Ever wonder why mosquitoes seem to bite some people more than others? UC Davis neurobiologist Lisa Baik explains how taste, skin chemistry, and environmental cues influence mosquito behavior — and how new research could lead to safer, more effective repellents. @ucdavis.bsky.social

Check out Letters and Science Professor of Design, Tim McNeil, on the latest episode of the Minds Over Matters podcast!

Taiwan’s response to COVID-19 was globally praised, but beneath that success were growing tensions between liberty, caring and efficient governance. New research examines how misinformation and fear nearly undermined democracy during the pandemic, offering lessons that extend far beyond Taiwan.

From exploring machine learning and linguistics to running VR experiments, Prati Mehta discovered that research isn’t just about data; it’s about hands-on learning, collaboration, and uncovering new passions. Read how saying “yes” to research shaped her college experience: https://bit.ly/3Og4uUQ

What would it feel like to fall into a black hole? UC Davis astrophysicist Brenna Mockler explores how time, gravity, and light behave near these cosmic extremes, diving into how studying star-devouring black holes helps scientists understand how galaxies evolve. @ucdavis.bsky.social

New research shows that gun violence is reported differently depending on where it happens. Analyzing nearly 36,000 news stories, researchers identified consistent racial disparities in both the volume and language of gun violence reporting across the U.S. @ucdavis.bsky.social

A Maverick with a Need for Speed ✈️ Real leadership lessons from the airline disruptor who refused to fly on autopilot, building the No. 2 rated airline in the U.S. Dean's Distinguished Speaker Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. 🎙️ bit.ly/4sJOPxa | @calaggiealumni.bsky.social @ucdavis.bsky.social

Join us as Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and journalist Anne Applebaum delivers the Eugene Lunn Memorial Lecture. From financial systems to propaganda, we'll examine the hidden networks behind modern autocracy and explore how they shape global politics today. Read more: https://bit.ly/4jOPGIC

What if self-control isn’t just about capacity, but also choice? A new UC Davis review argues that early experiences shape when executive function feels worth the effort, starting in childhood and lasting a lifetime. Read more at the Letters and Science Magazine. @ucdavis.bsky.social

California’s wildfire seasons are becoming more intense & the state’s public bank of seeds to replant lands is understocked. New #UCDavis research aims to predict when & where cones will ripen so they can be collected, the seeds removed, dried & stored for later use. caes.ucdavis.edu/news/finding...

If you are in Davis on 9 February, please come!

Tea has shaped history, culture, and science for centuries. Later this month, UC Davis’ 2026 Global Tea Institute Colloquium will explore the art of tea through research, ritual, and global perspectives, bringing together scholars across the humanities and sciences. @ucdavis.bsky.social

Tiny Earthquakes Reveal Hidden Faults Under Northern California @ucdlands.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/news/tiny-ea...

Why are we drawn to rage bait, even when it leaves us feeling worse? New research from UC Davis shows how negative emotions can increase our preference for emotionally charged media, and how curiosity may help disrupt cycles of doomscrolling. @ucdavis.bsky.social

Village Homes in Davis has been quietly redefining suburban life for 50 years, centering sustainability, shared space, and human connection. Visit the UC Davis Design Museum exhibit to learn more and explore why this intentional community still feels radical today. @ucdavis.bsky.social

2025 was quite the year. Despite funding cuts, uncertainty, and real challenges, the College of Letters and Science continued to deliver research, creativity, and insights that matter — across climate, health, culture, history, and the future of our shared world. Read more https://bit.ly/4qRDBoe

"This trend of rising income inequality is one of the most important social phenomena of the last fifty years." The United States is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, yet millions of families struggle to make ends meet. Find out why: https://bit.ly/3NqthVU

Poverty isn’t just about income; it affects health, security, and opportunity. UC Davis experts unpack the country's poverty rate and how safety net programs reduce long-term hardship for millions of families. Learn more at the Letters and Science Magazine. @ucdavis.bsky.social

Brenna Henn is a population geneticist at @ucdavis.bsky.social. Her lab had a long-term grant to study the genetic diversity of Africans and people of African descent. Then their N.I.H. funding was cut. Learn more about her work, which was featured recently in @nytimes.com

Vinh Ton arrived at UC Davis with a plan and left with far more than a degree. Between statistics, theater, Asian American studies, and building community, he found spaces that challenged him and people who made the work feel shared. Read more about his journey: https://bit.ly/4sluEVM

#ICYMI: UC Davis Distinguished Professor Carlito Lebrilla has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction for academic inventors. Congratulations, Professor Lebrilla! @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdavisresearch.bsky.social#ICYMI

Happy New Year, Aggies! 🥳 We hope you have a fun, SAFE, and celebratory welcome to 2026 ✨

"Engineering can tell us how to build a nuclear bomb, but the humanities provide us with the guidance and ethical framework to know never to use it." Watch more: https://youtu.be/8VD75w7oR4s?si=PnFGS1DcLx_Lavqj

This week, Keith David Watenpaugh, a leading expert on human rights, joins Ed Kiggins for a deep discussion on the history of genocide. • Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8VD75w7oR4s?... • Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1qPr... • Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Michael Neff, a professor of computer science at UC Davis, is exploring how realistic gestures, nonverbal communication and embodied AI agents can make virtual classrooms more interactive and engaging. 🥽 Read more at https://ow.ly/nQch50XMP4u #UCDavisEngineering

UC Davis’ California Rock Garden is a small space with a huge timeline. Join us as we highlight five standout specimens and the geologic forces that shaped them. Read more: https://lettersandsciencemag.ucdavis.edu/science-technology/california-rock-garden-uc-davis @ucdavis.bsky.social

A new study featuring @ucdavis.bsky.social shows that lighting colors strongly influence how people experience music. The findings offer new insights for designing spaces that better support emotional well-being through lighting and sound. Read more at the Letters and Science Magazine:

A closer look at how cartel violence impacts migrant journeys. Sociologists at @ucdavis.bsky.social analyzed detailed data and thousands of stories to understand how cartel competition heightens danger at the border. Visit the Letters and Science Magazine to learn more.

