Biology
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Top KQED Science & QUEST Stories from 2012
From the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to killer whales, bicycles to cheese — it's been another year of diverse storytelling from the KQED Science and Environment team. Here's a round-up of the top 10 stories shared on our website (based on page views) that you've enjoyed in 2012.
Post on Dec 10, 2012 by Jenny Oh from KQED Science
Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Flying Away Home
Ladybugs have returned to the Oakland Hills and Redwood Regional Park. Find out why they're here and how you can help track ladybugs in your own yard or neighborhood.
Post on Dec 07, 2012 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
Flame Retardants, Redux: From Toxic Couches to Buildings
Last June, Gov. Jerry Brown directed state agencies to change California's flammability standard to ensure fire safety without dousing furniture and other foam products with toxic chemicals. Now activists are focusing on an even bigger market for flame retardants: foam insulation in buildings.
Post on Nov 28, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
A Thanksgiving Ode to Dungeness Crab and the Bay
Discover the connection between delicious Dungeness crabs and the San Francisco Bay.
Post on Nov 23, 2012 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
The Great Cancer Cell Mix Up
Under a microscope many cancer cells look the same. And since cell lines used in cancer research are anonymous, often shared informally between labs, the only way to definitively know where they came from is with DNA. But many scientists don't do this.
Audio Report on Nov 23, 2012 by Amy Standen from KQED Science
Science on the SPOT: Shadows and Spiders– A Secret Cave in California
The rural foothills along the Santa Cruz County Coast hold an ancient secret. Deep below the redwoods, White Moon Cave extends for nearly a mile — making it one of the longest caves in California. But few people have ever been in it. Join the KQED Science team as we squeeze through the narrow clandestine entrance, and meet the uncanny cave inhabitants to bring new light to this hidden realm.
Video on Nov 20, 2012 by Joshua Cassidy from QUEST Northern California
Turkey Trouble: Genetics Gone Too Far?
No, this isn’t a blog about genetically modified organisms — that has been argued enough lately! Instead, in honor of Thanksgiving, I want to talk about regular old selective breeding and the monsters it can create.
Post on Nov 19, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Trophy Hunting: For the Love of Blood and Money
Trophy hunters routinely pay thousands of dollars for the chance to kill big game like caribou, moose, black bear and especially grizzly bear. Trophy hunting narratives boast a love of nature. But some sociologists find a different story.
Post on Nov 14, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Nothing "Fishy" About Sustainable Seafood
Learn about what we can do to take care of our oceans, both for the fish and ourselves.
Post on Nov 09, 2012 by Sharol Nelson-Embry from QUEST Northern California
New Clues to Our Ancestors' Mobility
Australopithecus afarensis (the species of the well-known “Lucy” skeleton) was an upright walking species, but the question of whether it also spent much of its time in trees has been hotly debated for 30+ years, partly because a complete set of A. afarensis shoulder blades has never before been available for study.
Post on Nov 05, 2012 by Helen Taylor from QUEST Northern California
Frankenstein vs. Godzilla: What’s in Your Cereal Bowl?
In all of the recent discussion about genetically modified (GM) foods here in California, we’ve overlooked regular foods and how new traits are found (or created) in them. There isn’t usually a monk lovingly breeding peas in the Austrian countryside somewhere. Instead, more often than not, there is someone blasting a seed with radiation and/or harmful chemicals.
Post on Oct 31, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Playing Whack-a-Mole with Flame Retardants
Countless consumer products sold in California contain a flame retardant flagged as a possible carcinogen nearly 35 years ago. As of this week, finally, they must carry a warning that the chemical causes cancer. But is it enough when manufacturers simply replace one toxic chemical with another?
Post on Oct 31, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
