Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have conducted the first global assessment of plastic's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, finding that current strategies are insufficient to curb emissions. Recycling and replacing fossil-based energy with renewable sources offer promising solutions, but significant reductions will require unpreceden...
A team of researchers has identified a 'druggable' mechanism for pathological tau protein aggregation, which could lead to new treatment options for devastating neurodegenerative diseases. The discovery focuses on the RASD2 gene and its potential as a target for farnesyl transferase inhibitors.
Researchers suggest that tectonic activity, particularly volcanic arc collisions in the tropics, drives long-term climatic trends. These events uplift mafic rocks, which are readily eroded and consume CO2, leading to cooling climates.
Researchers have discovered evidence of a major cosmic impact event in southern Chile, dating back to around 12,800 years ago. The impact is believed to have caused rapid climatic changes, biomass burning, and the extinction of megafauna, with similar effects observed in North America and Western Europe.
A UC Santa Barbara study reveals that proximity to highly trafficked areas, shopping centers, and freeways leads to higher gas prices. The researchers also found that market competition can override the effect of location, with nearby gas stations influencing pricing behavior.
A recent study found that climate change is disrupting the complex systems underlying global fisheries, with 8% of fish populations experiencing significant negative impacts. The greatest losses in productivity were seen in regions such as the Sea of Japan and North Sea, while the Labrador-Newfoundland region saw significant gains.
The Partisan Climate Opinion Maps reveal new data on how Republican and Democratic climate and energy opinions vary across all 50 states and 435 congressional districts. The maps show substantial heterogeneity in climate opinions despite US partisan polarization.
Elisabeth Gwinn, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, has been awarded the AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award for her decades-long commitment to mentoring underrepresented students in physics. Her work has transformed her department and improved the lives of countless students.
Researchers at UCSB have developed a high-performance quantum dot mode-locked laser on silicon, which can increase data transmission capacity by an estimated decade. The technology has the potential to significantly improve data centers' and telecommunications companies' performance.
A new study explores how an individual's genetics and brain activity correlate with altruistic behaviors directed toward romantic partners. The team found that pathways related to bonding in other animals showed up in humans, suggesting a link between empathy and altruism more generally.
Scientists identified a protein, IR7a, required for fruit flies to detect acetic acid and make decisions based on its concentration. This discovery could have implications for understanding taste research and disease prevention.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have successfully created a chip-scale laser that emits light with a fundamental linewidth of less than 1 Hz, quiet enough to move demanding scientific applications to the chip scale. This breakthrough uses stimulated Brillouin scattering to produce extremely quiet light and has significant implications ...
A study by UC Santa Barbara found that moderate fertilizer and irrigation treatments resulted in the best biomass yields and carbon storage for prairie grasses. This approach also minimized competition with food crops and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings suggest a more tailored, ecologically friendly approach to biofuel productio...
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have published a comprehensive study on the history, ecology, and pragmatics of rigs-to-reefs efforts. The study finds that these human-made reefs provide a productive habitat for marine life, with some platforms being more productive than coral reefs or Chesapeake Bay.
Researchers studied mRNA and microRNA interactions in prenatal human brain cells to understand their role in cell type identification. They found that these interactions are highly cell-type specific, which can lead to overexpression of certain genes and uncontrolled cell production.
Researchers found that territorial damselfish are not exclusively herbivores and may even engage in planktivory. These findings demonstrate adaptation to high competition for resources and highlight the importance of considering species-specific partitioning of resources.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara created an application to safeguard group members' anonymity while verifying the reliability of posts. The app allows communities to create secure groups on social media, enabling them to build trust with their readership over time.
UC Santa Barbara researchers estimate the Caribbean can produce over 34 million metric tons of seafood annually, exceeding current production by two orders of magnitude. The region's vast ocean space makes it an attractive location for offshore mariculture, with some areas showing promise for commercial farming.
Researchers found that soil minerals can store a significant amount of carbon, which could be exploited as the world shifts its carbon economy. Wetter climates facilitate mineral formation, allowing more carbon to be stored.
Researchers analyzed the interactions between five core species of bacteria found in the fly gut, revealing a nuanced tradeoff between lifespan and fecundity. The study suggests that the presence or absence of individual species influences the host's fitness, and that the microbiome's influence cannot be solely attributed to its parts.
A team of scientists found that herbivory has a complex relationship with plant diversity, but is crucial for maintaining biodiversity when dominant species are present. In some grasslands, herbivores help regulate the growth of fast-growing plants and promote smaller, slower-growing species.
A team of scientists has found that translocating frogs from recovering populations to sites where the species was previously driven to extinction can lead to population recovery. The researchers tracked the health and survival of translocated frogs over several years, uncovering key insights into how disease and climate influence popu...
New research by UC Santa Barbara scientists reveals that the world's supply of fresh water may be more limited than previously thought. The study finds that drilling increasingly deeper wells risks pumping saline water in some regions, highlighting the need to protect deep fresh groundwater.
A study suggests that up to 40-50% of Arctic sea ice loss over the last three decades is due to unknown internal drivers, such as tropical effects. This discrepancy challenges the consensus among climate scientists who attribute it to flawed modeling.
Researchers found that traditional personality traits, like the Big Five, may not be universal across cultures. To improve psychological science, experts recommend considering socioecological theory and diversifying study samples from non-Western populations.
The Tsimane's high-carbohydrate and protein-rich diet with low fat intake is associated with low cardiovascular disease risk. Despite the lack of dietary diversity, their daily food intake provides a balanced nutrient profile, highlighting the importance of adopting similar eating habits to mitigate the effects of Western diets.
