News Archive

February 9, 2018 — Back in 1956, IBM built the first disk drive. It was the size of two refrigerators and held a total of five megabytes—enough storage capacity to handle about 30 seconds of video. That’s a stark contrast to today’s hard drives, which can hold tens of terabytes of data and fit in the palm of your hand. One of the key innovators who helped drive this remarkable evolution is Eric Fullerton, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and nanoengineering at UC San Diego.

February 8, 2018 — A team of researchers at UC San Diego and San Diego State University has developed a pair of “4-D goggles” that allows wearers to be physically “touched” by a movie when they see a looming object on the screen, such as an approaching spacecraft.

February 8, 2018 — Working at the intersection of biology and physics, scientists at UC San Diego have made a surprising discovery at the root of cell formation. They found that DNA executes an unexpected architectural role in shaping the cells of bacteria. Studying the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, the researchers used an array of experiments and technologies to reveal that DNA, beyond serving to encode genetic information, also “pumps up” bacterial cells.

February 8, 2018 — Ever wonder why obese bodies burn less calories or why dieting often leads to a plateau in weight loss? In both cases the body is trying to defend its weight by regulating energy expenditure. In a paper publishing in Cell on February 8, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers identify the enzyme TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) as a key player in the control of energy expenditure during both obesity and fasting.

February 8, 2018 — In celebration of Black History Month, the UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and critic Hilton Als to a public event on Monday. The conversation framed by the department's new production of the classic "A Raisin in the Sun" - included UC San Diego neurobiology professor Gentry Patrick, the director of Mentorship and Diversity in the Division of Biological Sciences.

February 8, 2018 — Called a "border writer more interested in bridges," Luis Alberto Urrea received a welcome homecoming the first week of February, when the UC San Diego alumnus returned to partake in a groundbreaking music and literature festival like no other.

February 8, 2018 — UC San Diego is headed to the Fiesta Bowl. Sounds impossible for a university without a football program, but for the first time the Fiesta Bowl organization, which puts on the eponymous college football bowl game, is branching out to an exponentially growing market: competitive video game playing, or esports.

February 8, 2018 — The University of California San Diego, which hosts the Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project (MDTP) within the Division of Physical Sciences, is blazing a digital trail for success in math for thousands of students and teachers across the country. Up until now, while California educators and students could use MDTP online resources, accredited educational institutions outside of the state could access only paper MDTP materials with annual licensing agreements. But, with the support of a new corporate partner, UC San Diego is extending access to MDTP's online testing platform beyond the state for the first time.

February 8, 2018 — Each year, UC San Diego employees make their voices heard with the campus Staff@Work survey on topics ranging from treatment from supervisors to campus inclusion. This year, an impressive 63 percent of all staff members (represented and non-represented) took the survey, representing 640 units from across the entire campus.

February 7, 2018 — The University of California San Diego’s American Chemical Society-Student Affiliates (ACS-SA) recently earned both Outstanding Chapter and Green Chapter awards for academic year 2016-2017. The national ACS Committee on Education reviewed chapter reports from across the nation and its territories to determine which programs and activities deserved recognition in three categories: outstanding, commendable and honorable mention. It also recognized chapters that complete green chemistry activities—those that minimize the use and production of hazardous substances. UC San Diego was among the 52 outstanding student chapters and one of 56 green chapters recognized. More than 300 organizations were considered for the awards.