Society, Arts & Culture Content

Does Structural Racism Shorten People’s Life Expectancy?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 24, 2026 - 9:40am

Not every neighborhood is near a toxic waste site. Not every block has a liquor store. These forms of neighborhood blight, as well as segregation and racial inequality, are all examples of structural racism.

New Research Suggests FDA Should Consider Redesign of Proposed Nutrition Labels

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 24, 2026 - 9:20am

Packaged foods offer convenience for families and individuals, but they can be a major source of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, which when consumed in excess contribute to chronic disease. To help people build healthier diets, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a new front-of-package nutrition label in January 2025 that would inform consumers about the presence of these nutrients.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Fashion Students Learn From Scottish Artisans at Royal Estate

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 13, 2026 - 3:48pm

In a small Scottish village on the vast estate of King’s Foundation, filled with green grasses, manicured gardens and roaming farm animals, a group of 51�ԹϺ�� Davis design students experienced first-hand what local and sustainable fashion looks like in the U.K.

Weekender: Student Art in Library; 51�ԹϺ�� Arts Exhibition in Bay Area; Music; Square Dance

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 12, 2026 - 10:00am

Study room art; music at Mondavi and Pitzer; murals at TANA, and more in store this weekend!

What Makes a Hit? On TikTok and Spotify, Listeners Only Partly Decide

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 09, 2026 - 12:21pm

TikTok is built for people to create and share their own content, so dance music and indie artists fill the platform’s Top 100. On Spotify, love songs and music from major record labels dominate its top charts. On both platforms, people’s preferences only partly explain what songs become hits.

Weekender: Multicultural Music; Library Pop-up; Theatre; Art and Climate Talk

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 05, 2026 - 11:10am

All forms of art are on view, on stage, and in the library pop up this weekend. Read on for all the details.

Inside 51�ԹϺ�� Davis’ Winter Musical ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 04, 2026 - 11:53am

For an audience, the level of thought, detail and coordination that goes into a theatre production may sometimes be underappreciated. From casting, costuming, designing and building a set to stage lighting and, of course, the weeks of rehearsals, having a great team helps the whole process flow more easily and ensures a tighter, better, more entertaining performance.

Weekender: A Horse Trots Across Campus; Art Blends with Music in Noon Concert; ‘Drowsy Chaperone’ in Theatre

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — February 26, 2026 - 10:11am

Bow Tie, a Deborah Butterfield sculpture of a horse, was relocated from its long-time

Adolescent Social Health May Foretell Loneliness, Aggressive Behavior, Study Suggests

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — February 23, 2026 - 2:27pm

Teens who are lonely and those who experience conflict in their home life are more likely to act aggressively toward peers or become victims themselves. These are some of the findings in a new University of California, Davis, study that creates a detailed picture of children’s social lives by identifying patterns and predictors of adolescent social health.

Weekender: Music; Bread and Art at Museum; Murals at Biodiversity Day

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — February 19, 2026 - 10:30am

This week, the Arts Blog illustrates that art, music, food and biodiversity all go together. Read on. Have a great weekend, and sample these arty, foody, events. Karen Nikos-Rose, Arts Blog Editor