Scientists have found abundant nanodiamonds distributed across three continents, providing conclusive evidence of a 13,000-year-old cosmic impact. The discovery supports a hypothesis linking the impact to the mass extinction of megafauna in North America.
A recent study published in Conservation Biology found that the bumphead parrotfish, a major coral predator, has both positive and negative effects on reefs. The fish helps reduce algae abundance and disperse small coral fragments, but also consumes coral and reduces its diversity.
Researchers found that New Caledonian crows can discriminate between different volumes of water and pass a modified test, previously only achieved by 7- to 10-year-old children. The birds' ability to choose options that displace more water suggests they attend to cause-and-effect relationships.
A new paper by UCSB researchers scrutinizes Naegleria fowleri, a heat-loving amoeba causing rare but fatal infections. The study highlights the distinction between sapronotic diseases and conventional infectious diseases.
Researchers found that Kellet's whelk hosts living beyond their historic Point Conception boundary have neither the amount nor diversity of parasites as those in southern counterparts. This suggests that the northern whelks may have escaped their parasites due to low host densities and limited parasite transmission.
According to Catherine Weinberger's study, individuals who exhibit both book smarts and social skills achieve greater success in the workplace. She analyzed data from 1972-1992 high school students and found a strong upward trend for workers with a combination of cognitive ability and social skills.
Researchers used novel tools to examine how manta rays use Palmyra's lagoons as breeding grounds and feeding areas, finding that food is a key driver of their presence. The study highlights the importance of protecting lagoons from human disturbance and habitat degradation to conserve this vulnerable species.
Yu Chen and colleagues find that superconductivity and dissipation can coexist under generic conditions in a universal manner, thanks to a peculiar nonequilibrium state of quasiparticles. The researchers also discover an unexpected property: when a magnetic field is applied, the superconducting area expands and is enhanced.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara researchers demonstrates that a particular neuron creates a 'personal space' in the retina, similar to human behavior. The study identifies a genetic contributor to this feature, pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (Pttg1), and shows that it is heritable.
Researchers at UCSB's Neuroscience Research Institute found a remarkable degree of variation in cell number across 30 genetically distinct lines of mice for 12 different retinal cell types. The variation was largely independent of one another, with few significant correlations between the cell types.
The researchers designed a nanoparticle with a peptide coating to target tumor cells, allowing for efficient drug delivery. The shell is etchable, enabling the removal of excess particles using biocompatible chemicals.
Researchers model future land-use change in the US and propose incentive structures for landowners to provide ecosystem services. The work aims to strike a balance between human needs and natural systems, with tradeoffs identified for every policy.
A new UCSB study shows that the protein E-cadherin promotes collective cell migration by guiding cells to move and migrate. The researchers used innovative experimental tools to measure forces on E-cadherin molecules, revealing a non-perturbing approach to understanding tissue morphology.
UCSB's residential dining services incorporated local pesticide-free or organic produce into their menu, resulting in a significant increase in sustainable food options. The project demonstrated that scaling up local food systems can have a positive impact on the community and environment.
Researchers at UCSB demonstrate a rapid synthesis technique for large-area Bernal (or AB) stacked bilayer graphene films, exhibiting electron mobility as high as 3450 cm2/(V•s). The growth of high-quality and large-area bilayer graphene films is achieved with controlled stacking order required for low-power digital electronics.
Research by UCSB professor Hillary Young finds that large wildlife decline leads to an increase in rodent populations, resulting in more fleas and a higher risk of human disease. The study's findings highlight the importance of protecting large and at-risk wildlife species to mitigate this risk.
A new 5-qubit array demonstrates improved reliability in quantum computing, a crucial step towards building a functional quantum computer. The team's findings are based on theoretical work by Austin Fowler and the surface code architecture, which provides a way to control qubits properly.
Researchers at UCSB created a compound semiconductor with embedded nanostructures that can manipulate light energy in the mid-infrared range. The technology has potential applications in solar cells, medical applications and plasmonics.
UCSB physicist Tarun Grover has provided mathematical evidence for supersymmetry in a topological superconductor. The research, conducted with colleagues Donna Sheng and Ashvin Vishwanath, appears in the journal Science. Supersymmetry describes a unique relationship between particles, with fermions having boson superpartners.
The Ocean Health Index assesses ocean health across 10 categories, with Brazil scoring lowest in Natural Products and Food Provision. The index provides a framework for strategic management of ocean resources, with opportunities for improvement identified in various states.
Research suggests shame is a destructive emotion that hinders social connections. Professor Thomas Scheff argues that shame can manifest in larger conflicts like wars due to the reaction to it being hidden behind rationality. A good laugh is suggested as a way to resolve hidden shame, according to Scheff.
A novel mechanistic model assesses the global ocean carbon export by incorporating the lifecycle of phytoplankton and zooplankton into a food-web-based approach. The researchers found that oceans are a central component in the global carbon cycle, with a mean global carbon export flux of 6 petagrams per year.
A new UCSB study uncovers unique evolutionary adaptations in the primate brain, highlighting the crucial role of microRNAs in a portion of the brain called the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ). These findings suggest that microRNAs are responsible for controlling gene expression and regulating complex cellular processes.
The study used atomic force microscopy and surface forces apparatus to measure the strength of adhesion between healthy and diseased myelin bilayers. Researchers found that healthy myelin adsorbs proteins better, maintaining optimal insulation and nerve function.
A new study tracks global species shift in response to changing climates, highlighting complex migration patterns and areas of high risk for extinction. The maps display where new temperature conditions are being generated and where existing environments may disappear.
