Science (Video)

Marisa Korody, Ph.D., leads groundbreaking work at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Beckman Center for Conservation Research, where scientists use advanced genetic and stem cell technologies to protect endangered species. Korody highlights efforts to save the critically endangered northern white rhino by developing induced pluripotent stem cells that can be transformed into egg and sperm precursors, offering a potential path to revive the species. This research is part of a broader conservation mission that includes global projects in genetics, reintroduction, and community engagement. By combining cutting-edge science with wildlife management, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works to preserve biodiversity and ensure the survival of species threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, demonstrating the critical role of innovation in conservation. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40451]

Advances in precision medicine and patient advocacy are transforming the way cancer is understood and treated. Nikoo McGoldrick shares her personal journey with metastatic breast cancer, emphasizing the importance of patients having a voice in their care. Sheldon Morris, M.D., M.P.H., explains how regenerative medicine progresses through stem cell therapies, gene therapies, CAR-T cell treatments, and small molecules, with clinical trials addressing cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurological diseases. Sandip Patel, M.D., F.A.S.C.O., highlights cancer stem cells as key drivers of relapse and resistance, describing precision medicine approaches, novel CAR-T therapies, and the role of artificial intelligence in cancer detection and treatment. Rebecca Shatsky, M.D., focuses on breast cancer as a systemic disease linked to dormant cancer stem cells, underscoring the need for genomic and immune-based therapies, including innovative antibody treatments and targeted clinical trials. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40910]

Scott A. Armstrong, M.D., Ph.D., of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, studies how certain aggressive forms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) develop and survive. His work centers on a protein called menin, which helps leukemia cells keep cancer-promoting genes switched on. Armstrong’s team has found that blocking menin with specially designed drugs can shut down these gene programs, push leukemia cells to mature, and slow or stop the disease in lab models and patients. While some leukemias adapt by developing mutations in menin or finding other ways to survive, his research is revealing why certain genes are especially dependent on menin and how to target them more effectively. These discoveries are now shaping new treatments, drug combinations, and potential strategies for other cancers that rely on similar mechanisms. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40875]

For many people, a personal connection to the ocean ties into bigger issues like conservation and climate change. As the biodiversity of marine life along the coast at La Jolla Shores has declined, divers and researchers discuss why simply knowing about environmental problems isn’t enough. They emphasize the importance of conservation psychology, storytelling, and inspiration to encourage action. This video was created by graduate students in Marine Biodiversity & Conservation at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. [Science] [Show ID: 41072]

What’s the best way to get college students interested in nature? By getting them outside and teaching them valuable skills in wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. Associate Professor Laci Gerhart’s popular “Wild Davis” course does just that, and students who complete the course can earn California Naturalist Certification. Series: "UC Davis News" [Science] [Show ID: 41070]

Why does amber light ease stress and anxiety? One theory is that it’s similar to the natural orange light experienced in nature, like sunsets and campfires. Thanks to interest and funding in color psychology research, discoveries like this will improve emotional and mental health for everyone, especially those who need it most like hospital patients and those in elder care housing. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41054]

At the UC Davis Student Farm, students bring sustainable food systems to life.

In Episode 2 of 'Sustainably UC Davis', we explore student-led efforts in sustainable agriculture. Environmental and social sustainability remain central to the Student Farm’s mission, from organic practices to food justice. Hear about these topics and more from Colin Dixon, Director of the Student Farm, as well as staff and student leads from the Market Garden, Fresh Focus, and Green Fellowship programs. Series: "UC Davis News" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 41057]

UC Davis students from multiple disciplines are learning to design enzymes that address challenges in food, energy and health. Through the Design2Data program, they gain hands-on experience in enzyme engineering, preparing for careers in science and research that make a real-world impact. See how our students contribute to solving important human needs. Series: "UC Davis News" [Science] [Show ID: 41052]

Coastal Santa Barbara is considered one of the most idyllic locations on the North American West Coast, but its beauty is frequently disrupted by fast-spreading, wind-driven wildfires. The east-west oriented Santa Ynez Mountains (SYM), rising abruptly over 1,000 meters from the coastal plain, create a distinct climatic environment by separating the cool, stable air over the Pacific from the much drier atmosphere of the Santa Ynez Valley. This topography leads to unique regional wind patterns, including the Sundowner winds, which occur along the southern slopes of the SYM. Leila Carvalho, Professor of Geography and a researcher at the Earth Research Institute at UC Santa Barbara, studies regional and large-scale climate variability and change, including monsoon dynamics, tropical-extratropical interactions, extreme precipitation and temperature events, mountain weather and climate, and regional modeling. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Show ID: 41039]

Stanley Chodorow, Emeritus Professor of History at UC San Diego, traces the evolution of food preservation, preparation, and production from ancient times to the modern era. He explores early methods such as drying, salting, and ice cellars, advances like iceboxes, refrigeration, and flash freezing, and innovations in cooking technology from open fires to gas and electric stoves. Chodorow examines the domestication of animals, the development of agriculture, and transformative tools like the wheeled plow and horse harness. He highlights the rise of industrialized food, refrigerated transport, and global trade in products such as sugar, chocolate, and processed foods. Concluding with the health impacts of dietary changes since the shift from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies, he offers a sweeping view of how technology has shaped what—and how—we eat. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40966]