A study published in PLOS ONE found that a mange outbreak in San Guillermo National Park, Argentina decimated the wild vicuña and guanaco populations, with nearly three-quarters of the animals lost between 2017-18. The authors suggest domestic llamas introduced to the site may have triggered the outbreak.
A study found that frequent-fire forests in the Sierra Nevada have far fewer trees due to fire suppression, leading to increased competition among remaining trees. Managing for resilience involves drastically reducing densities to create low-density stands with less tree competition.
The Earth BioGenome Project aims to sequence all eukaryotic life, with 9,400 taxonomic families expected to be completed by 2023. The project's progress has sparked excitement for its potential to prevent biodiversity loss and adapt food crops to climate change.
A study published in Nutrients found that consuming a small serving of dried goji berries five times a week for 90 days increased lutein and zeaxanthin levels in healthy participants' eyes. This increase provides antioxidant protection and filters out harmful blue light, potentially delaying age-related vision loss.
Researchers found patches of low mutation rates in the genome with essential gene over-representation, suggesting a protective mechanism. This discovery could lead to advances in plant breeding and human genetics, potentially helping breed better crops or fight cancer.
The research provides a foundation to better understand redwood responses to climate impacts and pathogens. Hundreds of gene families unique to the coast redwood were found, many helping trees respond to stress and resist disease.
A new study found that krypton isotopes in the deep mantle reveal a clearer picture of Earth's formation, contradicting the popular theory of volatile elements arrival. The research suggests that planetesimals from the cold outer solar system bombarded the Earth early on.
Researchers have found evidence of joint ruptures, or shared earthquakes, between the San Andreas and san Jacinto faults in California. The Lytle Creek Ridge Fault, a small fault between the two major faults, acted as a passive marker during these events, with 20% to 23% of earthquakes on these faults being shared.
A new study suggests that Denisovans arrived on the Tibetan Plateau around 160,000 years ago and contributed to the adaptation of modern humans to high altitudes. Genetic analysis reveals that Denisovans passed on genes such as EPAS1, which improves oxygen transport in the blood, to modern Tibetans.
Researchers found that neighborhoods with greater racial and socioeconomic disparities are more likely to experience closures, but suburbs with gentrification show different patterns. The study suggests that the effects of school closures depend on the types of neighborhoods affected.
A recent study published in Canine Medicine and Genetics reveals that most dog breeds are highly inbred, with an average inbreeding rate of 25% or sharing the same genetic material with a full sibling. This high level of inbreeding contributes to increased disease and healthcare costs throughout a breed's lifespan.
Researchers discover flow results from modular brain networks, enabling high-control and effortless experiences. Flow requires balance between engagement and challenge, with brain regions densely connected but sparsely connected to other areas.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered a mechanism to eliminate half the genome in plants, making it easier to breed crops with desirable traits like disease resistance. This breakthrough could shorten breeding times by several generations.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill and UC Davis have discovered how the soil bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses copper to produce fluopsin C, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. This finding could lead to new treatments for infections caused by this pathogenic bacterium.
As investors increasingly demand climate-friendly stocks, researchers call for a global framework for mandatory climate risk disclosure by companies. A hybrid governance model that balances shareholder rights with blockholder interests is necessary to address the pressing need for a timely transition to net-zero business principles.
Researchers found that high-frequency, intermittent noises trigger more anxiety in dogs than low-frequency, continuous noise. Dog owners often underestimate their pets' fearfulness and respond with amusement rather than concern.
A new study found that monoclonal antibodies protected aged, diabetic rhesus macaque monkeys from SARS-CoV-2 disease by reducing signs of inflammation. The treatment prevented viral RNA in the cerebrospinal fluid and infiltration of activated immune cells, suggesting a potential preventative measure for elderly residents during outbreaks.
Researchers have demonstrated a new technique for cross-sectional medical images without the need for tomography, enabling faster and more accurate imaging. The breakthrough is made possible by ultrafast photon detectors that can precisely determine the arrival times of photons, allowing for reconstruction-free positron emission imaging.
A new UC Davis study aims to better understand the risks of chemicals in household dust on children's health. The researchers will track over 80 chemicals in dust and collect urine samples from children to measure their exposure.
A $3.7 million multicampus grant will train 32 graduate students in high-energy physics instrumentation, addressing a long-standing workforce training deficit in the field. The program, led by UC Davis, aims to prepare students for careers in academia, industry, or national laboratories.
A study explores how human activities on land can affect aquatic animals, specifically the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii. The research found that terrestrial hotspots were likely where spores settled before infecting marine mammals in the Salish Sea.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered brain activation in sleeping two-year-olds when played words they had previously learned. The study found activation in the hippocampus and anterior medial temporal lobe, indicating that these regions are crucial for laying down initial memories for words.
Researchers created the largest metabolome analysis of the mouse brain, revealing distinct chemical conversions between brain regions. Aging mice showed significant metabolic differences in brain sections, with lipids playing a crucial role in changes to brain function.
A University of California, Davis researcher suggests that private companies manufacturing these tools are effectively shielded from public scrutiny, leading to concerns about a lack of balance between police needs and individual rights to privacy.
A computational framework will be developed to characterize how genetic variants work at the cellular level in psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The framework aims to integrate data from live and postmortem samples, humans and mice, to accurately pinpoint which mutations result in disorders.
