Science & Technology

Survey shows increase in mountain gorilla population The mountain gorillas — Bikingi, Bweza, Habinyanja, Kahungye and Rushegura — living in protected areas in central and eastern Africa were all accounted for in the most recent population survey completed by conservation groups and UC Davis. Major conservation efforts for mountain gorillas, an endangered subspecies of eastern […]

$3 million grant given to institutions in California and Oregon to address unknowns of disease and mitigate its effects on grape production, wine quality Less than an hour from UC Davis, lie the towns of Napa and Sonoma, both hubs of the $163 billion US grape industry. California-grown grapes makes up 90% of the country’s […]

New app connects shoppers with desired products at local businesses in Yolo County Born and raised in Woodland, Grant Lea saw a problem in his local community, one that is also reflected in the rest of the world: Local businesses, offering unique merchandise and personal interactions, struggle to survive against major online retailers, like Amazon. […]

Evolution of scent receptor genes distinguishes a divergent species of orchid bee Orchid bees are master chemists. Each species gathers a unique mix of smells from the environment to attract mates. In a recent study, researchers surveyed two related species of orchid bees, Euglossa dilemma and Euglossa viridissima, and compared their unique perfumes. Even though […]

Turning hungry sea urchins into delicacies might save kelp ecosystem they threaten to eat away The odds seem to be against California’s kelp forests and their ecosystems. Not only are rising ocean temperatures making it difficult for the kelp to thrive, but also due to the declining number of starfish and sea otters, the sea […]

UC fee grants to be utilized to produce fire-resistant building materials, cancer-combative isotope In an annual competition to promote multicampus projects in the UC, two UC Davis projects stood out. One is headed by Professor Michele Barbato in the department of civil and environmental engineering and centered around wildfire research. The other is connected to […]

Reasoning for cracks, water eruptions from Saturn’s moon modeled in collaborative research A tiny, frozen ocean world. Enceladus, the six largest of Saturn’s 62 confirmed moons, reaches only 310 miles in diameter, which, for reference, is about the size of the United Kingdom. An ice shell about eight miles in width covers the 20-mile deep […]

Flying into the future of agriculture Entomologists and engineers are collaborating on a new method of controlling agricultural pests. In Santa Monica, Calif., researchers flew drones with light-sensitive cameras over a strawberry field to locate pest-damaged plants. Armed with a map of leaf reflectance patterns, they deployed drones loaded with predatory bugs to spot treat […]

Best headphones for college students One casual walk around campus would likely prove headphones are a student staple. After all, how could one get across campus and through the various responsibilities of the day without a podcast, audiobook or music for company?  Keeping in mind price, comfort and audio quality, the following lists recommendations for […]

First look into neurology of decision making, how it differs in group interactions Studies on how choices are made when interacting with another individual have been done to a great extent. However, many important choices today are made within groups: Should we vote? Who do we vote for? Do we contribute our income to public […]

Synthetic dyes derived from plant material could encourage sustainability in the fashion industry When thinking about sustainability and carbon footprints, it is important to consider society’s most polluting industry: fashion. The industry is responsible for over 10% of carbon emissions, more than air and sea travel combined, and is the second largest consumer of water. […]

California Department of Public Health awards grants to two research teams focused on studying Alzheimer’s disease Worldwide, 44 million people have Alzheimer’s disease, with 5.5 million of them living in the U.S, according to Alzheimers News Today. Women make up two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. In comparison to white individuals, African-Americans are about twice […]