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Scientists in blue University of California labcoats inspecting plants in a lab setting

A new (and surprising) way to use solar panels

In the middle of California's Central Valley, a new way to use solar panels could change how we think about clean energy and water. It’s a simple idea that people have talked about for decades, but only now is it finally being tested in real life.

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Lily Collins presents David Gross with his Breakthrough Award
UC Newsroom |

4 UC scientists honored with ‘Oscars of Science’ at the 2026 Breakthrough Prizes

Two UC Berkeley faculty, a UCLA physicist and a UC Santa Barbara Nobel laureate were awarded Breakthrough Foundation prizes for their incredible contributions to advancing science.
A woman, neck up, in profile, with short salt and pepper hair in silhouette and a collage cutout of a brain and pills over her eyes, along with other collage illustrations in the backdrop and dots
UC San Francisco |

Rewriting the story of estrogen

The hormone’s role in women’s health reaches far beyond reproduction.
portrait of Amir AghaKouchak
UC Irvine |

Water, warming and a world at risk

Amir AghaKouchak, who specializes in co-occurring environmental hazards, earns a global honor.
Two fans of blue and white dots extending up and down from center on black background
UC Santa Cruz |

DESI completes largest high-resolution 3D map of universe to date

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has completed its originally planned five-year mission and mapped more than 47 million galaxies and quasars, and will continue observations into 2028 and further expand the map.

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