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Friday, January 16, 2026

Science & Technology

Q&A with James Hildreth

James Hildreth, immunologist and former professor at Tennessee's Meharry Medical College, started his post as the new dean of the College of Biological Sciences this month. As a prominent AIDS researcher, Hildreth's work focuses on how HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, penetrates the cell and promotes infection.

Tech tips

Every time my phone lights up with a text I have to be careful not to actually open the text.

Computer-aided mammography not helpful to radiologists

In a new UC Davis study looking at 1.6 million mammograms taken across 90 facilities, Joshua Fenton and his co-authors found that computer-aided detection (CAD) in mammography actually increases false-positive readings, without significantly increasing detection rates of invasive breast cancers.

California mussels may be in danger from climate change

A recent study has found that the declining pH of oceans, a phenomenon called ocean acidification, could result in diminishing numbers of mussels throughout the northeastern Pacific.

Column: Real life forensic science

Popular TV shows or movies are sometimes difficult for me to watch. For example, the show "Heroes" sounded interesting at first, but I had to stop when halfway through the first episode a college professor repeated the "you only use 10 percent of your brain" myth.

Column: Enter sandman

Two people with sleep disorders sharing a bedroom can make for interesting nights, to say the least.

New Mars Rover field site selected with aid of UC Davis professor

With the help of a UC Davis geologist, the landing site for Curiosity, the new Mars rover, will be Gale Crater - a giant basin that contains a 5 km high mountain. NASA officially declared this selection in a press conference at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum on July 22.

Loss of apex consumers more than just an ethical issue

A recent international study claims that the dwindling numbers of several species of large predators, such as killer whales, lions, wolves, sharks and elephant-like megaherbivores, may be "humankind's most pervasive influence on the natural world."

Column: This is the end?

This column is not about the end of the school year. This is not about my stress over graduation or my bittersweet thoughts regarding the end of my time at The California Aggie.

Tech Tips

Looking to become healthier and fitter this summer? There are apps for that.

“Smart fridge” improves kitchen experience

The question "what's in your fridge" may seem like a simple one, but the answers are as varied as the people you ask.

Column: Good medicine

Four years ago, I felt like I was going to die.

Spacecraft finds “magma ocean”

A new analysis of data from the Galileo spacecraft has found that Jupiter's violently volcanic moon Io has a moon-wide ocean of magma just below its surface.

Dueling robots have a place in new major?

UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) has established a new robotics engineering major under its department of computer engineering. ?Students were able to start enrolling in the major less than a month ago, and at least 11 incoming first-years have declared this major, in addition to the 44 current students that have also declared robotics. ?"I would certainly love to see it help student recruitment rate, and get more students excited about coming to UCSC - they'll see that we have a broader range of engineering programs," said Richard Hughey, professor of computer engineering and biomolecular engineering at UCSC.

How to spot a liar

People lie. Those who are gifted purveyors of deceit use their skills to gain advantage in business, political and social situations.