A new project at @ucdavis.bsky.social is rethinking rare earth recovery. By using acid-tolerant microbes to capture elements directly from wastewater, researchers hope to strengthen the domestic supply chain for clean-energy tech. Learn more at the Letters and Science Magazine:

November brought a remarkable range of media features for our college's faculty and students. From climate change to AI policy, and psychology to global economics, our experts shared research-backed insights that shaped conversations across the U.S. and around the world. @ucdavis.bsky.social

This month’s Book Club is all about connection. Connection to our families, to our histories, and to the stories that shape who we are. Find your next favorite read at the Letters and Science Magazine: @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdavislibrary.bsky.social

Big news! @nature.com has named UC Davis physicist Tony Tyson one of the Top 10 Scientists of 2025. Tyson’s ideas have reshaped how we study the universe, and he’s still leading the charge at 85, guiding a project that’s expected to transform our understanding of dark matter, deep space, and more.

Why do extraordinary beliefs -- like conspiracy theories -- continue to take hold? From what we see to what we experience or practice, anthropologists at @ucdavis.bsky.social say experience plays a bigger role than we think. Learn more at the Letters and Science Magazine:

The newly opened Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion, and Textiles will serve as a first-of-its-kind hub, expanding our global leadership in sustainable practices and preparing the next generation of designers and innovators. Read more: https://bit.ly/4oDwjD9

Both lighting and music can influence mood. A new study from the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis shows how different colors and shades enhance the emotional experience of music @ucdlands.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/news/lightin...

UC Davis experts break down why today’s CO₂ levels matter, how they compare to ancient climate shifts, and what tools we already have to slow the trajectory. The challenge? We have solutions, but not the systems, infrastructure or global cooperation to deploy them fast enough. @ucdavis.bsky.social

Congratulations to @ucdavis.bsky.social chemist Marie Heffern on receiving the Agilent Research Catalyst Award! With Agilent’s support, her team is helping address major challenges in drug formulation, a key step toward more effective treatments for diabetes and obesity. Read more:

We are honoring the life of Sandra Riddell Shannonhouse, whose passion for art and preservation left a lasting mark on @ucdavis.bsky.social. Her generosity and advocacy helped build the vibrant arts community we know today. Read more at the Letters and Science magazine:

Earthquake faults aren’t as static as we thought. New @ucdavis.bsky.social research shows they can rebuild strength quickly, almost like geological glue, resetting after every slow slip. Visit the Letters and Science Magazine to learn more.

In a new federally funded project, UC Davis researchers are finding a more sustainable way to extract valuable components modern technologies from acidic wastewater. 💧⚡ https://ow.ly/NP8i50XAVIU UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences | UC Davis College of Letters & Science

Meet the researcher From ancient lakebeds on Earth to the dusty plains of Mars, @ucdavis.bsky.social geobiologist Dawn Sumner explores how early life thrived on Earth and offers clues to where life might exist on other planets. Learn more: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives

We’ve been here before: a fast-growing technology with huge potential and serious risks. @ucdavis.bsky.social experts are examining what social media has taught us and how we can avoid repeating the same mistakes with AI. Read more at the Letters and Science Magazine.

It turns out the icy moons in our outer Solar System are a lot more active than they look. Turns out some icy moons might have oceans that boil when their ice melts. New @ucdavis.bsky.social research digs into how these worlds stay active beneath the surface. Read more:

Gözde Göncü-Berk has been named the inaugural Endowed Chair and founding director of the new Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion and Textiles at @ucdavis.bsky.social. Her work explores how wearable tech, responsive textiles, and emerging materials can transform lives.

Personality is more flexible than we think. @ucdavis.bsky.social researchers studied daily behaviors and the Big Five traits over multiple years, showing how our personalities shift with time. Do you know your Big Five? Visit our magazine to find out.

Congratulations to Professor Stacy Fahrenthold, the 2025 winner of The Nikki Keddie Book Award! Given by the Middle East Studies Association of North America, the award recognizes outstanding scholarly work in the area of religion, revolution, and/or society in the Middle East.

At @ucdavis.bsky.social, research knows no bounds. From more treatments to cleaner air and safer communities, our research touches every aspect of life, but funding is crucial for bringing these breakthroughs from our labs to your lives. Learn more: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives

As classrooms confront challenging questions about global events, @history-ucdavis.bsky.social scholars are providing resources that foster critical thinking, nuance, and meaningful discussion. Read more at the @ucdavis.bsky.social Letters and Science Magazine:

Looking Inside Icy Moons @ucdlands.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/news/looking...

Earth’s biggest extinction didn’t happen all at once; it unfolded region by region over hundreds of thousands of years. @ucdavis.bsky.social research tells us more about a rolling collapse that changed life on Earth forever. Read more at the Letters and Science Magazine: