Latest news with #UniversityofCaliforniaDavis
Gizmodo
5 hours ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
‘Jelly Ice' Inspired by Tofu Never Melts
Jelly ice is cold but never melts. Jelly ice is jiggly and reusable. Jelly ice is real, and scientists want to bring it to a store near you. In a presentation for ACS Fall 2025, researchers at the University of California (UC), Davis, introduced 'jelly ice,' a gelatin-based hydrogel that freezes and thaws without making a watery mess. Everything about jelly ice sounds like something straight from a child's imagination: edible, reusable, compostable, and squishy. But jelly ice is definitely real, crafted using advanced techniques in material science. Initially developed for food preservation purposes, jelly ice could have a wide range of applications across shipping, biotechnology, and wherever there's a need for this alternative form of ice. The inspiration for jelly ice began at a grocery store. The researchers were concerned about the hygiene of seafood display cases, where meltwater was pooling up from the ice stored inside to keep the food cool. While brainstorming solutions, they drew inspiration from frozen tofu, which stores water while frozen but releases it completely when thawed. Back at the lab, and after considerable trial and error, the team fabricated a gelatin structure that held on to water regardless of any phase change. The recipe took several years to perfect, but the team now possesses a 'practical, one-step process jelly ice that's 90% water and can be repeatedly washed with water or diluted bleach, frozen, and thawed,' the authors explained in a statement. Below water's freezing point, jelly ice transforms into a more solid state that resembles ordinary ice. 'Compared to regular ice of the same shape and size, jelly ice has up to 80% of the cooling efficiency—the amount of heat the gel can absorb through phase change,' said Jiahan Zou, a postdoctoral student at UC Davis, in the statement. 'And we can reuse the material and maintain the heat absorbance across multiple freeze-thaw cycles, so that's an advantage compared to regular ice.' All that said, there are 'still some steps in market analysis, product design, and large-scale production tests' before jelly ice will appear in a store near you, Zou said. In any case, jelly ice opens the door to exploring other plant proteins—like soybeans—for creating sustainable materials. 'In my research, I realized how powerful mother nature is in designing biopolymers and the vast possibilities they offer,' she added. 'I believe there will be amazing products derived from biopolymers, as the materials themselves are teaching us how to work with them.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homerun Resources Inc. Announces Update on European Financial Markets Advisory
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 17, 2025) - Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR) (OTCQB: HMRFF) ("Homerun" or the "Company") announces that, further to its April 2, 2025 news release, the Company will not be proceeding with the previously contemplated engagement of DGWA GmbH as a European financial markets' adviser. The Company is currently advancing other European financing and advisory relationships. About Homerun ( (TSXV: HMR) is a vertically integrated materials leader revolutionizing green energy solutions through advanced silica technologies. As an emerging force outside of China for high-purity quartz (HPQ) silica innovation, the Company controls the full industrial vertical from raw material extraction to cutting-edge solar, battery and energy storage solutions. Our dual-engine vertical integration strategy combines: Homerun Advanced Materials Utilizing Homerun's robust supply of high purity silica sand and quartz silica materials to facilitate domestic and international sales of processed silica through the development of a 120,000 tpy processing plant. Pioneering zero-waste thermoelectric purification and advanced materials processing technologies with University of California – Davis. Homerun Energy Solutions Building Latin America's first dedicated high-efficiency, 365,000 tpy solar glass manufacturing facility and pioneering new solar technologies based on years of experience as an industry leader in developing photovoltaic technologies with a specialization in perovskite photovoltaics. European leader in the marketing, distribution and sales of alternative energy solutions into the commercial and industrial segments (B2B). Commercializing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy Management and Control System Solutions (hardware and software) for energy capture, energy storage and efficient energy use. Partnering with U.S. Dept. of Energy/NREL on the development of the Enduring long-duration energy storage system utilizing the Company's high-purity silica sand for industrial heat and electricity arbitrage and complementary silica purification. With six profit centers built within the vertical strategy and all gaining economic advantage utilizing the Company's HPQ silica, across, solar, battery