Oct. 20, 2026

Afternoon sunlight filters through the glass facade on the Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway building. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

The powerful punch of mantis shrimp

Mantis shrimp have one of the most powerful punches on the planet. That’s why David Kisailus, professor of materials science and engineering, has spent almost two decades studying the clubs of these small, mighty creatures. Kisailus is unlocking the secrets of these resilient creatures to create stronger, more effective products. The peacock mantis shrimp, for instance, is armed with two hammerlike appendages called dactyl clubs that can smash its prey, accelerating faster than a .22 caliber bullet. “It’s the fastest smashing organism on the planet in water,” said Kisailus. “They can smash thousands of times without breaking.”

Treating psychosis before it sets in

Before a first episode of psychosis fully takes hold in some teenagers and young adults, there is a window of time – narrow, easy to miss – for specialized treatment to make a difference. UC Irvine researchers are determined to engage and partner with some of these youth before that window closes. Backed by a $2.6 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, UC Irvine will launch a countywide system of care designed to do exactly that. “We have an opportunity to address distress, support families and help young people stay engaged in their lives in ways that are consistent with their own values and passions,” said Jason Schiffman, professor of psychology. “If psychosis does develop, we want specialized treatment to begin promptly.”

Bringing the classroom into the community

In this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, Andres Bustamante, associate professor of education and faculty director of the Orange County Educational Advancement Network, shares about the playful learning landscapes he has helped install in schools and community locations throughout the city of Santa Ana and explains how and why they’re already making a difference.

Dr. Nimisha Parekh has helped countless individuals

Dr. Nimisha Parekh (above), a UCI Health gastroenterologist and one of the nation’s leaders in treating inflammatory bowel disorders, received the 2026 Medical Excellence Award from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Los Angeles and Orange County chapters. Parekh directs the UCI Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, where she has built a team within the Chao Digestive Health Institute renowned for its multidisciplinary approach to Crohn’s disease and colitis care that can help countless people living with the complex conditions.

UC NEWS

Celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month with UC

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and teams throughout the university are hosting a variety of engaging, timely events to help colleagues protect themselves online, at work and in their private lives.

#UCIconnected

UCI Health honors

UCI Health has earned national recognition from U.S. News & World Report for specialty programs, including ranking No. 39 for diabetes and endocrinology, No. 45 for geriatric services, No. 49 for gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, and No. 50 for neurology and neurosurgery. As Orange County’s only academic health system, UCI Health houses the region’s only comprehensive university-based diabetes center and specialized institutes that combine cutting-edge research with patient care.

In the realm of the last man: Challenges to global democracy

Francis Fukuyama, the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University, will discuss with UC Irvine professors Jeff Kopstein and Richard Arum the provocative ideas behind his landmark book, The End of History and the Last Man, and discuss how the rise of populist movements around the world reflects growing discontent with liberal democracy.

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