Retail gasoline prices in California have been consistently higher than the U.S. average, but the gap may continue to grow with the upcoming closure of two gasoline refineries. A new article by University of California, Davis, economists examines the impact of these closures on California gas prices. The authors find that, by August 2026, when the full effect of the closures is realized, California prices could rise by $1.21 if no further significant changes happen in the market.

As climate change drives up temperatures around the clock, warmer nights may be especially dangerous for caterpillars – causing them to grow fast but die young. University of California, Davis, researchers used hand warmers, a novel approach to warm field plots, to test the effects of higher temperatures at night.

Kenneth W. Tate, a University of California, Davis, professor and UC Cooperative Extension specialist, died unexpectedly on June 5, 2025, while traveling in Oregon. He was 58.

Over a decade ago, researchers at UC Davis noticed something unusual while studying yeast: tiny oil droplets sinking to the bottom of a flask. The strain of yeast was producing a natural compound with soap-like properties, and now it’s being developed as an ingredient in cleaning products that are gentle on skin and environmentally friendly.

A vitamin deficiency likely killed as many as half of newly hatched fry of endangered winter-run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River in 2020 and 2021. These  findings were published June 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

They may look like travel shampoo bottles and smell like bubblegum, but after a few hundred puffs, some disposable, electronic cigarettes and vape pods release higher amounts of toxic metals than older e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. For example, one of the disposable e-cigarettes studied released more lead during a day’s use than nearly 20 packs of traditional cigarettes.

Lake Tahoe’s long-term clarity record is not trending worse, nor is it improving, according to the 2024 annual clarity report from the University of California, Davis’ Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC).

Congratulations to the class of 2025! We are so happy to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our students. Our graduating class always inspires me. This week we celebrate their efforts and incredible achievements. A degree from UC Davis unlocks opportunities and signifies commitment to a higher level of learning and represents a major milestone. We are so proud of all of our graduates and look forward to hearing about their continued success.

For the first time in its storied history, the University of California, Davis, is selling wines to the public made by students, staff and faculty from grapes they grow in the Napa Valley and around campus in Yolo County.

For years, families in the Bay Area city of Richmond have lived with smoke and chemicals drifting from a nearby oil refinery. That kind of exposure poses serious health risks, but a new report from UC Davis shows how California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 617 is helping residents take a more active role in monitoring and reducing air pollution in their neighborhoods.