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A mantis shrimp emerges from its burrow to confront a rival.
Photo Credit
Patrick Green
These territorial crustaceans use their tails as shields to defend against the explosive punches of their rivals.

Rolling with the punches: How mantis shrimp defend against high-speed strikes

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The symmetrical pattern of a cable-stayed bridge from below.
Photo Credit
Gwoeii via iStock
Comparing the complexity of scientific theories is challenging. Mathematical symmetry can provide an excellent guide.

Sharpening Occam’s Razor
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Professor Thuc-Quyen Nguyen receives double honors for her work on organic photovoltaics
oil and natural gas infrastructure in the Permian Basin
Oil and gas extraction infrastructure in the Permian Basin

MethaneMapper is poised to solve the problem of underreported methane emissions
The winners of the 2023 NVC with a big check
Leeta's Kira Wyckhoff (left), and Linus Kautzsch (right), with materials professor Ram Seshadri (center)

Leeta wins UCSB's 24th Annual New Venture Competition
Rice terraces at sunset in Japan
Photo Credit
iStock/Sean Pavone

Shining a light on the interconnectedness between societies and the natural world
concept of subatomic particles from two lattices creating an exotic material
Photo Credit
sci-fig (https://sci-fig.com)
The negative electrons from one lattice and the positive "holes" from another together create a neutral exciton crystal

Physicists discover an exotic material made of bosons
A fishing boat deploys its nets accompanied by a flock of gulls.
Photo Credit
Split Second Stock
Fishermen and regulatory agencies will need to adapt when marine heatwaves impact the ranges and population levels of targeted species.

Lessons from ‘The Blob’ will help us manage fisheries during future marine heatwaves
University students and professor flank an adult in a wheelchair in front of a weight machine
Photo Credit
Lilli McKinney
Capstone project client Steve Ferreira (center) with (from right): Professor Tyler Susko and team members James Freda, Carlos Rivera, Janna Crocker, Joseph Byun and Cannon Crow.

An innovative, student-designed weight machine makes working out more accessible to people who use wheelchairs
Ray Adkins portrait
Photo Credit
Debra Herrick

New physics Ph.D. Ray Adkins is bound for Yale, prestigious award in hand, to apply his research to neuroscience
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Planetary defense project selected for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program
A whitebark pine growing on the rock overlooking Big Pine Creek in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.
Photo Credit
Joan Dudney
Whitebark pines growing in cold, high elevation regions grew more during droughts, which lengthened their growing season.

How a drought affects trees depends on what’s been holding them back
A pumpjack nestled between trees and luxury homes.
Photo Credit
iStock
California currently has no setback restrictions, so oil production can occur in the middle of neighborhoods like Signal Hill, in Los Angeles.

Keeping California’s oil in the ground will improve health but affect jobs
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