Science & Tech

September 15, 2025

PSL PSA: science and sentiment of the fall flavor phenomenon

By Roxanna Reid

The chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology of how pumpkin spice seasonal products captivate customers across America.

September 4, 2025

Research in Review: August’s advancements on campus

By Saanvi Tiwary

From the links between skull shapes and immunity to funding towards AI and robotics integration, dive deeper into three current scientific developments on campus.

August 23, 2025

In defense of bike helmets

By Yumiko Florando

Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of a bike helmet. A 2023 study found that wearing a helmet reduces head injury by 60%, and fatal injuries by 73%. Various lawmakers also seem to agree on their importance. In...

August 11, 2025

Rooted in place: How traditional ecological knowledge is transforming environmental studies at UCSB

By Olivia Lohrer

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is defined by the Indigenous Climate Hub as the “cumulative body of knowledge, practices, and beliefs about the relationship between living beings and their environment. Passed do...

July 31, 2025

Simply Stated: 4 psychologist-approved methods to savor your summer

By Roxanna Reid

Summer is a season of competing priorities: a narrow window to rest, recharge, and hustle, resulting in feelings of perpetual business and "time pressure" that make the months feel even faster. But by understanding the n...

July 24, 2025

Research in Review: Dead Sea Fluid Mechanics, Digital Equity, and River Channel Patterns

By Saanvi Tiwary

New UCSB research on the dead sea, how device type influences digital access and equity, and river channel patterns

July 21, 2025

Simply Stated: Do brain organoids show signs of human consciousness?

By Samantha Krause

Scientists have discovered that organoids possess both the molecular and cellular characteristics of a developing brain. These experiments pose questions about what it means to be aware, feel and exist. Could these brain...

July 11, 2025

Simply Stated: The health implications of soaking up the summer sun

By Yumiko Florando

Outdoor activities in the sun paired with longer days, less protective clothing and an increase in the ultraviolet index can all contribute to greater amounts of sun exposure, causing both costs and benefits to human hea...

July 6, 2025

Recent studies of the Cosmos field

By Rebecca Raymond

Dr. Caitlin Casey, an observational astronomer, has recently joined the physics department at UC Santa Barbara. She co-leads the C.O.S.M.O.S. collaboration — a project distinguished by its deep exploration of the C.O.S...

June 26, 2025

Simply Stated: Green growth vs. degrowth?

By Olivia Lohrer

Can our economies grow even as natural resources dwindle? Or will we need to reimagine prosperity itself by prioritizing life over profits? These questions have laid the foundation for a debate on potential courses for ...

June 5, 2025

Matter of Opinion: My visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

By Jesse Chamberlain

Located in Mission Canyon, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is the perfect way to spend a day outside with yourself, friends or anyone else who might want to tag along. The best part of the whole deal is that they offer ...

May 29, 2025

Best of Scientific Breakthroughs

By Jesse Chamberlain, Jessica Arocho, John Cho, Katharine Chi, Olivia Lohrer, Rebecca Raymond, Saanvi Tiwary, Yumiko Florando

A look back on notable scientific happenings and achievements at UCSB during the 2024-25 school year.

May 22, 2025

Conscience computer science: UCSB launches first Embedded Ethics Lab

By Saanvi Tiwary

Maryam Majedi, an assistant teaching professor in the Computer Science Department at UCSB, is launching the university’s first Embedded Ethics Lab, a project designed to integrate ethical reflection directly into the t...

May 15, 2025

OPINION: RFK’s “cure” for autism is an attack on privacy and pluralism

By Roxanna Reid

By analyzing private health records, Kennedy aims to find a “cure” for what he calls the “autism epidemic” by September — an objective that has sparked controversy among autistic individuals, their families and...

May 15, 2025

Tree rings: Reshaping climate change measurements and unnatural contributions

By Jessica Arocho

On May 5, the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management continued its Bren Seminar series with Postdoctoral Researcher Julie Edwards. Edwards’ lecture “Climate Change Detection and Attribution Using Tree Ring...