Science & Technology

UC Davis Horticulture Innovation Lab’s DryCard improves the health of communities by testing the dryness of grains, seeds. Across several low-income and moderate-income countries, ambient humidity poses a challenge for food dehydration, a traditional method for food preservation. UC Davis agricultural engineers aim to change this paradigm, offering DryCard to test the dryness of products […]

California scientists win major grant to study how to decrease greenhouse gasses using soil amendments. Whether it’s building giant solar farms, constructing public transportation or putting a price on carbon, most proposed solutions to global warming involve cutting carbon dioxide emissions. The California Collaborative on Climate Change Solutions, or C4S, is a group of researchers […]

An interest in teapots grew into the Global Tea Initiative for the Study of Tea Culture and Science Gut microbiota. Kombucha. Epigenetic changes in women. These are just a few of the topics that were discussed at the Global Tea Initiative (GTI) for the Study of Tea Culture and Science‘s fourth annual colloquium held on […]

Indigenous corn in the Sierra Mixe can fix atmospheric nitrogen, diminishing the need for fertilizer Similar to many areas where commercial corn is grown, the mountainous region of the Sierra Mixe in Southern Mexico lacks nitrogen in the soil. In this region, a particular type of corn grows and feeds an entire community — without […]

Iron consumption in infants and youth shapes early development. As infants grow up, they take in nutrients to build the foundation for their social, motor and cognitive development. Formula milk and weaning foods, among other nutrient sources, are fortified with micronutrients to support this process. Iron, among other micronutrients, is critical for neural development, a […]

Alarming decrease of the sunflower sea star population associated with ocean warming A recent study led by UC Davis and Cornell University on the correlation between warmer ocean temperatures and the increased effects of an epidemic serves as a reminder that climate change is an increasingly dangerous issue. In investigating the relationship between these raised […]

The California Aggie explores some of the various museums and collections UC Davis will host the 8th annual Biodiversity Museum Day on Feb. 16 to showcase 13 biodiversity-related museums and collections. Organizers hope to celebrate the great variety of species that inhabit the earth and highlight the threat human actions pose to biodiversity. Many of […]

Researchers have found a drug that can help prevent cancer from returning after chemotherapy Chemotherapy is a paradox. It kills cancer cells but once the treatment is completed, it makes it easier for tumors to re-grow. Researchers at Harvard and UC Davis demonstrated in a paper published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of […]

UC Davis researchers use tiny transponders and urban feeders to study hummingbird behavior Researchers at UC Davis studied the habits and visits of Anna’s hummingbirds and Allen’s hummingbirds to urban feeders in an effort to further understand their behavior and health. The feeders were equipped to beep every time a hummingbird visited, giving researchers information […]

Gender-inclusive, agricultural and nutrition extension programs lead to healthier international farming communities. Nutrition is not the same across all farming communities. Some farming communities encounter mixed nutritional messages, which challenges their health and agricultural development. Extension programs, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, find solutions that match country and culture-specific realities for […]

Research reveals how increasing minimum wages can improve public health When the topic of income is raised, the issue is conventionally associated with the field of economics. Current research, however, suggests that a correlation exists between income and public health, specifically between minimum wages and smoking addiction. According to a recent study entitled “Minimum Wages […]

A team of UC Davis students wins the $500,000 prize for its chatbot Gunrock After nearly a year of hard work, the UC Davis student team that participated in the Amazon Alexa Prize 2018 competition won the $500,000 prize for their chatbot, Gunrock. Gunrock was assessed on its ability to hold a conversation on a […]