Somewhere in the midst of the Westwood underground lies a 19 meter-long machine. The LArge Plasma Device, as it is officially called, produces plasma in artificial form and takes high-speed photos of the material, which is so volatile that it splits apart in a millionth of a second. Plasma is the most common state of matter in the universe, found in stars and the space between them. Read more...

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Walter Gekelman, director of the Basic Plasma Science Facility, shows students the LArge Plasma Device, a machine used to help physicists understand plasma.

SAN DIEGO —"”mdash; UC officials painted a stark picture of a multi-billion dollar shortfall and declining state support. In response to deep cuts proposed by Gov. Read more...

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State Superintendent Tom Torlakson, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and UC President Mark Yudof look grim after reviewing the proposed 2010-2011 budget recommendations and the state cuts proposed for 2011-2012.

One academic department at UCLA has found an unusual luxury to help it weather budget cuts: professors teaching for free. Read more...

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Professor Carey Nachenberg voluntarily teaches Computer Science 32 without pay. Nachenberg is popular among students for his entertaining lectures.