Aric Sleeper

UC Santa Cruz biomolecular engineering assistant professor Tal Sharf, right, postdoctoral researcher Tjitse Van der Molen, middle, and staff researcher Greg Kaurala. (Credit – Carolyn Lagattuta)

UC Santa Cruz study shows developing brains have inherent structure

December 1, 2025 at 6:41 a.m.

In a groundbreaking study, UC Santa Cruz researchers have shown that developing brain tissue exhibits spontaneous activity and structure without receiving any sensory information, suggesting that the brain comes prewired...

Scotts Valley Fire District. (File photo)

Santa Cruz County Taco Bell fire caused by lithium-ion battery

November 26, 2025 at 7:07 a.m.

The Scotts Valley Fire District advises community members to avoid a lithium-ion battery fire by not leaving devices unattended while charging, not overcharging devices and to only use authorized chargers...

Photo of an entry or exit hole of an invasive shothole borer. The holes are about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. (Courtesy of Monica Dimson/UC Cooperative Extension)

Invasive tree-killing beetle spotted in Santa Cruz

September 24, 2025 at 8:06 a.m.

After infested trees were recently discovered near the Tannery Arts Center, the city of Santa Cruz is asking community members to watch out for signs of a tiny 'shothole borer'...

The La Bahia Resort and Spa across from Main Beach in Santa Cruz will begin taking reservations in early September. (Aric Sleeper – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

La Bahia Hotel and Spa in Santa Cruz to open next month

August 29, 2025 at 7:36 a.m.

More than 100 community members packed within the arched entryway of the newly built La Bahia Hotel and Resort across from Main Beach in Santa Cruz on a sunny Wednesday...

Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz was closed due to tsunami concerns following Tuesday’s earthquake in Russia. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Tsunami surge causes turbulence at Santa Cruz Harbor

July 31, 2025 at 6:08 a.m.

Under the threat of a potential tsunami hitting the Monterey Bay following a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia Tuesday evening, local jurisdictions and agencies closed beaches and...

Surfers and outrigger canoeists splash in the Monterey Bay Saturday morning to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the day, in 1885, that three Hawaiian princes — David Kawananakoa, Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole and Edward Keliiahonui — paddled from the mouth of the San Lorenzo River, in the first recorded incidence of surfing on the United States mainland. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Iconic Santa Cruz surfers paddle out to honor legacy of Hawaiian princes

July 21, 2025 at 10:26 a.m.

Members of the local surf community and lovers of Santa Cruz history gathered at the mouth of San Lorenzo River on Main Beach to paddle out together on a foggy...

With the development of the innovative CRISPRware program by UCSC Ph.D. graduate student in biomolecular engineering Eric Malekos, researchers across the globe can now browse entire libraries of guide RNAs for six model organisms. (Getty Images)

UC Santa Cruz researcher develops innovative CRISPRware software

July 14, 2025 at 5:55 a.m.

A Ph.D. graduate student in biomolecular engineering at UC Santa Cruz, with a background in computer science and mathematics, has created an innovative software program called CRISPRware, which makes the...

A 37-year-old man was shot dead outside his North Oakland home Saturday night, authorities said. (File photo)

Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury report reveals human trafficking goes unreported

July 11, 2025 at 6:19 a.m.

A recently published Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury report found that human trafficking in the county goes largely unrecognized and unreported, which is reflected at the state and federal...

Woodie owner Bob Faust of Redwood City encourages everyone to hang loose at the 27th annual Woodies on the Wharf classic car show. (Aric Sleeper – Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Woodies return to the Santa Cruz Wharf Saturday

June 18, 2025 at 6:23 a.m.

Hundreds of woodie-style classic cars will return to the Santa Cruz Wharf Saturday for the 29th annual Woodies on the Wharf car show, which is the largest gathering of woodies...

Teen suspect arrested in Santa Cruz County double homicide case

June 16, 2025 at 5:37 a.m.

According to a statement from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect is an 18-year-old man from the Watsonville area and was found by detectives in the city of...

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