Electronic Whiskers Could Help Robots Sense Their Surroundings

 Science, January 2014

Robot lovers, rejoice: The world is one step closer to “robocat.” Many mammals use special hairs on their faces to feel for unseen objects. Researchers realized artificial whiskers could help robots sense the world around them, but until now, attempts at whiskerlike sensors have been bulky and inefficient. Using cutting-edge materials, a team of researchers has now developed electronic whiskers with a sensitivity and size mimicking their natural counterparts.

Turning Your Windows Into Movie Screens

 Science, January 2014

The latest Hollywood blockbuster may be coming soon to a window near you. Researchers have developed a see-through video screen embedded with silver nanoparticles that’s both scalable and relatively inexpensive. While traditional projection screens come in pearly white in order to evenly reflect the whole spectrum of visible light, the new display reflects only a single, specific shade of blue.

How the Pepper Got Its Kick

 Science, January 2014

Things are heating up in the world of genetics. The hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) is one of the most widely grown spice crops globally, playing an important role in many medicines, makeups, and meals worldwide. Although the plant’s so-called capsaicin chemical is well known for spicing things up, until now the genetic spark responsible for the pepper’s pungency was unknown.

Gut Parasite May Keep Locusts From Swarming

 Science, January 2014

By itself, the migratory locust is about as harmless as a grasshopper. But under the right conditions, it can assemble with billions of its comrades into apocalyptic swarms that destroy thousands of hectares of crops in Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Now, scientists have discovered that a gut parasite may be key to keeping these insects living the single life.

Featured online and in print.

Great Whites Live Twice As Long As Thought

 Science, January 2014

Great white sharks are longer in the tooth than we thought. Traditionally, researchers age a great white (Carcharodon carcharias) by tallying the alternating light and dark bands that form on the animal’s vertebrae as it grows, similar to rings on a tree. Using this method, experts believed the species had a life expectancy of about 30 years. But now, scientists have harnessed radioactive remnants of the Cold War to conduct the most precise age measurements of great whites ever—and their results blow the previous estimate out of the water.

Ag drone field grows

 The Salinas Californian, March 2013

While deadly military drones grab headlines, a very different type of drone glides above the vineyards of Davis. Precisely aligning itself along a row of grapes, the robotic helicopter releases its 16-liter pesticide payload on the crops below.

Featured Online and on Page 1 of the weekend edition. Accompanied by opinioncolumn by another reporter.

Weak wildflower season expected

 The Salinas Californian, March 2013

Flower fans should prepare for a disappointing wildflower season. Many of the crimson, sapphire and gold signs of springtime remain in hiding following an unusually dry winter.

Full-page featured aritcle in print edition.

Panetta Welcomed Home

 The Salinas Californian, March 2013

After serving in President Obama’s cabinet for over four years as CIA director and secretary of defense, Monterey native son Leon Panetta was welcomed home Thursday during a reception at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Published on A1 of print edition.