A new study finds that temperature changes destabilize animal populations and accelerate species replacement due to faster temperature fluctuations. If the trend continues, species could vanish and ecosystems collapse.
A new study reveals that long-read sequencing can diagnose rare genetic diseases more accurately, quickly, and affordably. By analyzing longer stretches of DNA, this technology eliminates gaps and provides direct phasing data, improving the diagnostic yield of genetic sequencing.
Financial contributions to immigrant-serving legal aid nonprofits increased by 4-11 percentage points during the 2016 election and 8-17 percentage points through 2019. This surge in funding helped these organizations adapt to anti-immigrant policies and position themselves as important safeguards for immigrant communities.
A new map reveals unique 'geologic fingerprints' across most of the African continent, enabling researchers to match artifacts and remains with their likely region of origin. The tool is particularly valuable for understanding human migration patterns, modern wildlife trafficking, and the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
Scientists suggest the Moon underwent a 'remelting' event due to tidal forces, resetting its geological clock and masking its true age with volcanic activity. This hypothesis could account for discrepancies in lunar-rock ages and impact basins, placing the Moon's formation between 4.43 and 4.53 billion years ago.
A new study highlights the critical role of mangroves in coastal resilience, providing $855 billion in flood protection services worldwide. Mangroves offer cost-effective protection to coastal communities and support national wealth by preserving lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
Researchers confirm theory of unique electron orbits, known as 'quantum scars,' which could improve transistor efficiency and enable novel methods for quantum control. The study uses advanced imaging techniques to visualize electron movements in graphene.
Research by UC Santa Cruz psychologist Barbara Rogoff finds that globalization has reduced collaborative interactions among Mayan families, but they still prioritize harmonious relations and community involvement. The traditional practice of Learning by Observing and Pitching In remains a key strength for Indigenous communities.
Scientists have designed bioluminescent proteins that can produce multiple colors of light for real-time imaging in cellular and animal models. These proteins are small, efficient, highly stable and can be used for non-invasive bioimaging, diagnostics, drug discovery and more.
Researchers have developed a method to produce biodiesel from waste oil using sodium tetramethoxyborate, reducing the need for high temperatures and pressures. The new process turns 85% of used vegetable oil into biodiesel and can be completed in under an hour at mild temperatures.
A group of international researchers presents a framework for using biologging data to test scientific theories and generate ecological insights. The framework emphasizes the power of theory-driven research and highlights the potential of biologgers to inform hypotheses and refine ecological theories.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have developed a highly accurate and affordable spectrometer that can be customized for specific applications. The device uses machine learning algorithms to reconstruct images with high accuracy, enabling astronomers to study phenomena such as exoplanet atmospheres and dark matter in faint galaxies.
A Colombian research team introduced transformative mapping techniques using community science data and innovative modeling to create detailed maps of bird species distribution across Colombia. These maps showcase the country's biodiversity, particularly in understudied regions like the Andean-Amazon transition zone.
A team of researchers has directly measured the behavioral responses of dolphins to military sonar, finding that they are sensitive to sound levels orders of magnitude lower than previously predicted. The study reveals unexpected behaviors, including fine-scale changes in movement and changes in group configurations.
A new model developed for predicting fault line slip also accurately forecasts landslides, providing a crucial tool for disaster preparedness. Researchers used data from monitored landslide sites in Northern California to validate the model's effectiveness.
Researchers affirm climate change, but found pace of warming hasn't accelerated recently. The team analyzed global surface-temperature averages and determined that an increased warming surge to be statistically detectable if it exceeded a certain level above natural fluctuations.
Researchers argue that AI's impact on public health depends on its development and deployment, warning of potential biases, lack of transparency, and exacerbation of existing harm. However, the authors also highlight AI's potential to improve healthcare systems, access to care, and provide essential services.
Researchers have developed two smartphone apps that provide safe indoor navigation, route guidance, and return to a previous location. The apps use built-in sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, to track the user's progress, reducing reliance on visual cues.
A new study suggests that California's affordable housing crisis is driving increased development in and near wildlands, putting residents at higher-risk for climate-related natural disasters. The research aims to understand the drivers of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) growth and its impact on environmental dynamics.
Researchers found that small regions of the brain can momentarily 'flicker' awake while the rest of the brain remains asleep, and vice versa from wake to sleep. This challenges traditional understanding of sleep and wake patterns, which have been defined by slow, long-lasting waves.
A new study by UC Santa Cruz researchers uses computer simulations to explore the possibility of life-supporting conditions on ocean worlds. The research found that lower-temperature hydrothermal vents could be sustained under a wide range of conditions, increasing the chances of life existing on these celestial bodies.
New research reveals how social media has supported an explosion of diversity in gender and sexuality in America, enabling self-expression and authenticity. Online platforms like Tumblr, TikTok, and Twitter have created new cultural narratives around gender identity, bisexuality, asexuality, and intersectionality.
A team of UC Santa Cruz researchers has identified a peptide in human RNA that plays a crucial role in regulating inflammation. The discovery provides a promising target for developing new treatments for inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and lupus.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz discovered a secondary population of platelets that appears with aging, exhibiting hyperreactive behavior and unique molecular properties. This 'shortcut' pathway bypasses normal differentiation processes, producing problematic cells that can cause blood clotting diseases.
Researchers discovered that spliceosomes, responsible for removing introns from genes, can remain active and engage with removed introns, potentially reinserting them into the genome. This finding suggests a possible role of spliceosomes in our DNA recycling and adds complexity to the genome.
