A UC Davis study analyzed millions of Twitter posts to find that social media can both amplify and disrupt individual issues, leading to both unifying and divisive outcomes. The research highlights the complex nature of social media's impact on public discourse, revealing an oscillation between integrated and segregated communication.
A study published in Scientific Reports predicts that less than 20% of endangered mountain gorillas would survive more than 100 days past the first confirmed case of Ebola infection. Vaccination strategies are suggested to increase survival rates, with at least half of habituated gorillas vaccinated within three weeks of confirmation.
A study of California's high-elevation Sierra Nevada squirrels reveals that climate is just one factor influencing their niche. Squirrel species use different spaces due to variations in climate, topography, and land cover, such as meadows or forests.
A new study reveals the mechanism of BRCA2's DNA repair function, understanding its role in breast and ovarian cancer development. The findings also provide insights into developing targeted cancer therapies by inhibiting DNA repair mechanisms.
A study from the University of California, Davis found that fewer than 10% of patients were screened for food insecurity during the pandemic. Screening increased to 10% after COVID-19 vaccines became available, but remained low at telehealth appointments.
A new subspecies of rainbow trout, O. mykiss calisulat, has been identified after genetic analysis revealed its distinctiveness. This discovery is significant as it marks the first newly identified Pacific trout subspecies since 2008 and the youngest rainbow trout subspecies by more than 100 years.
A recent study has identified a rare strain of Toxoplasma gondii, COUG, in sea otters that caused fatal steatitis and toxoplasmosis. The strain is virulent and can rapidly kill healthy adult otters, posing a health threat to other marine wildlife and humans.
A new assessment tool helps food banks evaluate their initiatives to provide healthy and nutritious food to those in need. The tool aims to identify areas of success and potential strategies for improvement.
The $4 million grant from the California Education Learning Lab will help expand LibreTexts' open homework system ADAPT, designed to provide students with agency in their learning experience. The platform aims to reduce equity gaps in STEM education and increase access to high-quality resources for low-income students.
A recent study synthesizes climate trends across the Western US during the Holocene Era, revealing that the hallmarks of California's climate began around 4,000 years ago. The study also sheds light on human-caused climate change and its impact on regional resilience.
The fungi Neofusicoccum mediterraneum and Neofusicoccum parvum have been found infecting pines in Southern California, causing a deadly disease known as pine ghost canker. The pathogens are native to the US but have recently started infecting trees in urban forest areas.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered a key to improving drought-resistant wheat plants by stimulating longer root growth. By increasing the copies of specific genes, plants can absorb water from deeper supplies, leading to increased biomass and higher grain yield.
Researchers at UC Davis found that engaging serotonin 2A receptors inside neurons promotes growth of new connections, while the same receptors on cell surfaces do not. This discovery guides efforts to develop new treatments for depression and PTSD.
A study by the University of California, Davis, finds that most Amazon land mammals are threatened by climate change and projected savannization. Camera trap surveys revealed that only a few species preferred savanna habitat, while most species, including those using both habitats, chose forest habitats.
Male giraffes test female sexual receptivity by nudging them to urinate, then inhaling their scent with flehmen. This behavior is crucial for mating and understanding giraffe anatomy supports it.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that 6- to 9-month-old babies can form memories of masked faces and recognize those faces when unmasked. The study used eye tracking to examine how masks influence infants' facial recognition.
A recent study reveals that high-severity wildfires are increasing in Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade forests, with the average annual area burned at high severity nearly quintupled since before Euro-American settlement. This trend is concerning as most affected forest types are adapted to low-to-moderate severity burning.
Biomedical engineers at UC Davis have created semi-living cyborg cells that can carry out novel functions, such as producing therapeutic drugs and cleaning up pollution. The cyborg cells are more resistant to stressors and can invade cancer cells, making them a promising tool for various applications.
A new study by University of California, Davis researchers reveals that the internal circadian clock in sunflowers coordinates florets to open in concentric rings, attracting more pollinators. The study found that continuous light disrupts this pattern, leading to fewer pollinator visits.
A study found that climate change threatens reproductive success of songbirds in California's Central Valley due to increasing rainfall and extreme heat. The researchers analyzed data from the Nestbox Highway project, which showed a decline in bird fitness amidst extreme precipitation or temperatures.
A team has achieved a clonal efficiency of 95%, allowing the mass production of hybrid seeds and enabling farmers to save and replant rice from season to season. This breakthrough could help meet global food demands sustainably.
A new study found that only 6.1% of US firms with wildfires in their headquarters county disclose wildfire risks in required federal filings, highlighting a gap in transparency and risk management. Firms are more likely to disclose risks when they have previously experienced wildfires, and the most disclosure-sensitive firms are those ...
A study from the University of California, Davis' One Health Institute found that canine echinococcosis increased to 6.9% in Tierra del Fuego's sheep farms after the government cancelled a deworming program in 2004. Reestablishing the program could help protect people and animals from hydatid disease.
Researchers found that red light is more efficient for growing plants while blue light is better suited for solar energy production. This breakthrough could guide global interest in agrivoltaics and identify potential applications for those systems.
Researchers found that coral microbiomes shed nutrient-loving and pathogen-associated microbes while increasing nitrogen-fixing microbes during dormancy. This restructuring helps maintain the coral's microbial community structure.