Researchers have successfully sampled Vesta's mantle using meteorites derived from the dwarf planet, resolving the 'missing mantle problem' and providing a record of the earliest era in solar system formation. This breakthrough pushes back our knowledge to just two million years after the beginning of solar system formation.
A small sachet of a fortified food-based supplement added to young children’s daily diets has shown remarkable results in preventing child mortality and malnutrition while promoting healthy development. The intervention resulted in lower prevalence of stunted growth, anemia, and adverse language and motor development outcomes.
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture aims to promote local leadership in communities worldwide. Researchers will develop environmentally sustainable production and post-harvest handling methods to improve income and access to nutritious fruits and vegetables for smallholder farmers.
Researchers used functional MRI to image the hippocampus of volunteers learning and recalling short stories, finding that coherent memories are woven together. The study suggests the hippocampus brings pieces together across time to form connected, narrative memories.
Researchers discovered a combination of two drugs can reduce inflammation following chemotherapy, preventing metastasis in pancreatic and liver cancer. The treatment targets the sEH and EP4 pathways, modulating inflammation to resolve cytokine storms.
A study by University of California, Davis researchers analyzed hundreds of Twitter and Reddit posts after news coverage of sexual assaults. They found that language in news reports can contribute to uncivil social media posts, including blaming victims and defending perpetrators. The study suggests that journalists may need to change ...
Researchers found that boldness, aggressiveness, activity level, and sociability are key personality traits in golden-mantled ground squirrels. These traits impact their access to food, territory, and predators, highlighting the importance of understanding animal personalities in wildlife conservation.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a new model for solving abstract problems by utilizing internal cognitive maps. The study found that humans can mentally reconstruct complex social networks and use these maps to make decisions, even with limited information.
A study published in Reproductive Toxicology found that rhesus macaques exposed to wildfire smoke early in pregnancy had an increased rate of miscarriage. The researchers discovered that high levels of small particles (PM2.5) and phthalates, known endocrine disruptors, were present in the smoke.
Scientists have sequenced the Indian wolf genome, revealing it to be one of the world's most endangered and evolutionarily distinct populations. The study suggests that Indian wolves may represent the most ancient surviving lineage of wolves.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Plant Science found that coastal grape growers in California can reduce irrigation levels by up to 50% during droughts without affecting crop yields or flavor profile. This reduction also leads to a decrease in water footprint and improved water use efficiency.
A University of California, Davis study found that consuming sucrose and high fructose corn syrup can increase liver fat and decrease insulin sensitivity, highlighting the need for consumers to read labels carefully. The study also found no significant differences between the effects of sucrose and high fructose corn syrup.
A new study reveals that dams in California do not adequately replicate natural thermal patterns, making them incapable of supporting cold-water species effectively. Key cold-water conservation candidates include streams highly influenced by groundwater and places where water easily infiltrates the soil.
A study by UC Davis found that teens who have lived in poverty experience higher levels of cortisol, a hormone measuring stress. Boosting families out of poverty may protect them from later health problems, depression, and suicide risk.
Scientists challenge existing thinking on opioid tolerance and respiratory depression, proposing a new balanced approach to developing safer analgesics. They found that arrestin-3 engagement limits tolerance development but does not exacerbate respiratory depression.
A study found that climate change and drought are shifting the range of infectious disease in forests suffering from white pine blister rust disease. The disease expanded its range into higher-elevation forests while contracting it in lower elevations, where conditions were too hot and dry.
The UC Davis Center for Integrated Computing and STEM Education has received a $2.4 million grant to establish an initiative introducing Black/African American girls to engineering and robotics. The Ujima Girls in Robotics Leadership Project offers a free, hands-on program teaching girls middle and high school engineering and leadership.
New research from UC Davis reveals LGBTQ+ teenagers experience disproportionate psychological adversity and exhibit increased anxiety on the popular r/LGBTeens subreddit during the pandemic. The study linked this trend to 10 key conversation topics, including discrimination, education, and exploring sexuality.
A new study by Professor Danika Bannasch and colleagues reveals that five distinct dog coat patterns have an ancient origin, dating back over 2 million years. The research suggests that lighter coat colors would have been advantageous to an extinct canid ancestor in arctic environments during glaciation periods.
A new study from the University of California - Davis found that domestic cats overwhelmingly choose freely available food over food puzzles, contrary to expected contrafreeloading behavior. Cats spent more time at the tray and made more first choices to eat from it than the puzzle, suggesting a preference for easy access to food.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Davis found that sunflowers facing east produce more offspring due to increased morning warmth attracting bees. East-facing flower heads also tend to be warmer in the morning and release pollen earlier, coinciding with bee visits.
Certain floral bacteria can induce pollen germination, allowing them to access nutrients. This discovery could have implications for the biology of pollen digestion and its impact on pollinators.
A study published in Fisheries Magazine explores how colonialist attitudes toward native fishes were rooted in elements of racism and sexism, leading to overfishing and degradation of native species. The study recommends shifting to a new paradigm that's more inclusive and beneficial to all fish and people.
Research finds that drought changes the community of microbes living in rice plant roots, allowing them to tap deeper water sources after dry spells. This 'memory' of drought enables plants to grow more resilient roots, reducing crop losses in a changing climate.
A new decision tree tool has been developed to differentiate the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse from its abundant look-alike, the western harvest mouse. The tool uses machine learning to analyze characteristics such as belly color and tail hair, allowing for accurate identification with high accuracy.