UC Davis Science and Climate News

Stop-and-Go Science: Researchers Pivot to Try to Salvage Important Work

Jocelyn C Anderson — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:13 PDT

When climate change is faster than the speed of science and unstable funding threatens discovery, UC Davis scientists pivot to try to save important research.

Wildfire-Driven Deforestation Rates in California Among Highest in World

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 PDT

California has one of the highest rates of wildfire-driven deforestation in the world, and the trend has accelerated over the past three decades, according to a UC Davis study.

Managed Wetlands a Culinary Hot Spot for SF Bay Fish, But They Need Delivery Options

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:47:03 PDT

A UC Davis study shows that part of the San Fransisco Estuary is teeming with fish food — the managed wetlands of Suisun Marsh. Timing seasonal flood releases from them could feed more fish.

Unlocking Longevity Insights From Ancient Bristlecone Pine

Katherine E Kerlin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:00:00 PDT

Scientists have sequenced the bristlecone pine genome, which could help unlock the secrets of this tree's exceptionally long life.

Frog Love Songs and the Sounds of Climate Change

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00 PST

A good love song tells female frogs when the time is right for mating, finds a UC Davis study showing male frogs change their tune as the weather warms.

Some Corals Can Stand the Heat — Could They Help Those That Can’t?

Jocelyn C Anderson — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:45:57 PST

UC Davis researchers are studying why some corals can stand heat and heal from bleaching. The answers could help protect coral reefs from climate change.

Lessons from the Caldor Fire’s Christmas Valley ‘Miracle’

Katherine E Kerlin — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:00:00 PST

The Lake Tahoe communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers were spared during 2021's Caldor Fire. A UC Davis study reveals which pre-fire fuel treatments worked best to bring about the Christmas Valley "miracle."

Record Returns: 2,100 Salmon Spawned in Putah Creek

Katherine E Kerlin — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:32:36 PST

A record-breaking 2,100 Chinook salmon returned to spawn in restored Putah Creek this fall. UC Davis fish biologists and partners are tracking and monitoring the run.

Federal Budget Cut Halts Solar Heat Technology Project

Andy Fell — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:35:11 PST

A project to capture solar heat for industrial use — with potential spinoffs in other energy areas, including nuclear power — has been canceled by the U.S. Department of Energy on the cusp of its final phase. The University of California, Davis, received a letter from the federal agency stating that the work “does not effectuate the Department of Energy’s priorities.”

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