Astronomers have used adaptive optics technology to pinpoint two supermassive black holes in a colliding galaxy. The observations reveal the black holes reside at the center of rotating disks of stars and are surrounded by young star clusters.
A new study suggests that frictional heating is the most likely explanation for the plumes and features observed on Enceladus. The process occurs when tidal forces cause fault lines in the moon's icy shell to rub back and forth, producing enough heat to transform ice into water vapor and ice crystals.
Researchers used seismic imaging to detect layered structures within the Tonga subduction zone's mantle wedge, revealing unexpected features that contradict textbook models. The study suggests water and fluids played a key role in shaping the mantle structure, with implications for the formation of volcanic arcs.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz determine the 3D structure of an RNA enzyme, or ribozyme, that carries out a fundamental reaction required to make new RNA molecules. The discovery provides insight into what may have been the first self-replicating molecule to arise billions of years ago.
The AEGIS survey reveals a consistent relation between galaxy mass and star and gas orbital speed over billions of years, constraining galaxy formation theories. The findings suggest fundamental properties of galaxies have changed little over the past 8 billion years.
A new report by the University of California, Santa Cruz, highlights environmental disparity in the Bay Area, with poor and minority residents facing higher exposure to air pollution and toxins. The study documents disproportionate burden on communities of color, immigrants, and low-income neighborhoods.
Researchers used Hubble Space Telescope to reveal a large elliptical galaxy with hundreds of globular clusters at an unprecedented 1 billion light-year distance. The discovery provides insights into the age, origin, and evolution of these clusters.
Astronomers have discovered an enormous halo of red giant stars surrounding the Andromeda galaxy, extending beyond its visible disk and indicating that it may be five times larger than previously believed. The discovery is based on observations of over 500,000 light-years of starry space using advanced telescopes.
Scientists at UCSC developed a new instrument to measure water droplet sizes in clouds, revealing a combination of entrainment and turbulence in raindrop formation. The findings suggest that stirring up droplets can speed up coalescence, challenging long-standing debates over the mechanisms behind this process.
Seismologists have directly measured heat flowing from the molten core into a region of the lower mantle for the first time. The new temperature measurements provide insight into the geodynamo and tectonic plate movement, helping scientists understand the Earth's internal dynamics.
Researchers develop new statistical approaches to assist doctors' decision making for severely ill newborn babies, enabling better-informed decisions and potential life-saving interventions. Bayesian methods will be integrated into electronic medical records to provide instant analysis of patient data and improve treatment strategies.
Recent breakthroughs have enabled researchers to construct an atom-by-atom model of the ribosome, a complex molecular machine responsible for synthesizing proteins. The high-resolution images reveal detailed interactions between the ribosome, messenger RNA, and transfer RNAs, providing new insights into protein synthesis.
Researchers used Hubble Space Telescope to explore galaxy formation during first 900 million years after Big Bang. They found a significant increase in bright galaxies around 13 billion years ago, providing evidence for hierarchical theory of galaxy formation.
A study led by University of California, Santa Cruz researchers has confirmed that bullet fragments and shotgun pellets are the principal sources of lead poisoning in California condors. The study found that 77% of birds tested had lead levels linked to ammunition, highlighting the need for action to reduce lead exposure.
A newly discovered gene, HAR1F, has undergone accelerated evolutionary change in humans and is active during critical brain development stages. The gene's role in cerebral cortex development and expansion during human evolution remains speculative but exciting.
Scientists track sooty shearwater migration patterns, revealing they don't follow a single route but instead focus on three major feeding hotspots. The birds' journeys take advantage of prevailing winds and productivity throughout the year.
A recent survey of galaxies observed along the sightlines to quasars and gamma-ray bursts has revealed a striking inconsistency. Galaxies appear to be four times more common in the direction of gamma-ray bursts than in the direction of quasars, contradicting basic concepts of cosmology.
Researchers at UCSC's RNA Center have obtained a near-atomic resolution image of the three-dimensional shape of a ribozyme, revealing how functional groups of RNA mediate acid-base chemical catalysis. This breakthrough sheds new light on the 'RNA World' hypothesis and has implications for understanding the origins of life.
Research suggests that seismic shaking can temporarily increase groundwater permeability, which could be exploited to enhance oil extraction. This phenomenon is caused by the gravitational effects of the moon on the solid Earth, forcing water in and out of wells.
Researchers found that the amplitude of shaking directly affects the chance of an aftershock, following an inverse power law relation. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that aftershocks are triggered by static stress resulting from crust movement.
Researchers propose that Enceladus' reorientation could be caused by a low-density blob beneath its surface, leading to a hot spot at the pole and explaining the moon's striking surface features. The study suggests testable predictions for future observations of Enceladus.
Scientists have discovered a subducted slab of oceanic lithosphere at the base of the Earth's mantle, providing direct evidence for its presence. The finding reveals new insights into the processes driving tectonic plate movement, suggesting that ancient seafloor can sink to the bottom of the mantle.
A new model for the capture of planetary satellites involving a three-body gravitational encounter between a binary and a planet suggests that Triton was originally part of a binary pair orbiting the Sun. This mechanism introduces a new pathway for satellite capture by planets, which may be relevant to other objects in the solar system.
A new study finds that blue-throated male lizards exhibit true altruism through cooperative partnerships to protect territories. Genetic analysis reveals the complex interaction of multiple genes controlling this behavior, offering insights into the evolution of altruistic cooperation.
