A new process developed by UC Davis chemists increases biodiesel yields from oilseed crops like safflower by up to 24%. The method converts both plant oils and carbohydrates into a fuel cocktail that performs better at low temperatures.
To address global food security challenges, researchers recommend embracing agricultural biotechnology, aquaculture, and crop breeding to improve yields in dry areas. They also suggest using nitrogen more efficiently to reduce water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
A new UC Davis study finds that sudden shifts in Earth's natural systems can occur with no warning, making it difficult to prevent or prepare for major changes. The study suggests that some effects of climate change on ecosystems may only be seen once the effects are dramatic, making return to a desirable state nearly impossible.
The National Science Foundation grant will help scientists study the response of amoebae to electric fields, which could reveal genes and molecules responsible for detecting these signals. This knowledge could have implications for wound healing and tissue engineering, as well as basic science research.
A new study from UC Davis reveals that Hsp70 proteins indeed chaperone chloroplast proteins across membranes, challenging prevailing wisdom. The research demonstrates the conservation of transport machineries across cellular bodies through evolution.
A new analysis led by UC Davis expert Arthur Shapiro reveals that climate change and habitat loss are devastating butterfly populations, with lowland species being hit hard. The study's findings also show that 'ruderal' butterfly species, often considered insignificant, are declining faster than other species.
Children with ADHD show a disconnection between brain regions responsible for attention and visual processing, leading to inefficient resource allocation. This discovery provides new insights into the condition and highlights the need for behavioral definitions to be reevaluated.
The study, called the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea (GEBA), describes the first 56 genomes from a diverse set of microorganisms. It reveals that phylogeny plays a key role in determining where new genes appear and how they spread.
A new UC Davis study found that ski slope grading is more damaging to ecosystems than clearing, affecting plant abundance and diversity. Graded runs require less snow to open but result in higher summer maintenance costs.
The NFL grant will support research on new materials to repair injured knees, with a focus on meniscal repair. Professor Kyriacos Athanasiou's laboratory at UC Davis is also working on tissue engineering of knee cartilage.
Researchers at UC Davis have developed a fast and accurate urine test for pneumonia using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The test identifies a unique chemical 'fingerprint' in the urine of patients infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, distinguishing it from other types of pneumonia and noninfectious lung diseases.
Researchers at UC Davis studied birds' alarm calls to determine their purpose. The findings suggest that these vocalizations serve both to alert other birds to danger and to warn off predators.
Researchers found that proliferating cell nuclear antigen plays a key role in copying and repairing DNA, which helps cancer cells resist radiation and chemotherapy. The study's findings could lead to new ways to make tumors more vulnerable to treatment or predict patient outcomes.
A synthetic bone matrix offers hope for babies born with craniosynostosis by replacing fused bones and encouraging natural bone healing. The biodegradable implant could eliminate the need for multiple surgeries, resulting in improved developmental outcomes.
A new gene map has been developed to aid plant breeding efforts in maize, a major source of food and fuel worldwide. The map charts genetic diversity and recombination across the genome of 27 inbred lines, providing insights into complex traits.
Researchers found that skunks' distinctive black-and-white coloration is not enough to deter predators, but rather it's the combination of color and body shape. In areas where skunks are common, predators avoid animals with similar shapes or colors, highlighting a stronger learning component in prey recognition.
The project aims to create a communication network capable of supporting various military platforms and devices, while ensuring security and trustworthiness.
Researchers analyzed stalagmites from a cave in the Sierra Nevada and found that past global warming coincided with centuries-long droughts in California. The study suggests that Arctic sea ice disappearance may lead to changes in precipitation patterns over California.
The domestic horse genome sequence has been completed, providing access to specific gene sequences for identifying traits. The findings have significant implications for improved breeding practices and studying human health, particularly in relation to shared genetic conditions.
Researchers at UC Davis identified a bacterial signaling molecule that matches up with a specific receptor in rice plants to ward off bacterial blight disease. The study's findings have implications for controlling diseases in plants and people, potentially leading to new treatments.
The cucumber genome has been sequenced, offering a platform for studying the cucurbit family and plant biology. The genome will aid in understanding disease and pest-resistance, flavor traits, and sex expression, with potential applications in agriculture.
Researchers found that material possessions are easily passed on, while social networks and foraging abilities are harder to transmit. Societies with a strong emphasis on material wealth tend to be the most unequal.
Researchers at UC Davis have identified nonanal as the dominant odor naturally produced in humans and birds that attracts Culex mosquitoes, a key step towards controlling mosquito-borne diseases. The study also found that combining nonanal with carbon dioxide increases trap captures by over 50%.
UC Davis launches PREDICT initiative to detect disease-causing organisms in wildlife before they spill over into people. The team aims to minimize pandemic impact by being ready for early detection and rapid response.
Children with a history of diabetic ketoacidosis may experience persistent memory issues, according to a new study from UC Davis. The research highlights the importance of maintaining glucose control and prompt diagnosis of new cases.
