UC Santa Cruz Science

Is a “Super El Niño” coming? 🌊🌧️ UC Santa Cruz climate researchers are breaking down what a massive El Niño season could mean for California's coast, weather, & flood risks. 📅 Oct 13 | 5:30 PM 📍 Quad Conference Center (Menlo Park) or Virtual 🎟️ Free & open to all RSVP: events.ucsc.edu/event/kraw-l...

Treehouse's RNA-based CARE approach turned up findings of potential clinical significance in 94% of patients with relapsed, refractory & rare cancers. It’s broadening access with a newly CAP-accredited clinical lab. #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth https://news.ucsc.edu/2026/09/cap-accreditation/

According to US News & World Report, UC Santa Cruz is: - 1st in the world for highly cited research in biology & biochemistry - 8th in the world for highly cited research in molecular biology & genetics - 1st in the nation for marine and freshwater biology - 7th in the nation for space science 🔭🧪

UCSC professor Aide Macias-Muñoz receives a $2M grant from the NIH to investigate how jellyfish regrow their eyes. 🪼 By studying the genetics behind these complex traits, her team aims to unlock evolutionary insights that could inspire new human gene therapies. 🔬🧬 news.ucsc.edu/2026/09/jell...

I'm excited to announce that @ucscscience.bsky.social has established five new research centers! A big welcome to the Center for Marine Genomics, Geohazards Center, Materials Innovation Center, UCSC RNA Center, and Santa Cruz Center for Astrobiology! 🧪

We are extremely grateful to Neerav Handa, whose generous gift supports students pursuing cancer research in @ucscscience.bsky.social. The Manjusha Handa Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Neerav's wife Manjusha, who passed away from breast cancer in 2020.

Congratulations to Assistant Physics Professor Edgar Shaghoulian for earning a Frontiers of Science Award from the International Congress of Basic Science!👏🌌 His work in formal quantum field theory helps push the boundaries of fundamental physics. Read the full article: news.ucsc.edu/2026/08/icbs...

At UC Santa Cruz, we’re writing the next chapter in RNA biology research as home to one of the world's largest communities of RNA scientists. 🧬 UCSC RNA Center Co-Director Jeremy Sanford breaks down the science and versatility behind mRNA vaccines: news.ucsc.edu/2026/08/mrna...

On its 150th anniversary, Lick Observatory continues to drive astronomical innovation. From training scientists like UCSC PhD student Lordrick Kahinga to pioneering astrophotonic tech, Lick remains a vital hub for hands-on research and discovery. 🔭✨ news.ucsc.edu/2026/08/lick...

Our new study (with @birdmapper.bsky.social) relating extinction risk with colourfulness across the world's passerine birds was covered by @mongabay.com! @ucscscience.bsky.social. news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

🔬 ✍🏽 Aspiring science communicators: a new UC online course taught by published storytellers how to translate science and its impact to the public and turn it into a career – in journalism, media relations, or social media. Enroll now and get $100 off: www.ucsc-extension.edu/courses/scie...

🌠 Peak Perseids arrive tomorrow night! Enjoy summer's brightest meteor shower from 11pm Wednesday through dawn on Thursday over California. Check out the pro tips shared by UCO Director Bruce Macintosh: www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti... 🌌 Where will you be watching from?

New study from UCSC on the cover of @science.org! 🦬 It turns out modern bison don't actually have significant cattle ancestry. By studying 20,000+ years of ancient DNA, researchers built a genomic blueprint to reconnect isolated herds and protect genetic diversity. 🔗 news.ucsc.edu/2026/08/biso...

🎉Version 500!!!🪅 Happy birthday, @ucsantacruz.bsky.social Genome Browser! 🎂 Five hundred versions later, the Browser serves thousands of genome assemblies across the tree of life, tens of thousands of annotation tracks, and a global community of researchers, clinicians, educators, and students.

From community college to astrophysicist! 🚀 Meet Dr. Christina Vides, who is joining UC Santa Cruz as an Astronova Fellow. Supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation, she is building next-gen tech to detect protoplanets orbiting distant stars. Read her story: news.ucsc.edu/2026/07/astr...)

