Science & Technology

All things flow. Nothing stands. – Plato Throughout history, many writers, scientists and philosophers have waxed poetically some version of the idea that we are the universe experiencing itself. At first, this seems like some hippie jargon about universal love and peace. But look deeper, and there is an astounding level of scientific and philosophical […]

After “Mars Curiosity,” a space probe sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), successfully landed on Mars Aug. 5, UC Davis researchers continued to work. The 567-million-kilometer journey marked the 12th successful NASA Mars mission out of 16 attempted since 1964. Dawn Sumner, UC Davis associate professor in geology, is a member of […]

In a world of flesh and cellulose, who holds the power?  Do we, the flesh, hold the power to cut down the trees, or do the trees hold to power to relieve us of our air once they are gone?  This attitude of mutually assured destruction is the wrong way to go about creating balance. […]

Usually when one thinks of tomatoes, images of nice round fruits with a bright red color spring to mind. Heirloom tomatoes, on the other hand, typically don’t enjoy the same patterns of uniform redness. However, despite their lackluster color, a distinction in their genetics allows them to exhibit a higher level of sweetness than their […]

Stephen Robinson, a UC Davis alumnus who acted as a mission specialist on four space shuttle missions, recently announced that he is leaving NASA to become a professor at UC Davis. Robinson started as an undergraduate at UC Davis in 1973 and graduated with a double major in mechanical and aerospace engineering in 1978. Robinson […]

While studying the genome of the Heliconius genus of butterflies, researchers at UC Irvine found information not only relating to their abilities to smell and taste, but also the unusual source of their colorful wings. Different species of the Heliconius genus, a brightly colorful family, are able to acquire superior wing colors through crossbreeding. By […]

*Author’s note: While writing this column, I realize that I make many statements against religion that may offend individuals who identify as strongly religious.  I do not wish to offend anyone, and I am merely using evangelical religion as an example of a concept. What determines whether a child will speak English, Chinese or Spanish? […]

With the advent of renewable energy technology, such as wind turbines and solar photovoltaics, the public and quasi-public agencies that operate the U.S. interconnected power grid look for optimal ways to integrate traditional energy sources with new renewable energy sources. Power grid operators must decide how and when to switch on coal or gas back-up […]

Using computational modeling, UC Davis mathematicians have developed a mathematical design for figuring out why platelets, the cells that form blood clots, are the size and shape that they are. Platelets are important for healing wounds, but having too many can cause strokes and other conditions. Greater knowledge of how they form and behave could […]

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) is the only veterinary school in the UC system and is one of only two veterinary schools in California. Due in part to this unique status, the SVM incorporates a very large scope of diversity in its educational, research and animal and public health-related programs. One of […]

The volume of greenhouse gas released when a forest is cleared depends on the part of the world where the trees are grown and how they will be used, according to a new study by UC Davis researchers. In the study, lead author and doctoral student with the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies Jeffrey […]

As a student at UC Davis, one of the most prominent agricultural universities in the country, you are probably well aware of the practice of composting. However, other than throwing away your decomposable garbage in the designated “Compost Bins” at the MU, you may not know much about it. But many students and UC Davis […]