and energy storage solutions, Homerun is positioned to capitalize on high-growth global energy transition markets. The 3-phase development plan has achieved all key milestones in a timely manner, including government partnerships, scalable logistical market access, and breakthrough IP in advanced materials processing and energy solutions. Homerun maintains an uncompromising commitment to ESG principles, deploying the cleanest and most sustainable production technologies across all operations while benefiting the people in the communities where the Company operates. As we advance revenue generation and vertical integration in 2025, the Company continues to deliver shareholder value through strategic execution within the unstoppable global energy transition. On behalf of the Board of Directors ofHomerun Resources Inc. "Brian Leeners" Brian Leeners, CEO & Directorbrianleeners@ / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp) Tyler Muir, Investor Relationsinfo@ / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp) FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASEThe information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Los Angeles Times
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Recipes for when strawberry season hits peak deliciousness (as in right now)
In California, strawberry fields really are forever. Strawberries are as red as anything could possibly be and, when you get a good one, more fragrant, succulent and flavorful than anything you imagined nature could create by itself. But to a native Southern Californian, strawberries are a bit like earthquakes. We don't give either much thought. (Or at least I don't.) We take the little fruit — so cute with its heart-like shape, candy-apple red, dimpled exterior and charming green toupee (even the flavor-challenged ones look like the cartoon of a strawberry) — for granted. California grows 90% of the nation's strawberries, from as far north as Watsonville in Santa Cruz County to San Diego County. Thanks to the state's strawberry capital, Oxnard, 60 miles north of Los Angeles, we have strawberries year-round. But peak deliciousness, where juicy, bright-red strawberries taste like sun-ripened candy, is right about now through August. Here in Los Angeles, you can't mention strawberries without hearing about Harry's Berries. These strawberries, grown on an organic farm in Oxnard since the late 1960s, run $15 for 1 1/2 pints at farmers markets and up to $20 or more at specialty grocers. TikTok videos — like a lot of TikTok videos — are made where the berry is eaten in front of the camera by a skeptical-turned-drooling content creator. The varieties they grow include Mara des Bois, smaller and more fragrant than conventional strawberries; Seascape; and Gaviotas, a variety developed by the University of California Davis that has become the gold standard if what you're looking for is a plump, red, juicy, sweet strawberry. 'What have we been eating? What are the other strawberries?' asks one content creator as he bites into a Harry's Berries strawberry. But if the price tag scares you — or just turns you off — rest assured there is a delicious strawberry world beyond Harry's Berries. 'My personal favorite strawberry will almost always be the Albion variety from Tamai Family Farms,' says McKenna Lelah, speaking of another variety developed by UC Davis. McKenna, through her company Handpicked by McKenna, buys from farmers markets and sells and delivers to chefs around Los Angeles. 'They have a nice firm texture, and really good strawberry flavor.' McKenna explains what should be obvious but what I'd never really thought about. 'Table shoppers come to farmers markets and ask, 'What's sweet?'' But if you're doing something with the strawberries, like macerating them for strawberry shortcake or making a syrup, jam or dessert sauce, she says, 'You can always make them sweeter. You can't add more strawberry flavor.' I grew up in San Diego County, and whenever I'm there, I make a stop at Chino Ranch, also famous for its strawberries. Like Harry's Berries, Chino Ranch also grows Mara des Bois and Gaviotas, as well as both red and white Alpine strawberries, which are about the size of a thumbnail and come with the greens and a little stem attached. What all of these berries have in common is that when you bite into one of these little gems, they're red all the way through. They have a delicious floral aroma. And the flavor! You instantly become aware that the rest are strawberry impostors: They might be wearing that perfect little strawberry costume, but they have none of the characteristics of an authentic strawberry-flavored strawberry. But, grown for flavor, not shelf-life, these strawberries are also delicate. They bruise easily. And by the time you put them on your counter, they're already sliding down the back side of their lives. Who among us has not come home with a pint or several of not-cheap, gorgeous candy-apple-colored strawberries only to open the fridge the next day to see them looking withered, wilted, bruised, darkened and generally just