it a rare and unexpected finding.
Researchers found that fish lineages adapted to scrape algae and shellfish from hard surfaces evolved in more diverse ways than those living in open water. Coral reef fish are thought to have benefited from this adaptation, driving the acceleration of diversification.
A team of scientists at the University of California, Davis, has discovered an inherited form of blindness directly comparable to autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) in rhesus macaques. The study could lead to a better understanding of ADOA and potentially new treatments.
The Yolo County basic income program provided a monthly stipend of $1,289 per month to 76 mostly single-parent families, helping them gain housing, food, and general wellbeing. Participants reported reduced stress levels and improved parenting skills, but faced challenges in achieving long-term financial stability.
A study by University of California, Davis found that California's conifer forests have lost between 6% and 11% of their area over the past three decades due to wildfires. Reforestation efforts are not keeping pace with the losses, with only about 1% of deforested Forest Service lands being replanted between 2016 and 2023.
Scientists have identified a gene variant in dogs associated with Addison's disease and multiple autoimmune syndrome. The RESF1 gene, also found in humans, could hold key insights for understanding the human form of the condition.
A study by the University of California, Davis, and State University of New York at Buffalo found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in over 90% of penguin leg bands in remote Patagonia. The non-invasive sampling method revealed a shift from legacy PFAS to newer replacement chemicals in the environment.
Researchers have discovered a photostriction effect in perovskite crystals that reversibly changes shape when exposed to light. This property makes them 'smart materials' that can be tuned to respond to stimuli, potentially leading to new device designs such as sensors or actuators.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis found that breathing in common disinfectant chemicals known as QACs can be far more harmful than swallowing them. The study suggests higher health risks for respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD from airborne exposure to disinfectant sprays and cleaning products.
A study from the University of California, Davis, reveals that managed wetlands in Suisun Marsh produce 11-22 times more zooplankton than tidal habitats. Zooplankton are crucial for fish diets and increase in response to controlled floods.
A new study published in The Lancet Public Health suggests that the FDA's proposed nutrition label should be redesigned to highlight products high in added sugar, sodium, or saturated fat. Researchers found that an 'easy-to-understand' label design made it easier for consumers to identify healthier choices.
Researchers sequenced the Great Basin bristlecone pine genome, revealing genes associated with disease resistance and longer telomeres, potentially holding clues for understanding longevity in other species. The study provides a reference genome sequence that can be used to inform modern genetic discovery.
A recent study by the University of California, Davis, highlights the devastating impact of H5N1 on pinniped populations worldwide. The virus has infected over 400 million poultry and tens of thousands of seals and sea lions, with significant consequences for conservation efforts.
Researchers analyzed data from TikTok and Spotify's Top 100 hit song charts, finding significant differences in what makes a hit on each platform. On TikTok, dance genres and user engagement drive popularity, while on Spotify, songs about relationships and major labels dominate.
Researchers mapped out the structure of a key player, augmin, in exhaustive detail, revealing its role in plant cell division and shape regulation. The study's findings could lead to new medical treatments and strategies for breeding higher-quality rice and cotton crops.
A new study by Geerat Vermeij and Tracy Thomson found that mollusks evolved unique physical traits at a frequency of once every 2 million years in early history, declining to about one trait every 9 million years. The evolution of these traits has become increasingly predictable over the 540-million-year history of mollusks.
A new study reveals how birds shift their shape in flight to navigate obstacles, offering insights into improved UAV designs. The research, published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, used motion capture and wind tunnel modeling to analyze a Harris's hawk's flight patterns.
Researchers propose a new biochemical pathway, the 'Bloom cycle,' which converts nitrogen into essential compounds, boosting crop production and nutritional quality. This discovery suggests that photorespiration is not a waste of energy, but rather a vital process for plant survival.