Media Watch Archives

Typically, scientists use animals to study humans, but researchers at the University of California, Irvine reversed the system in their newest research. At the American Chemical Society 2023 meeting, researchers detailed how they used human cells to better understand squid camouflage. … “We had this crazy idea to see whether we could capture some aspect of the ability of squid skin tissues to change transparency within human cell cultures,” said PI [and Associate Professor] Alon Gorodetsky, whose research group has been working on materials inspired by squid. The team at the University of California, Irvine focused their efforts on cephalopod cells called leucophores, which have particulate-like nanostructures composed of reflecting proteins that scatter light. Read More

A UC Irvine engineer is breaking a Guinness World Record using a drone and an internet connection. Under the direction of Peter Burke, [professor of electrical engineering and computer science], a drone in Irvine, California, was remotely operated by a pilot 11,000 miles away on a French island in the Indian Ocean. This new technology can be used in a variety of applications from rescue missions and railway safety inspections to water, forest and land surveying. [Starts :52] Read More

According to Diran Apelian, [Distinguished Professor of materials science and engineering], head of the Advanced Casting Research Center based at the University of California, Irvine, five areas of focus are colliding in the present day of alloy development, each making an indelible imprint on its progress and capabilities. … “The big question isn’t so much alloy development, but it should be how do we recover and reuse these alloys at the end of life? Technologies need to be developed, which we’re working on here at ACRC.” Apelian said he’s currently working on a new metal recovery process that will potentially remove the need for sorting through technologies that will purify scrap metals prior to melting. Read More 

In California, there are more than 14,000 miles of urban and rural levees. They protect dry land, cities, towns, homes, businesses, farms and public property from floods. … "On average, they are 57 years old and many of them were built using standards that were much less rigorous than are current building practices," said UC Irvine Climate and Flood Scientist [Professor] Amir AghaKouchak. … "We're not doing enough. Lack of maintenance is one of the biggest issues in my opinion," said AghaKouchak. … "Future earthquake can cause actual collapse and failure," said AghaKouchak. Read More