A new UC Santa Cruz study reveals how lower-income & marginalized communities face steep barriers to accessing California's coast. The researchers offer practical solutions for equity, like lower parking fees & representative safety staff. 🏖️ news.ucsc.edu/2026/07/coas...

New research led by UC Santa Cruz professor, Kathleen Kay, debunks a classic myth, finding that tropical mountain flowers have evolved to attract hummingbirds over bees mainly because hummingbirds are better pollinators! 🌺 Read the full article: news.ucsc.edu/2026/06/flow...

Barry J. Bowman, professor emeritus of molecular, cell, & developmental biology and devoted supporter of UC Santa Cruz, passed away May 9 at his home in Santa Cruz. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of discovery, service, and community. news.ucsc.edu/2026/06/in-m...

“We are here ... We’re not something of the past. We are something of the present." Join in person/Zoom on Mon. 5/4 to launch Shadow Indigenous Worlds, which aims to immerse learners globally in Indigenous forms of inquiry and understanding. Learn more and RSVP here: news.ucsc.edu/2026/04/shad...

🌏 Join us tonight for "The Power of One," a free Earth Day event at UCSC! Film screening + panel with filmmakers Alex Valdez and Pablo De la Fuente, followed by a habitat restoration project tomorrow on the San Lorenzo River. Free and open to all. UCSC students are especially encouraged to attend!

New study finds the mating antics of animals can alter an ecosystem. Constant sexual harassment of female mosquitofish by males results in depletion of prey lower in the food web due to both sexes needing to maintain the energy for all the chasing and evading 🐠 💨 🐠 news.ucsc.edu/2026/03/sexu...

For #WomensHistoryMonth we spotlight Prof. Shaheen Sikandar. Her research shows how early pregnancy may protect against breast cancer by blocking age-related cell changes. A new @americancancersoc.bsky.social grant will allow her to shift focus from cure to prevention. news.ucsc.edu/2026/01/preg...

For decades, Alzheimer’s research focused almost exclusively on Amyloid beta. But is a “neglected cousin" peptide called P3 actually an overlooked culprit? New research from UC Santa Cruz suggests this supposedly harmless protein is anything but. news.ucsc.edu/2026/02/negl...

Calling all salmon lovers 🐟 On March 6, join UCSC’s Eric Palkovacs to learn about research-driven approaches to restoring Pacific salmon, threatened by dams, overharvest & climate change. This free, in-person lecture is from 6–7:30 p.m. Space is limited—register here: events.ucsc.edu/event/transf...

Three of our @ucscscience.bsky.social superstars presented their extraordinary work to the UCSC Foundation Board today! Thanks to Rachel Meyer, Roxanne Beltran, and Elizabeth Howard for changing students lives, while at the same time finding solutions to our most pressing challenges.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) helps scientists track pathogens, rare species, & ecosystem health using genomics. Join UCSC’s Rachel Meyer tonight for her Kraw Lecture at our Silicon Valley Campus at 5:30 pm. Register here: events.ucsc.edu/event/kraw-l...

UC Santa Cruz astronomy & astrophysics professor Raja GuhaThakurta is a distinguished researcher, inspiring teacher, leader in equity in science, & AAS Fellow. Today he delivers a keynote at the 247th AAS conference, highlighting programs he founded. Read more: astrobites.org/2026/01/05/m...

@ucscscience.bsky.social is reshaping what learning looks like, taking students down to Alaskan kelp forests, up to mountaintop observatories, and into cutting-edge cancer research labs. The skills and courage they build go far beyond graduation. Photo credit: 1. Dave Benet, 2. Sofia Orelind

In memoriam: UC Santa Cruz honors the passing of physicist and cosmologist Joel Primack, co-developer of the cold dark matter theory and a leader in linking science with public policy. Please join us in honoring the life of a dedicated mentor and truly seminal scientist: bit.ly/4rDCZ7e

Our Degree-Defining Experiences program at @ucscscience.bsky.social is now a year old, and the results have been transformational! As Zimin Cohen puts it: “This is the kind of science I want to do.” Read more: news.ucsc.edu/2025/11/degr...

