Walk Through California’s Geological Past at the UC Davis Rock Garden

Tucked beside the Earth and Physical Sciences Building, the California Rock Garden is one of UC Davis’ most unique outdoor classrooms. With more than 50 boulders and core samples on display, the garden tells stories of ancient oceans, erupting volcanoes, and shifting landscapes. Take a walk with us as we explore five featured specimens that stand out both in beauty and scientific significance.

Looking Inside Icy Moons

The outer planets of the Solar System are swarmed by ice-wrapped moons. A new study published Nov. 24 in Nature Astronomy sheds light on what could be going on beneath the surface of these worlds and provides insights into how their diverse geologic features may have formed.

Rocks on Faults Can Heal Following Seismic Movement

Earthquake faults deep in the Earth can glue themselves back together following a seismic event, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Davis. The work, published Nov. 19 in Science Advances and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, adds a new factor to our understanding of the behavior of faults that can give rise to major earthquakes.

Protecting the Ocean We Have

Every year, the Bodega Marine Laboratory hosts summer sessions for undergraduate students interested in coastal systems and marine science. During the roughly five-week program, students take classes in topics like coastal oceanography, marine environmental issues and biological oceanography. They conduct fieldwork and go on field trips to nearby sites like the Hog Island Oyster Company. Students can even live at the lab’s on-site dormitory during the session.

Deep-Water Sediments Reveal Cyclical Patterns of Extraterrestrial Influence on Earth’s Ancient and Modern Climates

Fossil fuel consumption, among other sources of pollution, have resulted in increasing atmospheric and oceanic temperatures, leading to ice sheet melt and unprecedented shifts in our environments. New research from an international team of scientists suggests that these recent, rapid warming conditions exist within a larger climatic pattern — one that has been persistently driven by extraterrestrial forcing.