Carbon Content

Molecular Simulations Show Graphite 鈥楬ijacks鈥� Diamond Formation Through Unexpected Crystallization Pathways

Andy Fell — July 09, 2025 - 10:31am

The graphite found in your favorite pencil could have instead been the diamond your mother always wears. What made the difference? Researchers are finding out.

How molten carbon crystallizes into either graphite or diamond is relevant to planetary science, materials manufacturing and nuclear fusion research. However, this moment of crystallization is difficult to study experimentally because it happens very rapidly and under extreme conditions.

The High Cost of Carbon

Katherine E Kerlin — December 17, 2024 - 11:05am

The social cost of carbon 鈥� an important figure used to analyze the benefits of climate policies 鈥� is too low, finds UC Davis study.

Buried Alive: Carbon Dioxide Release From Magma Deep Beneath Ancient Volcanoes a Hidden Driver of Earth鈥檚 Past Climate

Andy Fell — October 30, 2024 - 2:34pm

An international team of geoscientists led by a volcanologist at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and including Maxwell Rudolph, associate professor in the UC Davis Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, has discovered that, contrary to present scientific understanding, ancient volcanoes continued to spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from deep within the Earth long past their period of eruptions.

Assessing the Real Climate Costs of Manufacturing

Andy Fell — October 24, 2024 - 11:42am

Producing materials such as steel, plastics and cement in the United States alone inflicts $79 billion a year in climate-related damage around the world, according to a new study by engineers and economists at the 榴莲视频, Davis. Accounting for these costs in market prices could encourage progress toward climate-friendly alternatives.

Capturing Carbon From Power Plants and the Atmosphere

Malia N Reiss — April 11, 2024 - 12:14pm

The realities of climate change are around us 鈥� replete with the sight of melting glaciers and raging wildfires. Scientists have long documented that greenhouse gas emissions are the most significant drivers of global warming and climate change.

Unprecedented Arctic Wildfires Fuel Climate Warming Cycle

Katherine E Kerlin — November 08, 2022 - 3:13pm

In the Arctic, climate change is turning carbon sinks into carbon sources as wildfires send stored carbon up in smoke, explains UC Davis polar ecologist.

Alyssa Griffin: The Capacity to Care

Katherine E Kerlin — August 08, 2022 - 10:00am

UC Davis assistant professor Alyssa Griffin discusses blue carbon, parenthood and climate anxiety as part of a UC Davis series "Confronting Climate Anxiety."

Will Knowing a Flight鈥檚 Carbon Emissions Change Your Travel Plans?

Katherine E Kerlin — November 17, 2021 - 3:13pm

As more people begin booking flights again, many factors come into play鈥攆rom price to time of day to number of stops. Last month, Google Flights began adding carbon emissions estimates for flights in its search results.

Research from UC Davis indicates that consumers are willing to pay more to pollute less during flights and that including such emissions information may help green the aviation industry.

Decarbonizing 榴莲视频 Transportation by 2045

Katherine E Kerlin — April 21, 2021 - 2:40pm

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in 榴莲视频. In order to achieve the state鈥檚 goals of carbon neutrality by 2045 and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, decarbonizing this sector is essential. But such a transition is unlikely to occur rapidly without key policy intervention.

Unfold Podcast, Episode 5: Is Rock Dust a Climate Change Solution?

Katherine E Kerlin — October 20, 2020 - 9:00am

Agriculture is responsible for 24 percent of our global greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, UC Davis researchers say agriculture holds huge potential to be one of the biggest solutions to climate change. Carbon farming may hold the key. The newest episode of Unfold examines how scientists are adding rock dust to crops to see if it can sequester carbon while also increasing yields for farmers.

In this episode: