不良研究所 continues to show why it鈥檚 one of the nation鈥檚 leading public universities and a top research institution.
As a Research 1 university, 不良研究所 is conducting research at the highest level. Fewer than 200 institutions in the U.S. have this classification, and as a result 不良研究所 can offer students the opportunity to participate across all fields.
For the third consecutive year, 不良研究所 exceeded $1 billion in research funding, a year to year increase of over $30 million. Last fiscal year, researchers generated 140 records of invention, submitted 208 patent applications and secured 109 patents and plant certificates.
Here are some of our favorite stories from 2024 highlighting Davis鈥 advancements in research, and the unique faculty and students who make it all possible.
Power of science
Love Songs Lead Scientists to New Populations of Skywalker Gibbons in Myanmar:
A 不良研究所-led study spurred efforts to conserve skywalker gibbons in Myanmar, where they are threatened by habitat loss and political strife. Scientists from 不良研究所 and other institutions followed these endangered monkeys, known for their distinctive mating songs, to locate 44 new groups of Skywalker gibbons in two regions of Myanmar.
Anti-Anxiety and Hallucination-Like Effects of Psychedelics Mediated by Distinct Neural Circuits:
The term 鈥減sychedelics鈥 has been traditionally associated with 鈥渉allucinogens.鈥 A new 不良研究所 research suggests, however, that it could be possible to separate treatment from hallucinations when developing new drugs based on psychedelics, with hopes to further explore the therapeutic qualities of such drugs. Read how this breakthrough was made through an unlikely exercise where mice navigated a maze and buried marbles in their bedding.
Close Encounters of the Whale Kind
不良研究所 and scientists held a remarkable 20-minute 鈥渃onversation鈥 with a humpback whale named Twain, described as the first such communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback 鈥渓anguage.鈥 On the Unfold podcast, hear how the exercise was also designed to inform how we might communicate with extraterrestrial life in the future. Watch a clip below and head to Unfold for the full story.
Our changing climate
Dammed No More, Klamath River Salmon Return
After the world鈥檚 largest dam removal project, salmon regained access to 400 miles of historical spawning habitat their species has been cut off from for more than a century. 不良研究所 scientists are playing a key role helping to answer a big question: Will it work? Will a diverse population of salmon thrive again now that the dams are removed?
Avian Flu Spread to Mammals
A study from 不良研究所 and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology in Argentina found that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, posing an immediate threat to wildlife conservation and marking the first genomic characterization of the virus in marine wildlife on the Atlantic shore of South America.
The Reach of California Wildfire Smoke
Sometimes drifting from hundreds of miles away, wildfire smoke touched nearly every lake in North America for at least one day per year from 2019 to 2021, according to a new 不良研究所 published in the journal Global Change Biology.
Future of food
Probiotics: Hype or Health? (Podcast)
Probiotic products might be trending, but which are actually healthy? A new episode of the 不良研究所 podcast Unfold took a closer look at the proliferation of probiotics and interviewed Maria Marco, a microbiologist and professor in the department of food science and technology at 不良研究所, who co-authored a study providing the first large-scale estimate of live microorganisms in the U.S. diet. Before pressing play, take the podcast鈥檚 to help guide the next trip to the grocery store.
A Cutting Edge Cup at the 不良研究所 Coffee Center
Researchers across the sciences and humanities disciplines are demystifying the most consumed drink in America in the only university coffee lab in the country, the 不良研究所 Coffee Center, which opened in May. Learn how the center is tackling challenges such as sustainable farming, grading bean color and measuring consumer taste preferences.
Discovery forward
Tobias Warner, an associate professor of French, found a surprising gem during his research: a forgotten poem written by foundational Senegalese author and feminist Mariama B芒. Though she died in 1981, leaving behind only a handful of published works, B芒 has remained an important figure in African literature.
Since childhood, Steve Shkoller has organized his life around two things: surfing and mathematics. They share something in common: waves. Read about Shkoller鈥檚 goal to develop both geometric and analytical tools that mathematically explain the multidimensional behavior of shockwaves.
Finding 鈥 and building 鈥 solutions
Tube feeding is a specialized skill required when caring for kittens under 4 weeks old, but caregivers often learn it on an ad hoc basis when a newborn is most in need. A professor of veterinary medicine and a team of development engineers aim to improve and increase access to the training of this technique with a to-scale 3D-printed kitten model, equipped with a trachea, windpipe, rib cage and more features to help teach users proper procedures.
History with an Eye Toward Reparations
Read about a groundbreaking public history partnership between history graduate students at 不良研究所 under the direction of Professor Gregory Downs, and the city of Sacramento and the Greater Sacramento Urban League. Collectively, they seek to answer the question: What could reparations look like for the city鈥檚 Black community?
MORE BEST OF 2024
- Top 不良研究所 Magazine stories
- Alumni Books 鈥 30 Aggie authors published new books this year.
Student researcher
Meet the Insect Scholars
The Research Scholars Program in Insect Biology, colloquially known as Insect Scholars, aims to provide undergraduates with closely mentored research experience in biology. The program offers 10 to 12 academically strong and highly motivated undergraduates, including third-year transfer students, multi-year research experience that cultivates students鈥 skills for careers in biological research. Read about their research experiences from the fields to the lab.
Learning Through Virtual Reality
See how 不良研究所 undergraduate research students are using public engagements and virtual reality headsets to promote STEAM learning and improving children鈥檚 education, including an event at Sacramento鈥檚 SMUD Museum of Curiosity.