Researchers found that peaceful cooperation triggers the alignment of social categories with coalitional alliances, regardless of race. The study's findings suggest that cognitive systems are specialized for detecting alliances in the social world, but do not necessarily link racial differences to patterns of cooperation and conflict.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara gained insight into factors affecting mammalian circadian oscillations, which could lend themselves to circadian regulation and pharmacological control. Their work suggests that high-amplitude circadian rhythms are associated with a lower risk of diseases like diabetes and obesity.
A device called MEDIC combines engineering and biochemistry to monitor specific drug levels in the bloodstream, offering potential for tailored prescriptions. The device uses microfluidic chambers lined with gold electrodes to detect target molecules in real-time.
Researchers at UCSB and University of Bristol found that the brain can perform foveal analysis and peripheral selection during visual sampling independently and rapidly, without affecting accuracy. This specialized ability may be due to humans' need to maintain vigilance over their periphery while performing focused visual analysis.
UCSB psychology professor Brenda Major found that weight-stigmatizing messages can actually lead to increased eating and reduced self-control in overweight women. The study suggests that these messages can exacerbate feelings of helplessness, causing individuals to engage in unhealthy eating habits.
Researchers discovered 45 trepanation procedures on human remains in Peru's Andahuaylas caves dating back to AD 1000-1250. The ancient practice was used to treat various ailments and conditions, with varying techniques employed by practitioners.
A survey reveals that regulatory agencies lack preparedness to manage nanotechnology risks, with respondents perceiving novel risks as a major challenge. The study suggests that regulators need input from a wide range of experts along the nanomaterial life cycle.
A new technique developed by Otger Campas and Donald Ingber enables the measurement of mechanical forces cells generate while building tissues and organs. This breakthrough provides insights into the role of mechanics in morphogenesis and may lead to discoveries about birth defects, tumor growth, and tissue abnormalities.
Researchers at UCSB have identified a way to change one cell type into another using transcription factor ELT-7, which was previously thought to be exclusive to early embryonic cells. The discovery opens up new possibilities for regenerative medicine and could potentially allow for the creation of entire organs from scratch.
A new study demonstrates that ingested microplastic delivers pollutants and additives into animal tissue, compromising key functions sustaining health and biodiversity. The findings show toxic concentrations of pollutants and additives in the tissues of animals that have eaten microplastic.
A new study by UCSB's Jamey Marth reveals a protective mechanism against lethal blood coagulation and thrombosis in sepsis. By pre-activating the Ashwell-Morell receptor, survival rates can be increased twofold.
Researchers developed a diagnostic method that reveals factors behind conditions thought to have environmental triggers by decoding an individual's immune system. The process identifies disease-specific antibodies and their corresponding antigens, providing insight into conditions like Type-1 diabetes, autism, and Alzheimer's disease.
A UCSB study found that invasive plants' ecosystem impacts decrease over time, but native species may need additional assistance to recover. Long-term monitoring revealed declining nitrogen mineralization rates and reduced self-reinforcing effects on soil nutrients.
Ben Mazin's superconducting detector array measures individual photon energy, allowing for higher per-pixel performance and improved time resolution. The ARray Camera for Optical to Near-infrared Spectrophotometry (ARCONS) instrument enables megapixel arrays within a decade.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara's SSLEC discovered simple guidelines to optimize phosphors in white LED lighting, yielding brighter and more efficient lights. The breakthrough paves the way for high-efficiency solid-state lighting with potential to replace lower-efficiency incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
A new study by UCSB researcher Michael Singer shows that sediment-absorbed mercury is being transported from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Central Valley lowlands through major floods. This process poses a huge risk to the region's ecosystems and human population, as mercury-laden sediment is carried into ecologically sensitive re...
A UCSB anthropologist examines the enduring practice of hazing, finding a connection between its persistence across cultures and our shared evolved psychology. He suggests that group benefits may be a key factor in hazing behavior, as individuals with automatic benefits are more likely to haze.
UCSB researchers demonstrate seamless designing of an atomically thin circuit with transistors and interconnects etched on a monolayer of graphene. The proposed all-graphene circuits have achieved higher noise margins and lower static power consumption compared to current CMOS technology.
A UCSB anthropologist's study on the Tsimane population found that more open and extroverted personalities are associated with higher fertility in men, but not women. The research suggests that sex-specific differences in selection pressures may be driving this variation.
A new tool has been developed to resolve the structure of membrane-embedded and membrane-associating proteins by exploiting the unique water dynamics gradient across and above the lipid bilayer. This breakthrough can help determine the location and structure of protein segments at the surface of membranes.
A UC Santa Barbara research team has demonstrated a nanomechanical transducer that provides strong and coherent coupling between microwave signals and optical photons. This breakthrough enables the translation of electrical quantum states to optical quantum states, paving the way for secure communication and quantum teleportation.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara discovered that female common market squid possess two distinct systems for reflecting light: Bragg reflection and Mie scattering. These systems allow the squid to switch between transparent and white colors, with the latter appearing as a result of condensation and dehydration of reflectins-based proteins.
Researchers at UCSB created an Eventual Threat Index (ETI) that quantifies biological and socioeconomic conditions leading to unsustainable harvest rates. The study predicts overfishing threats for eight Pacific tuna species, including yellowfin tuna, using data from the 1990s to present.
A USCB study reveals that diet experience can alter taste preferences in fruit flies, with changes occurring through a mechanism involving the degradation of TRPL protein and reduction in synaptic connections. Long-term camphor exposure causes a decline in TRPL levels and subsequent increase in taste acceptance.
A UCSB study analyzed USDA data spanning two decades, showing the relationship between landscape simplification and insecticide use varies greatly from year to year. The research suggests that simplistic landscapes may not be better or worse than complex ones when it comes to insect pest problems.