Biology
Secretive Openness
It will take a long time for scientists to figure out why those redwoods in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park are albino. And because of the way science is set up, it will take the public even longer to find out the answer.
Post on Mar 14, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Earthquake Warning Signs in Tiny Marine Fossils
It feels like the world is still shaking from the earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit northern Japan on Friday.
Post on Mar 14, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
Life-Threatening Mushroom Poisoning
Since Northern California's mushroom season began last September, four people have suffered life-threatening injuries after eating poisonous wild mushrooms.
Post on Mar 09, 2011 by Gabriela Quirós
Fungi Underfoot
No, this blog post is not about athlete’s foot or toenail fungus or any other infection you might inadvertently catch from the floor of a locker room or the seat of a BART train. It’s about giant underground fungi and their reproductive parts– a.k.a. mushrooms.
Post on Mar 09, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
Science on the SPOT: Fungus Fair
QUEST tags along with fair organizer J.R. Blair and his San Francisco State University students as they collect mushrooms in San Francisco's McLaren Park. Then we tour the annual Fungus Fair in Berkeley to explore the Bay Area's tasty, dangerous and weirdly wonderful fungi.
Video on Mar 09, 2011 by Gabriela Quirós from QUEST Northern California
Tonight's Down to a Science Event: "The Panic Virus"
Learn more about the origins of the debate over vaccines and autism and what the current theories are from author of The Panic Virus, Seth Mnookin, at tonight's Down to a Science.
Post on Mar 08, 2011 by Laura Khalil
Missing Gene Suggests Rodents Aren't The Best Model For Diabetes Research
Rodents and other mammals might not be ideal for studying type 2 diabetes because of a gene that was deleted from the human genome millions of years ago.
Post on Mar 04, 2011 by Darya Pino
Redwood Regeneration
QUEST has an inordinate fondness for albino redwoods. But after producing three videos, QUEST Producer Chris Bauer still had questions.
Post on Feb 28, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
Science on the SPOT: Revisiting Albino Redwoods, Biological Mystery
UC Santa Cruz plant biologists study rare albino redwood trees to better understand the inner workings of these unusual plants. By learning how albino plants survive, they may unlock some of the mysteries of how redwood trees live.
Video on Feb 23, 2011 by Chris Bauer from QUEST Northern California
Science on the SPOT: Revisiting Albino Redwoods, Cracking the Code
Stanford geneticists trek into the mountains to uncover rare albino redwood trees. Seeking to discover the root of the mutation, they are taking small samples back to their lab and for the first time will sequence the complicated redwood genome.
Video on Feb 23, 2011 by Chris Bauer from QUEST Northern California
Producer's Notes: Science on the SPOT Revisiting Albino Redwoods
Science begins with our curiosity. The first step is to start asking questions, probably most often “Why?” and “How?” And as much as we wish it were different, "because I said so" is never enough, as you have to back up your case with some proof, or at least some compelling evidence.
Post on Feb 23, 2011 by Chris Bauer
Shark Fin Trade Puts Sharks At Risk
Sharks are seriously at risk in the world ocean to overfishing and the growing threat of shark finning.
Post on Feb 23, 2011 by David McGuire
Elephant Seals Through Eighth Grade Eyes
This weekend, I went to Ano Nuevo State Park to see the elephant seals, along with 14 Oakland middle schoolers.
Post on Feb 14, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
All (U.S.) Children Left Behind
New test results confirm what many of us have feared: U.S. students suck at science.
Post on Feb 14, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Producer's Notes: Science on the SPOT – Falcons Up Close
QUEST's web-only video series, Science on the SPOT, takes a close-up look at the Peregrine Falcon.
Post on Feb 08, 2011 by Chris Bauer
Science on the SPOT: Peregrine Falcons Up Close
QUEST meets the San Francisco Zoo's resident Peregrine Falcon, "Bella." The story of the Peregrine Falcon is a conservation success story. And the zoo's hope is that when people meet Bella they are inspired to take conservation into their own hands.
Video on Feb 08, 2011 by Chris Bauer from QUEST Northern California
Falconry Ruffles Feathers and Saves a Species
This time of year, you may see birds of prey, with their wings outstretched, circling overhead – it is nesting season.
Post on Feb 07, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
Reliable Science Web Resource: Scitable
An interview with Vikram Savkar, the man who runs a reliable web resource for science called Scitable.
Post on Feb 03, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
Sudden Oak Death Plus Wildfire: A Natural Experiment
A natural experiment created by the overlap of the Basin Complex Fire and a UC Davis study allowed scientists to test whether SOD did in fact make wildfire worse. What they found was not what the news media or the firefighters predicted.
Post on Jan 31, 2011 by Jennifer Skene
A Better Military Through Genetics
A new report recommends that all military people have their DNA sequenced to advance science and to create a better military. Can we trust the military to get this right – or anyone?
Post on Jan 31, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr
