https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from California Polytechnic State University A quest to discover new antibiotics is taking a Cal Poly biochemistry research team back in time millions of years as they study ancient microorganisms. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-scientists-ancient-microbes-antibiotics-future.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:31:08 EST news682241464 The installation of livestream cameras in multiple U.S. states capturing real-time rattlesnake behavior has resulted in mass viewership, public education and improved public perceptions of a frequently vilified viper, according to a study conducted by coordinators of Project Rattlecam, a collaboration between scientists from Cal Poly and Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-livestreams-rattlesnakes-shift-attitudes-foster.html Ecology Sat, 25 Oct 2025 02:50:02 EDT news680577326 In an underground lab in a mountainous region of Italy that contains the coldest temperatures known to exist in the universe, teams of international scientists are to trying to solve one of the biggest mysteries in particle physics. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-mysteries-universe-explored-professor-students.html General Physics Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:04:06 EST news651488640 The first-ever study to look at drivers of both marine heatwaves and cold spells in the shallow nearshore along the California Current—coordinated by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary—found that certain environmental conditions and the state of the ocean can lead to an enhanced risk for ocean temperature extremes. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-nearshore-california-marine-heatwaves-cold.html Earth Sciences Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:24:49 EDT news610190683 Scientists have developed a novel method for storing biological materials such as RNA and proteins in a solid-state. The storage in solid-state resembles the form of a pill or a tablet, which dissolves in water for on-demand use. The innovation provides a new way to overcome current limitations in the storage and handling of products derived from living cells used for a variety of health care and scientific research purposes. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-breakthrough-solid-state-storage-biological-materials.html Biochemistry Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:15:07 EDT news609614090 A cup of wild blueberries a day may keep low energy at bay. The berries have long been hailed as a superfood. While they're known for a plethora of health benefits, new research from California Polytechnic State University Humboldt proves this superfruit could help burn fat during exercise. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-03-wild-blueberries-fat.html Health Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:20:03 EDT news599156401 Science shows that weight regain over time is common, but a new study—co-authored by a Cal Poly faculty member—has gathered new data on effective strategies to recover from weight regain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-strategies-recover-weight-regain.html Overweight & Obesity Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:59:17 EDT news586454354 About one in five Americans who have lost weight have kept those pounds off long-term. A new Cal Poly study powered by machine learning reveals some secrets to how people lose weight and keep it off: persevering despite setbacks; regularly looking back at what their life was like before the weight loss; and remaining focused on their health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-02-weight-loss-strategies-success.html Overweight & Obesity Wed, 09 Feb 2022 03:35:36 EST news563600131 The loss of seagrass habitat caused a dramatic shift in fish species in Morro Bay. Areas once covered with lush seagrass meadows and unique fish species are now home to muddy-seafloor-loving flatfish, according to a paper by Cal Poly researchers published in the October 2021 print edition of Estuaries and Coasts. https://phys.org/news/2021-10-morro-bay-seagrass-loss-fish.html Ecology Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:49:00 EDT news554744936 When it comes to climate change, not all organisms will lose out. A new Cal Poly study finds that rattlesnakes are likely to benefit from a warming climate. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-rattlesnakes-climate.html Plants & Animals Wed, 30 Jun 2021 10:23:07 EDT news544267384 They're cute, they're furry, and they start diving into frigid Antarctic waters at 2 weeks old. According to a new study from California Polytechnic State University, Weddell seal pups may be one of the only types of seals to learn to swim from their mothers. