QUEST Community Science Blog
Warblers' Secrets for Successful Survival Strategies
Learn the survival secrets of our winter visitors, the yellow-rumped warblers.
Post on Jan 18, 2013 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Placing a Bet on the Surface of Mars
As Curiosity gets ready to use its rock drill for the first time, we can hypothesize on what it will find.
Post on Jan 17, 2013 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Pregnancy and Paternity: New Fetal DNA Testing
Imagine you are a woman in a committed relationship. The worst happens and you are raped and become pregnant. What are your options?
Post on Jan 14, 2013 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
The Stars Go For the Gold
The middle-aged adage that we are made from stardust, made popular by Carl Sagan back in the 1970s, pops up in my thoughts now and then. Not just pretty words; it's the literal truth!
Post on Jan 11, 2013 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Geological Outings Around the Bay: Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
Enjoy a quiet canyon amid the noise, haste and rumpled rocks of the East Bay.
Post on Jan 10, 2013 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Exploratorium’s Science with Spirit Transcends Place
A record number of visitors mobbed San Francisco's Exploratorium on its last day at the Palace of Fine Arts. The mood was bittersweet–not just visitors but a good part of the staff grew up at this place. But for the Exploratorium, the magic of science is where you make it.
Post on Jan 09, 2013 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Think Before You Drink Grapefruit Juice
You should discuss with your doctor or pharmacist whether ingesting grapefruit could cause an unintentional drug overdose. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice affects how the body metabolizes certain drugs, and the number of drugs that adversely interact with grapefruit has increased according to new research results.
Post on Jan 07, 2013 by Jennifer Huber from QUEST Northern California
Hiking in the New Year at Sibley Volcanic Preserve
Greet the New Year with a hike at the Sibley Volcanic Preserve in the East Bay Regional Park District.
Post on Jan 04, 2013 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Our Newest National Park: Pinnacles National Monument
This brand-new national park will be the closest one to the Bay Area. Let's get to know it.
Post on Jan 03, 2013 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Should I or Shouldn't I? Wrestling with Giving Genetic Tests as Gifts
When 23andMe offered their DNA test for just $99, I started to think about giving it for Christmas presents.
Post on Dec 31, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Weighing in With Gravity
Feel like you've gained a couple of pounds over the holidays? Try the geo-gravitation weight loss field trip plan!
Post on Dec 28, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
The 2012 Bay Area Geological Holiday Quiz – Answers Posted
Test your knowledge with the second annual KQED QUEST Science Blogs Bay Area Geological Holiday Quiz.
Post on Dec 27, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Conquering Fungophobia
Late fall rains signal the start of mushroom season, which can last until spring in the Bay Area. Though only experts should forage and eat wild mushrooms (following park rules about harvesting), anyone can appreciate the rich diversity of these ephemeral fruits of the forest.
Post on Dec 26, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Birdwatching for Science (and Fun!)
While scientific research isn’t always fun it can be a "walk in the park" when it involves bird watching. Get a first-hand account of one of the largest and longest-running “Citizen Science” projects in the world, Audubon's Christmas Bird Count.
Post on Dec 21, 2012 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Stardust and Sunbreath in the Sutter's Mill Meteorite
The rare meteorite that fell in the Sierra foothills this spring yielded a rich harvest of scientific data.
Post on Dec 20, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Knowing Neanderthals
One of the more interesting things to come out of all the cheaper, more robust DNA sequencing technology has been our deeper understanding of human history.
Post on Dec 17, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
How Do California's Fracking Regulations Compare to Other States'?
California regulators are expected to release new fracking regulations by the end of the year. Most fracking rules come under state jurisdiction, and different states have different approaches.
Post on Dec 14, 2012 by Molly Samuel from KQED Science
Touch the Sun at Chabot Space & Science Center
Just in time for the imminent event of Solar Maximum, Chabot Space & Science Center is opening a new solar exhibition that features the latest in stunning ultraviolet satellite imagery from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory!
Post on Dec 14, 2012 by Ben Burress from QUEST Northern California
Help Find the Healdsburg Tektites
Half meteorite, half Earth rock, these geological oddities may be part of a new strewnfield in the northern Bay Area.
Post on Dec 13, 2012 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Can Earth Survive Without Scientist-Citizens?
Last summer, a group of top scientists warned that our penchant for growth and consumption may be pushing earth toward an irreversible tipping point. The days when scientists could share their results with just their colleagues are over, says NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco. It's time for scientists to help solve our "wicked problems."
Post on Dec 12, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
