News Archive - Michelle Franklin

Space Oddity: Uncovering the Origin of the Universe’s Rare Radio Circles

UC San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Alison Coil has found that odd radio circles are shells formed by outflowing galactic winds, possibly from massive exploding stars known as supernovae.

Spiking Nano-oscillators Provide New Insight into Quantum Materials and Advanced Computing

Synchronicity has not been studied extensively in spiking oscillators, despite their potential for use in advanced materials and neuromorphic computing. UC San Diego scientists have discovered that when nano-oscillators made from vanadium dioxide spike, they exhibit a unique kind of synchronicity.

A Mathematical Model Connects the Evolution of Chickens, Fish and Frogs

One of the most enduring questions of life is: How does it happen? New research suggests that the same physical principles behind multicellular self-organization may have evolved across vertebrate species.

Can Signs of Life be Detected from Saturn’s Frigid Moon?

Researchers from UC San Diego have shown unambiguous laboratory evidence that amino acids transported in the ice plumes of Saturn's moon, Eceladus, can survive impact speeds of up to 4.2 km/s, supporting their detection during sampling by spacecraft.

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.