A new study by UC Davis suggests that online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was detrimental to teens' mental health, school satisfaction, and performance. Teens who attended school in-person reported more social inclusion and fewer mental health issues than those learning online.
A study found that mixing genetic makeup of corals increases resistance to disease, allowing some vulnerable corals to thrive. This 'rescue' effect helps reduce disease transmission among corals.
A new study by UC Davis researchers analyzed over 550 speed-daters to explore how initial impressions shape later romantic outcomes. The findings suggest that both compatibility and popularity play a significant role in determining who people pursue as potential romantic partners.
A University of California, Davis study reveals that air temperature and cloud cover are influenced by the buoyancy effect of water vapor, which is currently neglected in some leading global climate models. This effect can lead to an error of up to 50% in low cloud cover predictions, impacting the planet's energy balance.
Scientists used a noninvasive tool of chewed plants to monitor mountain gorillas for human herpesviruses, finding no evidence of infection among the free-ranging gorillas. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of personalized health care for endangered mountain gorillas using this relatively new technique.
A new study found that SARS-CoV-2 causes significant neuron damage and inflammation within a week of infection in rhesus macaque monkeys. Aged animals with Type 2 diabetes experienced worse virus-induced neurological damage, raising concerns about potential spikes in neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers found that those who do follow politicians display clear political biases and engage in a highly selective way. The study analyzed over 1.5 million Twitter users and found that conservative users are twice as likely to share in-group content as out-group content.
Researchers have reconstructed the genome of the common ancestor of all mammals, revealing key features such as 19 autosomal chromosomes and 38 sex chromosomes. The study provides insights into the evolutionary stability of gene order and orientation on chromosomes over millions of years.
A study from University of California, Davis, and Harvard Medical School reveals multiple new sirtuins in early branching animals like jellyfish, sea sponges, and sea anemones. These proteins are involved in metabolism and DNA repair, playing a crucial role in the unique longevity strategies of these animals.
A study by UC Davis researchers found that socially polarized COVID-19 information on social media fuels anxiety, anger and sadness, leading to incivility. The team analyzed over 375,000 tweets and identified patterns that predict profanity, insults and severe toxicity.
A study from the University of California, Davis found a clear connection between an amphibian die-off and a spike in malaria cases in Costa Rica and Panama. The research suggests that stable ecosystems are crucial for disease prevention and health, and massive ecosystem disruptions can have significant consequences for human well-being.
A new noninvasive genetic survey technique allows researchers to identify salt marsh harvest mice and other small mammals without capturing them. The technique uses bait stations and genetics to collect fecal pellets from mice that come and go on their own.
The University of California, Davis has received a $10 million grant to continue its work on managing and preventing mosquito- and tick-borne diseases. Researchers will focus on finding effective methods to stop these diseases while training the next generation of public-health scientists.
Research from the University of California - Davis recommends cleaning nest boxes in fall months to avoid disturbing American barn owl breeding pairs. Land managers can install nest box networks to attract barn owls and benefit agricultural operations by controlling pests.
A new study reveals how gulls adjust their wings to control stability in the air, employing wing morphing to respond to gusts and turbulence. The findings have implications for designing more agile drones and aircraft with improved maneuverability.
New research reveals that tau protein can self-assemble to form an envelope around microtubules, compacting them and affecting how other proteins attach. This novel behavior may play a regulatory role in healthy brain tissue, bringing us closer to understanding its connection to disease.
Scientists have developed network-based models to prioritize novel viruses for their zoonotic transmission risk, with coronaviruses found to be the riskiest. The models also ranked paramyxoviruses, such as those causing measles and respiratory tract infections, as high priorities.
A study from the University of California, Davis, found that economies are sensitive to persistent temperature shocks over a 10-year time frame, impacting growth in about 22% of countries. Climate change affects various sectors, including agriculture and cloud-based data centers.
Researchers identify PRC1 as key to establishing and maintaining ovarian reserve, providing insights into female reproductive health and lifespan. The study's findings may help explain premature ovarian failure and infertility in humans.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered a new pathway for cereals to capture nitrogen from the air, reducing the need for expensive fertilizers. The breakthrough could save farmers billions of dollars annually and benefit the environment by decreasing nitrogen pollution.
A new study from UC Davis links air pollution exposure to increased inflammation and decreased cardiac regulation in children. Elevated markers of interleukin-6 and lower cardiac autonomic regulation were found in blood samples of healthy children aged 9-11 who lived near areas with high levels of PM2.5 during wildfires.
Researchers developed a monoclonal antibody that binds E-cadherin, strengthening cell adhesion and preventing cancer metastasis. The antibody, 19A11, has two binding modes that increase adhesive strength through salt bridge formation.
A new study reveals that reef fish diversity is driven by a recent innovation among bony fish – feeding by biting prey from surfaces. This feeding method allowed fish to access diverse new prey, promoting the evolution of a wide variety of body shapes and a high rate of diversification.
Researchers discovered that cats exposed to wildfire smoke and injuries are prone to forming deadly blood clots, associated with cardiovascular disease. The study also identified a novel receptor on cat platelets that may play a role in clotting.
Scientists at UC Davis have successfully produced COVID-19 antibodies in hen eggs, which may be used as a preventative measure or treatment for people exposed to the disease. The antibodies, similar to those found in human blood, were shown to neutralize the virus effectively.