All articles tagged with #uc santa barbara
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have used new machine-learning techniques to analyze Large Hadron Collider data, ruling out the existence of microscopic quantum black holes with specific properties. While no evidence was found, the study establishes new exclusion limits that constrain theoretical models of extra dimensions and quantum gravity.
San Francisco used the MLB Draft Lottery to move into the top five and selected UCSB right-hander Jackson Flora at No. 4, addressing a pitching gap in a farm system that lacks impact arms. Flora, who sits in the upper 90s with a plus changeup and posted a 1.06 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 102 innings as a junior, could reach the majors by late 2027 and has a potential ace trajectory for the Giants.
A UC Santa Barbara team has designed a pyrimidone molecule for molecular solar thermal (MOST) storage that traps sunlight and stores it as heat in a rechargeable, recyclable system. With an energy density above 1.6 MJ/kg—higher than typical Li-ion batteries—the molecule can absorb energy, hold it, and release heat on demand, potentially circulating in solar collectors to store daytime energy for later use without a separate battery.
UC Santa Barbara chemists report a bio-inspired pyrimidone molecule for molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage that captures sunlight, stores it in chemical bonds, and releases it as heat on demand. With an energy density over 1.6 MJ/kg—roughly twice that of lithium-ion batteries—the material can boil water under ambient conditions, enabling practical off-grid heating and solar-collector systems without bulky batteries. The approach functions like a rechargeable solar battery, with energy stored photochemically and released on trigger; the concept is reusable and recyclable and could transform how we store daytime sun for use later.
UC Santa Barbara physicists John Martinis and Michel Devoret, along with John Clarke, won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering work on quantum phenomena in superconducting circuits, which has significantly advanced quantum technology and computing.
The University of Oregon baseball team defeated UC Santa Barbara 2-1 in the NCAA Regional, thanks to a strong pitching performance by Grayson Grinsell and timely hitting. The Ducks, now the only unbeaten team in the regional, can secure a spot in the Super Regionals with a win on Sunday evening. UC Santa Barbara will face San Diego in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to play Oregon.
The Santa Barbara Regional in college baseball features top teams UC Santa Barbara, San Diego, Oregon, and Fresno State. Highlighted players include Austin Smith and Tommy Hopfe, both Olerud Award finalists, who are crucial to their teams' success.
Due to local storm conditions, UC Santa Barbara is advising instructors to move to remote instruction or reschedule classes scheduled for February 5, and supervisors to allow impacted staff to work remotely or request time off. Normal campus operations will resume on February 6, unless otherwise notified. Campus events are continuing as planned, and updates related to the storm will be posted on the UCSB.edu homepage. Students and staff are encouraged to register or update their information in UCSB Alert to receive emergency notifications.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have developed an adaptive roofing tile that can reduce heating and cooling costs in buildings without the need for electronics. The tile uses a wax motor to change surface properties based on temperature, switching between a heating state and a cooling state to maintain a target temperature of about 65°F. Testing has shown significant energy savings, with a reduction in energy consumption for cooling by 3.1x and heating by 2.6x compared to non-switching devices. The device operates without electronics, batteries, or external power sources, and its design allows for customization and potential mass manufacture, offering a promising solution for improving energy efficiency in buildings.
Physicists at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a new state of matter, a bosonic correlated insulator, by creating a highly ordered crystal of bosonic particles called excitons in a moiré pattern of lattices of tungsten diselenide and tungsten disulfide. This is the first time such a material has been created in a "real" matter system. The researchers' moiré platform and pump-probe spectroscopy could become an important means for creating and investigating bosonic materials, opening more windows into the world of condensed matter with new bosonic materials.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have discovered a method to increase the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 editing without using viral material to deliver the genetic template used to edit the target genetic sequence. The method stimulates homology-directed repair by approximately threefold without increasing mutation frequencies or altering end-joining repair outcomes. The researchers found that introducing interstrand crosslinks into the workflow increased homology-directed repair dramatically. This method will find the most use in ex-vivo gene editing applications, according to the team, that is, in the realm of disease research and preclinical work.
The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team swept UC Santa Barbara in the semifinals of the Big West Championship, advancing to the championship match against either Long Beach State or UC Irvine. The Rainbow Warriors will play for their third Big West tournament title and look to become the conference's first back-to-back tourney champion. UH hit .394 for the match with four aces and 7.5 blocks, while UCSB was held to just a .113 hitting percentage. The match will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Andre Kelly, who played college basketball at Cal and UC Santa Barbara, worked out at tight end during the 49ers' local pro day. Kelly, who averaged 9 points and 6 rebounds in college basketball, said he's open to all possibilities in the future and wants to test his football skills. While his chances of making it in the NFL are slim, there are examples of college basketball players finding success in the league, such as Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, and Mo Allie-Cox.