News Archive - Michelle Franklin

On the Atomic Highway, Researchers Help Atoms Stay in Their Lane

As technology rapidly evolves, the need for faster, more precise sensors is critical. One possibility lies with quantum science and technology. New research from UC San Diego lays the groundwork by successfully trapping strontium atoms around a tapered optical fiber.

Beyond UFOs: the Future of Unexplained Anomalous Phenomena

UC San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Shelley Wright recently served on NASA’s panel on unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAPs), and takes a moment to reflect on her career, the panel and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life.

Going Viral

Rommie Amaro, professor of molecular biology at UC San Diego, and her team use computers to investigate biological systems. Last year, their atomic-level computational model of the H1N1 influenza virus revealed vulnerabilities that could lead to more effective and longer-lasting flu vaccines.

The Math Problem That Took Nearly a Century to Solve

Little progress had been made in solving Ramsey problems since the 1930s. Now, UC San Diego researchers Jacques Verstraete and Sam Mattheus have found the answer to r(4,t), a longstanding Ramsey problem that has perplexed the math world for decades.

$30 Million in Funding Helps Scientists Study Universe’s Oldest Light

The Simons Foundation has provided $28.8 million and the Heising-Simons Foundation has provided $1.5 million to the UC San Diego to complete the last phase of construction on the Simons Observatory in Chile.

How Do We Teach Science? UC San Diego Launches STEM Education Research Program

UC San Diego has launched one of the only programs aimed at training students in the emerging field of STEM research education. The new program gives undergraduate students coveted research experience while also asking them to think critically about how science is taught and to whom.

Quantum Material Exhibits “Non-Local” Behavior That Mimics Brain Function

Creating brain-like computers with minimal energy requirements would revolutionize nearly every aspect of modern life. Funded by the Department of Energy, Q-MEEN-C — a nationwide consortium led by the University of California San Diego — has been at the forefront of this research.

Across the Universe: UC San Diego Announces New Astronomy and Astrophysics Department

Is there life on other planets? What happened in the earliest days of the universe? What is the nature of dark matter? These are just a few of the grand questions being tackled by the University of California San Diego’s newly formed Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Rethink, Rewrite, Redefine—How Biodegradable Plastics Are Reshaping Sustainability

Researchers at UC San Diego have spent many years developing a biodegradable plastic alternative made from algae. A new book, published by Elsevier, details the basic science of creating bio-based polymers, lifecycle assessments and a techno-economic analysis.

High School Students Learn the Basics of Base Editing to Cure “GFP-itis”

Chemistry professor Alexis Komor’s lab designed the Genome Editing Technologies Program as a way to educate high school students on gene-editing technologies and expose them to a possible career in STEM.