Behind Every Breakthrough

The future is shaped by those who push beyond what is known. At UC San Diego, we don’t just navigate change—we create it. Every breakthrough, every discovery starts with the courage to explore, to challenge, to redefine what’s possible. But even the boldest ideas need a foundation. Research requires resources, collaboration, and investment to turn possibility into reality. Without it, the unknown stays unknown. With it, we change the world.

The Latest

Ask a Psychologist: Why Do We Fall for Fake News?

Nadia Brashier of Psychology shares why we come to believe things that are untrue and tips for spotting misinformation.

Girl putting hand to ear and making gasped face

Why Clinical Trials Matter to Everyone

Director of the UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute David "Davey" Smith explains the importance of clinical trials to ensure that the drugs and vaccines we take are safe and effective.

Davey Smith and researcher in lab doing test procedures

New Gel Could Boost Coral Reef Restoration

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a gel using nano-particles that slowly release some of coral larvae’s favorite “smells.” When applied to surfaces in lab experiments it increased coral larvae settlement by up to 20 times compared to untreated surfaces.

7 UC San Diego Discoveries That Changed the World

It starts with a spark of curiosity. At UC San Diego, seeking answers to challenging questions has led to discoveries that transformed medicine and public safety and opened new frontiers in science. These seven breakthroughs continue to improve lives and shape decisions around the world.

Composite graphic image shows Charles David Keeling pointing at curve documents; Roger Tsien holding GFP in vials; Fung's Law equation; a gloved hand holding an IV drip bag.

A Battery Breakthrough Inspired by a Can of Compressed Air

A UC San Diego engineering alumnus reflects on how a chance curiosity about a can of compressed air, along with support across campus, fueled an innovation in battery technology.

researchers in lab coats work at different stations in a laboratory

It’s Hard to Get Meds to the Lungs: Breathable Algae Offer a New Path

Algae are the new delivery drivers: they are tiny enough to float in inhalable liquid particles and travel deep inside the lungs of mice where they drop off drugs to fight pneumonia.