Laura G. Shields | Science Writer
Clips
The cell whisperer
October 15, 2020
An engineer sways tissue samples to behave in the lab like they would inside us. Such advances in growing organoids can drive precision health.
Stanford Medicine Magazine
Porcupines give you 30,000 reasons to back off
April 09, 2019
Porcupines may be adorable, but their quills are designed to impale and next to impossible to remove. Now researchers are designing new surgical staples that mimic the quill's shape to better close wounds.
KQED
NPR Health Shots version
Painted wolves: The colorful carnivores of the African wild
February 28, 2019
A pack of long-legged, big-eared mammals chirps its way to one of the highest known hunting success rates. Yet, the painted wolves' hunting strategy brings them into areas that threaten their very existence.
Live Science
Unintentionally engineered worlds reveal the keys to survival in extreme conditions
January 07, 2019
Researchers dive deep to explore how microbial communities live in the harsh environment of fracking wells. These microbes are like contestants on a survival game show, whisked away to a foreign land.
EMSL's Molecular Bond
Cloud or no cloud, that is the question
December 12, 2018
Deep learning, a type of machine learning, is bringing automatic cloud detection to new heights. (STORY & VIDEO)
PNNL News
Two-dimensional materials skip the energy barrier by growing one row at a time
December 06, 2018
A new study dives into how some materials can self-assemble and helps uphold a theory that has remained unproven for over a century. (PRESS RELEASE)
PNNL News
Thinking outside the body
October 28, 2018
On a mission to help researchers grow cells in 3-dimensional structures, a materials scientist is making connections in cell biology. (STORY & PODCAST)
UCSC Science Notes
Redesigning poplar trees to take the drought... and the salt and the heat
September 28, 2018
When it's hotter, drier, and saltier, can you take it? Researchers on a multi-institutional team are redesigning poplar plants that can.
EMSL's Molecular Bond
Treating genetic disease: Is a cure a cut away?
June 24, 2018
On the cusp of moving from the lab to patients, genetic surgery offers new hope to those suffering from debilitating disorders. (VIDEO)
The Mercury News
Student-run program sends SJSU rocket club to new heights
June 11, 2018
Finals are over, but two dozen students head to a quiet San Jose State University campus two evenings a week. Their mission? To design a rocket that will reach an altitude of 100,000 feet. (STORY & PHOTOS)
The Mercury News
Playing their way into the geosciences
April 16, 2018
Childhood play experiences, like playing with construction-based toys, help explain gender disparity and more in undergraduate students’ spatial abilities.
Eos.org
Bees are back buzzing at Happy Hollow
April 11, 2018
Throw on a bee suit and check out the newly rebuilt apiary located behind-the-scenes at Happy Hollow Zoo & Park in San Jose. (VIDEO)
The Mercury News
UC Berkeley research shows squirrel behavior is not so nutty
April 09, 2018
UC Berkeley research shows that the furry critters display sophisticated problem-solving skills in determining what to eat -- and when to eat it.
The Mercury News
Oil spill response knowledge grows, but new risks emerge
April 03, 2018
An oil spill expert discusses lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon, dangers of aging infrastructure and atomized dispersants, and a Russian plan that imperils Arctic waters.
Eos.org
Some caves remove methane from the atmosphere, new tests reveal
March 05, 2018
Caves may be dark and eerie, but now they are a little less mysterious. That is, at least, when it comes to what happens to the atmospheric methane entering them.
Eos.org
Damage assessment by laser could focus postearthquake response
February 06, 2018
Airborne lidar surveys taken before and after a powerful earthquake in Japan revealed the potential for such surveys to identify hard-hit buildings quickly.
Eos.org
Researchers develop model that could reduce wave-induced injuries to Delaware beachgoers
January 03, 2018
Being pummeled by a large wave can quickly ruin a perfect beach day. But researchers are developing a model to predict the likelihood of such injuries.
GeoSpace
Building the ultimate ultimate disc
January 02, 2018
Five siblings team up to reinvent the one piece of equipment you need to play the play previously known as "Ultimate Frisbee."
Scientific American
Promising new wildfire behavior model may aid fire managers in near real-time
December 22, 2017
A new big-data solution for predicting wildfire spread is heating up, and it may become a useful tool in the firefighters’ arsenal.
GeoSpace
Organic aerosols in remote areas have shorter lives than scientists assumed
December 21, 2017
Ambient aerosols play important roles in Earth’s climate, so much so that scientists are heading to remote locations to better understand them.
GeoSpace
Did air pollution cause a deadly Chinese landslide?
December 12, 2017
Researchers now think they have found an unanticipated risk from air pollution that can kill instantly: landslides.
Science
Second whale entanglement since start of Dungeness crab season spotted Wednesday
December 08, 2017
A response team prepares to rescue a entangled whale, the second one spotted within three weeks.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Monterey Bay advocates ready to fight marine sanctuaries executive order
December 04, 2017
Californians are gearing up to defend the national marine sanctuaries that they fought so hard for years ago. (FRONT PAGE SUNDAY EDITION)
Santa Cruz Sentinel
The curious case of the phantom hippo teeth
December 04, 2017
Think of the illegal wildlife trade, and elephant tusks and rhino horns come to mind. But another of the world’s largest mammals is slipping under the radar.
Mongabay
Moonstruck: New study proves more wildlife-vehicle collisions occur during full moon
December 01, 2017
The brightness of a full moon has a dark side: an increased risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Following the science: How to chase stories across borders
November 08, 2017
Panelists at a session on cross-border journalism at the World Conference of Science Journalists spill their tips on how to work beyond a journalist's national borders.
WCSJ2017
UC Santa Cruz chancellor inspires Pajaro Valley students
October 25, 2017
Chancellor Blumenthal finds ways to connect with high school students while delivering his message that college education is achievable.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Aptos library launches community-wide book club
October 23, 2017
A new community-reading program is starting at the Aptos Library. Several books were considered for 2018.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Watsonville residents take skills to Texas disaster relief efforts
October 14, 2017
A local food bank sent one employee and one volunteer to food banks in Texas to help with the relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
UC Santa Cruz raises more than $335 million
October 08, 2017
The Campaign for UC Santa Cruz exceeded its goal in its first comprehensive fundraising campaign. Donors were able to specify where the funds will be used.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Turtle patrol on the Cobourg Peninsula
April 01, 2013
Patrolling the beach for nesting marine turtles near the top of Australia is no easy feat. Is that sweat from the heat or fear?
Go Camping Australia