Science & Technology Content

Looking Inside Icy Moons

Andy Fell — November 24, 2025 - 10:43am

The outer planets of the Solar System are swarmed by ice-wrapped moons. Some of these, such as Saturn’s moon Enceladus, are known to have oceans of liquid water between the ice shell and the rocky core and could be the best places in our solar system to look for extraterrestrial life. A new study published Nov. 24 in Nature Astronomy sheds light on what could be going on beneath the surface of these worlds and provides insights into how their diverse geologic features may have formed.

Rocks on Faults Can Heal Following Seismic Movement

Andy Fell — November 19, 2025 - 12:05pm

Earthquake faults deep in the Earth can glue themselves back together following a seismic event, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Davis. The work, published Nov. 19 in Science Advances and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, adds a new factor to our understanding of the behavior of faults that can give rise to major earthquakes.

UC Davis Chancellor May Leads Delegation to Kenya to Advance California–Kenya Climate and Trade Partnership

Katherine E Kerlin — November 13, 2025 - 1:06pm

UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May led a delegation to Kenya this week to advance a landmark partnership between the State of California and the Government of Kenya focused on climate action, clean transportation, climate smart agriculture, public health and innovation. Chancellor May was joined by Samuel Assefa, director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, as well as several university representatives. The delegation was jointly organized by UC Davis Global Affairs, Institute of Transportation Studies and the Office of the Special Envoy on Climate of Kenya.

Plants Balance Adaptability in Skin Cells with Stability in Sex Cells

Andy Fell — November 12, 2025 - 3:10pm

Mutations drive evolution, but they can also be risky. New research led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, published Nov. 10 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how plants control mutation rates in different stem cells to balance adaptability with safety and stability. The findings have implications for breeding some of the world’s most important fruit and vegetable crops, such as potatoes and bananas.

Mechanical Power by Linking Earth’s Warmth to Space

Andy Fell — November 12, 2025 - 11:31am

Engineers at the University of California, Davis, have invented a device that can generate mechanical power at night by linking the natural warmth around us to the cold depths of space. The invention could be used, for example, to ventilate greenhouses or other buildings. The work is described Nov. 12 in Science Advances.

UC Davis Chancellor May Names Aisha Jackson as University’s First Chief Information and Digital Strategy Executive

James Michael Nash — October 30, 2025 - 7:47am

University of California, Davis Chancellor Gary S. May has appointed Aisha Jackson as the university’s first chief information and digital strategy executive (CIDSE). Reporting directly to the chancellor and serving as a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Council, Jackson will begin her new role Dec. 1, 2025. The position is a two-year term.

Federal Contract for up to $40 Million Fuels Research to Revolutionize Clean Indoor Air and Defend Against Next Pandemic

Andy Fell — October 16, 2025 - 2:05pm

When a public building catches fire, its built-in systems automatically respond: Smoke alarms blare, sprinklers kick on, and occupants quickly evacuate.

But what if the life-threatening danger isn’t fire but invisible airborne contaminants that can make occupants sick? Could a similar smart-building system monitor and improve the quality of the air indoors, where Americans spend 90 percent of their time?

Engineers, Neurosurgeons Help Restore Autonomy for People with Paralysis

Cody Kitaura — October 15, 2025 - 7:00am

In a world first, a team of engineers, neuroscientists and neurosurgeons at UC Davis and UC Davis Health has demonstrated that brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, for translating brain signals into speech can also enable control of a computer cursor.

Astronomers Find Mystery Dark Object in Distant Universe

Andy Fell — October 09, 2025 - 2:40pm

Using a global network of telescopes, astronomers have detected the lowest-mass dark object yet found in the universe. Finding more such objects and understanding their nature could rule out some theories about the nature of dark matter, the mystery substance that makes up about a quarter of the universe. The work is described in two papers published Oct. 9 in Nature Astronomy and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Newly Recognized Pathway Could Protect People with Diabetes from Hypoglycemia

Andy Fell — October 02, 2025 - 11:15am

A new study by the University of California, Davis, shows how cells work together to avoid a sudden drop in blood sugar. Understanding these feedback loops could improve the lives of people with diabetes and help them avoid dangerous hypoglycemia.

The work was published Sept. 16 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.