Biology
Science on the SPOT: The Glowing Millipedes of Alcatraz
More than a million visitors visit Alcatraz every year, but a recent discovery has revealed another attraction that lives within the shadows of this historic prison.
Video on Mar 19, 2013 by Jenny Oh from KQED Science
Rescuing Injured Wildlife
Wild birds, injured on the beach, get a helping hand from dedicated staff and volunteers. Here's the story of one injured water bird.
Post on Mar 15, 2013 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
The Ant-Driven Landscape
Invasive ant species have powerful—and poorly known—effects on a region's soil.
Post on Mar 14, 2013 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Engineering a Virus-Free Future
I have been reading a book called "Regenesis" where in one part the authors propose a way to re-engineer the human race so all people are resistant to all viruses, known and unknown. This will theoretically be possible in the next few decades (or even sooner) and, if done right, is predicted to make us resistant for a very long time and possibly even forever.
Post on Mar 11, 2013 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Comets May Have Delivered Life's Early Building Blocks
The building blocks of life on Earth may have originated in space.
Post on Mar 08, 2013 by Sean Greene from KQED Science
Arsenic and Old Wells
Six years after the EPA's new arsenic rule for drinking water went into effect, poor communities in the San Joaquin Valley—who can’t afford the costs of complying with the stricter standard—face the highest risk of exposure to unsafe arsenic levels.
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Post on Mar 06, 2013 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Two Species, One Nest: CuriOdyssey's Animal Odd Couple
As spring approaches, an egret and a heron have been hard at work preparing for their future brood…together. This will mark the sixth year that "Jabby," a snowy egret (Egretta thula), and "Lefty," a black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) have nested as a pair at CuriOdyssey (formerly Coyote Point Museum) in San Mateo.
Post on Mar 05, 2013 by Rachael Rufino from QUEST Northern California
Invasive Species: They're Here and More on the Way
Invasive species are here and more are on the way! Find out about the problems and some possible solutions.
Post on Mar 01, 2013 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Genetic Sleuthing, Or How To Catch The Right Identical Twin Criminal
There are unique DNA differences between identical twins that scientists can use to tell them apart. Why isn't law enforcement using these differences to catch their criminal? Because the cost is too high.
Post on Feb 25, 2013 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
The Science of Nudity: The Skinny on Showing Skin
News flash – as of February 1st, 2013 – public nudity is illegal in San Francisco. But well before the law went into effect, it generated a tremendous amount of debate.
Post on Feb 22, 2013 by Peter Lollo from KQED Science
The Animal Kingdom's Otherworldly Ancestors
At one time, squishy invertebrates constituted most of the animal life on Earth, but about half a billion years ago, something remarkable happened: an evolutionary explosion known as the Cambrian Period.
Post on Feb 21, 2013 by Sean Greene from KQED Science
Book Review: Animal Wise – The Thoughts and Emotions of Our Fellow Creatures
An appreciation of the rich inner lives of nonhuman animals dates back at least to Aristotle and gained support from Charles Darwin, who saw any differences between humans and other animals as a matter of degree, not kind. Still, the notion that humans stand above and apart from our fellow creatures dies hard. In her new book, "Animal Wise," science journalist Virginia Morell takes us on a tour of labs and field sites around the world to show us that many of the traits once thought uniquely human appear in even our most distant evolutionary relatives.
Post on Feb 20, 2013 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Are Sleeping Aids Effective or Just A Placebo Effect?
Insomnia has become a major health concern worldwide. In the US, 60 million prescriptions for sleeping pills are issued each year and non-benzodiazepines are the most commonly prescribed type. However, recent scientific journal articles have raised concerns about using these sleep aids.
Post on Feb 18, 2013 by Jennifer Huber from QUEST Northern California
Bay Area Bird Challenge: The Great Backyard Bird Count Is This Weekend!
Help the Bay Area be better represented in this year's Great Backyard Bird Count!
Post on Feb 15, 2013 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Lighten Up, California: Why GloFish Can't Glow in the Golden State
One of the more popular exhibits at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose is the wetlab. The exhibit is getting a little long in the tooth so I was looking for ways to give it a bit of a refresh.
Post on Feb 11, 2013 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
On the Elephant Seal Dating Scene, It’s All About Bravado
They may sound like faulty plumbing, but male northern elephant seals have a unique communication system that's all about reputation.
Audio Report on Feb 08, 2013 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
Coyote Killings: A Complex Debate of Conservation and Cruelty
Coyotes, reviled for preying on sheep and goats, are the most targeted predator in the U.S. This week, hunters in the tiny Modoc County town of Adin will compete in a contest to kill the most coyotes to protect their livestock–even though research shows that killing coyotes results in higher reproductive rates.
Post on Feb 06, 2013 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Science on the SPOT: Preserving the Forest of the Sea
UC Berkeley's University Herbarium boasts one of the largest and oldest collections of seaweed in the United States. Herbarium curator Kathy Ann Miller is leading a massive project to preserve digitally nearly 80,000 specimens of west coast seaweed.
Video on Feb 05, 2013 by Sheraz Sadiq from QUEST Northern California
Groundhogs and Ground Squirrels: Winter Prognosticators
Ground squirrels in our local parks and grasslands are related to groundhogs. Find out more about their role in weather predictions and grassland ecology.
Post on Feb 01, 2013 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Comments Do Matter (So Get Talking!)
Back in December I wrote a blog post asking scientists to comment online more often.
Post on Jan 28, 2013 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California