sad. The trick to stretching their lifespan, explains McKenna, is to take them out of their basket and put them, not touching one another, on a baking sheet lined with paper towels, and then refrigerate. Or just start your strawberry daydreaming on your way home from the market. Strawberry shortcake is, obvi, the classic, but don't let your imagination stop there. If you're a tennis fan, you've likely seen fans at Wimbledon eating strawberries and cream, a tradition celebrating England's short, sweet strawberry season and a good way to go when you basically want to do nothing and let the flavor of the strawberries do all the work. When your strawberries are verging on overripe, the best solution is to get them in a saucepan as quickly as possible. Cook them down with sugar and lemon juice into a dessert sauce or jam or the jammy layer to this ethereal, chocolaty Strawberry Forest Pie. Or make a batch of Spring Negronis and call it a party. Another option when your strawberries are heading toward the compost bin is to save them for another day. Spread them out, not touching one another, on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer. When they're frozen solid, transfer them to a Ziploc bag or covered container and toss a few into smoothies, milkshakes, Strawberry Jamaica Agua Fresca or a mixed berry pie. For all the appreciation I have for strawberries, they may be one fruit that I don't love in savory preparations, such as salad. And I'm just not sure how to feel about Strawberry-Ancho Salsa or this Strawberry-Avocado Salsa. If you're up for it, I applaud your adventurousness. I'll stick with the sweet stuff! Eating out this week? Sign up for Tasting Notes to get our restaurant experts' insights and off-the-cuff takes on where they're dining right now. You can't go wrong with strawberry shortcake. I say that, and yet all strawberry shortcakes went wrong when I was growing up. I would get so excited to see the little round sponge cakes packed in plastic sold next to the strawberries in the summertime. I'd throw them, along with some flavorless berries and a can of whipped cream, into our grocery cart with so much hope and possibility. But when I got home and put them together, I was never not underwhelmed. I'm sure I'll change my mind with this version that includes macerated farmers market strawberries on just-baked cream biscuits, topped with clouds of freshly whipped the recipe. Cooking time: 40 minutes, plus 2 to 4 hours hands-off time to macerate the berries. Serves 4. Full disclosure: I co-authored barman Christiaan Rollich's book, 'Bar Chef,' from which this recipe originates. Of all the recipes in that book that I tested, this is the one that became part of my repertoire. I make a big batch, put it in a glass, flip top bottle and set it out for guests to serve themselves. It's always a hit. And as we Angelenos know, it's not just for springtime!Get the recipe. Cooking time: 2 hours 30 minutes. Makes 9 cocktails. You don't see strawberries in baked goods as much as you do other fruits. This scone recipe, from Sqirl, is flexible – use strawberries, or whatever fruit you have on hand. It does require a sourdough starter (but also provides a recipe). If you don't want to go that far, ask a baking enthusiastic friend or neighbor, and return the favor with the recipe. Cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes. Makes 8 scones.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Still Waitlisted? What To Know About College Waitlists
May 1, also known as National Decision Day, is when high school seniors officially send their enrollment deposit to the college they plan to attend. Now that this deadline has passed, many graduating seniors are preparing for their next chapter: meeting roommates, choosing classes and other logistics. However, not every student is certain where they will be in the fall. With applications reaching record-breaking numbers, more schools are utilizing waitlists to ensure that they have a full freshman class enrolling in the fall. Here's what students on the waitlist need to understand moving forward. If a student is placed on a waitlist, it means they haven't been accepted, yet haven't been rejected. The admission officers liked the candidate, but at the same time, didn't have space to offer them a spot in the incoming freshman class. When a student receives their waitlist admission decision, they won't be automatically placed on the waitlist if they don't follow the correct steps. For example, to join Case Western Reserve University's waitlist, students had to respond by a certain date and write an essay on why they wanted to attend the university. On the other hand, the University of California-Davis simply wants students to confirm that they want to be on the waitlist; no additional letters of recommendation or essays needed (or wanted). To be considered, students should read carefully what is required before committing to the waitlist. The waitlist can be a tough place for students because it feels like admissions purgatory, unsure of what their chances of success will be. Waitlists