Physical Sciences News

Astronomy & Astrophysics, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Physics, and Mathematics

The Latest

Meet Shelley Wright, UC San Diego Astrophysicist

Wright’s work includes the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. She chats with UC San Diego Magazine about how this work engages with people’s fascination with the universe.

UC San Diego Engineers and Physicists Key Players in Two New Energy Storage Hubs Funded by DOE

Researchers at the UC San Diego Sustainable Power and Energy Center are part of two cutting-edge Energy Innovation Hub teams that have collectively been awarded $125 million in funding over the next five years by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The aim: to accelerate the development of the next generation of batteries that can handle society’s increasing demand for low- and zero-carbon energy.

Wei Xiong Recognized with Two National Awards

Wei Xiong and his team of researchers study novel light-matter interactions as a way to control and understand how the structure and dynamics of materials change when they interact with photons. In recognition of this work, Xiong, who is a Kent Wilson Faculty Scholar in UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been named a Brown Investigator and a Blavatnik Award finalist.

Nanopillars Create Tiny Openings in the Nucleus Without Damaging Cells

UC San Diego researchers have created an array of nanopillars that can breach the nucleus of a cell—the compartment that houses our DNA—without damaging the cell’s outer membrane. This new "gateway into the nucleus" could open new possibilities in gene therapy, where genetic material needs to be delivered directly into the nucleus, as well as drug delivery and other forms of precision medicine.

Spinning Out a New Biomaterials Startup Is Harder Than You Think

Spider silk, long prized for its strength and elasticity, has created something of a furor in the biomanufacturing world as businesses look for ways to cheaply scale up production for silks, which can be used in everything from tactical gear to sutures and textiles. However, a comprehensive study shows that there are many challenges facing the spider silk industry.

$21 Million from NIH to Study Sensory Input and Resulting Movement

University of California San Diego Distinguished Professor of Physics and Neurobiology David Kleinfeld is a leading expert in sensory processing and mouth-face-head movements. Through a highly competitive process, a new $21 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will allow him and a team of researchers to continue studying the coordination of multiple sensory inputs and head movements using laboratory mice and rats.