Kat Kerlin

As real journalists scramble and trusted news outlets wither, I just read ~ a dozen "news clips" by fake authors using made-up sources. I wouldn't have known, except they quoted nonexistent scientists from the very real institution I work for. Be careful what you read. Support real journalism.

When I came off the mountain, I had a phone full of garbled audio file interviews and notes that @amymquinton.bsky.social magically transformed into this episode of @unfoldpodcast.bsky.social. Pure wizardry, I tell you! Give it a listen.

Why Is Federally Funded Research So Important? America’s lucrative, long-running investment in basic science and research is under threat, and the consequences could be far-reaching for local and national economies and for the United States’ leade...

Why Is Federally Funded Research So Important? UC Davis VC for Research Simon Atkinson explains @ucdavisresearch.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/magazine/why...

Don't you hate it when you say "vital" twice but don't realize it until after you post? I do. I hate that. Ah well.

First, the frogs died. Then people got sick. An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.

Biodiversity isn't just pretty; it's vital for people's health. Case in point: This awesome story about the decline of frogs, the rise of a disease and the vital research from @ucdavis.bsky.social and others discovering that link. 👏 @dinograndoni.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com bit.ly/4r1hblm

Fossil Fuel CO2 Emissions Hit Record High in 2025 Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025 – reaching a record high, according to new research by the Global Carbon Project.

The remaining carbon budget for 1.5C will be gone by 2030 without dramatic emissions cuts. Global Carbon Report 2025 preprint released for #COP30. www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog...

The Bodega Marine Lab and @ucdavis.bsky.social were on @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social last night! 🎉

We’ll take "Ways to Make a Marine Scientist’s Day” for $1,000, please, and give a big shoutout to our @whiteabalone.bsky.social team!

📺: Season 42, E9434 - Week 10, Episode 49

Our new study just came out taking a look at how drought influences human-wildlife conflict reports in California! Check it out here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Mechanical Power by Linking Earth’s Warmth to Space Engineers at the University of California, Davis, have invented a device that can generate mechanical power at night by linking the natural warmth around us to the cold depths of space. The invention ...

Scientists show "it is possible to generate useful amounts of power from the night sky," potentially for things like ventilating greenhouses and homes. New study from @ucdavis.bsky.social. www.ucdavis.edu/news/mechani...

How Climate Change Brings Wildlife to the Yard As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA and UC Davis researchers found one overlooked side effect: People report more conflicts with wildlife during drought, when resources are sca...

Conflict between humans & wildlife is expected to increase with drought and climate change, finds @ucdavis.bsky.social @uclaioes.bsky.social study. "If we can make it worse, then we can make it better,” says @kendallcalhoun.bsky.social. @justineasmith.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

The bark of a foxtail pine tree is seen from the right side while the Sierra Nevada mountains stretches out below. A woman in a light blu shirt walks beside a pine tree below in teh bottom left corner of the shot. Photo by Kat Kerlin, UC Davis

Ink and watercolor sketch of a Clark's nutcracker bird perched atop a tree snag with green pine forest below and pink, beighe, gray and blue mountain landscape in background. Art by Kat Kerlin, UC Davis

Two women, Sachi Srivastava at top and Gabrielle Katanic, wears ballcaps, light blue shirts and backpacks while looking at bushy pine tree amid large boulders in the High Sierra mountains. Photo by Kat Kerlin, UC Davis

For 4 days I followed @ucdavis.bsky.social scientists into the High Sierra to learn secrets from a tree, a bird and a changing world. I came back with this story, a new @unfoldpodcast.bsky.social episode, tons of pics and even watercolors.🌲🪺 🎨 Enjoy! www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

This was one of the most rewarding reporting experiences I've ever gotten to have, and I'm so thrilled to see the story and podcast out in the world now! @ucdavis.bsky.social

Most of California's public K-12 students go to school on campuses with virtually no shade A team of researchers has mapped the tree canopies at public schools across California. What they've found so far is that many kids face a dangerous lack of shade and greenery.

Have CA schools missed the bus on providing shade to increasingly hot playgrounds? 🥵 About 85% of elementary schools have lost tree canopy. @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdavisplants.bsky.social teams with @uclaioes.bsky.social to investigate. @latimes.com www.latimes.com/environment/...

New Species of Spider Discovered, Just in Time for Halloween UC Davis scientists have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider in California's coastal sand dunes.

New species of spider discovered, just in time for Halloween. But climate change and habitat loss creep around the corner, haunting this newly named trapdoor spider. @ucdavis.bsky.social paper explains. www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

California Schools Are Losing Tree Canopy About 85% of elementary schools studied in California experienced some loss of trees between 2018 and 2022, found a UC Davis study.

California playgrounds and open spaces are getting hotter, but few have much shading and many are actually losing tree cover, a team led by the UC Davis Urban Science Lab finds www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

What’s at Stake with Federal Research Funding Cuts Federal research funding cuts threaten UC Davis discoveries in health, agriculture and technology that improve lives worldwide.