A large-scale randomized controlled trial found that integrated health interventions, including drinking water, sanitation, handwashing, and nutrition, had measurable effects on children's genetic levels, enhancing their stress-response system and reducing oxidative stress. The study provides comprehensive evidence on the impact of env...
In Central Italy, traditional land management practices like leaf litter raking and sheep grazing reduced wildfire risk. However, these practices have been largely forgotten due to historical classism and sexism. The research highlights the importance of remembering these ancient practices in mitigating future wildfires.
A new AI model generates realistic images of single cells, which are used as synthetic data to train an AI model for better cell segmentation. The researchers found that providing a more diverse dataset during training improves performance.
Researchers identified an enzyme called WEE1 that promotes the generation of more milk-producing cells by halting cell division at just the right time. This process, known as endoreplication, generates cells with double the normal complement of DNA, leading to increased milk production.
A new study reveals that different chromosomes have separate end-specific telomere-length distributions, challenging the scientific consensus. Researchers found that most telomeres were either the shortest or longest across all individuals, suggesting that specific chromosome ends may be the first to trigger stem-cell failure.
Researchers found that salt marsh restoration can reduce flood risk, preserve habitats, and provide recreational opportunities. The study also emphasizes the importance of integrating nature-based solutions into comprehensive climate resilience strategies to mitigate future climate change impacts.
Researchers have discovered the first known nitrogen-fixing organelle within a eukaryotic cell, which challenges current understanding of biological nitrogen fixation. The discovery provides insight into ocean ecosystems and has potential implications for agriculture.
A new lab-on-a-chip system combines optofluidics and nanopores to rapidly test for SARS-CoV-2 and Zika viruses with high accuracy. The tool, developed by UC Santa Cruz researchers, can detect viruses at extremely low concentrations and outperform PCR tests in some cases.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz find that popular link prediction metrics are flawed and do not accurately measure algorithm performance. They recommend using a new metric, VCMPR, to benchmark link prediction tasks and highlight the importance of accurate metrics in machine learning decision-making.
While some tree-planting organizations have shown improvement in community involvement and addressing drivers of deforestation, many still lack transparency and long-term planning. Researchers found that only 70% of organizations report monitoring data and 10% commit to project maintenance beyond 10 years.
UC Santa Cruz engineers developed an AI model that optimizes the use of renewables and other energy sources to restore power when a main utility fails. The approach significantly outperforms traditional power restoration techniques, responding faster and adapting to changing conditions.
The Python code library snnTorch, developed by UC Santa Cruz's Jason Eshraghian, has surpassed 100,000 downloads and is used in various projects. A new paper published in the Proceedings of the IEEE documents the library and offers a candid educational resource for students and programmers interested in brain-inspired AI.
Jessica Kendall-Bar, a UCSC Ph.D. graduate, has won the Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists for her groundbreaking research on elephant seal sleep habits while at sea. Her work revealed that these marine mammals sleep bilaterally during deep dives and have a flexible sleep duration range-wide 'sleepscape.'
Researchers found that Wolbachia pientis infection restores fruit fly fertility, enabling them to produce more offspring than uninfected flies. This discovery has significant implications for controlling insect populations and range, potentially increasing mosquito populations that do not carry human diseases.
A new study suggests that rebates can offer solutions to California's groundwater woes by incentivizing the collection of stormwater runoff and its infiltration into aquifers. The recharge net metering (ReNeM) program, modeled after rooftop solar metering, helps agencies meet Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requirements.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have created a device that mimics biological channels to detect biomolecules indicative of human disease. The bioprotonic system uses electrical currents of protons to translate biomolecule presence into electronic signals, with potential applications for in-vitro and clinical settings.
Researchers have created a new model using deep learning to forecast aftershocks, outperforming the current ETAS model on larger datasets. The Recurrent Earthquake foreCAST (RECAST) model demonstrates better performance and computational efficiency.
A novel liquid biopsy technology developed by UCSC Assistant Professor Daniel Kim's lab leverages RNA 'dark matter' to enhance cancer diagnosis. The test detects both protein-coding and repetitive noncoding RNAs in the blood, showing improved sensitivity for early-stage cancer detection.
The team successfully completed the sequencing of the Y chromosome using long-read sequencing technology and innovative computational assembly methods. This achievement adds 41 additional protein-coding genes and provides crucial insight into reproduction, evolution, and population change.
Researchers analyzed satellite data from 1967 to 2021, finding nearly twice as many grids with declining snow cover as advancing ones. Snow presence is decreasing in Arctic and southern latitudes, while some areas like Eastern Canada see an increase.
A new study finds that boat strikes are increasing manatee strandings and injuries in Belize, with areas of high boat traffic and mangrove habitats showing higher risk. Conservation efforts should focus on reducing boat numbers and speed within protected zones to mitigate this threat.
Scientists have identified a key event controlling the timing of biological clocks, which could lead to therapies for sleep disorders and clock disruption. The study found that a genetic mutation shortens the clock cycle in people with Familial Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome.
Researchers have imaged a double-lobed structure resembling Jupiter's radiation belts around an ultracool dwarf, revealing the presence of high-energy electrons trapped in its magnetic field. This discovery provides a new method for assessing the shapes of magnetic fields on brown dwarfs and exoplanets.
The human pangenome reference combines genetic material from 47 individuals, enabling a deeper and more accurate understanding of worldwide genomic diversity. This improves the detection of variants in the human genome, particularly structural variants that can have important health implications.
The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute will run the Data Coordination Center for the Scalable and Systematic Neurobiology of Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Risk Genes (SSPsyGene) Consortium. The team will coordinate an initial selection of 250 relevant genes from nearly 30,000 protein coding genes in the human genome.