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Natalie Bathala, an astrophysicist at UC Santa Cruz, scans the stars in search of planets, including some that might support life. The recently launched James Webb Space Telescope will provide the clearest picture yet of these “exoplanets” that orbit stars beyond our solar system.

Winemakers in California are facing another hot summer of drought and potential wildfire. When forests burn near California’s wine country, it’s not just the flames that threaten vineyards — it’s also the smoke, which can sully grapes on the vine that then produce ashy, bitter wine.Now, scientists in Santa Cruz are helping them confront that dilemma, with a unique approach that can sniff out the smoke in grapes. They say the results will allow winemakers to better predict whether grapes are worth harvesting or better left to rot.

Monterey Bay’s new professional soccer team is set to play its first home game May 7. The Monterey Bay Football Club, also known as the Union, is using a stadium built by the U.S. Army 70 years ago that sits at the entrance of what is now CSU Monterey Bay. The stadium was key to bringing professional soccer to the Monterey Peninsula.

Russia has signaled a new opportunity for diplomacy in Eastern Europe as the region continues to brace for possible war. Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta says one misstep could set it off.

Nearly a decade ago, a massive blob of warm water formed off the U.S. West Coast, disrupting the ocean ecosystem. Among “the blob’s” many impacts, the region’s highly profitable crab fishery was forever changed. Scientists say extreme marine heatwaves will become more common due to climate change, leaving many in fishing communities, like those in the Monterey Bay region, struggling to adapt to the new uncertainty.

The Monterey Conference Center is still struggling to get back to where it was before the pandemic. As variant after variant sweeps across the world, the City of Monterey is trying to figure out the role of a 40,000 square-foot conference center in an increasingly virtual world.

A look at how the agricultural Pajaro Valley, located on the coast between Santa Cruz and Monterey, is handling the problem of seawater intrusion.

Many veterans who once lived at Fort Ord now suffer from cancer and other diseases. Martha Mendoza was one of three Associated Press journalists who revealed that exposure to toxic chemicals — including in the base’s drinking water — could be the cause of their sicknesses. And Fort Ord may not be alone.