Simon Chan and Jorge Dubcovsky, two UC Davis plant biologists, have been selected as HHMI-GBMF Investigators, funded by $75 million over five years to support their research on plant breeding and wheat improvement. Their work has the potential to help avert a looming global food crisis.
Researchers at UC Davis discovered that Lyme disease bacteria accumulate in lymph nodes, triggering a strong immune response but one that is not effective against the infection. The study suggests that B. burgdorferi has developed a novel strategy to subvert the immune system, allowing it to both provoke and evade an effective response.
New research from UC Davis found that high theta waves before recalling a memory are associated with better performance, contradicting the assumption that the brain waits for external stimuli. The study suggests that most of the brain is busy with internal activity unrelated to the outside world.
A UC Davis study of a tiny seashore animal found that climate change may already be pushing these organisms beyond their limits, despite potential for some adaptation. The study suggests many species face environmental stress due to fragmentation and climate change, making natural selection less effective.
Researchers at UC Davis discovered the mechanism of cilia assembly, revealing two subunits of tubulin that, when mutated, cause cilia loss. This breakthrough has implications for understanding diseases like polycystic kidney disease and growth disorders.
A nationwide team of agriculturists recommends a 'whole-system redesign' of US agriculture to achieve long-term sustainability. The approach would balance production goals with environmental, social, and economic concerns by incorporating innovative agricultural systems such as organic farming and mixed crop and livestock systems.
A new study by UC Davis found that two groups of pupfish from the Bahamas and Yucatan peninsula show extreme evolutionary changes, adapting to specialized diets in just a short period. The research suggests that these rapid evolutions are unique to these specific environments.
Physicists at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider produce the heaviest antimatter, antihelium-4 nucleus, confirming existing theories about matter and antimatter properties. The discovery will aid in understanding the imbalance of matter and antimatter in the universe.
A $4.8 million federal grant will help UC Davis discover ways to maintain healthy weights among Mexican-heritage children in California. The 'Ninos Sanos, Familia Sana' study aims to provide practical tools and education for families to adopt healthy eating habits.
A computer modeling study published in PNAS reveals that methane molecules can combine to form larger hydrocarbon molecules under high temperatures and pressures of the Earth's upper mantle. This finding has significant implications for understanding carbon reservoirs and fluxes in the Earth.
A new study reveals that dinosaurs, like velociraptors, were nocturnal hunters, while plant-eaters were active during the day and night. The research uses eye measurements to separate ecological and phylogenetic signals, providing insight into how environment influences evolution.
Two new studies by UC Davis researchers found a direct link between lead ammunition and lead poisoning in scavenger birds like eagles and turkey vultures. The studies suggest that hunting with lead ammunition can have devastating effects on these bird species, causing inability to fly, starvation, anemia, blindness, seizures and death.
Researchers discovered that HIV envelope protein complex can be exposed to raise more broadly cross-reactive antibodies against HIV. This finding could lead to the development of effective vaccines against HIV and AIDS.
A new study finds that a human respiratory virus has killed two mountain gorillas in Rwanda, confirming the risk of disease transmission between humans and animals. The virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), was detected in both gorillas, highlighting the need for increased conservation efforts to protect these endangered animals.
The iMobot robot has four controllable degrees of freedom and can be assembled into larger robots for specific tasks. Researchers hope the technology will speed up university and industry research in robotics.
Researchers have identified a gene responsible for seedlessness in the sugar apple and its close relation, the cherimoya. This discovery could pave the way for producing seedless varieties of these fruits and potentially other fruit crops.
A census of white sharks in the northeast Pacific Ocean found a surprisingly low number of adults, estimated at 219. Researchers used photographs of individual shark fins to identify 131 unique individuals.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals a potential link between immunity, infectious disease, and conditions such as schizophrenia and autism. Researchers found that an immune molecule called Major Histocompatibility Complex type 1 (MHC type I) regulates brain connections during early postnatal development.
Early Earth's core may have formed from lighter chromium isotopes, which are mostly missing from the planet's mantle and crust. This finding provides new insights into the planet formation process.
Researchers at UC Davis are presenting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, including electrification of vehicles and producing biofuels. The university is also exploring celestial superfluids, which offer potential breakthroughs in materials science and technology.
A team of scientists drilling near an Icelandic volcano hit magma in 2009, resulting in a potentially game-changing discovery for geothermal energy. The team estimated that the steam generated from the magma could power up to 25,000 homes.
Researchers have successfully cloned plants as seeds, paving the way for hybrid crop plants that can breed true. The breakthrough uses a process called apomixis, where eggs and sperm are haploid, allowing diploid eggs to be produced without sexual recombination.
A new study at UC Davis found that eating a high-fat meal can trigger inflammation in blood vessels, particularly in individuals with waist sizes over 32 inches and high triglyceride levels. This inflammation can lead to atherosclerosis and increase the risk of heart disease.
A new study finds that popular adolescents, particularly those in the second tier of popularity, are more likely to engage in bullying behavior. The researchers argue that social status and aggression are linked, with students who occupy the center of the social hierarchy wielding power and potentially deterring retaliation.
A magnetic resonance scanner is being developed for airport security to detect explosives in liquids, a technology originally created to analyze wine quality. The system uses high-frequency radio waves to identify chemical structures, and has shown promise in early tests.
Researchers at the University of California - Davis have developed a new approach to solar cells by constructing them from extremely small nanoparticles. The team aims to achieve an efficiency of 42-65%, surpassing the current theoretical maximum of 31%.
