UC Davis

A UC Davis study found that prescribed burns in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks significantly increased the survival rate of giant sequoias during the 2020-2021 wildfires. Researchers used satellite imagery and AI to determine that trees treated with controlled fires were four times more likely to survive. Over 1,900 sequoias were saved, and an additional 3,900 could have survived if all trees had been treated.

A two-alarm residential fire occurred near 184 Panoramic Street in Pittsburg, Calif., just after 3:15 a.m. Saturday, causing injuries to a resident. Fire crews provided medical treatment and transported the victim to UC Davis for further care. Contra Costa County Fire attributed the fire to downed live electrical wires.

Carlos Reales Dominguez was found guilty in the 2023 stabbings near UC Davis and was ruled insane. The case was heard in Yolo County Superior Court in Woodland, Calif.

A judge ruled Carlos Reales Dominguez legally insane after he was convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter for fatal stabbings in Davis, California. The decision allows Dominguez to be committed to a state hospital instead of prison, with a commitment order expected by August 19.

A California jury acquitted Carlos Reales Dominguez of second-degree murder but convicted him of involuntary manslaughter in the 2023 stabbing deaths of two people. The case involves claims of untreated schizophrenia and a second trial phase to determine legal insanity.

A California murder trial for Carlos Reales Dominguez, accused of fatally stabbing two people and injuring a third, is concluding with arguments over whether his actions were driven by schizophrenia or cannabis-induced psychosis. The case is the second trial after a previous acquittal on first-degree murder charges, with prosecutors emphasizing Dominguez's organized behavior and cannabis use as evidence of intent.

A study in Nature found that a potent carcinogen, chromium-6, may have spread up to nine miles downwind from LA fire cleanup zones, affecting areas with 3 million residents. Researchers from UCLA and UC Davis detected airborne metals like lead and arsenic, noting concentrations declined over time but emphasizing lingering health risks.

A new AI-powered spectrometer chip developed at UC Davis enables lab-style spectral analysis in a device as small as a grain of sand. The chip combines smart silicon sensors with machine learning to analyze light and chemicals without requiring bulky equipment.

UC Davis researchers created new psychedelic-like compounds that activate key serotonin receptors tied to brain plasticity and mental health benefits without causing hallucination-like behavior. These compounds could lead to future treatments for depression, PTSD, and addiction. The discovery was made by shining UV light on amino acid-based molecules.