UC San Diego has highlighted a series of scientific projects and discoveries under the theme of Halloween, connecting real-life research to concepts that often inspire fear or curiosity. The university showcased ongoing studies in fields ranging from microbiology and marine science to film studies and astrophysics.
One focus is on bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Researchers at the School of Biological Sciences have found that these microscopic predators can hide using protective “cloaks” and deploy “freeloader” genes to sabotage rival viruses inside bacteria. The Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics at UC San Diego is developing phage therapy as a potential solution to antibiotic-resistant infections.
Another study examined deep-sea dragonfish, which use transparent teeth to make their jaws nearly invisible in the dark ocean depths. A 2019 investigation by the Jacobs School of Engineering revealed that special structures in the teeth prevent light reflection, providing a natural cloaking effect that aids in hunting prey.
The impact of sound in horror films is explored through “The Sound of Horror,” a course led by Michelle Lou, associate professor in the Department of Music. Lou explains: “Horror movies really lean into sound and musical scoring. It activates your imagination. There’s so much art that goes into them to carefully craft fear and anxiety through sound design.”
Research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography revisited an event from 1961 believed to have inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s film “The Birds.” Scientists identified domoic acid—a neurotoxin produced during algal blooms—as responsible for causing neurological symptoms among seabirds along California’s coast. Marine ecologist Tammy Russell said certain phytoplankton produce toxins that travel up the food chain, sometimes resulting in death for birds and marine mammals.
In another health-related study, Anjan Debnath at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences leads efforts against Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the brain-eating amoeba. His lab screens thousands of compounds seeking effective treatments for this rare but almost always fatal infection.
Scripps Institution’s Marine Vertebrate Collection houses approximately two million preserved fish specimens representing over 5,600 species. Research using these samples recently doubled the number of recognized families within Stomiiformes—a group including hatchetfishes and dragonfishes—providing new insights into their evolution.
Astrophysicist Shelley Wright from UC San Diego participates in PANOSETI (Panoramic SETI), an initiative searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence via ultra-fast imaging technology operated out of Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton. This system is designed to detect brief flashes of visible light that could indicate interstellar communication attempts.
Overall, these projects underscore UC San Diego’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge across diverse disciplines while drawing connections between popular culture fears and ongoing academic inquiry.
