Research

UC Merced Leads National Effort to Unlock Quantum Secrets of Twisty Molecules

October 27, 2025

An example showing a chiral molecule and 'handedness.'

A team of scientists led by UC Merced is embarking on a project to understand how the twisted shapes of specific molecules can influence the spin of electrons — a phenomenon that could revolutionize solar energy, electronics and quantum computing. The research, funded by the U.S....

Dean Charts Vision for Natural Sciences

Dean of Natural Sciences Juan Meza began his tenure at UC Merced in September, and he wasted no time in meeting with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff to learn about the areas...

Campus Sees Another Increase in Applications

The University of California, Merced, continues to see growing interest from prospective students, as witnessed by a 9.9 percent rise in applications over the 2011 academic year according to data...

UC Merced and Fresno Unified Leverage Resources to Increase Rate of Valley Grads Going to College

The Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP) at the University of California, Merced, has teamed up with the Fresno Unified School District to support an important mission — helping more high school...

Campus' Ties with Community Continue to Increase

The bond between the San Joaquin Valley and the University of California, Merced, continues to strengthen. This past year, UC Merced's ongoing research endeavors produced new knowledge...

Study Shows Sugarcane Ethanol Production Causes Air Pollution

The burning of sugarcane fields prior to harvest for ethanol production can create air pollution that detracts from the biofuel’s overall sustainability, according to research published recently by a...

Innovative Solar Research Highlighted During Symposium

From improving the performance and efficiency of solar cells to using solar technology to speed up fruit drying, a wide array of topics were covered by distinguished scientists at the UC Solar...

Ancient Chinese Government Lends Perspective to Modern Challenges

Government, for better or worse, hasn't changed all that much in two millennia. China's government 2,000 years ago confronted the same kinds of problems as their modern counterparts — making...

Campus Teach-In to Discuss Occupy Movement

As the Occupy social movement sweeps across the nation, UC Merced students, faculty and staff have planned a teach-in on campus from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 in an effort to assist the...

Family Provides Inspiration for Graduate Student

Growing up in the village of Juchipila in central Mexico, Jesus Luna knew exactly what he would do some day. “When I was 3 or 4 years old, I told my mom I would be a scientist,” Luna said. “I told...