Researchers found that an ice sheet on West Antarctica existed 20 million years earlier than believed, growing at the start of a global transition to cool icehouse climate. This discovery contradicts previous assumptions and sheds light on the history of Earth's great global ice sheets.
A recent UCSB study analyzed whole-body fish samples from oil-and-gas production platforms and natural sites for heavy metal pollutants. The results showed that most elements were consistently present at both types of locations, with some species exhibiting varying levels of pollutants between juveniles and adults.
A new study reveals an unexpected role for a protein in the integration of opposing attractive and aversive gustatory stimuli in fruit flies. The findings demonstrate that the protein inhibits the activity of sugar-activated receptors when bitter compounds are present, reducing attraction to sugars.
Researchers found that reciprocity is a significant factor in food sharing, similar across humans, monkeys, and apes. Humans tend to exchange food for food, while primates barter for services like grooming or coalition support.
UCSB researchers found that tree chopping increases testosterone levels more than soccer, improving muscle energy and performance. The study suggests that Tsimane men maintain high testosterone levels due to their physically demanding lifestyle, contrary to industrialized populations.
A new UCSB study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals that paying full attention and trying hard can impede performance. The study found that disrupting explicit memory resources, which are associated with conscious thought, can harm implicit memory processes, leading to poorer performance outcomes.
A global meta-analysis reveals that climate change is driving changes in marine species' breeding, feeding, and migration timing, as well as shifting their geographic distribution toward the poles. The study found that warming oceans are causing marine species to move at an average of 72 kilometers per decade.
Researchers at UCSB have discovered a mechanism that allows squid and octopuses to change color by using specialized cells in their skin called iridocytes. The cells create layers or lamellae that operate as tunable Bragg reflectors, allowing the animals to control their transparency and match their surroundings.
Researchers found that individuals who look at the tip of the nose or mouth can identify faces with equal accuracy as those who gaze below the eyes. The study sheds light on the complexities of face recognition, suggesting that people develop distinct optimal strategies to maximize identification accuracy.
Two species of small beach critters, cousins of the roly-poly, are suffering localized extinctions in Southern California. Their disappearance suggests a looming threat to similar sand-dwelling animals across the state and world. The research highlights the impact of development, climate change, and sea level rise on these ecosystems.
A new study by UC Santa Barbara's NCEAS found that tropical forests are sensitive to small changes in temperature, producing more flowers. The study analyzed global data and satellite information, indicating that clouds mainly affect short-term growth, while longer-term changes are due to temperature.
A team of astronomers has spotted a distant galaxy consuming nearby gas, which fuels star formation and drives rotation. This discovery supports the theory that galaxies pull in material to grow and form stars.
A new study finds that adding nitrogen to grasslands initially boosts ecosystem productivity but ultimately leads to a decline due to reduced plant diversity. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the significant impact of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning.
Researchers develop equations to estimate parasite and host metabolic rates, providing a new way to understand the energetics of parasites. The model reveals that there is a limit to how many worms can be accommodated in a host, with energy being the key limiting factor.
Astronomer Diana Dragomir reveals the hidden identity of super-Earth HD 97658b, measuring its size and mass for the first time. The exoplanet's density suggests a thick atmosphere, but it orbits too close to its star to support liquid water oceans.
Researchers at UCSB have discovered a new potential target in the fight against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases by exploring the possibility of inhibiting hyperphosphorylated tau. The study found that small molecular kinase inhibitors can efficiently reduce tau phosphorylation and exert a neuroprotective effect, restor...
Researchers demonstrate highest reported drive current on a transistor made of a monolayer of tungsten diselenide, achieving ON currents as high as 210 uA/um and mobility of 142 cm2/V.s. The discovery is significant for future low-power and high-performance integrated circuits.
The UCSB National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) is expanding its reach with a new $2.4 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The center will engage non-academic stakeholders in ecology research, tackling environmental challenges such as conservation of freshwater fisheries and resilient agricu...
A recent study by UCSB researchers found that parasites add layers of complexity and density to food webs. Their complex life cycles and interactions with hosts also make them a crucial part of the food web ecosystem.
Researchers at UCSB have discovered the mechanisms behind salt-mediated behaviors in fruit flies, shedding light on sensory biology and its connection to human brain function. The study reveals that two distinct types of neurons compete to regulate behavioral outputs, with one type activated by low-salt and another by high-salt.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a new method to control crystallization of organic semiconductors, increasing yield to near 100 percent with a low-cost, sugar-based additive. This breakthrough enhances performance, makes technology cheaper and more accessible.
Researchers found that purple sea urchins can adapt to ocean acidification through natural variation and heritable traits. The study suggests that adaptation will play a significant role in the survival of this keystone species as carbon dioxide levels increase.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a new framework to understand the behavior of charged molecules in ionic liquids. The discovery could lead to more efficient and sustainable battery technologies, with potential applications in electric vehicles.
A recent study published in Nature found that the Arctic tundra's carbon storage has remained relatively stable despite two decades of slow and steady warming. The researchers attributed this unexpected resilience to increased plant growth and changing soil conditions, which facilitated stabilizing feedbacks to offset soil carbon loss.
A UC Santa Barbara scientist and team found significant benefits to slowing climate change from reducing industrial methane emissions. Methane levels were highest near refineries, with nighttime concentrations enhanced by calm atmospheric layers.
