March 14, 2022
March 14, 2022 —
UC San Diego scientists have developed a method for tracking the invasive Asian giant “murder” hornet’s presence and possibly accelerate its removal. The researchers identified the Asian giant hornet queen’s sex pheromone, an achievement that could be used as bait to trap and track the insects.
March 9, 2022
March 9, 2022 —
Scientists at UC San Diego and Rutgers University have found intriguing new details about a previously missing critical factor in gene expression. An ancient protein called NDF found in all human tissues enhances gene activation and may be involved in diseases such as cancer.
February 23, 2022
February 23, 2022 —
The National Institutes of Health have awarded UC San Diego a grant totaling $12.4 million. This will support a new research center dedicated to studying the human brain and central nervous system (CNS), specifically the ways they’re affected by HIV and opioids.
February 21, 2022
February 21, 2022 —
The salinity of freshwater ecosystems caused by road de-icing salts, agriculture fertilizers, mining operations and climate change is increasing worldwide and current water quality guidelines don’t do enough to address the issue, an international study with UC San Diego scientists has found.
February 16, 2022
February 16, 2022 —
Common flies feature more advanced cognitive abilities than previously believed. Using a custom-built immersive virtual reality arena, neurogenetics and real-time brain activity imaging, researchers found attention, working memory and conscious awareness-like capabilities in fruit flies.
February 9, 2022
February 9, 2022 —
Scientists have identified a molecule released from the fruit fly gut after a protein-rich meal that switches their focus from eating to courtship. The discovery of Dh31, a type of chemical messenger, opens the door to unexplored areas of gut-to-brain communication.
January 28, 2022
January 28, 2022 —
Our sensory systems provide us with immediate information about the world around us. Researchers have created the first sensory map for smell. The map details how the fruit fly’s olfactory receptor neurons, the components that sense smell, are organized within the insect’s sensory hairs.
January 18, 2022
January 18, 2022 —
Countering a rising antibiotic resistance crisis, doctors now prescribe combinations of antibiotics. Yet many risks are involved with such multi-drug combinations. Scientists have developed a way to help doctors evaluate outcomes for different drug pairs and boost the odds of successful treatment.
January 14, 2022
January 14, 2022 —
Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, scientists have genetically engineered a method to reverse insecticide resistance. The gene replacement method offers a new way to fight deadly malaria spread and reduce the use of pesticides that protect valuable food crops.
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022 —
Researchers studying how small worms defend themselves against pathogens have discovered a gene that acts as a first-line response against infection. They identified “ZIP-1” as a centralized hub for immune response, a finding could have implications for understanding human immunity against viruses.