A new study co-authored by Rausser College researchers finds that nearly ending plastic pollution by 2050 is possible, but requires an ambitious and coordinated global effort.
Powering Health in Africa
UC Berkeley research is electrifying clinics and hospitals that provide reliable power, Wi-Fi, and water to surrounding communities.
New form of Sudden Oak Death found in Bay Area
Citizen scientists from the SOD Blitz Project, led by Cooperative Extension professor Matteo Garbelotto, have discovered at least four outbreaks of a new, potentially more aggressive form of the pathogen that causes sudden oak death.
Cancer cells opt for faster, less efficient energy creation
A new study led by UC Berkeley researchers identifies why cancer and other fast-growing cells choose a less efficient way to produce energy.
Prescribed burn was first at Whitaker’s Forest in half a century
Berkeley Forests researchers conducted a controlled burn at Whitaker’s Forest last month as part of their ongoing investigation into how to protect giant sequoia trees from wildfire and other threats.
Intensive leaf cooling promotes tree survival during a record heatwave
A new paper out from the Blonder lab focuses on how water access affects leaf function and survival in the Fremont cottonwood during extreme heatwaves.
New plant bug species discovered in French Polynesia
ESPM PhD alum Brad Balukjian spoke to Rausser College about the discovery of 17 new insect species in French Polynesia, and how he hopes to continue educational outreach on the islands.
Renewable Repercussions
Meg Mills-Novoa’s research helps Nevada’s rural communities and Indigenous groups navigate a boom of renewable energy production.
California Wolf Project will advance science and management of gray wolves
The Berkeley Wildlife program and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have launched the collaborative research initiative to understand the ecology and wolf-human interactions of the recolonizing wolf population in California.
Championing Equity
Grown from the grassroots, the environmental justice movement has gone global—and Rausser College researchers are at the forefront.
USDA Under Secretary Jacobs-Young Tours Oxford Facility
During a visit to campus last week, the Under Secretary visited greenhouses and field sites to learn about various environmental, agricultural, and plant science research programs on campus.
New research identifies key gene in maize domestication
PMB researchers George Chuck and Zhaobin Dong have identified a gene that controls numerous essential crop traits in maize.
Evaluating Benefits of Electric Vehicle Subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act
A study co-authored by Professor Joseph Shapiro shows that electric vehicle tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act decreased climate pollution and benefited US vehicle manufacturers but have mixed benefits relative to taxpayer costs.
Advanced conductors provide path for grid expansion
A first-of-its-kind study led by UC Berkeley researchers found that the US could double its electric transmission capacity by 2035 by replacing electric lines with new material.
The cost of controlling termites
Professors David Zilberman and Vernard Lewis and undergraduate Sadie Shoemaker break down the environmental and economic impact of termite fumigation.
Dangerous airborne fungus boosted by California droughts
A new study co-authored by Professor John Taylor identified seasonal patterns in Valley fever infections that could help public health officials prepare for future surges.
Costa Rica’s rainforests offer a window—and warning
Professor Todd Dawson is part of a collaborative team studying how climate change could reshape forest ecosystems in Costa Rica and around the world.
A new discovery in Mono Lake
Professor Jill Banfield helped UC Berkeley researchers identify a choanoflagellate colony that hosts its own microbiome, something never before seen in these organisms.
Africa’s path to green growth
New analysis by ERG researchers explores whether Africa’s economic growth could impact efforts to reduce global warming.
What wasps can teach us about engineering plants
Professor Patrick Shih and graduate student Kasey Markel’s studies of how Cynipid wasps reprogram oak trees may hold clues to new methods of engineering plants.