Science & Technology

Genetic variation across climates affects seed germination Seeds may appear lifeless as they lay dormant in the soil, but inside each little capsule is a complex biochemical machine waiting for the right time to spring to life. A new study led by UC Davis researchers investigated how climate conditions may play a major role in […]

Scientific explanation of 2019-nCOv outbreak  A novel coronavirus, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has made its way across the world, infecting more individuals each day. As of Feb. 5, the Wuhan coronavirus, or 2019-nCOv, has killed 564 people worldwide, with all but two fatalities occurring in mainland China, according to CNN.  Over 28,000 […]

Researchers work to understand connection between low flu vaccine uptake, spread of misinformation online Social media has become a persistent and crucial part of society. With many people relying on social media as their source of news, entertainment and means of communication, the influence of these apps on our minds has never been more prevalent. […]

UC Davis Koret Medicine Program will help shelters decrease euthanasia rates with funds from state budget  Whether it’s a cat at the shelter or a childhood dog, nobody likes to see an animal put to sleep. Since 1998, California policy has stated that no healthy or treatable animal should be euthanized, yet many shelters lack […]

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 […]