can be unpredictable because of various factors like yield rates and institutional needs. Additionally, the number of students on the waitlist can vary greatly. Stanford University placed 414 students on the waitlist and only accepted 25 of them. Carnegie Mellon University placed more than 10,000 on the waitlist and accepted 32. Students should research the school's history of waitlist acceptances to learn how many applicants are typically accepted. This can help to manage expectations. While it makes sense for the waitlist to be ranked and accept students in a particular order, that is rarely the case. Some universities do rank their lists, however, most don't. Instead, the admission officers will review the school's institutional priorities like major, geographic diversity or underrepresented demographics, and then decide which students fit those needs best. If a school is looking for a student who doesn't need financial aid and is a computer science major from the South, the admission officers will first look at students who fit those qualifications. That student may get pulled from the waitlist even if they have lower stats than another student on the waitlist. For students placed on the waitlist, this isn't the opportunity to inundate admission officers with unsolicited information. The school will give clear instructions on what they want, such as an additional essay, another letter of recommendation or a letter of continued interest. Contacting the admissions office with unsolicited information will not improve your chances; therefore, once the requested tasks have been done, it is time to sit back and wait. There is no limit to the number of waitlists a student can be on at any time. Since there is no guarantee one will be accepted off the waitlist, it could make strategic sense to be on many waitlists, as long as the student would consider attending the university. Another reason a waitlist can feel like purgatory is that there is no clear timeline. Some students get informed that they are accepted off the waitlist before the May 1 enrollment deadline. Others might be notified just a few weeks before the fall semester begins. At Moon Prep, we have seen students get waitlisted at competitive BS/MD programs. The University of Missouri-Kansas City, Siena College, Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, and the University of South Carolina all utilized the waitlist this year. When students were notified they were accepted off the waitlist, they were given a deadline to decide, typically 48-72 hours before the offer passed to the next student. Students accepted off the waitlist might still receive scholarships. However, it will likely be need-based aid and not merit-based scholarships. The merit-based scholarships have likely all been distributed. If a student doesn't get merit aid as a freshman, they can talk to the financial aid office to learn what scholarship opportunities will be available to apply to as a sophomore. Unfortunately, the enrollment deposit is non-refundable. The enrollment deposit is typically less than $500, and could be a relatively small price to pay for getting into a dream school at the last minute. Being on the waitlist can be stressful, but students should remain realistic. While waiting for a waitlist notification, make sure to move forward with your plans at the school where you made an enrollment deposit. Stay hopeful and keep checking your inbox—you never know when the notification may come.
San Francisco Chronicle
07-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
A California supermarket staple could become cheaper under Trump tariffs
President Donald Trump's tariff war is expected to make the price of a host of goods go up. But almonds — California's most valuable agricultural export — may get a bit cheaper. Almonds from California make up about 80% of the world's supply, with a significant amount exported to China, a country subject to President Donald Trump's highest tariff — 145% — which took effect last month. The Chinese government briskly retaliated with a 125% tariff on U.S. imports. If China buys fewer almonds, Central Valley growers will have to sell more of the crop domestically. That could mean slightly lower prices at the supermarket, even as almond growers take a hit. 'There's no question: more almonds have to get sold on the U.S. market,' said Daniel Sumner, a professor of agricultural and resource economics at the University of California Davis. 