Research

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An artist’s reconstruction of the new shark-like species Cosmoselachus mehlingi.

New 326-Million-Year-Old Fossil Shark-like Species Identified

Researchers have described a new species of ancient shark that was collected in Arkansas 45 years ago and fills an important role in understanding an enigmatic and bizarre group of prehistoric fishes. The study is published in the journal Geodiversitas. 

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A gray whales breaches from the waters at the mouth of Humboldt Bay

Cal Poly Humboldt Researcher Investigates Mystery of Gray Whale Group

Eastern north Pacific gray whales migrate annually from Mexico where they breed in the winter to the Arctic to feed in the summer, making one of the longest journeys of any mammal—but one small subgroup instead spends their summers along the Northern California to British Columbia coastline. Robyn Norman, a Biological Sciences graduate student, wants to know why.

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Juhi LaFuente working in the Telonicher Marine Lab on krill research

Predicting the Future of Krill

To better understand how climate change might affect the marine ecosystem off the coast of California over the next century, Cal Poly Humboldt researchers are studying one of the ocean’s smaller inhabitants.

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Geology students taking core samples at the Mad River Slough.

Advancing Earthquake Research

Cal Poly Humboldt is partnering with several institutions including lead university, the  University of Oregon, on a new multi-institution earthquake research center, which will receive $15 million from the National Science Foundation over five years to study the Cascadia subduction zone and bolster earthquake preparedness in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

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Promising Faculty and Staff Honored

The Executive Committee of the Cal Poly Humboldt Emeritus and Retired Faculty and Staff Association (Humboldt ERFSA)  is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s awards.

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ideaFest 2018 poster presentations at the Library

Here’s to a Decade of Ideas!

What began 10 years ago as an idea turned into ideaFest. Cal Poly Humboldt’s annual extravaganza showcases hundreds of research and creative projects from students, staff, and faculty over the past year.

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Wild blueberries study

Study Suggests Wild Blueberries Help Burn Fat

The berries have long been hailed as a superfood—while they’re known for a plethora of health benefits, new research proves this superfruit could help burn fat during exercise. 

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Jeff Kane, Benjamin Graham, and Erin Kelly in summer 2022 at the edge of the 2020 Slater Fire near Happy Camp, California.

New Study Looks at Community Recovery After Wildfire

When wildfire strikes a community, it can leave a path of destruction, and a chance for renewal. During the fire and in the immediate aftermath, residents and officials focus on protection and stabilization efforts. However, the availability of resources to support community recovery and promote resilience to future fires over the longer-term is less certain. Three Cal Poly Humboldt professors are studying how communities recover from wildfires over time.