An unusual experiment began a few years ago on four blocks of stuccoed ubiquity in suburban Irvine. The rows of nondescript subdivision homes, inhabited by UC Irvine faculty and staff, afforded a high-tech peephole from which to observe how humans interact with electricity.

Looking to give your LinkedIn profile a face-lift without hiring a pro? Here are five tips experts say anyone can follow to improve their presence on the platform.

True added value is an ancillary service that’s both enticing for the client and strategic for the firm. What isn’t a value-add?

The North San Joaquin Valley — made up of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties —  may be the most misunderstood and overlooked region in California. Historically, these three counties have been lumped together with larger San Joaquin Valley or Central Valley in a variety of policy, planning and economic development circles.

In 2016, during the early days of Birdies Slippers, the two-person company based in San Francisco worked with a small public-relations firm to identify their ideal brand ambassador for what they hoped would become the go-to slippers for women seeking comfort and fashion. Their selection: Meghan Markle.

For victims of domestic violence, planning to escape an abusive situation can be made much more difficult if there is a pet involved.

Dark beers have developed a serious sweet tooth.

Do you find yourself unable to get ahead of your deadlines? Can’t shake the feeling that you do your best work under pressure? Turns out, you might be addicted to procrastination-induced adrenaline.

Hitting the books: Placer County Office of Education’s Gayle Garbolino-Mojica on the county’s public school system.

Time-management tips geared toward living a healthier lifestyle for the time-crunched leader.