UC Davis Science and Climate News

How Climate Change Brings Wildlife to the Yard

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:04:38 PST

As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA and UC Davis researchers found one overlooked side effect: People report more conflicts with wildlife during drought, when resources are scarce.

For every inch that annual rainfall decreases, scientists found a 2% to 3% increase in reported clashes with a variety of carnivores during drought years, according to a paper published today, Nov. 12, in the journal Science Advances.

Mechanical Power by Linking Earth’s Warmth to Space

Andy Fell — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:31:09 PST

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.

An Extreme Tree Hunt in the Sierra Nevada

Katherine E Kerlin — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 PST

Across 24 peaks and 240 miles through the Sierra Nevada, a UC Davis team searches for high-altitude Jeffrey pines to learn how climate change is reshaping forests.

California Surface Water Costs Triple During Drought

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:01:33 PST

UC Davis study shows surface water prices triple during drought while groundwater prices remain stable over time. It points to the need for joint surface and groundwater management.

New Species of Spider Discovered, Just in Time for Halloween

Amy M Quinton — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:24:17 PDT

UC Davis scientists have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider in California's coastal sand dunes.

California Schools Are Losing Tree Canopy

Katherine E Kerlin — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:55:52 PDT

About 85% of elementary schools studied in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022, found a UC Davis study.

These Songbirds Learn More From Siblings Than From è��

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:00:00 PDT

The powerful role of siblings is highlighted in this UC Davis study of a songbird species with limited parental care.

Lake Tahoe Algae Experiment Suggests Seasonal Shifts Ahead

Katherine E Kerlin — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:06:00 PDT

As the climate warms and nutrient inputs shift, algal communities in cool, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe will likely experience seasonal changes, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.

Periphyton, that fuzzy layer of attached algae covering the rocks as you step into the water, is a healthy and critical part of a lake’s food web. Periphyton blooms, however, signal changes that can degrade both water quality and a shoreline’s natural beauty.

Maternal Exposure to Crude Oil, Flame Retardants Can Affect Later Generations

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:53:22 PDT

A tiny fish with transparent embryos is helping University of California, Davis, researchers shed light on how exposure to crude oil and flame retardants can affect behavior, skeletal growth, cardiac health and other internal functions in offspring and subsequent generations.

The research on multiple generations of Atlantic killifish (mummichogs) was published across three papers in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Chromium-6, Nanosilver Detected in LA Fire Cleanup Zones

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 09:53:42 PDT

Air quality scientists have detected elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and silver in air samples collected from the debris cleanup zones for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which occurred January 2025 in Los Angeles County.

Rainy Tropics Could Face Unprecedented Droughts as an Atlantic Current Slows

Andy Fell — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:00:00 PDT

New research warns that global rainfall patterns could shift dramatically as a result of climate change

Tahoe State of the Lake Report Released for 2024

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:00:00 PDT

The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center today released its “Tahoe: State of the Lake Report ,” which presents data from 2024 in the context of the long-term record.

Plants Seek Friendly Environments Rather Than Adapt

Andy Fell — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:33:41 PDT

As jewelflowers spread into California from the desert Southwest over the past couple of million years, they settled in places that felt like home, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis. The work, published July 1 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that the ability of plants and animals to adapt to changing climates might be more limited than it appears.

Massive Burps of Carbon Dioxide Led to Oxygen-less Ocean Environments in the Deep Past

Andy Fell — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:00:00 PDT

New research from the University of California, Davis, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Texas A&M University reveals that massive emissions, or burps, of carbon dioxide from natural earth systems led to significant decreases in ocean oxygen concentrations some 300 million years ago.

Lake Tahoe Clarity Report: Trend Stable, Not Improving

Katherine E Kerlin — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:35:34 PDT

UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center releases its annual Tahoe Clarity Report.

Fish ‘Beauty Salons’ Offer Insight into How Microbes Move Within Reefs

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:05:02 PDT

Where do you go when you’re a fish and you need a skincare treatment? Coral reefs contain natural “beauty salons,” lively social hubs of activity where fish “clients” swim up and wait to be serviced by smaller fish cleaners. The little cleaners dart under and around their much bigger clients — even entering their mouths — cleaning their scales of bacteria and parasites like a team of car washers servicing a Buick. Sometimes cleaners even rub against their clients, providing a soothing massage.

EV Battery Recycling Key to Future Lithium Supplies

Andy Fell — Thu, 29 May 2025 09:02:21 PDT

Lightweight, powerful lithium-ion batteries are crucial for the transition to electric vehicles, and global demand for lithium is set to grow rapidly over the next 25 years. A new analysis from the University of California, Davis, published May 29 in Nature Sustainability, looks at how new mining operations and battery recycling could meet that demand. Recycling could play a big role in easing supply constraints, the researchers found.

Extreme Weather Cycles Change Underwater Light at Tahoe

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:00 PDT

Large shifts in UV radiation at Lake Tahoe are associated with wet and dry climate extremes, finds a UC Davis study.

Native Turtles Return to Yosemite After Removal of Invasive Bullfrogs

Katherine E Kerlin — Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 PDT

After invasive American bullfrogs croak, native turtles return to Yosemite, finds a UC Davis study.

Helping Birds and Floating Solar Energy Coexist

Katherine E Kerlin — Mon, 12 May 2025 02:00:00 PDT

How might floating solar energy projects impact wild birds and vice versa? A UC Davis paper outlines key considerations for a growing floating solar industry.