Our project focuses on the importance of ethnobotany with an emphasis on restoration and medicinal plant properties. Ethnobotanical studies fixated on traditional ecological knowledge have long been disregarded by western science; however, this information is crucial for the restoration of the environment, advancement of medicines, and cultural revival of the Native people. Due to colonization and westernization, the continuation of knowledge throughout generations along with the vast ecosystems that once thrived has depleted. Conversely, through the expansion and shared education on plants and restoration processes long known by Natives, the gap between western science and TEK will degrade.

The Early Cretaceous Budden Canyon Formation of North America contains a few anatomically preserved plant fossils ca. 125 Ma old (Barremian-early Aptian). Recent investigations of the Budden Canyon Formation have revealed a preserved seed cone assignable to the Cupressaceae. Based on serial sections and a 3-D reconstruction, the fossil cone was compared with living Cupressaceae and revealed significant differences from most genera and closest similarity, but not identity, with Sequoia. The age and morphology of the cone also suggests that it may represent an extinct member of the sequoioid, a lineage which gave rise to modern redwoods (Sequoia) and giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron).

The study of exoplanets has produced large amounts of data since the first exoplanet was discovered over two decades ago. Much of these data are archival and available online to be reused to search for new results. More specifically, spectral data that has been taken from planet-star systems to detect planets by the radial velocity (RV) method can be reused to perform transit spectroscopy if the RV curves include spectra taken at the primary and secondary eclipses and the observations have sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. Our goal is to prepare a compilation of current results on the atmospheric composition of hot Jupiter type planets and extend it by reusing archival data.

Clouds are a critical component of the atmosphere, which predominantly cools the planet by scattering solar radiation back to space. Particulate matter (PM) are small solids suspended in the air that can initiate the seeding process for cloud formation, where environmental metal oxides (EMO) are one of the dominate types of PM. This process is directly related to the relative humidity (RH) above the PM surface and how much water it absorbs. PM collects sparingly small molecular layers of water before undergoing bulk scale water uptake. Details of water uptake at this level are still lacking in the literature, and we desire to quantify water uptake on atmospheric PM to enhance climate models.

Research was conducted in an effort to date the glacial moraines of this area using the degree of etching caused by weathering over time. It was determined that etching of hornblende grains can be used to quantify the age of glacial moraines. Samples were collected from five different glacial moraines from Frazier Falls in the Mohawk Valley of the northeastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Fine sand samples were cleaned, sorted and analyzed; using soil science techniques. Thirty hornblende grains from each location were individually chosen and mounted for analysis. Backscatter electrons and secondary electrons in the scanning electron microscope were used to analyze the etching of the hornbl

Siphonophores (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) inhabit pelagic waters where representative species occupy depths ranging from the surface to the abyss. Locomotion by siphonophores is achieved by nectophore muscular contractions, which generate vortex ring wakes similar to jet-propelled medusa and squid. Using high-speed video analysis, we compare the kinematics and characterize wake structures of two different species of siphonophores during straight and turning swimming. By extracting the kinematics of individual nectophores, we quantify the formation time (T*) to characterize the jet wake. We show the T* generated by swimming physonect siphonophores are larger than other jet-propelled swimmers.

With support from the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense, the North Coast Concussion Program (NCCP) has embarked on a groundbreaking two year study of the history and impact of concussions among NCAA athletes. This multi-institution study is aimed at understanding the neurobiological and psychosocial nature of concussive injury and recovery for the purpose of enhancing the safety and health of collegiate student-athletes, service members, youth sports athletes and the broader public. At Humboldt State, faculty and students of the NCCP work together to conduct baseline and post injury monitoring of neurocognitive, motor control, and behavioral data in about 450 athletes from all sports.

Vertebrates use proteins expressed in the sensory cells of the nasal cavity to detect odors and chemical signals. The study aimed to characterize the olfactory receptors (ORs) in the California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus). We used standard molecular genetics techniques (PCR and cloning) to isolate 15 partial sequences of ORs from salamander olfactory tissue. We used phylogenetic reconstruction to show that the salamander ORs we isolated grouped with the gamma family of ORs found in many other vertebrates. Our preliminary results suggest that this species has a large and diverse OR family, a finding consistent with their ecological reliance on chemical communication.

The Brain Booth initiative is an innovative project promoting mindfulness and contemplative pedagogy as a means of introducing metacognition for academic success. The Brain Booth is an informal, experiential space to learn about the mind body connection, reduce stress, and optimize learning. It is open to all HSU students, staff, and faculty as well as community members. In the last academic year, 1,000+ students took a brain break in the Brain Booth, and the Brain Booth was embedded across the colleges curricula in 5 departments and 8 courses.

Within this research project, I’ll be presenting a controversial topic that many today deem as unchallengeable due to the influence from the history books the colonizers of our country wrote to indoctrinate us with. From this investigation, I intend to analyze conflicting theories so as to narrow down the plausibility of pre-Columbian transoceanic travel between Africa and the America’s. My goal with this project is to elevate African voices and perspectives, to show the public the possibility of alternative truths, as well as spread a sense of skepticism towards our Western history books. ​