Media Watch
Rewritten genetic code allows bacteria to fend off viral attacks
Science -
By partially rewriting the genetic code in bacteria, two groups of researchers have found they can thwart invading viruses, which must hijack the microbes’ genetic machinery to replicate. … Such recoding might help prevent viral outbreaks in factories that use bacteria to churn out drugs or other products. … The bacteria could also help biologists study the evolution of the genetic code itself, says synthetic biologist Chang Liu, [professor of biomedical engineering] of the University of California, Irvine. Now, researchers can “ask why the genetic code is the way it is.” Read More
Inside the space start-up that plans to fling satellites to orbit
Inverse -
SpinLaunch may face a major obstacle up in the air because it does the opposite of a standard rocket, says Julián Rimoli, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at the University of California, Irvine …. “I would expect this to get really hot,” Rimoli says, similar to how space capsules create mini-fireballs upon reentering the Earth’s atmosphere. That heat could prove disastrous for SpinLaunch’s precious cargo. … One of the biggest current unknowns: how SpinLaunch payloads will fare at much higher speeds, Rimoli says. Read More
Beach Erosion, Rising Seas Threaten Amtrak’s Second-Busiest Rail Line
Bloomberg -
Alternatives to track relocation include the construction of seawalls or other coastal “armoring.” Currently, 38% of the Southern California coastline is armored. But these techniques can end up blocking the natural replenishment of sand and hastening beach disappearance — a phenomenon that’s brought waves perilously close to the Surf Line in several sites. “You need a certain amount of sand in the system for it to work,” said Brett Sanders, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Irvine. “It's like how you can’t run a car without oil in the engine.” Read More
New UCI Institute to Research Zero-Emission, Autonomous Vehicle Tech
Orange County Business Journal -
UCI has opened a new on-campus research facility to study zero-emission, autonomous and connected vehicle technology. … “HIMaC2 represents a collection of state-of-the-art research laboratories for conducting crucially important and highly innovative research in the future of transportation, energy and their interconnections,” UCI Vice Chancellor for Research Pramod Khargonekar said in a statement. “It puts UCI in the forefront of this emerging field leading to breakthrough discoveries, inventions and their translation for benefits to society.” [Subscription required, you can request an electronic copy of the article by sending an email to communications@uci.edu.] Read More
ViaLase Boosts Ops in Aliso Viejo
Orange County Business Journal -
When he was 28 years old, [ViaLase Chief Executive Tibor] Juhasz immigrated in 1987 from his native Hungary to the U.S. for postdoctoral training at the University of California, Irvine. He is still a professor at UCI where he teaches biomedical engineering and conducts research on ophthalmology. On Sept. 28, the American Association for the Advancement of Science gave the “Golden Goose Award” to Juhasz, who was one of five researchers credited for scientific breakthroughs leading to the development of bladeless LASIK. The award honors scientists whose federally funded research has unexpectedly benefited society. [Subscription required, you can request an electronic copy of the article by sending an email to communications@uci.edu.] Read More
Green trucking offers a bigger climate justice bump than green buildings
Anthropocene -
Prioritizing the rollout of electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks for moving goods around California would benefit disadvantaged communities even more than decarbonizing building operations with clean energy, according to a new analysis. … “The substantial effort that California is taking to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) can and should also achieve environmental justice benefits by providing cleaner air within socially and economically disadvantaged communities,” says study team member Scott Samuelsen, [professor and founding director, Advanced Power and Energy Program], a clean energy researcher at the University of California, Irvine. Read More
How eroding beaches led to a Calif. commuting nightmare
ClimateWire -
A disappearing California beach is partly behind the weekslong closure of one of Amtrak's busiest routes in the latest example of how changing weather patterns and eroding shorelines pose a threat to the state's coastal rail corridor. … “That stretch of the coast has really lost a significant amount of sand over the last decade or two,” said Brett Sanders, professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of California, Irvine. “The beach that was once there to defend the railroad and defend housing and other infrastructure is no longer there.” Read More
A Reckoning With Mother Nature In South OC As Coastal Train Travel Is Suspended
LAist -
Brett Sanders, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Irvine said replenishing the sand that's been lost — and making sure sand washed down by rivers can get to the beach — could be an alternative way to protect the shoreline from further erosion. "Investing in beaches is something that would offer benefits for so many people and can be done in a way that's really good for the environment," he said. Read More
What cities can do better to protect themselves from hurricanes and other floods
NPR -
As if Hurricane Ian didn't cause enough damage, hurricanes are only growing stronger and more frequent due to climate change - same with other mass flooding events. So how can communities better protect themselves from rising waters? Well, to help us answer that question, I talked earlier with Brett Sanders. He's a professor of civil engineering at the University of California, Irvine, and he specializes in urban flooding. And I started by asking him, are we seeing storm damage more often now? And if so, why? Read More
Startups & Innovations – Partnerships
Orange County Business Journal -
Syntr Health Technologies Inc., an Irvine micro-fat processing startup based at UCI’s Cove, is teaming up with Venice-based HappyBond to provide treatments for dogs with knee and joint osteoarthritis. … [Syntr CEO Ahmed] Zobi received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, specializing in micro and nanotechnology, from UCI. [Subscription required, you can request an electronic copy of the article by sending an email to communications@uci.edu.] Read More