51�ԹϺ�� Davis Science and Climate News

2025 Lake Tahoe Clarity Report Released

Katherine E Kerlin — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 08:30:00 PDT

Staring into the depths of Lake Tahoe, you might think the view goes on forever. But researchers at the 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center have been tracking precisely how far a person can see through the famed lake’s waters for nearly 60 years and sharing the results in the annual Lake Tahoe Clarity Report.

After the Fires: Protecting LA’s Trees While Learning Lessons for the Future

Jocelyn C Anderson — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:55:40 PDT

Southern California is emerging from yet another round of wildfires just as the wildfire season gets underway.

These California Wildflowers Could Save Other Plants

Jocelyn C Anderson — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:50:40 PDT

The jewelflower, a small California wildflower, may help scientists understand how more plants could survive changing weather patterns.

Study Projects Plant Extinction Rates Through 2100

Katherine E Kerlin — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 PDT

A 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study in Science found that 7% to 16% of global plant species studied face high risk of extinction by 2100 under current climate change projections.

Forest Fuel Treatments Reduce Wildfire Spread, Prevent $2.8 Billion in Damage

Amy M Quinton — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 PDT

A 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study finds every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves $3.75 in wildfire damages.

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, 51�ԹϺ�� 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 51�ԹϺ�� 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 51�ԹϺ�� 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 51�ԹϺ�� 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

51�ԹϺ�� 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 51�ԹϺ�� 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. 51�ԹϺ�� 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, 51�ԹϺ��LA and 51�ԹϺ�� 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 51�ԹϺ�� 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

51�ԹϺ�� 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

51�ԹϺ�� 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 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study.

51�ԹϺ��� Davis Science and Climate News