China's 3,046-kilometer "Great Green Wall" has transformed its largest desert into a carbon sink

“This is not a rainforest. It’s a shrubland like Southern California’s chaparral. But the fact that it’s drawing down CO2, and doing it consistently, is something positive we can measure and verify from space,” King-Fai Li, study co-author and atmospheric physicist at the University of California, Riverside.
IFL Science | February 18, 2026

About 15% of households in California don't have internet access, report finds

About 15% of California households lack access to high-speed internet, according to a report from UC Riverside. Researchers pointed to affordability as one of the biggest barriers to closing the persistent digital divide. Edward Helderop, associate director at UCR’s Center for Geospatial Sciences and report author, comments on the study.
LAist / KPCC 89.3 FM | February 17, 2026

Charge up your camera for an early wildflower bloom

University of California, Riverside plant ecologist Loralee Larios notes she recently observed a bloom she hadn’t expected until mid-March. She said the desert is already experiencing displays of sand verbena and evening primrose, and she predicted California poppies in Antelope Valley soon.
The Bakersfield Californian | February 16, 2026

Carbon's hidden superpower: How extreme warming can trigger an ice age

Global warming could eventually bring about a new ice age on Earth, aided by organic carbon buried in the deep ocean, according to a 2025 study whose lead author was UCR geologist Andy Ridgwell.
The Weather Network | February 15, 2026

The secret to happiness according to new research

To feel true happiness, UCR's Sonja Lyubomirsky says people need to build a loving connection with another person. That jumpstarts a cycle of mutual love: you have to show more to get more.
UK Independent | February 14, 2026

Scientists warn against breathing in secondhand vape ‘smoke’

Researchers including UC Riverside environmental scientist Ying-Hsuan Lin found that aged vape aerosols contain fine particles bearing metals and highly reactive compounds that have the potential to damage lung tissues.
Newsweek | February 3, 2026

Food waste fix gets flies to turn waste into useful stuff

Scientists including UCR entomologist Kerry Mauck have created a small-scale system that transforms food waste into high-protein animal feed and fertilizer using black soldier flies, offering a sustainable solution to a major environmental problem.
The Good Men Project | February 1, 2026

Fire-loving fungi have learned to eat charcoal — a useful skill for dealing with industrial waste

University of California, Riverside mycologist Sydney Glassman and colleagues have published a study describing how inconspicuous fungi hidden in soil evolved to protect themselves from heat and how they acquired the genes that allow them to munch on charcoal.
Discover Magazine | January 30, 2026

Common parasite hiding in many people is more complex than scientists thought

A parasite that lives inside as many as 1 in 3 people worldwide may be much harder to treat than once believed, according to new research led by Emma Wilson, a professor of biomedical sciences at UC Riverside.
US News & World Report | January 29, 2026

Scientists map a road to fairer, more inclusive drug development

UCR researchers find that only 6% of drug trials in the US between 2017 and 2023 reflected the racial and ethnic diversity of the country, raising concerns about who modern treatments are designed for.

Tiny Mars has a big impact on our climate

UCR astrobiologist Stephen Kane learns that Mars has shaped Earth's climate, including ice ages, more than was previously realized. 
Yahoo News via Nautilus | January 20, 2026

A little-known part of your brain could keep you strong as you age

UCR bioengineers, professor Xiaoping Hu and doctoral student Amin Ghaffari pinpointed a little-known part of the brain crucial to maintaining strength and vitality as we age. 
Huffington Post UK | January 14, 2026

UC enrolls more Californians, driven by increases at Riverside campus

EdSource highlights a large increase at UCR for California.
EdSource | January 8, 2026

Nvidia says its new AI chips won't require as much AC

UCR AI researcher Shaolei Ren talks with NPR's Marketplace about the benefits of next-generation chips that require less cooling.
Marketplace / NPR | January 7, 2026

Learning new skills can help protect against loneliness and depression

UCR's Rachel Wu discovered a link between continued skill learning and improved mental health during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sacramento Bee | January 6, 2026

When research ends abruptly: preparing for study terminations with Brandon Brown, MPH, PhD

What happens when research stops mid-stream? In this podcast, Brandon Brown breaks down the practical & ethical challenges of abrupt study terminations — and how the research community can prepare.
Research Ethics Reimagined | December 19, 2025

America’s Most Popular Cooking Oil Linked to Obesity in New Study

UCR's Frances Sladek and Sonia Deol discover a chemical reason why soybean oil leads to obesity in some individuals, but not others. 
Newsweek | December 1, 2025

The benefits of being grateful

Sonja Lyubomirsky talks about happiness with a CNN anchor who says the UCR researcher’s books have changed her life.
CNN | November 27, 2025

Hunger is on the rise in the Coachella Valley

Kurt Schwabe explains that many Coachella Valley workers are trapped in seasonal, low-wage jobs that don’t cover housing + basic needs.
Palm Springs Life | November 25, 2025

You don’t get your ‘adult’ brain until your 30s

Psychologist Ilana Bennett says she was struck by a recent study’s finding that adolescence may stretch from age 9 all the way to 32, a span she expected would show more pronounced developmental shifts.
Everyday Health | November 25, 2025