News

Bats’ brains sync when they socialize

06/20/19 — A new UC Berkeley study from bioengineer Michael Yartsev is the first to observe synchronized brain activity in a non-human species engaging in natural social interactions. The finding opens the door to future study on how our brains process social interactions.

Crystal with a twist: scientists grow spiraling new material

06/19/19 — Materials scientists from Berkeley Engineering and Berkeley Lab have created new inorganic crystals made of stacks of atomically thin sheets that unexpectedly spiral like a nanoscale card deck.

Adobe Research and UC Berkeley: Detecting Facial Manipulations in Adobe Photoshop

06/19/19 Adobe — UC Berkeley and Adobe researchers have developed a method for detecting edits to images that were made using Photoshop's Face Aware Liquify feature. While still in its early stages, this collaboration between Adobe Research and UC Berkeley, is a step towards democratizing image forensics, the science of uncovering and analyzing changes to digital images.

How can companies like Airbnb, Lyft or Uber help in disasters?

06/19/19 — Berkeley Engineering researchers suggest that emergency management agencies and local relief organizations should leverage Airbnb, Lyft, Uber and private citizens to ensure equity in emergency evacuations.

Aaron Streets named Pew Scholar in biomedical sciences

06/14/19 — Aaron Streets, assistant professor of bioengineering, is one of 22 early-career researchers joining the 2019 Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences.

Using software to manipulate a video of President Obama speaking

AI researchers race to detect ‘deepfake’ videos: ‘We are outgunned’

06/13/19 Washington Post — EECS graduate student Shruti Agarwal and incoming professor Hany Farid argue that powerful new AI software has effectively democratized the creation of convincing “deepfake” videos, making it easier than ever to fabricate someone appearing to say or do something they didn't really do.

Cassie Cal makes campus moves on hovershoes

06/12/19 TechXplore — A new video by the Hybrid Robotics Group shows bipedal robot Cassie Cal riding in hovershoes down a few stairs, on uneven outdoor terrain, up and down steep inclines and leaning into a turn to navigate corners.

Berkeley students use AI to to help with disaster response

06/07/19 Consumer Technology Association — During a natural disaster, fast and efficient collection of information saves time and lives. With AsTeR, a platform developed by Berkeley MEng students, victims will get help sooner and firefighters will be able to assist a larger amount of people in a limited time.

Are we on the cusp of frictionless mechanical systems?

06/06/19 — Machines often require expensive maintenance or replacement because the physical contact of their moving parts creates friction that wears these components down. Now, Berkeley engineers have developed a novel approach to eliminate friction in mechanical systems.

A faster technique to purify elements

06/04/19 Berkeley Lab — Thanks to a new chemical separation method developed by nuclear engineering professor Rebecca Abergel, researchers now have a better way to attain actinium-225, a promising therapeutic isotope for cancer treatment.

Bar chart ranking graduating startup founders from US public universities

Berkeley grads dominate funded founders ranking

05/30/19 TechCrunch — Berkeley is far ahead of its peers in a new survey that ranks which U.S. universities have graduated the most founders of startups that raised $1 million or more in roughly the past year.

Machines that heal

05/30/19 — Rikky Muller is building tiny, wireless devices that can be implanted in the brain, with the aim of treating conditions such as epilepsy or spinal cord injuries.

Caleb Wright and Charles Yang at the U.N. Environmental Assembly in Kenya

Berkeley engineers propose solutions for reaching U.N. development goals

05/28/19 — Three UC Berkeley undergrads attended the U.N. Environmental Assembly in Kenya and saw their proposals included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Berkeley Engineers off to change the world

05/22/19 — At two rainy commencement ceremonies, speakers called on graduates to draw on their Berkeley Engineering education to promote equity as well as innovation.

Salto the jumping robot

05/22/19 — Topping out at less than a foot, Salto the robot looks like a "Star Wars" imperial walker in miniature. But don't be fooled by its size - this little robot has a mighty spring in its step.

PEER grant to improve seismic safety of natural gas infrastructure

05/17/19 PEER — The California Energy Commission awarded a $4.9 million grant to the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center on May 15 to improve the seismic risk assessment of natural gas storage and pipeline infrastructure.

Berkeley links up with Facebook, but wants to see tech giant’s accountability

05/17/19 — Stung by bad press and government investigations, Facebook is investing $7.5 million in a partnership with three universities - UC Berkeley, Cornell and Maryland - to develop new methods to improve detection of fake content, fake news and misinformation campaigns. At Berkeley, the work will be led by EECS professors Hany Farid and Alexei Efros.