UCSB

Isla Vista, a small, unincorporated part of Santa Barbara County, has commissioned a study to see if the community can afford to become its own city.

Scientists wanted to know if simple behaviors could lead to lasting changes in personality– specifically, the trait of curiosity. The researchers created a smartphone app designed to encourage a curious mindset.

According to UC Santa Barbara’s Wildfire Initiative, the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires are a wake-up call for Central Coast residents to do their part in fire prevention.

A new UC Santa Barbara study says shark populations are threatened by overfishing. The report highlights the importance of the fish to ecosystems and calls for its protections.

Police continue to investigate a pro-Palestinian protest at UC Santa Barbara that disrupted finals week.

Research published from UC Santa Barbara shows the coast of southern California was used as a dumping ground for industrial waste in the mid-1900s. Decades later, toxic chemicals and radioactive waste still exist on the ocean floor.

UCSB researcher Kyle Emery said giant kelp is an extremely important foundation species for the food web on our sandy beaches.

Groundwater across the United States is declining, especially in drier areas of the central coast where crops are grown, like Paso Robles and Santa Maria. But, a new UC Santa Barbara study confirms there are solutions.

El Nino conditions have arrived on the central coast causing 15-25 foot waves to pummel local beaches at the start of the new year. Local marine scientists said the giant waves may cause erosion in some areas.

UCSB researcher Paige Harris wants to know if the benefits of exercise help foster positive social interactions, too.