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have successfully manipulated a quantum bit using laser light, enabling more unified and versatile control than conventional methods. This breakthrough opens up the possibility of exploring new solid-state quantum systems and potentially leading to the creation of more efficient quantum computers.
Researchers at UCSB's Koegel Autism Center successfully treat autism in infants by replacing distressing games with preferred activities and teaching parents how to implement the protocol. The study found significant improvements in infant reactions to stimuli, with two out of three infants having normal reactions and one showing very ...
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have found two hormonal signals that predict sexual motivation in young women. Estrogen levels surge two days before the increase in sexual desire, while progesterone levels drop during the luteal phase, leading to a decrease in sexual motivation.
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have identified Auger recombination as the mechanism behind the LED 'droop' phenomenon, a drop in light produced when a higher current is applied. This discovery is expected to lead to new ways to design LEDs with significantly higher light emission efficiencies.
A UCSB researcher has identified a protein molecule that helps maintain adult stem cells in fruit flies, revealing insights into regenerative medicine. The study found that this protein, castor, plays a critical role in specifying brain cell types during embryonic development and maintaining follicle stem cells throughout life.
A team led by UCSB professors found that certain microscopic shelled plants, such as Emiliania huxleyi, can tolerate high levels of carbon dioxide and even increase shell production, but may grow slower. This discovery suggests variable responses in marine organisms to ocean acidification.
Researchers at UCSB have discovered a key role for rearrangement hotspots (Rhs) proteins in bacterial intercellular competition. These proteins enable certain bacteria to compete with members of their own species by delivering toxic tips into neighboring cells, leading to cell death.
A team of biologists has identified the mating-type genes responsible for determining the sex of cells in the single-celled organism Tetrahymena thermophila. This discovery sheds light on a unique process of DNA rearrangements that leads to randomly determined progeny sex.
A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that mindfulness training can significantly improve reading comprehension, working memory capacity, and ability to focus. The results suggest that mindfulness can reduce mind-wandering and improve performance in tasks requiring attention.
Researchers found that increasing equity in conservation benefits compromises ability to maximize conservation outcomes. However, they also discovered that both equity and conservation can be achieved by raising total budgets.
The California chromodorid sea slug, declared extinct in Southern California in the 1980s, has begun to reappear in local waters. Marine scientists attribute its resurgence to improved water quality, mainly a result of stricter pollution regulations.
A team of physicists at UCSB has made a discovery that provides new understanding in the quantum realm. By manipulating light on superconducting chips, they have developed an unprecedented level of control over photons, enabling the shaping of released photons into different wave forms.
Bioengineering researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that changing the shape of chemotherapy drug nanoparticles from spherical to rod-shaped made them up to 10,000 times more effective at targeting and delivering anti-cancer drugs to breast cancer cells. The rod-shaped nanoparticles were engineered with an antibody called trastuzumab t...
Researchers at UCSB create novel way to convert sunlight into energy using gold nanorods and platinum nanoparticles, avoiding common semiconductor material limitations. This new process shows promise for efficient and cost-effective solar power generation.
A study by UCSB anthropologist Jeffrey Hoelle explores the complex relationship between cattle ranchers and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Ranchers, who are often seen as villains of Amazonia, actually have a nuanced perspective on their industry's impact.
Researchers found increased activation in brain regions utilized by typically developing kids after four months of Pivotal Response Treatment. This suggests improved social engagement and processing of low-level social stimuli. The study's findings have implications for early intervention and potential long-term benefits.
Researchers found that physical activity alone does not correlate with obesity or body fat among the Tsimane, suggesting excess food intake may be more responsible for chronic disease. The study also revealed that modernization has little impact on physical activity levels, but women are more likely to be overweight.
Researchers at UCSB developed a new, low-cost method to detect the critical feature of 'stick-slip' friction in cartilage pads, which is more likely to cause wear and damage. This finding has potential for early detection and monitoring of osteoarthritis.
A new study reveals that photovoltaics (PV) outperform biofuels in terms of energy efficiency, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions. PV systems are 30-200 times more efficient than biomass-based pathways, requiring significantly less land to produce the same amount of energy.
Theodore Kim's invention of wavelet turbulence enabled faster and more easily art-directable simulation of large-scale fluid smoke effects, used in dozens of major motion pictures. The algorithm was first presented publicly in 2008 and quickly caught fire in the industry.
Researchers found that Tsimane indigenous population in Bolivia does not exhibit the traditional Big Five personality traits, but rather a 'Big Two' of prosociality and industriousness. The study's findings suggest that lifestyle and ecology shape human psychology more broadly.
A team of UCSB researchers has identified changes in cellular metabolism as the triggering factor for Type 2 diabetes. By studying the four types of components that make up cells, they found a 'tipping point' where metabolic threshold is crossed, leading to beta cell failure and insulin regulation issues.
Researchers have made significant progress in studying quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where electron spins are connected. By calculating the extreme version of entanglement, they found a way to predict this characteristic and expect it to benefit fields like information technology.
Researchers at UCSB's Four Eyes Lab have developed a new approach to augmented reality (AR) applications that uses real-time computer vision and crowdsourced user data to create more stable and realistic overlays. This technology, termed 'anywhere' AR, enables users to interact with virtual objects in their physical environment.
A new study published in Global Change Biology explores the impact of climate change on entire forest ecosystems through changes in cloud cover. The research found that altered cloud cover can lead to increased carbon cycling and tree growth due to fog drip, which provides essential water input to the soil.