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UCSC.Edu

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz or UCSC) is a public research university in Santa Cruz, California. It is one of 10 campuses in the University of California system. Located 75 miles (120 km) south of San Francisco at the edge of the coastal community of Santa Cruz, the campus lies on 2,001 acres (810 ha) of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay. Founded in 1965, UC Santa Cruz began with the intention to showcase progressive, cross-disciplinary undergraduate education, innovative teaching methods and contemporary architecture. While still retaining its reputation for strong undergraduate support and student political activism, it has since evolved into a modern research university with a wide variety of both undergraduate and graduate programs. The residential college system, which consists of ten small colleges, is intended to combine the student support of a small college with the resources of a major university.

Astronomers observe the first radiation belt seen outside of our solar system

“High-resolution imaging of radio emissions from an ultracool dwarf show a double-lobed structure like the radiation belts of Jupiter. Astronomers have described the first radiation belt observed outside our solar system, using a coordinated array of 39 radio dishes from …

Graphene quantum dots show promise as novel magnetic field sensors

“Physicists found that speeding electrons trapped in circular loops in graphene quantum dots are highly sensitive to external magnetic fields. Trapped electrons traveling in circular loops at extreme speeds inside graphene quantum dots are highly sensitive to external magnetic fields …

Direct visualization of quantum dots reveals shape of quantum wave function

“Researchers used a scanning tunneling microscope to visualize quantum dots in bilayer graphene, an important step toward quantum information technologies Trapping and controlling electrons in bilayer graphene quantum dots yields a promising platform for quantum information technologies. Researchers at UC …

New optical technique provides more efficient probe of nanomagnet dynamics

“Data storage devices and other emerging technologies use magnetic elements smaller than 100 nanometers, but studying their magnetization dynamics can be a challenge The performance of magnetic storage and memory devices depends on the magnetization dynamics of nanometer-scale magnetic elements …

3D-printed supercapacitor electrode breaks records in lab tests

“Advances in supercapacitor technology could lead to wider use of fast-charging energy storage devices and novel designs for electronic gadgets Scientists at UC Santa Cruz and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have reported unprecedented performance results for a supercapacitor electrode …

Supermassive black holes control star formation in large galaxies

“Astronomers find close correlation between the mass of a galaxy’s central black hole and its star formation history Young galaxies blaze with bright new stars forming at a rapid rate, but star formation eventually shuts down as a galaxy …

Four Earth-sized planets detected orbiting the nearest sun-like star

“A new study by an international team of astronomers reveals that four Earth-sized planets orbit the nearest sun-like star, tau Ceti, which is about 12 light years away and visible to the naked eye. These planets have masses as low …