News

Giving Humanity a Hand with Supernumerary Robotics

A team of UC Davis researchers look to give humanity an extra hand—literally. A new, NSF-funded collaboration between the Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior (NPB) plans to develop and test a robotic fifth limb to give humans extra capabilities in extreme environments.

Bumblebees Carry Heavy Loads in Economy Mode

Bumblebees are the big lifters of the insect world, able to fly back to the hive with almost their own body weight in nectar on board. A study published Feb. 5 in Science Advances shows how they do it — and that bees can show more flexibility in behavior than you might expect from a bumbling insect.

About That Butterfly Contest: ‘It’s Complicated’

Professor Art Shapiro predicted it: The cabbage white butterfly would be out this week, alerting his “posse” to their opportunity to win his annual Beer for a Butterfly contest — the prize going to the person who catches the first cabbage white of the new year.

Taking a Bite Out of Research: BMCDB Ph.D. Student Natalie Sahabandu Reflects on Her Journey as an Aggie

Natalie Sahabandu is a Ph.D student in the BMCDB Graduate Group. As an undergraduate at UC Davis, she picked up science skills through the Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program. Her interest in science and biology is all due to her mother, who carted the young Sahabandu to various science exhibitions at local universities in Sri Lanka.