Fish Evolution Accelerated After Adapting to Eat off Hard Surfaces

Andy Fell — April 28, 2026 - 1:47pm

Why are there so many species of coral reef fish? According to a new study, it’s because about 50 million years ago, some fish figured out how to bite food from hard surfaces.

Evolution doesn’t proceed at an even pace: Species evolve in jumps and spurts, followed by lulls. These periods of rapid diversification usually occur after a dramatic environmental change or upheaval, or when a lineage develops a new “innovation” that allows them to use a previously inaccessible resource. For fish, the ability to feed from a hard surface was one such innovation.

The Aggies Making UC Davis ‘A Leader in Inclusion’

Cody Kitaura — April 27, 2026 - 3:30pm

Chancellor Gary S. May this month honored several faculty, staff and students who live out the Principles of Community by naming them recipients of the Chancellor’s Achievement Awards for Inclusive Excellence.

At a reception at his residence on April 8, May said the Principles of Community reminds all members of our campus community of the importance of mutual understanding and respect for all, despite different identities, ideas, opinions, perceptions and more.

UC STEM Fest to Inspire Kids with Science and Engineering

Andy Fell — April 27, 2026 - 3:19pm

Hundreds of local schoolchildren will get hands-on exposure to science, technology, engineering and math at the 2026 UC STEM Fest, to be held Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to noon at Rex & Margaret Fortune Early College High School in Elk Grove.

Give Day Hits 10-Year Milestone with Strong Support

Cody Kitaura — April 27, 2026 - 9:00am

Marking its 10th anniversary over Picnic Day weekend, the UC Davis community rallied for Give Day 2026 to celebrate a decade of impact. With nearly 4,500 donations made both online and in person, this year’s event raised almost $3.9 million. Since its launch in 2017, Give Day has raised more than $32 million from over 56,000 donors.

For a fourth consecutive year, Development and Alumni Relations employees, with Gunrock alongside them, traveled across campus in cow-themed golf carts dubbed “Fund-Grazers,” generating buzz for the event.

UC Davis Receives $75M Historic Gift in Support of Veterinary Medicine

Amy M Quinton — April 23, 2026 - 5:00pm

The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine has received $75 million from Bay Area residents Kathy Chiao and Kenneth Hao.

Among the Academies: The World’s Historical Lessons

Jose Antonio Vadi — April 21, 2026 - 8:03am

Historian Andrés Reséndez’s career is, appropriately, an exercise in moving backwards through time.

Campus To Test WarnMe April 29

Julia Ann Easley — April 20, 2026 - 10:25am

UC Davis will test its emergency notification system April 29. Students and employees should verify and update their contact information on the WarnMe website.

Statement: UC Davis Mourns Student Lincoln Wells Sabini

Julia Ann Easley — April 17, 2026 - 11:22am

We are deeply saddened to share that Lincoln Wells Sabini was the UC Davis student who died following a collision between a car and a bicycle on Hutchison Drive, near the West Village housing area on April 13.

Checking In With Chancellor May: A Place to Belong and Prosper

Cody Kitaura — April 16, 2026 - 10:00am

To the UC Davis Community:

LeShelle and I wish everyone a wonderful Picnic Day, which will be held this Saturday (April 18). We look forward to opening our campus doors wide for this student-run event so the community can see our world-class research and programs up close.

Tomato Industry Taking Steps to Stop Spread of Parasitic Weed

Amy M Quinton — April 15, 2026 - 9:51am

UC Davis researchers are playing a key research role in the battle against branched broomrape, developing in-field sanitation guidelines for tomato harvesters.

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