News

UC Riverside scientists identify a new way to detect life in outer space with currently existing telescopes. The method hinges on worlds that look nothing like Earth, and gases rarely considered in the search for extraterrestrials.

The megalodon has long been imagined as an enormous great white shark, but new research suggests that perception is all wrong. The study finds the prehistoric hunter had a much longer body—closer in shape to a lemon shark or even a large whale. The study team, which included researchers from...

A new species of native California shrub famous for its twisted branches and wildfire resilience has been discovered on the central coast, but its survival is already threatened by urban development that could destroy its fragile population.

Andrew Gray, an associate professor of watershed hydrology at UCR, weighs in on the threats to life and infrastructure posed by fast-moving debris flows, and how residents can best respond.

UCR scientists have developed new light-sensitive chemicals that can radically improve the treatment of aggressive cancers with minimal side effects.

Many may be familiar with the new dean of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, or CNAS. Peter Atkinson, a professor of genetics in the Department of Entomology, has been with UC Riverside for 28 years. Less familiar may be his vision, which emphasizes social mobility, collaboration with other...

Millions of women undergo episiotomies during childbirth every year, yet the mechanics behind these surgical cuts remain largely unstudied. A new research project is poised to change that, addressing this significant gap in women’s healthcare.

Many phone apps offer general but nonspecific information about airborne particles. To help increase public safety amidst the LA fires, UC Riverside scientists are making new, real-time, advanced air pollutant measurements available to the public.

UC Riverside climate scientist Francesca Hopkins explains how carbon emissions from human activities turn into conflagrations, and she has some ideas about making urban landscapes more resilient.

Biofilm, a slimy bacterial layer that clings to surfaces, makes infections harder to treat when they form protective shields for bacteria on medical devices. Scientists have discovered a chemical that prevents biofilm from forming.

UC Riverside scientists have developed a nanopore-based tool that could help diagnose illnesses much faster and with greater precision than current tests allow, by capturing signals from individual molecules.

Scientists have discovered a way to remove toxic compounds from potatoes and tomatoes, making them safer to eat and easier to store. The breakthrough could cut food waste and enhance crop farming in extreme environments, like outer space.

California’s native wildflowers are being smothered by layers of dead, invasive grasses. A UCR study shows simply raking these layers can boost biodiversity and reduce fire danger.

Scientists have a new method for studying faults that could improve earthquake forecasts, shedding light on where quakes start, how they spread, and where the biggest impacts might be.

UCR is transforming undergraduate chemistry, allowing students multiple opportunities to demonstrate knowledge while reducing the high stakes of traditional exams. Educators believe the approach will improve outcomes for underserved students.

A new study reveals that prolonged sitting significantly harms even young, active adults, and current federal exercise guidelines are insufficient to offset the negative effects.

With age-related conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia on the rise, the University of California, Riverside, is joining a major effort to develop treatments that delay aging and improve life for older adults. The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a $45...

When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, lava incinerated anything living for miles around. As an experiment, scientists dropped gophers onto parts of the scorched mountain for only 24 hours. The benefits from that single day were undeniable -- and still visible 40 years later.

A sinister fungus is spreading through California’s bat populations, threatening their survival just as the spooky season takes flight.

The Arctic is warming at three to four times the global average. However, new research suggests the slowing of a key ocean current could reduce projected Arctic warming by up to 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.