Chemistry
From Salt Ponds to Wetlands
For more than 100 years, south San Francisco Bay has been a center for industrial salt production. Now federal and state biologists are working on a 40-year, $1 billion project to restore the ponds to healthy wetlands for fish, wildlife and public recreation.
Video on Sep 18, 2007 by Chris Bauer from QUEST Northern California
From Salt Ponds to Wetlands
For more than 100 years, the southern shoreline of San Francisco Bay has been a center for industrial salt production. Now, in an attempt to roll back the clock, federal and state biologists are working on a 40-year, $1 billion project to restore the ponds to healthy wetlands for fish, wildlife and public recreation. QUEST [...]
Post on Sep 18, 2007 by Chris Bauer
The 6-Billion-Base Athlete
"We can rebuild him. We have the technology." Remember that opening line from the Six Million Dollar Man? Soon we'll be able to genetically rebuild people. Or at least add some cool new features… Let’s say we wanted to make an athlete stronger or able to run for a longer amount of time. One way [...]
Post on Sep 17, 2007 by Dr. Barry Starr
Eat Less, Live Longer?
Have we found the fountain of youth? Scientists are discovering ways to make animals live dramatically longer through calorie restriction — a diet that requires eating at least 30 percent fewer calories than normal. QUEST investigates why we age and what the societal costs are for living well beyond 100.
Video on Sep 11, 2007 by Rachel Raney from QUEST Northern California
Eat Less, Live Longer?
Have we found the fountain of youth? Scientists are discovering ways to make animals live dramatically longer through calorie restriction – a diet that requires eating at least 30 percent fewer calories than normal. While the technique has attracted a small, but devout following, skepticism abounds. QUEST investigates why we age and what the societal [...]
Post on Sep 11, 2007 by Rachel Raney
Perilous Diesel
Diesel engines are the durable workhorses of transportation, but as they get older, they spew unhealthy soot. Communities with the highest diesel smog levels, like West Oakland, California, are working hard to reduce the pollution.
Video on Sep 04, 2007 by Gabriela Quirós from QUEST Northern California
Perilous diesel
What's the most harmful kind of air pollution? It's soot generated by diesel engines found in trucks, buses and ships. Diesel engines are the durable workhorses of transportation, but as they get older, they spew unhealthy soot. They are now challenging community activists and government officials to find creative solutions for at-risk areas like West [...]
Post on Sep 04, 2007 by Gabriela Quirós
A Level Playing Field
Living in the bay area with two school-aged sons, you'd think the news that Barry Bonds broke the all-time home run record would have been a big deal in our house. It wasn't. My kids focused on the steroids instead of home run number 755. This got me to thinking about fair and unfair advantages [...]
Post on Aug 20, 2007 by Dr. Barry Starr
The Salty Water Solution
Is desalination the solution to the California's chronic water woes? Four Bay Area agencies think it might be — and are studying whether to build the largest desalination plant in the country.
Audio Report on Aug 17, 2007 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
The Salty Water Solution
Water is an ever-more precious resource in California. A dwindling snow pack and ecological challenges in the Delta have many cities looking to the ocean for answers. Desalination used to be something found only in oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia. Now, proposals for 18 desalination plants are being studied by local officials from San Diego [...]
Post on Aug 16, 2007 by Amy Standen
Quest for Longevity
Americans have made an enormous leap in life expectancy over the past century. Now, Bay Area scientists are looking to extend lifespan, and "healthspan" to 100 years and beyond.
Audio Report on Aug 03, 2007 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
Quest for Longevity
One of the biggest challenges for medicine in the 21st century is understanding more about the diseases that come with aging like Alzheimer's, cancer and Parkinson's. Americans have made an enormous leap in life expectancy over the past century. Now, Bay Area scientists are looking to extend lifespan, and "healthspan" to 100 years and beyond. [...]
Post on Aug 03, 2007 by Andrea Kissack
What's in your Shampoo?
Just how safe is your shampoo, eye liner or aftershave? No one really knows. In an effort to shed more light on the ingredients in everyday cosmetics and toiletries, California lawmakers passed the Safe Cosmetics Act, which takes effect this year. It requires manufacturers to report all toxic or carcinogenic ingredients to the state and lets the public decide what is safe.
Audio Report on Jul 27, 2007 by KQED QUEST staff from QUEST Northern California
What's in Your Shampoo?
How safe is your makeup, perfume or lotion? Surprisingly, no one really knows. Two years ago, California passed groundbreaking legislation requiring cosmetic companies to report if their products contained toxic or carcinogenic ingredients. This year, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005 goes into effect and other states are closely watching California as they consider similar [...]
Post on Jul 26, 2007 by Andrea Kissack
From Waste To Watts: Biofuel Bonanza
It may look like waste, but to some people it's green power. Find out how California dairy farms and restaurants like Jardinière are taking their leftover waste and transforming it into clean energy. You may view the "From Waste To Watts: Biofuel Bonanza" TV Story online, as well as find additional links and resources. Also, [...]
Post on Jul 10, 2007 by Amy Miller
From Waste To Watts: Biofuel Bonanza
It may look like waste, but to some people it's green power. Find out how California dairy farms and white tablecloth restaurants are taking their leftover waste and transforming it into clean energy.
Video on Jul 10, 2007 by Amy Miller from QUEST Northern California
Solar City: The Future of Nanosolar
Hoping to leave today's silicon solar cells behind, the Palo Alto company Nanosolar is creating paper-thin solar panels harnessing nanotechnology, a product that could revolutionize solar power.
Video on Jul 03, 2007 by Josh Rosen from QUEST Northern California
Solar City: The Future of Nanosolar
Hoping to leave today's silicon solar cells behind, the Palo Alto company NanoSolar is creating paper-thin solar panels harnessing nanotechnology, a product that could revolutionize solar power. You may view the "Solar City: The Future of Nanosolar" TV Story online, as well as find additional links and resources. Josh Rosen is Series Producer for QUEST [...]
Post on Jul 03, 2007 by Josh Rosen
Explosive Beetles Hack Ant Colonies for Royal Treatment
Guest blogging for Donovan is Dr. Wendy Moore of the California Academy of Sciences. With roughly 350,000 described species, beetles are without a doubt one of the most successful forms of life on Earth. Many beetle species use chemicals to defend themselves, but the true masters of chemical defense are the Bombardier Beetles which deliver [...]
Post on Jun 27, 2007 by Donovan Rittenbach
Turning skin cells into embryonic stem cells
Last blog I talked about how I may have to be cloned to get my own embryonic stem (ES) cells. I was willing to deal with all of the associated ethical baggage because these sorts of cells would be so useful. They'll help cure many of my future ailments without my body rejecting these ES [...]
Post on Jun 11, 2007 by Dr. Barry Starr
