UCLA, NASA JPL use new instrument to shed light on plant fluorescence

With the help of an instrument the size of a shoe box, UCLA researchers hope to eventually monitor the health of plants over the entire Earth. In collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, researchers from the UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences are measuring the light chlorophyll emits during photosynthesis with an instrument they […]

Trump’s policies raise concerns for environmental organizations at UCLA

Several students and professors expressed their apprehension for the climate’s future under president-elect Donald Trump’s policies on environmental issues. Trump promised voters during his campaign that he will dismantle the United States Environmental Protection Agency and withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Instead of focusing on the environment, Trump aims to prioritize the domestic economy. The Paris Agreement […]

UCLA professor dies, remembered for contributions to anatomy teaching

Carmine Clemente was one of the first UCLA professors in the ’70s to be more than a lecturer. He would prioritize interacting and engaging with students at a time when most professors simply stood in front of their classes to teach. Clemente, a distinguished professor emeritus of neurobiology, died on Nov. 11 at the age […]

Professor’s lecture sparks debate about FDA drug approval process

One academic believes that an excessive amount of resources is wasted on the hasty pursuance of drug trials, which don’t always generate conclusive results. However, UCLA Health officials think that the drug approval process is relatively efficient. Jonathan Kimmelman, biomedical ethics professor at McGill University, Canada, spoke to medical students and health professionals about cancer […]

Luskin center to introduce first robot concierge in Southern California

At less than 2 feet tall, LARA stood dwarfed by its human developers at an event last week. The robot got cold feet before introducing himself to the audience. Organizers spent some time attempting to set up the presentation, but that did not stop the humanoid robot from performing its duties once the event started. […]

Eye-tracking tech peers into future of psychology, privacy concerns

The slightest movement of an eye or dilation of the pupil can reveal the thought processes of a person’s brain – even an infant’s. Researchers across UCLA are using eye-tracking technology to track eye positions and eye movement. The data researchers gather from the technology can be used to study human behavior. “Eyes are the […]

UCLA disability studies minor to celebrate 10th anniversary

When faculty and administrators started the disability studies minor, they thought students with disabilities would be the most interested. But 10 years later, the minor has grown in size, and students from all backgrounds apply. As the minor’s 10th anniversary draws closer, associated faculty and students are reflecting on the minor’s role in changing social […]