Research in Review: Brain surgeon robots, the AI Commons and El Niño

Brain surgery by robots — Both possible and life-saving 

Thromboses, or blood clots, kill approximately 274 Americans everyday. These large clumps of cells, which arise from platelets, proteins and other blood cells thickening, can disrupt pathways in the body that are necessary for survival, and inadequate access to care makes it increasingly difficult for people to be saved. Elliot Hawkes, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at UC Santa Barbara, is working toward making thrombectomies more accessible in hospitals all over the country by combining robotics with surgery — putting human lives meticulously and safely in the hands of robots. 

Thrombectomies are extremely difficult and time-consuming procedures that can only be performed by select surgeons in the country, making care for those suffering from blood clots very inaccessible. The surgery also must be completed in a relatively short window of time to ensure successful recovery. This is where autonomous robots come in — by providing sufficient and safe surgeries in hospitals everywhere without needing the immediate supervision or intervention of an actual surgeon. However, due to the extremely dangerous nature of the procedure and the intensity of the tools used, Hawke looked to alter the surgical tools themselves for use by the robots.

The robot is soft tube-shaped in order to decrease the friction and pressure of the tools, follow pathways in the body and remain inside the blood vessel, eventually using other tools to heal the clot itself. This design ensures safety of the patient and aligns with the meticulous precision needed for this surgery. It is important to consider Artificial Intelligence’s role in the functionality of the robot however, since it will be responsible for making decisions and taking actions throughout the procedure. After extensive testing, research and development, it is possible to move this robot into clinical practice in the future — making lifesaving healthcare more accessible.

How UCSB is navigating the emerging world of AI 

With the new advancements in AI that continue to creep their way into our everyday lives, UCSB has balanced preserving academia and staying on the cutting edge of technology by launching the UCSB AI Commons this month. This platform is a nuanced and multi-leveled framework that gives the students, professors and staff access to a wide variety of AI tools. With a diverse student body and a wide range of educational topics being covered on campus, it is imperative that our AI platform be comprehensive and adaptable to different needs.

This system ensures that users stay within the University’s protocols for data privacy and security.  

UCSB’s AI Commons were designed in order to mitigate the misuse of AI, while providing UCSB community members with versatile and safe AI tools which are also secure alternatives to general open AI. With these tools, researchers and labs on campus do not need to shun AI, but can rather adapt it to optimize its benefits while being cautious and aware of its risks. This strategy may prove to be the best way for UCSB to move forward in a fast-paced technological advanced world while continuing to stay grounded in academic values. 

Further, UCSB is putting a strong emphasis on AI literacy throughout campus and ensuring that its users understand ethical, academic and responsible usage of AI platforms and tools. Within this effort, UCSB is launching the AI@Work Certificate program, which will train employees on AI technology and how to utilize it in the best way possible. 

An inside look at El Niño

El Niño is threatening our shores and homes in Isla Vista and we need to know: how intense of an impact can we expect? El Niño is a global climate pattern that repeats every two to seven years as a fluctuation of ocean temperatures, rising sea temperatures, storms and harsh weather are brought to the coast of California. Samantha Stevenson, climate scientist and Bren associate professor at UCSB, claims that there is a 75% chance that this storm will be the strongest El Niño since 1950. 

Every year, the intensity of the storm only gets worse, which aligns with the rising temperature of the ocean and the overall global warming patterns we witness in our everyday lives. It may be October, but we still walk around in 90-degree weather with the threat of the largest El Niño since 1950 hanging over us. Surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are four degrees higher at the equator, surpassing the threshold for El Niño and brewing a worse storm. 

Water expands as it gets warmer, meaning that the excess water moves as a Kelvin wave along the coastline and rises sea levels on the shores of California. This can cause potential flooding and cliff erosion, both of which are severe threats to I.V. Santa Barbara, being prone to flooding due to its foundation on Mission Creek, has had a history of landslides and intense floods and homes overlooking the ocean on Del Playa Drive have a major risk of eroding or falling due to the rising sea levels and incoming storms. Therefore, it is imperative that residents take care and prepare for the incoming weather and don’t sit still before it is too late.

A version of this article appeared on p.11 of the Oct. 22, 2026 edition of the Daily Nexus.