Science & Technology

Newly-employed golden retriever Landon has been brightening up hospital rooms at UC Davis Health   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org Landon, a two-year-old golden retriever, has an important job: to cheer up hospital patients. Equipped with a wagging tail and a joyful spirit, Landon distracts people from a stressful time in their lives with his […]

Studies have shown that in geriatric populations specifically, those reporting higher levels of loneliness were also less likely to use telehealth for medical care   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org Social isolation and loneliness for prolonged periods of time are linked to health issues like heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The Center for […]

The cubs’ rescue is part of a conservation effort to protect the species as they face a rapid population decline   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org Mountain lions — also called cougars, panthers or pumas — are a keystone species, as other species in the ecosystem largely depend on them. They can be found anywhere from […]

This technology allows surgeons to visualize their patients’ anatomy without making a single incision   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org Part of a surgeon’s responsibility is to cut into their patient in order to visualize and fix their medical issues. But what if surgery didn’t need to be so invasive? UC Davis Health’s spine surgeon […]

The drug commonly used for enjoyment and coping purposes may lead to cognitive, sleep and other somatic issues   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org Cannabis, also frequently referred to as marijuana, weed or pot, is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States. Marijuana affects parts of the brain that control movement, […]

The scaffold utilizes a special molecule that interacts with endothelial cells, accelerating the healing process and reducing complications   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org    UC Davis researchers have bioengineered a scaffold, a structure that provides support for cellular attachment and tissue development, to accelerate the healing time of deep burn wounds.  “Since large deep […]

Testosterone, a hormone present in larger quantities in males, plays a vital role in stress regulation   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org Anxiety disorders are diagnosed in women twice as often as they are diagnosed in men. As children, however, girls and boys have an equal likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. These differences between […]

Positron emission tomography is allowing scientists to study how viral infections affect T cells   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org  Positron emission tomography (PET) is a technique used by scientists and medical professionals to better understand various body systems. It utilizes a tracer, which is a radioactive drug, to get a clearer image of metabolic […]

Girls Who Code hosts beginner-friendly hackathon focused on sustainability and student life   By SONORA SLATER — science@theaggie.org    “This is my first hackathon,” first-year data science major Varshini Peddinti said with an excited smile, sitting in California Hall on a rainy Friday night waiting to participate in the HerHacks hackathon. She wasn’t alone in […]

A gene variant in the breed has a significant association with cancer occurrences   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org  Golden retrievers are known for being playful, affectionate and gentle, making them one of the most popular dog breeds around the world. Unfortunately, these beloved pets are also known for one more key characteristic: they are […]

The CD95 receptor can be used alongside immunotherapy to kill cancer cells   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org  Researchers from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a way to trigger the death of cancer cells. This new advancement could pave the way for the development of more effective cancer treatments.  The findings were […]

This emerging technology will improve medical diagnoses and anatomical knowledge   By KATIE HELLMAN — science@theaggie.org  A recent study published in the British Journal of Radiology has shown that a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system can capture the live motion of wrists. These new systems can lead to a better understanding of the anatomy […]