Twenty-five UC Santa Cruz researchers earned a spot on the 2025 Highly Cited Researchers, placing their work among the top 1% most cited globally. The list included faculty and staff from across @baskinengineering.bsky.social, @ucscscience.bsky.social and @ucscgenomics.bsky.social ⬇️

Nearly every day for the past 20 years, UC Santa Cruz and NOAA scientists have waded into Scott Creek in search of endangered coho salmon. Their long-term research could hold the key to the species’ recovery across California. 🐟 Read more: news.ucsc.edu/2025/10/cali...

It’s Giving Day at UC Santa Cruz! Support high-impact science by giving to the projects that inspire you most. With 40+ initiatives in the Science Division, from student experiences to equity and access, every gift makes a difference. See all projects here: sites.google.com/ucsc.edu/giv...

6,000+ exoplanets and counting—just this year. This Thursday, Nov. 6, hear from Natalie Batalha, UC Santa Cruz’s director of astrobiology & former NASA Kepler scientist, on the search for life beyond Earth. 🌌 Free talk, hybrid format, and open to all. More info here: events.ucsc.edu/event/59th-f...

Today’s undergraduate STEM majors are tomorrow’s K-12 teachers, and Cal Teach is preparing them to transform how students see science, math, and their own potential. 🌱 This #GivingDay, your gift helps fund scholarships & training for future math + science educators: give.ucsc.edu/giving-day-2...

It was very inspiring last night to hear from @ucscscience.bsky.social professor @roxannebeltran.bsky.social about her research, in which she uses tagged seals to explore our oceans. Just fourteen tagged seals can provide detailed data on 1% of the entire 3D volume of the world’s oceans every year!

Ocean sciences prof Andrew Moore @ucsantacruz.bsky.social receives AGU’s Edward A. Flinn III Award for “unselfish cooperation in research,” for decades of work w/ peers @rutgersu.bsky.social on one of the world’s most widely used community ocean models 🌊 Read more: news.ucsc.edu/2025/10/moor...

"Data shows that expansion of those who participate in academic science produces better science that has a wider impact." From a new research-backed defense of DEI programs published today by Needhi Bhalla @ucsantacruz.bsky.social and peers @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social and @uofmass.bsky.social 👏🏾👏🏼👏

Congratulations to NEXTies Earth + Sea winners: UCSC professor Andrew Fisher won the "Brainwave Award" for his work as a scientist in the field of hydrogeology, and Darryl Wong and Gage Dayton shared the honor of winning the "Big Idea Award" for their environmental project work. 🏆👏

From @ucscscience.bsky.social, Danny Cruz (Porter, biomolecular engineering and bioinformatics) is a Cellular and Molecular Biology Ph.D. Student at the University of Michigan, and Ciara Bolt (Kresge, B.S. Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology) is a research associate at Natera.

Need proof that the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is worth preserving? Here are century-old fish preserved in essentially rum–a sweet twist that kept their DNA intact 🧬 What that DNA is telling us today is surprising even the most seasoned scientists: news.ucsc.edu/2025/10/rum-...

Congratulations to Fitnat Yildiz, distinguished professor of microbiology and environmental toxicology at UC Santa Cruz, for receiving $7.7 million in funding from the NIH to conduct precision research aimed at preventing cholera – a global health problem. Read more: news.ucsc.edu/2025/10/yild...

New research from UCSC’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience puts a dollar value on the storm protection mangroves provide—showing they reduce hurricane property damages by millions to billions. Read more: news.ucsc.edu/2025/10/mang...

Nobel laureate Carol Greider has been named an @americancancersoc.bsky.social Professor 🎉 Her work at @ucsantacruz.bsky.social aims to overcome longstanding barriers to new cancer treatments—understanding how telomere length is regulated and accurately measuring it. 🔗 news.ucsc.edu/2025/10/grei...

In the wake of Jane Goodall’s passing last week, many of our researchers here at UC Santa Cruz shared fond memories of Goodall and appreciation for her role as a champion of the natural world. Hear from a few faculty members who have been and will continue to be inspired by her legacy ⬇️

🔬Our 8-foot-tall cryoEM microscope is one of only 232 in the world—helping researchers fight influenza, RSV & more. Through global partnerships, we’re breaking down cost + distance barriers so scientists everywhere can accelerate discovery. 🌍✨ bit.ly/4nz9ml4 @ucsantacruz.bsky.social