Researchers at UCSC discover that Hymenopteran insects create new centrosomes in unfertilized eggs using accessory nuclei. This process allows for the development of haploid males, which have half the number of chromosomes as females. The study sheds light on basic cell biology and the evolution of these social insects.
A new study has found significant regional differences in ocean contamination levels among albatrosses, with black-footed albatrosses foraging in the California Current exhibiting higher concentrations of mercury and organochlorine compounds. The findings suggest that these contaminants build up in the tissues of animals high on the fo...
Researchers are using electronic tags on marine animals to collect data on oceanographic conditions, such as water temperature and salinity. This data is being used to improve ocean circulation models and gain insights into the lives of California sea lions and other apex predators.
Scientists warn of a similar climate shift as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, which occurred 55 million years ago. The rate of carbon dioxide emission is now faster than natural processes can absorb, potentially triggering abrupt changes.
Researchers found that half of planetary collisions result in impactors bouncing off, leaving them significantly altered. These collisions can strip away atmospheres, crusts, and mantles, producing diverse asteroid populations.
A new study analyzing data from the Extended Groth Strip Survey found that galaxy weights play a crucial role in determining star formation rates. Researchers discovered that heavy galaxies form stars early and rapidly, while smaller galaxies form their stars over longer timescales.
Scientists studying the Helheim glacier in Greenland found it has sped up from 70 feet per day to nearly 110 feet per day, thinning by over 130 feet since 2001. This accelerated melting could have dramatic implications for climate models and increase sea level rise.
Climate change is expected to shift the suitable ranges of blue oak and valley oak in California, with potential habitats shrinking by nearly half, posing a challenge for conservation planning. The study highlights the importance of regional climate models for accurately predicting species' responses to climate change.
Researchers used simulations to show that dark matter halos are detectable in disk galaxies, but their absence in elliptical galaxies can be explained by the merger process. The study provides new insights into the formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies.
Researchers develop kinetic antiferromagnetism, solving decades-long problem in theoretical physics. The discovery has practical applications in superconductors, magnetic storage devices, and other areas of materials science.
Researchers discovered a stable state in the ocean-atmosphere system that is dramatically different from today's, contradicting previous studies. This finding suggests the Earth's system functioned differently in the past, and highlights the need for improved climate models to reproduce various climate states.
A team of scientists found that the oceans took tens of thousands of years to recover from a massive carbon dioxide release during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. The study suggests that the recovery time for current fossil fuel emissions could be similar, highlighting the need for urgent action.
The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the earthquakes, including the longest fault rupture and duration of faulting, as well as the seismic waves that traveled around the globe. The researchers also found that the earthquake caused the planet to vibrate with 'free oscillations,' like the ringing of a bell.
The introduction of foxes to Aleutian Islands led to the transformation of vegetation from lush grasslands to tundra, with a significant impact on seabird populations. Soil phosphorus levels increased by three times in fox-free islands compared to fox-infested islands, reflecting the loss of marine-derived nutrients.
Scientists have detected high levels of silver contamination in North Pacific waters, linked to atmospheric emissions from Asia. The findings suggest that silver could be used as a tracer element for tracking the fate of industrial emissions, with implications for understanding pollution patterns.
Manuel Ares has developed a teaching exercise for undergraduate biology classes that helps students resolve conflicts in scientific data and apply processes used by scientists. The exercise involves laboratory experiments, literature searches, and presentations to develop a model of the system.
Researchers question current fisheries management practices, highlighting the importance of older fish in maintaining productive populations. The study reveals that eliminating older generations drastically reduces a population's ability to replenish itself, leading to collapse of West Coast fisheries.
Scientists have detected over 50 gamma-ray flashes per day, with energies comparable to those emitted by black holes and neutron stars. The exact mechanism behind these bursts remains uncertain, but researchers suspect it involves lightning discharges and electric fields in the upper atmosphere.
A team of researchers uses the Keck laser system to observe distant galaxies in unprecedented detail, finding that some systems exhibit old stars despite recent mergers. This discovery challenges prevailing theories of galaxy formation and may help explain the existence of large galaxies with little young star population.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have identified a highly conserved RNA structure, known as s2m RNA, in the SARS virus. This unique feature appears to be capable of binding to proteins involved in regulating protein synthesis in cells, leading scientists to hypothesize that it may hijack the host cell's machinery for viral use.
Researchers have developed a femtosecond laser nanosurgery technique to study genetic and molecular factors controlling nerve regeneration in C. elegans worms. The technique allowed for precise axon severing, enabling rapid recovery of function and new insights into neural regeneration.
Researchers developed a method to reconstruct ancestral genome sequences by comparing them with modern species' genomes, revealing new insights into mammalian evolution and biology. The technique achieved an accuracy of over 98% in reconstructing the ancestral sequence.
Researchers found that rifampicin stabilizes alpha-synuclein in a soluble form, preventing fibril formation and disaggregating existing fibrils. This finding suggests potential therapeutic benefits for Parkinson's disease when administered early in the disease process.
Researchers at UCSC have made new insights into the atomic interactions underlying zirconium tungstate's negative thermal expansion. The team found a combination of geometrical frustration and unusual atomic motions are likely important to this phenomenon.
Researchers found that black-headed duck eggs are often rejected from host nests of red-gartered and red-fronted coot species, which employ defenses against their own species' brood parasites. This rejection is due to coots' adaptations to counter intraspecific brood parasitism, leaving the ducks evolutionarily stranded.
A five-year grassland study found that both species abundance and loss order significantly impact ecosystem diversity, with diverse communities resisting invasive weeds. Researchers replicated natural patterns and processes to demonstrate the importance of considering realistic species loss scenarios.