Science & Technology Content

Light Bends Perovskite Crystal Lattice, Opening Way to New Devices

Andy Fell — March 31, 2026 - 4:08pm

New types of semiconductor devices that respond to light could be possible using materials called perovskites, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis. The work, published March 3 in Advanced Materials, shows that halide perovskite crystals reversibly change shape when exposed to light.

4 Elected as AAAS Fellows

Andy Fell — March 26, 2026 - 10:00am

Four faculty from the University of California, Davis, have been elected as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, class of 2025. They are among nearly 500 scientists, engineers and other innovators that the society recognized this year for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements.

Here are the new fellows, with their fellowship citations:

Hawk Study Shows Potential Lessons of Bird Flight

Andy Fell — March 04, 2026 - 10:58am

Birds have an ability to fly through obstacles by shifting their shape in flight, which is difficult to reproduce in uncrewed aerial vehicles, commonly known as UAVs or drones.

Transformative Gift Propels 51�ԹϺ�� Davis’ Leadership in Ag Tech

Amy M Quinton — March 03, 2026 - 9:09am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis receives a $25 million gift from the estate of Dan G. Best II to fund endowed chairs, scholarships and agricultural innovation in honor of C.L. Best.

Egghead’s Weekend Basket for February 27

Andy Fell — February 27, 2026 - 3:55pm

Busy week? Here's a round up of research stories from 51�ԹϺ�� Davis to get you caught up.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Marks Anniversary of From Labs to Lives Campaign With Campuswide ‘Takeover’

James Michael Nash — February 25, 2026 - 6:00am

Over the past year, tens of thousands of people have watched and listened to University of California, Davis, researchers describe how federally funded research advances human and animal health, enables farmers to grow higher-yielding and sustainable crops, and enhances our understanding of our planet and cosmos.

Egghead's Weekend Basket

Andy Fell — February 20, 2026 - 4:16pm

So you didn't have time to read all the awesome science stories out of 51�ԹϺ�� Davis this week? Here's a roundup for your weekend enjoyment.

Mirror Image Pheromones Help Beetles Swipe Right

Andy Fell — February 18, 2026 - 5:26pm

There are many ways to communicate with prospective romantic partners: If you are a Japanese scarab beetle, it’s a matter of distinguishing left from right. New work from U.S. and Chinese scientists, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows how these beetles use mirror-image pheromones to find a mate. The work could lead to better monitoring and control of significant agricultural pests.

Connect Labs by Wexford Announces New Tenants and Flagship Programming at Aggie Square as Sacramento’s Innovation District Gains Momentum

James Michael Nash — February 10, 2026 - 7:00am

Connect Labs by Wexford today announced the addition of several new tenants at Aggie Square, underscoring the activation and growing momentum of Sacramento’s university-anchored innovation district.

Spectrometer on a Chip is a Revolution in Sensing Technology

Andy Fell — January 23, 2026 - 2:00pm

Engineers at 51�ԹϺ�� Davis have developed a tiny "spectrometer on a chip" that could miniaturize devices for medical, agricultural and environmental sensing with visible and infrared light.

A spectrometer analyzes chemical mixtures based on the spectrum of light (including infrared light) they reflect. Spectral sensing can be used, for example, to diagnose disease, assess the health of crops in a field, or measure soil quality.