News Archive - Liezel Labios

UC San Diego Researchers Part of $25M Project To Build Artificial Coral Reefs for Coastal Protection

A team of researchers involving UC San Diego has received a $25 million award from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to build artificial coral reefs to protect coastal areas in Hawai’i against flooding, erosion and storm damage.

Netflix-Style Algorithm Builds Blueprint of Cancer Genomes

The science behind predicting your viewing habits on Netflix could one day be used to guide doctors in managing some of the hardest-to-treat cancers, shows a study led by the University of California San Diego and University College London.

Ultra-Thin, Flexible Probe Provides Neural Interface That’s Minimally Invasive and Long-Lasting

Researchers have developed a tiny, flexible neural probe that can be implanted for longer time periods to record and stimulate neural activity, while minimizing injury to the surrounding tissue. The probe would be ideal for studying small and dynamic areas of the nervous system like the spinal cord.

Using Everyday WiFi To Help Robots See and Navigate Better Indoors

UC San Diego engineers have developed a low cost, low power technology to help robots accurately map their way indoors, even in poor lighting and without recognizable landmarks or features. The technology uses WiFi signals, instead of light, to help the robot "see" where it’s going.

Multi-Tasking Wearable Continuously Monitors Glucose, Alcohol, and Lactate

Imagine being able to measure your blood sugar levels, know if you’ve had too much to drink, and track your fatigue during a workout, all in one small device worn on your skin. UC San Diego engineers developed a prototype of such a wearable that continuously monitors several health stats at once.

Study of Promising Alzheimer’s Marker in Blood Prompts Warning About Brain-Boosting Supplements

Elevated levels of an enzyme called PHGDH in the blood of older adults could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Research led by UC San Diego has consistently found high levels of PHGDH expression in brain tissue and blood samples of older adults with different stages of the disease.

Researchers Transform an Amorphous Solid Into a New Lithium-Ion Battery Material

Researchers at UC San Diego and Boise State University have developed a new approach to making novel lithium-ion battery materials. The approach transforms a non-crystalline material into a crystalline anode material with exceptional battery properties—by cycling it with lithium.

‘Eye-Catching’ Smartphone App Could Make It Easy To Screen for Neurological Disease at Home

Researchers developed a smartphone app that could allow people to screen for Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases and disorders—by recording closeups of their eye. The app uses a smartphone's built-in cameras to measure changes in pupil size, which could be used to assess cognitive condition.

Researchers Shed Light on Why a Certain Plant Virus Is So Powerful at Fighting Cancer

The cowpea mosaic virus has shown great promise as an experimental cancer immunotherapy for treating and preventing recurrence of various cancers. But just how the virus triggers such a potent anti-cancer immune response has remained a mystery. A new study digs deeper and provides answers.

Sun and Solar Panels Shine at 40th Research Expo

Nanoengineering master’s student Tala Sidawi had her time in the sun at the 2022 edition of Research Expo. Sidawi took home the grand prize for her work to model how solar panels “breathe” water in real time.