A new fungus has killed over 1 million bats in the eastern US, with the disease expected to spread to California in the next several years. UC Davis experts are calling for a national response to combat the threat, which could have significant impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.
A new appreciation of the ecology-evolution dynamic reveals that environmental factors can influence evolutionary changes and shape ecological traits. This emerging field of study highlights the interconnectedness between ecology and evolution, suggesting a feedback loop where ecological changes affect evolution and vice versa.
A large-scale experiment by UC Davis ecologists shows that environmental changes can alter how intact ecological communities function, affecting plant and animal species interactions. The study, led by Jonah Piovia-Scott, used seaweed to imitate climate change effects on Caribbean islands.
Researchers have identified a link between mitochondrial fusion and a cell death pathway, with implications for treating heart disease and stroke. The study found that the proteins MFN1 and MFN2 regulate mitochondrial behavior, promoting or preventing apoptosis, depending on their combination.
Researchers from UC Davis and UC Berkeley have discovered a new dinosaur, Eodramaeus, that lived 230 million years ago in South America. The carefully dated fossils suggest dinosaurs existed alongside other animals during the same periods of extinction, challenging the prevailing hypothesis about their origin.
Researchers challenge climate change assumption that plants move uphill due to warmer temperatures. Instead, they found plants moved downhill an average of 260 feet, driven by increased precipitation. This finding has global relevance as many locations have seen increased precipitation in the past century.
Scientists at UC Davis have identified a gene called Cullin1 that acts as a biochemical gatekeeper, controlling whether or not pollen from related wild species can fertilize tomatoes. This finding has significant implications for plant breeding and understanding reproductive biology in the Solanaceae family.
A study published in Neuron found that the perirhinal cortex plays a crucial role in forming unconscious conceptual memories. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to map brain activity while participants performed memory tests, revealing that damage to this area impairs memory formation.
A new UC Davis study concludes that sea lice from salmon farms have no significant impact on the productivity of wild pink salmon populations. The research analyzed 10 years of farm fish counts and 60 years of wild fish counts, contradicting earlier reports linking farm salmon to the 2002 population crash in western Canada.
Researchers at UC Davis and MIT used synchrotron radiation to show how nitric oxide breaks down iron-sulfur clusters in proteins, a vital process for all living organisms. The study provides insights into nitric oxide toxicity and could lead to new antimicrobial agents.
Researchers identified a plant clock gene that works in human cells and vice versa, with similar function. The study suggests convergent evolution as the explanation for this phenomenon, highlighting the importance of maintaining accurate circadian rhythms in both plants and humans.
UC Davis engineers have developed a universal microfluidics connector to bridge biological tests with electronic devices, enabling compact medical diagnostic tools. The 'fit-to-flow' interface could enable cell phones to function as mini microscopes.
Researchers have discovered strikingly similar immune defense systems in plants and animals, including receptors that recognize and bind to specific molecules on invading organisms. This knowledge can lead to new drug targets for deadly bacteria with no effective treatments.
A new University of California, Davis study suggests that the global oil supply will run dry within 90 years, far before replacement technologies are ready. The forecast is based on market capitalizations and dividend payments from publicly owned oil and alternative energy companies.
UC Davis researchers have identified a new inducible pathway for repairing DNA damaged by oxygen radicals, which could lead to a better understanding of the causes of some cancers. The discovery involves an enzyme called NEIL1 that detects and repairs aberrant bases before changes in the genome become permanent.
Scientists have identified a crucial protein complex called TORC 2 that plays a significant role in insulin signaling and is linked to both diabetes and cancer. The study found that activating this complex is essential for cells to take up sugar from the blood, and that it may hold potential as a new target for treating type II diabetes.
Researchers found that meditation training is associated with greater telomerase activity, a key indicator of cellular health. Participants showed improvements in stress coping, mindfulness, and purpose, which were linked to higher telomerase levels.
A new study reveals climate change impacts low-elevation mountain plants more significantly than expected, with increased drought stress observed in forests below 4,000 feet. The findings inform local conservation strategies by predicting biological responses to climate change.
The University of California, Davis is part of a consortium co-hosting the new Southwest Climate Science Center. Researchers say signs of climate change are prevalent in the region, including rising temperatures, earlier snowmelt, and increasing precipitation intensity.
Plant biologists at UC Davis have discovered a reliable method for producing plants that carry genetic material from only one parent, which could dramatically speed up the breeding of crop plants. The technique uses genome elimination to eliminate half the chromosomes, resulting in haploid plants that are immediately homozygous.
Researchers delayed onset of type 2 diabetes in rats by relocating a portion of the small intestine, identifying biochemical changes that may contribute to this effect. The study's findings suggest bariatric surgery may improve type 2 diabetes without relying on weight loss.
A new test developed by UC Davis researchers helps Uruguayan rice farmers determine if their waterways are safe to drain after flooded fields. The test can detect high levels of the herbicide clomazone, which can harm fish and other aquatic life.
A new study suggests that cooperation in large societies is partly dependent on historical forces like religious beliefs and market transactions. The extent of punishment used to enforce norms increases and decreases with the number of people in the society.
The device can measure a high capacity waveform up to 10,000 times faster than existing technologies, overcoming limitations of amplitude and phase measurement. This enables the packing of more information into optical signals, paving the way for ultra-high-speed communications and LiDAR systems.