The neutrino detector will test matter/antimatter symmetry, potentially explaining the universe's matter dominance. Located 4,800 feet underground, the detector will block out most radiation and capture ultraviolet light from charged particles.
Researchers found molecular sites on the 2009 H1N1 virus that are also present in seasonal flu viruses, explaining why older adults may have some immunity to the new virus. This immunity may be due to cell-mediated responses triggered by cytotoxic T-cells.
The UC Davis program aims to develop methods to associate probabilities with forensic evidence, particularly in bullet matching and duct tape analysis. Researchers will create a bullet-matching database using confocal microscopy and identify key characteristics for comparison.
Ethylene, a gas crucial for fruit ripening and industrial chemistry, can reversibly bind to tin atoms, according to a new UC Davis study. The discovery has implications for understanding catalytic processes, which are essential in both living cells and industrial settings.
A recent study by University of California, Davis, researchers used 'bugs in boxes' to investigate the variability of invasive species' spread. The results suggest that predicting the course of an invasion may be more challenging than previously thought.
The Planck space telescope has returned its first images of the sky, mapping tiny differences in microwave radiation left over from the Big Bang. This improved data will allow scientists to better understand the structure of the universe when it was about 400,000 years old and test theories about cosmic inflation.
Researchers found that gut bacteria of transplant patients with an ileostomy opening were dominated by facultative anaerobes, while those without an ileostomy had strictly anaerobic populations. The study suggests the gut can have two stable bacterial ecosystems, one tolerant to oxygen and another not.
Researchers found that women and men use hesitant language when discussing topics that don't align with their gender, but also exhibit similar patterns of tentativeness in neutral topics. This challenges the notion of innate gender differences in communication style.
The study found that winter chill in California will decline by up to 80% by the end of the century, making many tree crops unsuitable for growing. Growers may need to develop new tree cultivars and management strategies to mitigate the impact of reduced winter chill.
Researchers identified a complex of proteins in Arabidopsis that play important roles in recognizing and blocking out invading bacteria. The study provides insights into plants' immune systems and may help protect agricultural crops from diseases.
Researchers at UC Davis have received a $750,000 grant to investigate a novel therapeutic target for treating inflammation and diagnosing asthma. The study will use metabolomics to evaluate the effectiveness of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors in asthma treatment.
Researchers found that sagebrush plants can communicate danger to their clones by emitting volatile cues, allowing them to avoid being eaten by herbivores. This complex behavior suggests that plants are capable of more sophisticated behavior than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered that female fans of Japanese animation are remaking male-centric anime videos into romantic versions, developing skills in storytelling and feminist critique.
A California Department of Education-funded project found that student achievement increased 27.5% with the use of technology to increase academic achievement in fourth-grade classrooms. Traditional print-based literacy is still important, but new technologies are also essential for students in the 21st century.
Researchers are redefining what constitutes literature with the rise of Japanese cell-phone novels, which demonstrate similar linguistic sophistication to traditional print novels. A study found that cell-phone novels are written at a lower reading level, sparking debate about their literary merit.
The trend of open-source academic publishing is changing the way textbooks are created and distributed. As more authors self-publish their work, it raises essential questions about how to fairly compensate them for their time and effort.
A study by UC Davis geochemists has produced the first picture of how different isotopes of iron were initially distributed in the solid Earth 4.5 billion years ago. The discovery could lead to investigations into the evolution of Earth's mantle and its geologic history.
The new grants will study the use and impacts of nitrogen, essential to life but also causing environmental problems such as climate change. The research aims to improve data-collection methods and quantify necessary reductions in nitrous oxide emissions to reduce agricultural pollution.
A team of scientists at UC Davis discovered that the plant hormone auxin is responsible for egg production in plants, providing new insights into evolutionary pathways and potential techniques to enhance crop reproduction. The study found that auxin concentrations determine the fate of nuclei within the reproductive structure.
A UC Davis bioengineer is working on a new treatment for infant skull fusion disorders, aiming to reduce the need for secondary surgeries. He aims to create a biodegradable synthetic bone matrix that promotes healthy tissue growth, addressing this condition's complex cause.
A UC Davis team plans to extend the capabilities of a powerful new imaging tool called DTEM, enabling scientists to observe and record biological processes at the molecular level. The instrument could achieve resolutions 100 times greater than currently attainable for live processes.
Researchers at UC Davis discovered a material with unique electronic properties, exhibiting mass-like behavior in one direction and mass-less behavior in another. The discovery has potential applications in spintronics technology and could lead to new electronic devices.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that short-term visual memories of colors and shapes can last for at least four seconds without gradually fading away. After this period, the memories disappear completely, providing a clearer understanding of how memory formation and retention work.
A DNA study confirms that Native Americans and Greenlanders share a common ancestral population, with the '9-repeat allele' present in all Native American populations and absent in other Asian groups. This evidence supports the single ancestral population theory, ruling out multiple mutations and natural selection hypotheses.
UC Davis establishes Mountain Gorilla One Health Program to conserve gorillas & address human health, livestock, and agricultural issues. The program aims to improve gorilla health & prevent disease from affecting human populations.