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-young-weddell.html Plants & Animals Thu, 17 Jun 2021 12:26:24 EDT news543151582 A new study reports that birds across the continental U.S. tend to avoid backyard feeders in louder areas. When light and noise pollution were both present, even more species stayed away. https://phys.org/news/2021-06-noise-pollution-birds-backyards.html Plants & Animals Thu, 10 Jun 2021 12:47:03 EDT news542548019 While many might consider a walk in the woods to be a quiet, peaceful escape from their noisy urban life, we often don't consider just how incredibly noisy some natural environments can be. Although we use soothing natural sounds in our daily lives—to relax or for meditation—the thunder of a mountain river or the crash of pounding surf have likely been changing how animals communicate and where they live for eons. A new experimental study published in the journal Nature Communications finds that birds and bats often avoid habitat swamped with loud whitewater river noise. https://phys.org/news/2021-05-experimental-whitewater-river-noise-birds.html Ecology Mon, 24 May 2021 05:00:02 EDT news541051057 Though noise may change moment by moment for humans, it has a more lasting effect on trees and plants. https://phys.org/news/2021-04-cascading-effects-noise-persist-periods.html Ecology Tue, 13 Apr 2021 19:00:02 EDT news537536591 If you thought your morning hike was contributing to your wellbeing, a new study shows that you're right, especially if our avian friends were singing while you strolled. https://phys.org/news/2020-12-phantom-chorus-birdsong-boosts-human.html Ecology Wed, 16 Dec 2020 03:56:58 EST news527313415 Parrotfishes are abundant herbivores that primarily graze upon algae, which may indirectly benefit corals by mitigating coral-algae competition. At a local scale, management efforts to increase populations of parrotfishes are believed to be critically important to maintaining resilient, coral-dominated reefs. Yet, some parrotfish species also occasionally graze coral—a behavior known as corallivory. Corallivory can cause the partial to total mortality of coral colonies and may have long-term impacts such as reduced coral growth and reproductive capacity and increased susceptibility to disease. While evidence suggests that parrotfishes likely have an overall net positive impact on coral communities, they may have detrimental impacts on heavily predated coral species, such as O. annularis. https://phys.org/news/2020-12-recovery-endangered-caribbean-coral-parrotfish.html Ecology Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:58:17 EST news527227093 Looking for a bird's-eye view of human impact? A new study published in the journal Nature provides the most comprehensive picture yet of how human noise and light pollution affect birds throughout North America, including how these factors may interact with or mask the impacts of climate change. https://phys.org/news/2020-11-noise-bird-habits-success.html Plants & Animals Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:00:01 EST news524301995 As California aims to provide 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2045, a study from California Polytechnic State University provides some good news. Offshore winds along the Central Coast increase at the same time that people start using more energy—in the evening. https://techxplore.com/news/2020-09-california-offshore-energy.html Energy & Green Tech Wed, 09 Sep 2020 03:43:46 EDT news518841811 An open-source educational biotechnology called the "Genetic Code Kit" has been developed by California Polytechnic State University researchers to allow students to interact with the molecular process inside cells in new ways. Researchers show that adapting state-of-the-art biotechnology for the classroom could transform how biology and biochemistry are taught to high school and undergraduate students. https://phys.org/news/2020-08-cell-student-genetic-code.html Biotechnology Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:38:52 EDT news517073928 The large-scale loss of eelgrass in a major California estuary—Morro Bay—may be causing widespread erosion, according to a new study from California Polytechnic State University. https://phys.org/news/2020-07-massive-seagrass-die-off-widespread-erosion.html Environment Tue, 28 Jul 2020 12:05:21 EDT news515156718 In a recent study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, researchers at California Polytechnic State University revealed that in addition to seasonal changes in winds and ocean temperatures, natural climate cycles greatly influenced the base of the food web at the Cal Poly Pier in San Luis Obispo Bay, an embayment located in Central California in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. Like seasons that drive recurring changes in ocean and atmospheric patterns every year, natural climate cycles drive rhythmic changes in these patterns over longer cycles. https://phys.org/news/2020-03-climate-variations-impact-base-food.html Environment Mon, 09 Mar 2020 17:09:21 EDT news502992557 Researchers at California Polytechnic State University have developed a low-cost approach that improves cell-free biotechnology's utility for bio-manufacturing and portability for field applications. https://phys.org/news/2020-02-stabilizing-freeze-dried-cellular-machinery-cell-free.html Biotechnology Tue, 25 Feb 2020 16:18:14 EST news501869890 Just in time for the New Year, a new Cal Poly study shows that if you want to lose weight and keep it off, building healthy dietary, self-monitoring and psychological coping strategies may be the keys to success. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-01-strategies-successful-weight-loss-maintenance.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 23 Jan 2020 10:49:42 EST news498998978 The picture of sea otters frolicking among kelp beds and rocky shoals has become an iconic image of the California coastline. But it may be drawing attention away from the value of other habitat that could truly help the endangered species in its recovery—estuaries. https://phys.org/news/2019-12-key-southern-sea-otter-repopulating.html Ecology Tue, 10 Dec 2019 12:00:01 EST news495197215