In Focus: What’s at Stake with Federal Research Funding Cuts www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/ne...

Federal research funding turns lab work into real help. More funding means faster treatments, cleaner air and water, safer families and stronger businesses. When funding freezes, progress slows and costs rise. Learn about how UC Davis research improve lives by visiting ucdav.is/FLTL.

These Songbirds Learn More From Siblings Than From Parents The powerful role of siblings is highlighted in this UC Davis study of a songbird species with limited parental care.

You don't have to tell me about the power of siblings. My big sis is the best ever. But it's very cool to see this bond is so important in other species, too, like these songbirds, according to a new @ucdavis.bsky.social study from @sonjawild.bsky.social. www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

Astronomers Find Mystery Dark Object in Distant Universe Using a global network of telescopes, astronomers have detected the lowest-mass dark object yet found in the universe. Finding more such objects and understanding their nature could rule out some theo...

The existence of small, starless clumps of dark matter can help astronomers learn more about the mystery stuff that makes up a quarter of the universe @ucdlands.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/news/astrono...

Resilience from the Ground Up What Early-Career Scientists Are Learning from Seagrass, Sediment, and Oysters

"Resilience shows up in sediment cores and microbial communities, in carbon storage and stress responses, and also in career pivots, broken funding pipelines, and the uncertainty that shadows early-career science today." Great ✍️by @ucdmarinescience.bsky.social storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/69cd...

California: A Salmon Society? By Carson Jeffres Consider for a moment the identity of the Pacific Northwest as a Salmon Society.  When you fly into an airport in the Pacific Northwest, salmon are on the floors and wal…

Carson Jeffres has loved and studied fish for 40 years. Here, he reflects on salmon, identity and CA's past and future as a Salmon Society. It "has been difficult to have hope, but some changes are happening now." @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdaviswater.bsky.social californiawaterblog.com/2025/10/05/c...

Lake Tahoe Algae Experiment Suggests Seasonal Shifts Ahead As the climate warms and nutrient inputs shift, algal communities in cool, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe will likely experience seasonal changes, according to a study from the University of Cal...

As the climate warms and nutrient levels shift, what can cool, clear mountain lakes expect? Study from @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdavistahoe.bsky.social @ucdaviscaes.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

Hey! @ucdavisnews.bsky.social is on Bsky. Go follow us for research and other news from UC Davis!

180,000 Californians rely on federally backed flood insurance. Trump could overhaul the system The Trump administration is looking to overhaul FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. That leaves insurance at risk for 180,000 policyholders in California.

Drastic changes to the National Flood Insurance Program could dismantle a half-century of U.S. policy on dealing with natural disasters, Nicholas Pinter of @ucdavis.bsky.social tells the @latimes.com. www.latimes.com/environment/...

The LA Fires Spewed Out Toxic Nanoparticles. He Made It His Mission to Trace Them Nicholas Spada is one of the only scientists in the world using a nuclear x-ray process to study deadly nanoparticles in wildfire smoke. What he’s uncovered in California is a nightmare.

Nicholas Spada at @ucdavis.bsky.social’ Air Quality Research Center "is one of only a handful of scientists in the world proficient at using a nuclear method for detecting toxic substances in air particles to understand their impact on human health and the environment." www.wired.com/story/the-la...

Pulling the E-Brake on Methane Emissions As global emissions continue to climb, there is a growing call for rapidly reducing methane.

How rapidly reducing methane emissions "is really pulling the emergency brake" on climate change. @tessahill.bsky.social @ucdavis.bsky.social and Fatima Denton discuss new report from @climatecrisisag.bsky.social with @wedonthavetime.bsky.social at #ClimateWeekNYC www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

Valley Fever Is Spreading Across the Arid West, Affecting People and Dogs A soil fungus fuels valley fever, now reaching beyond California and Arizona due to climate change. UC Davis doctors and veterinarians trace the threat.

Valley fever is affecting people and dogs across the arid West as researchers seek solutions."Their paths are different but bound by the same invisible spores,"writes @amymquinton.bsky.social @ucdavis.bsky.social. www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/...

Research on the tenacious little killifish sheds light on how exposure to crude oil and flame retardants impacts later generations. From @andrewwhitehead.bsky.social @ucdavis.bsky.social

The Color Lab Uncovers the Soothing Effects of Light Veronica Then wore an electroencephalogram, or EEG, cap and stood in front of a black curtain with a white square placed behind her like a target. Studio lights beamed down from the ceiling as a panel...

As someone who helps prep scientists for media interviews, I love how the "stress test" in this research was to have someone do 5 minutes of public speaking! 😅 Nerve-wracking work, but so important. Another great story from Greg Watry for @ucdavis.bsky.social. www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/...