UC Berkeley SLC Science Program

Many of you have probably seen the television show, but have you ever thought about our own universe’s Lord of the Rings? Saturn is one of the most magnificent planets that scientists have been studying for ages. Recently, MIT and UC Berkeley have joined forces to find out that Saturn’s rings actually came from a former moon.

To read more about this discovery, click here:

Chrysalis, the lost moon that gave Saturn its rings Saturn has long been in a dance with Neptune, but that dance was interrupted when one of Saturn’s moons ventured too close and was shredded. Some of its remains ending up as the beautiful rin…

Although COVID-19 seems to be taking less and less of a toll on our daily lives, scientists have not stopped working on vaccines. With the fall and winter season approaching, updated boosters target the newer, widely spread Omicron variants as well as the earliest strain. To receive this booster, patients must be fully vaccinated and at least 12 years of age.

Click below to learn more about this amazing warrior in the battle against the pandemic:

Your Questions about the New COVID Booster Shots, Answered New COVID booster vaccines built for the latest variants are here and should be more effective. But there are still some unknowns

Happy first day of classes, science learners! We're so excited to welcome you back and kick off another academic year with you. Mark your calendars for our service launch on Tuesday, September 6. You can visit our website to learn more about the courses we are supporting this Fall and each of our service formats: https://slc.berkeley.edu/science

Have a great day and week, Golden Bears!

121, 113, 101. These are just some of the temperatures that we are reaching around the globe in what is said to be the worst heat wave yet. Although we may not be feeling it in the bay area, our neighbors in Europe and parts of the Middle East are. In response to very evident climate change, scientists have started conducting studies to see how much heat humans can truly handle. The aim of these studies is to prompt public health policy that keeps us safe as temperatures are rising.

To learn more, click below:

Humans may not be able to handle as much heat as scientists thought Humans’ capacity to endure heat stress may be lower than previously thought — bad news as climate change leads to more heat waves around the globe.

Exercise is an essential practice for one to stay healthy and well. It has many benefits, like weight loss, muscle building, and joint health--but another reason why exercise is beneficial is that it may help prevent diseases including Alzheimer's. Dementia researchers have recently found new evidence that exercise delays the onset of Alzeihiemers for those who are susceptible and slows the decline in patients who already have the condition.

If you want to learn the specific process on how exercise affects Alzheimer's click here:

How exercise may help prevent Alzheimer's Exercise could be a powerful defense against Alzheimer’s disease. Three dementia researchers explain how it works.

Many of us are familiar with smallpox and chickenpox, but what about monkeypox? This virus is continuing to spread in large cities like New York, with symptoms including painful lesions that can last for up to a month. As public health officials are learning of the spread, they are trying their best to put an accessible and effective vaccine out. However, the impact that COVID-19 still has on NY is making this mission come with struggle. What’s great to note is that monkeypox is very unlikely to spread and be as fatal as COVID-19, as the disease is much less contagious!

Read NPR’s article on monkeypox here:

Monkeypox keeps spreading. Here's what authorities are doing to stop it Public health experts know what it takes to control a disease outbreak: access to testing and vaccines. But in the last two months of the monkeypox outbreak, the response has not met the need.