A long-term study found that frequent disturbances outweigh severe ones in structuring kelp forest biodiversity. Annual disruptions led to a doubling of smaller plants and 30-61% fewer fish and shellfish, highlighting the importance of resilience over severity.
Researchers found high levels of illegal shark fishing in a Marshall Islands shark sanctuary, highlighting the need for active monitoring and enforcement. Satellite technology is proposed as a solution to track fishing vessels and monitor compliance with fishing regulations.
UCSB, UCSD, and SBP researchers developed a method to track sepsis development on a molecular level, revealing different pathways depending on host responses to various pathogens. Boosting anti-inflammatory activity or blocking TLR-4 activation showed potential as therapeutic approaches.
Researchers at UCSB and Cambridge developed models to optimize wind farm productivity by improving airflow mixing and using vertical-axis turbines, potentially leading to orders-of-magnitude improvements in energy production. This could enable more efficient use of land and reduce costs.
Researchers found that some frog species persist despite infection, attributed to eco-evolutionary rescue. This occurs when ecological and evolutionary mechanisms allow for host-pathogen coexistence, including immune adaptation and reduced transmission rates. The study provides a glimpse of hope for amphibian populations threatened by Bd.
A study by UC Santa Barbara's NCEAS reveals that policies restricting grazing access on public lands may harm sage grouse habitats and ranch profitability. Sustainable grazing is key to maintaining habitat and supporting both ranching and wildlife, according to lead author Claire Runge.
A team of UCSB students, led by Philip Lubin, are searching for signs of alien life in Andromeda using a suite of telescopes and photonic technology. They aim to detect potential signals from civilizations using optical beams that could be visible across the universe.
Three-dimensional simulations of the luminous blue variable star have revealed the physical forces behind its wild variations in brightness and spectrum. The simulations show that convection plays a key role in triggering outbursts, with helium opacity being a crucial factor.
UCSB researchers propose a new method for estimating the number of people in a room based on WiFi signal strength measurements. The technique, which uses received signal power to estimate occupant numbers, has shown high accuracy in experiments with up to 20 people and various wall properties.
A new cell phone app and lab kit enable a smartphone to identify bacteria from patients anywhere in the world, leading to faster recovery and lower treatment costs for patients. The test uses a smartphone's camera to measure a chemical reaction and determines a diagnosis in about an hour.
A team of scientists from UC Santa Barbara and USGS used eDNA to detect the presence of white sharks in local waters, providing clues for lifeguards and helping monitor the species' recovery. The study's success could lead to real-time monitoring and better understanding of marine biodiversity.
Researchers analyzed climate change's effects on marine aquaculture production, finding it's already impacting producers today and will worsen unless proactive measures are taken. The study highlights the need for countries to prepare for climate change and develop adaptive measures to ensure sustainable seafood production worldwide.
Research found that the intensity of shame people feel when imagining various actions accurately predicts the degree to which those actions would lead others to devalue them. This universal human quality helps individuals balance personal costs and benefits with social costs and benefits.
Researchers used state-of-the-art techniques to measure cell forces and stresses in zebrafish embryos, discovering a fundamental physical mechanism for shaping embryonic tissues. This finding provides insight into human health issues like cancer formation and organ engineering.
Research suggests that proactive implementation of fisheries management and climate action can create a more bountiful future for the world's oceans. The study finds that concerted responses to climate change can lead to increased fish populations, food availability, and profit for fishermen.
Researchers at UCSB and NCAR find that climate change is affecting the connection between El Niño and wildfires, leading to more extreme and frequent fires. As the Earth warms, El Niño events are expected to have a larger impact on fire risk in California and other fire-prone regions.
Researchers at UCSB and the University of Oregon discovered that efforts to close off fishing in marine reserves paradoxically led to more fishing, exacerbating habitat degradation. The preemptive behavior was equivalent to 1.5 years of avoided fishing following the ban.
UCSB researchers have developed a highly efficient genome editing method that offers complete spatiotemporal control, allowing users to target specific cells or regions within the cell. This approach enables precise and transient gene editing with minimal long-term effects on DNA.
Researchers at UCSB have identified a nuanced way to influence surface hydrophobicity, which affects how water interacts with solid surfaces. By varying the patterning of hydrophobic groups, they found that it can produce large effects on water dynamics, making it useful for designing more efficient membranes.
Researchers design a functionally graded material to minimize the tradeoff between flexibility and strength, achieving optimal balance in both elasticity and rigidity. This technology has wide applications in various fields, including engineering, medicine, and soft robotics.
Research finds that pride serves an evolved function in human nature, helping individuals weigh self-interest against social approval. The study reveals a close link between pride and the values of those around us, suggesting it's a win-win rather than a sin.
A study by UCSB researchers reveals that wealthy countries' industrial fishing fleets dominate the global oceans, with China, Taiwan, and Japan leading the list. This dominance has significant implications for food security and access to healthy food sources, particularly in less-wealthy countries.
A new study finds that the ocean has lost most of its untouched areas, leaving only 13% classified as wilderness due to human activity such as fishing and shipping fleets. The authors call for conservation policies to protect marine wilderness, which is home to high levels of species diversity.
Researchers propose a new method to protect power grid systems from cyber-attacks by utilizing PMUs and machine learning algorithms to identify real oscillations. This approach can help prevent catastrophic failures caused by GPS spoofing attacks