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Explore critical issues and find out more about UC's impact on the state and the world.

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Scientists in blue University of California labcoats inspecting plants in a lab setting

A new (and surprising) way to use solar panels

In the middle of California's Central Valley, a new way to use solar panels could change how we think about clean energy and water. It’s a simple idea that people have talked about for decades, but only now is it finally being tested in real life.

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A painting showing a blazing sunset behind a watertower in a desolate landscape, with telephone lines in front of the tower and mountains in the far distance
UC Berkeley |

Legacy of Chiura Obata, artist and former UC Berkeley professor, endures on campus

Obata, detained in a World War II internment camp for people of Japanese descent, urged turning to "Great Nature" to transcend differences and difficulty.
Three people in blue lab coats work in a purple-lit facility with large, complex-looking equipment.
UC Newsroom |

Cuts to federal science spending will cost every American

America’s scientific leadership is teetering. The proposed federal budget would send it off a cliff.
A view of the UC Berkeley campus, including Sather Tower and the library, on a day with a blue sky
UC Newsroom |

UC leads American public research universities in global impact, new rankings show

All 10 UC campuses are among the best universities in the world in research impact, with eight among the top 25 public universities in the United States, according to the 2025-26 Best Global Universities ranking from U.S. News & World Report.
The U.S. Capitol building viewed from an angle against a bright blue sky
UC Office of the President |

Congress weighs deep cuts to federal student financial aid, Medicaid programs

If approved, the changes will make it harder for students and families to pay for college and could result in some Californians losing access to health care.

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