News Archive - Environment

New Study: Protecting Large Ocean Areas Doesn’t Curb Fishing Catches

In the first-ever “before and after” assessment of the impact of establishing Mexico’s Revillagigedo National Park on the fishing industry, a team of U.S. and Mexican researchers found that Mexico’s industrial fishing sector did not incur economic losses five years after the park’s creation.

Phenomenal Phytoplankton: Scientists Uncover Cellular Process Behind Oxygen Production

According to new research, the amount of oxygen in one of 10 breaths was made possible thanks to a newly identified cellular mechanism that promotes photosynthesis in marine phytoplankton. The study, led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, was published May 31 in Current Biology.

California Snowlines On Track To Be 1,600 Feet Higher by Century’s End

This winter produced record snowfall in California, but a new study suggests the state should expect gradually declining snowpacks, even if punctuated with occasional epic snowfalls, in the future.

“Segment-Jumping” Ridgecrest Earthquakes Explored in New Study

A Scripps Oceanography seismologist and colleagues have used a supercomputer to reveal the complex dynamics of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes — the biggest earthquakes to hit California in more than 20 years.

Groundbreaking Images of Root Chemicals Offer New Insights on Plant Growth

Applying imaging technology to plant roots, researchers have developed a new understanding of chemicals that are responsible for plant growth. The chemical “roadmap” identifies where key molecules are distributed along corn roots and how their placement factors into the plant’s maturation.

Researchers Track Endangered Nassau Grouper Eggs with Underwater Microscope

Each winter off the western tip of the Caribbean island of Little Cayman, thousands of endangered Nassau grouper gather to spawn under the light of the full moon.

ALERTCalifornia Launches to Provide Essential Tools to Understand and Adapt to Natural Disasters

The University of California San Diego recently launched ALERTCalifornia, a collaborative public safety program providing the tools to prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires and other natural hazards.

Elephant Ecosystems in Decline

Global space for Asian elephant habitats has been in rapid decline since the 1700s, a new report reveals. More than 3 million square kilometers of the Asian elephant’s historic habitat range has been lost in just three centuries and may underlie present-day conflicts between elephants and people.

Get to Know Our Nation’s Rarest Pine Tree and Plant a Seedling to Celebrate a Century-Long Tradition

Arbor Day has been celebrated for more than a century. It sparked a tree planting tradition and is a time to reflect upon the beauty of trees and what they provide. Learn about a rare pine on campus and plant a tree during our annual Arbor Day planting.

Tracking a New Path to Octopus and Squid Sensing Capabilities

Research led by UC San Diego and Harvard has traced the evolutionary adaptations of octopus and squid sensing capabilities. The researchers describe for the first time the structure of an octopus chemotactile receptor, which octopus arms use for taste-by-touch exploration of the seafloor.