Blog

Fish Earbones Provide a Rare Glimpse into the Past and Future of Fisheries

Fish Earbones Provide a Rare Glimpse into the Past and Future of Fisheries

Archiving artifacts from the sea, a natural history museum preserves precious data for scientists.

 
The Future of Water

The Future of Water

Freshwater expert Sandra Postel reveals how water is destined to become our most precious resource— and the impact of your personal water footprint.

 
Saved From Living Death: How Genetically Modifying Chestnuts Could Bring Them Back

Saved From Living Death: How Genetically Modifying Chestnuts Could Bring Them Back

The American chestnut was the king of the trees in forests in the eastern U.S. until a fungus from Asia brought them down. We are getting very close to making a resistant American chestnut. Now the question is whether or not we should plant it out in the wild.

 
Thinking Like a Pirate – or a Scientist

Thinking Like a Pirate – or a Scientist

New understandings about how scientists think inspire changes in school science standards.

 
Are Doughnuts Destroying Forests?

Are Doughnuts Destroying Forests?

A conversation with a forestry expert reveals doughnuts as unlikely contributors to global deforestation.

 
Exploring Caves in California:  An Otherworldly Experience

Exploring Caves in California: An Otherworldly Experience

While most people are out enjoying the warmer weather spring offers, there are some who cannot wait to make their way underground. With the rainy season behind us, California Caverns are opening up for those who aren't afraid of the dark.

 
Scrounging for Research Dollars

Scrounging for Research Dollars

If you’re a scientist these days, getting the money to do your research is a lot like getting into Stanford or Yale. Assuming you aren’t rich or connected, being incredibly skilled, hardworking and accomplished isn’t enough. You need to get lucky too.

 
The Human Microbiome: A Rogue's Gallery

The Human Microbiome: A Rogue's Gallery

Get to know some of the microbes that may be in your gut.

 
The State of the Universe: Matter and Age Up, Dark Energy Down

The State of the Universe: Matter and Age Up, Dark Energy Down

The European Space Agency's Planck mission has generated a map of the infant universe that refines our understanding of what it's all made of and has upped its age by 100 million years.

 
Geological Side Trips from Interstate 80: Through Folsom to Loomis

Geological Side Trips from Interstate 80: Through Folsom to Loomis

An hour of crowded freeway or a jaunt through granite, greenery and history? The choice is yours.

 
Top Cats: How Pumas and Other Apex Predators' Populations Affect The Big Biodiversity Picture

Top Cats: How Pumas and Other Apex Predators' Populations Affect The Big Biodiversity Picture

Apex predators exert far-reaching effects on ecosystems that surface just decades after their disappearance. Santa Cruz researchers hope to understand how human activities and development affect how pumas use the landscape to help mitigate conflicts and plan for the species' long-term survival.

 
Air Pollution Lurks Inside Your Home

Air Pollution Lurks Inside Your Home

Californians spend over 45 billion dollars each year on health impacts due to indoor air pollution. Scientists at Berkeley Lab have identified the indoor air pollutants with the greatest health consequences, and they are now looking for ways to improve indoor air quality.

 
Grappling with Rising Tides

Grappling with Rising Tides

Climate change and rising tides are predicted to take a toll on our shoreline areas in the Bay Area. Find out more about last winter's King Tides and what actions are underway to help plan for future sea level rise.

 
Landslide at the Calaveras Reservoir

Landslide at the Calaveras Reservoir

The long-running dam replacement project must pause to deal with a sleeping monster.

 
Fund Basic Research, It’s For Your Own Good

Fund Basic Research, It’s For Your Own Good

The budget proposal by the Obama administration is a mixed bag in terms of funding for science.

 
Antiques Roadshow of the Solar System

Antiques Roadshow of the Solar System

As a space-faring culture, we have now left our marks across the solar system, on planets, moons, asteroids, and in the empty space between them. Some of these “marks” are yet-functioning robotic spacecraft. Some are litter, scattered about the place like so many discarded soda cans, plastic grocery bags, depleted batteries, and defunct electronic devices. Are we trashing our solar system?

 
Gallegos Winery and the Hayward Fault

Gallegos Winery and the Hayward Fault

The new BART extension will bring riders to one of the best exposures of the Hayward fault.

 
Fire Safety without Harm

Fire Safety without Harm

Last week, scientists and regulators from more than 20 countries gathered in San Francisco to discuss the latest research on flame retardants. The conference lasted four days, but the theme of the meeting was clear from just a few talks: Do we need toxic chemicals to achieve fire safety?

 
Dabbling and Diving Ducks: Catch the Spring Show

Dabbling and Diving Ducks: Catch the Spring Show

Ducks are getting ready to make their seasonal migration away from San Francisco Bay. Come see them in their breeding finery before they're gone for the summer.

 
Side Trips from Interstate 5: Great Valley Rivers and Grasslands

Side Trips from Interstate 5: Great Valley Rivers and Grasslands

It takes a million years to make a land this big and flat. Take a few hours to experience it.