'If there's more of them around, the only way to get them sold is at a lower price.' Consumers shouldn't expect half-priced almonds or bargain bin almond milk, Sumner said, noting that many factors go into supermarket pricing. But almond prices are likely to decrease slightly — a sharp contrast to a number of other food items that could see rising price tags due to tariffs. But even that slight grocery-store discount could correspond to major losses for almond growers who already operate on razor-thin margins. California-grown almonds brought in $4.7 billion in export revenue in 2022, according to the state's Department of Food and Agriculture. China was the fourth-largest foreign market for almonds that year, importing about $269 million, behind the European Union, India and the United Arab Emirates. California could lose out on up to $868 million in lost export revenue from almonds if other countries impose retaliatory tariffs, according to a study from the University of California Davis that assumed tariffs of 60% from China and 10% from the rest of the world. During Trump's first term, Chinese retaliatory tariffs hit almond prices hard, causing per-pound prices to drop from $2.50 to $1.40, the study found. The EU, which imported $1.48 billion in California almonds in 2022, approved counter-tariffs in April including a 25% tariff on U.S. almonds, which would go into effect in December. More retaliatory tariffs could materialize from other almond markets if the White House's universal 10% tariffs go into effect. Trump paused implementation for 90 days on April 9. 'We're bracing ourselves for some negative impacts,' said Joe Sansoni, an almond grower and former president of the Merced County Farm Bureau. 'We're not gonna see the price that we should.' Jenny Holtermann, president of the Kern County Farm Bureau and co-owner of almond farm H&H Family Farms, said almond prices were 'just starting to rebound' from the impacts of COVID-19 and the U.S.-China trade war during Trump's first term. With almond prices below $2.00 a pound, Holtermann has not turned a profit in recent years; she said it costs her about $1.75 to grow each pound, a figure that could rise if tariffs increase the price of other farming inputs like fertilizer, irrigation parts and tractors. 'It is very hard to make a living off of farming anymore,' said Holtermann, who supplements her income by working as a water consultant for two nonprofits. It's too soon to tell exactly how much foreign demand for California almonds will drop. That's because last year's crop has already been sold and the next harvest isn't until fall. A historic honeybee die-off over the winter could result in lower-than-usual yields for almonds, and the fast-fluctuating tariffs make predictions challenging. 'Nobody really knows what tariffs are going to look like in the fall,' said Aaron Smith, a professor of agricultural and resource economics at UC Berkeley. 'People are kind of shrugging their shoulders a little bit and assuming that 145% tariffs are kind of ridiculous and that they're not going to persist.' The tariffs' impact also depends on how much foreign customers are willing to pay for almonds. Because California dominates the world's almond supply, other countries can't easily buy non-American almonds; they'd have to opt out of buying almonds altogether. 'The big question is whether people think about almonds as something where they're like, 'Oh, I'm just going to eat walnuts instead or some other nut instead,'' Smith said, 'or whether it's a specific thing of, 'I really love my almonds.'' But even if foreign demand drops only slightly and almond farmers see just a 5% drop in the wholesale price, the industry would take 'a significant hit' that could get passed along to farm workers or contractors in the form of lower wages, Smith said. Drops in the wholesale price don't map on perfectly to drops in consumer prices. A 10% drop in the farm price could translate into just a 3% discount in the checkout line — 'pennies,' if that, Sumner said. That discrepancy is because supermarket pricing factors also include processing, shipping and marketing, he said. Because almond trees can take decades to cultivate, growers can't easily change crops. A 5% drop in price would likely not be dramatic enough for them to yank out trees, Smith said. The full impacts on almond growers depend on another major variable: whether the White House will provide relief funds. Unlike crops like soybeans, rice and cotton, the federal government does not usually offer subsidies for almonds, Smith said. But the government broke from that precedent during Trump's first term and shelled out tens of millions in direct aid for almond farmers, resulting in historic profits for some growers, he said. 'Everybody in the industry who's paying attention will be expecting those same payments,' Smith said. In a statement, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump 'cares deeply about strengthening America's agriculture industry' and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture 'is operating a range of programs to serve our farmers while evaluating new ways to ensure they have the resources they need to feed the world.' Holtermann, the Kern County grower, said she received aid from the government during Trump's first term and that she believes Trump will 'make it right' this time around, too. She said she's 'cautiously optimistic' that Trump's tariffs will 'put the American economy back up to the powerhouse that we're supposed to be,' even as she's not 'naive' about the short-term impacts. 'At the end of the day,' Holtermann said, 'all I can do is keep farming and do what I'm doing every single day and hope everything pans out.'
