Science & Environment

Research

The Latest

Brain Powered: Increased Physical Activity Among Breast Cancer Survivors Boosts Cognition

It is estimated that up to 75 percent of breast cancer survivors experience problems with cognitive difficulties following treatments, perhaps lasting years. Currently, few science-based options are available to help. University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers report in a pilot study of 87 female breast cancer survivors that an increase in physical activity more than doubled the women’s post-treatment mental processing speed.

UC San Diego-Led Expedition Documents Ancient Land and Sea Sites in Israel

A team of archaeologists from the University of California San Diego and two leading Israeli universities has wrapped up a three-week expedition to document two major sites in Israel using the latest in 3D scientific visualization technologies.

New Climate Risk Classification Created to Account for Potential “Existential” Threats

A new study evaluating models of future climate scenarios has led to the creation of the new risk categories “catastrophic” and “unknown” to characterize the range of threats posed by rapid global warming. Researchers propose that unknown risks imply existential threats to the survival of humanity.

People with Schizophrenia Left Out of Longevity Revolution

A team of researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System analyzed published longitudinal studies of mortality in schizophrenia that met their strict research criteria and found that the mean standardized mortality ratio – a measure of the mortality rate in schizophrenia – has increased 37 percent from pre-1970s studies to post-1970s studies.

Kids Praised for Being Smart Are More Likely to Cheat

An international team of researchers reports that when children are praised for being smart not only are they quicker to give up in the face of obstacles they are also more likely to be dishonest and cheat. Kids as young as age 3 appear to behave differently when told “You are so smart” vs “You did very well this time.” The study, published in Psychological Science, is co-authored by UC San Diego developmental psychologist Gail Heyman.

Researchers Develop New Strategy to Target KRAS Mutant Cancer

In a new study, published this month in Cancer Discovery, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers report that approximately half of lung and pancreatic cancers that originate with a KRAS mutation become addicted to the gene as they progress.