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News Archive - Environment

Impacts of 2020 Red Tide Event Highlighted in New Study

In the spring of 2020, a historic red tide event occurred in waters off Southern California. Marine scientists from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, NOAA, and other organizations seized the opportunity to study the unprecedented event and its impacts on marine life, both in the wild and in aquariums. In a recent study, this multi-institutional team identified deteriorating water quality — notably prolonged low oxygen conditions — as a significant factor in the mass mortality of fish and other marine organisms.

UC San Diego Receives $7.35 Million for Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health

The University of California San Diego was awarded $7.35 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health for a multidisciplinary program to advance understanding of marine contaminants and nutrients.

How Climate Change Will Impact Food Production and Financial Institutions

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy have developed a new method to predict the financial impacts climate change will have on agriculture, which can help support food security and financial stability for countries.

Say Hello to Biodegradable Microplastics

Finding viable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics and microplastics has never been more important. New research from scientists at UC San Diego and Algenesis shows that their plant-based polymers biodegrade — even at the microplastic level — in under seven months.

Study Illuminates the Protective Role of Fluorescence in Neon-Colored Sea Anemones

For the first time, a team of researchers at Stanford University and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography has uncovered a direct genetic link between fluorescence and color in sea anemones — those soft and tentacled tide pool creatures often encountered by beachgoers.

New Deep-Sea Worm Discovered at Methane Seep off Costa Rica

Researchers have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm living near a methane seep some 50 kilometers (30 miles) off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

When Planning Sustainable Energy Systems—Don’t Forget About People

New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows that models commonly used to shape climate mitigation need to include human behaviors and rules–and shows models can be adapted to do so.

Extreme Heat, Wildfires Combine to Disproportionately Harm Less Affluent and Communities of Color

New study finds increased hospitalizations when people are exposed to both wildfire smoke and excessive heat with the risks increased in neighborhoods with more people of color, lower incomes and less access to health insurance.

New Paper Pinpoints Key Role of NASA Satellites in Monitoring Earth’s Vital Signs

In a new paper, scientists from five different institutions present an anthology of key findings unearthed by satellite technology over the last two decades. The all-women group of authors includes Helen Amanda Fricker, a glaciologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

20th Annual Report on Sustainable Practices Highlights UC San Diego’s Achievements

In University of California’s 20th Annual Report on Sustainable Practices, UC San Diego excelled in best-of-class green building practices, made noteworthy progress in conserving energy and water and was recognized for the quality and quantity of our research related to sustainability.

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